As used in this section, "respite care" means appropriate, short-term, temporary care provided to a person with a developmental disability to sustain the family structure or to meet planned or emergency needs of the family.

The department of developmental disabilities shall provide respite care services to persons with developmental disabilities for the purpose of promoting self-sufficiency and normalization, preventing or reducing inappropriate institutional care, and furthering the unity of the family by enabling the family to meet the special needs of a person with a developmental disability.

In order to be eligible for respite care services under this section, the person with a developmental disability must be in need of services that are part of habilitation , as defined in section 5126.01 of the Revised Code.

Respite care may be provided in a residential facility licensed under section 5123.19 of the Revised Code, including a residential facility certified as an ICF/IID, and a respite care home certified under section 5126.05 of the Revised Code.

The department shall develop a system for locating vacant beds that are available for respite care and for making information on vacant beds available to users of respite care services. ICFs/IID shall report vacant beds to the department but shall not be required to accept respite care clients.

The director of developmental disabilities shall adopt, and may amend or rescind, rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for both of the following:

(A) Certification by county boards of developmental disabilities of respite care homes;

(B) Provision of respite care services authorized by this section. Rules adopted under this division shall establish all of the following:

(1) A formula for distributing funds appropriated for respite care services;

(2) Standards for supervision, trainings and quality control in the provision of respite care services;

(3) Eligibility criteria for emergency respite care services.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 158, §1, eff. 10/12/2016.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2013.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.127, HB 487, §101.01, eff. 9/10/2012.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.

Amended by 128th General Assemblych.28, SB 79, §1, eff. 10/6/2009.

Effective Date: 10-29-1993 .