A. There is hereby re-created to continue until July 1, 2020, in accordance with the provisions of the Oklahoma Sunset Law, the Group Homes for Persons with Developmental or Physical Disabilities Advisory Board.

1. The Advisory Board shall be composed of nine (9) members as follows:

a.eight members, appointed by the Director of Human Services, one of whom shall be a representative of the Oklahoma Community Based Providers Association, one a representative of United Cerebral Palsy of Oklahoma, one a representative of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities who is not a state employee, two who shall be group home directors having a minimum of two (2) years of experience as a group home director, and three who shall be consumers or consumer advocates, one of whom is the parent of a person having a developmental disability. These appointed members shall each serve a three-year term and may be reappointed, and

b.one member shall be the State Fire Marshal, or a designee who shall serve at the pleasure of the State Fire Marshal.

2. The Advisory Board shall annually elect a chair, a vice-chair and a secretary and shall meet at least quarterly and at such other times as may be necessary. All meetings of the Advisory Board shall be subject to the provisions of the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act. Members of the Advisory Board shall not receive compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed pursuant to the provisions of the State Travel Reimbursement Act.

3. The Department of Human Services shall appoint an employee to serve as a resource person and provide assistance to the Advisory Board.

B. The Advisory Board shall have the power and duty to:

1. Serve as an advisory body to the Department for the development and improvement of services to and care and treatment of residents of group homes subject to the provisions of the Group Homes for Persons with Developmental or Physical Disabilities Act;

2. Review, make recommendations regarding, and approve in its advisory capacity the system of standards developed by the Department;

3. Evaluate and review the standards, practices, and procedures of the Department regarding the administration and enforcement of the provisions of the Group Homes for Persons with Developmental or Physical Disabilities Act and the quality of services and care and treatment provided to residents of group homes, and may make recommendations to the Department as necessary and appropriate; and

4. Serve as an advisory body to the Department regarding the implementation of any nationally recognized accreditation standards, as they apply to community-based facilities and services adopted by the Commission for Human Services as standards for the provision of services to persons with developmental or physical disabilities who receive services through the Department of Human Services.

C. The Department shall, with regard to the meetings and duties of the Advisory Board which pertain to the Department, provide clerical staff support to assist the Advisory Board and space for meetings.

Added by Laws 1987, c. 225, § 4, eff. July 1, 1987. Amended by Laws 1992, c. 161, § 1, emerg. eff. May 5, 1992; Laws 1994, c. 236, § 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Laws 1996, c. 155, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 1996; Laws 1996, c. 354, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 1996. Renumbered from § 1-818.4 of Title 63 by Laws 1996, c. 354, § 56, eff. Nov. 1, 1996. Amended by Laws 2000, c. 33, § 1; Laws 2003, c. 9, § 1; Laws 2009, c. 22, § 1; Laws 2010, c. 26, § 1; Laws 2014, c. 65, § 1.