36-203. Persons with intellectual disabilities assigned to state hospital; department duties

A. The department of health services shall develop and provide, in coordination with the department of economic security, specialized treatment programs for persons with an intellectual disability who have been admitted to the state hospital. The department of health services may contract with the department of economic security in providing these programs.

B. The department, to the extent practicable, shall provide separate areas at the state hospital for persons diagnosed with intellectual disabilities and, to the extent practicable, shall provide that treatment programs developed pursuant to subsection A of this section are separate from treatment programs for other patients and for separate use of facilities by persons diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.

C. The department of health services, on request of a parent or guardian of a minor with an intellectual disability or the guardian of an adult with an intellectual disability or on the request of an adult with an intellectual disability, shall notify the department of economic security before the release of that person from the state hospital and request that the department of economic security provide placement evaluation and case management services for that person. The evaluation shall consider the person's needs for housing, day programs, employment training, employment and support services.

D. The department, on the application of a parent or guardian of a minor with an intellectual disability or the guardian of an adult with an intellectual disability or on the request of an adult with an intellectual disability, when the person has been authorized for discharge from the state hospital, may provide interim care and custody for that person pending the availability of intellectual disability programs and services in accordance with section 36-556.