(a) Within five years from the effective date of this chapter: 1. develop standards for admissions to all facilities for the care of the mentally ill, mentally retarded and developmentally disabled, and those suffering from the disease of alcoholism, alcohol abuse, substance abuse or substance dependence consistent with the requirements of articles nine, fifteen and twenty-one of this chapter taking into account characteristics of clients and providers; 2. develop standards for discharges from all facilities for the care of the mentally ill, mentally retarded and developmentally disabled, and those suffering from the disease of alcoholism, alcohol abuse, substance abuse or substance dependence taking into account the availability and adequacy of community residential and treatment services and the rights of the patient; 3. develop and recommend to the governor and legislature procedures giving local governmental units the opportunity to review all proposed admissions of residents of the local government to facilities in the department, consistent with the requirements of articles nine, fifteen and twenty-one of this chapter. The purpose of such review shall be to determine whether alternative community-based services are available or can be made available to such residents; 4. develop and recommend to the governor and legislature procedures giving local governmental units the opportunity to propose discharges and review proposed discharges and placements of residents of the local government from facilities of the department to programs in the community consistent with the requirements of articles nine, fifteen and twenty-one of this chapter; 5. develop and implement a uniform assessment, evaluation and reporting system as required by section 31.01 of this chapter; 6. develop allocable per patient rates for departmental facility programming and facility maintenance and support as required by section 43.01 of this chapter; 7. examine and develop in consultation with the recognized representative of employees of the offices of the department and recommend to the governor and legislature appropriate programs addressed to the labor and employment issues resulting from contraction of state operated services with such programs to be designed to provide opportunities for the retraining and continuation of employment of persons currently employed in the state mental hygiene department.

(b) Report to the governor and the legislature by March first of each year, on the progress made toward the implementation of the requirements specified by subdivision (a) of this section.