SB2879 Summary

• Amends the Department of Human Services Act to establish the Office of the Inspector General for investigating allegations of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation in mental health and developmental disabilities facilities and agencies operated, licensed, funded, or certified by the Department.

• Governor appoints an Inspector General for a 4-year term with Senate confirmation; the Inspector General functions independently with separate appropriations and authority to conduct investigations, issue findings, and make recommendations.

• Required reporters (employees) must report suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation to the Inspector General hotline within 4 hours of discovery, and report certain deaths within 24 hours; failure to report is a Class A misdemeanor.

• Inspector General must report substantiated findings to the Health Care Worker Registry; employees have right to administrative hearing to contest Registry reporting and can petition for removal once per 12-month period.

• Establishes a 7-member Quality Care Board appointed by the Governor to oversee the Inspector General's operations and provide expert consultation on investigation policies; requires annual reporting to the General Assembly and periodic audits by the Auditor General.