SB4025 Summary

• Creates an Office of the Inspector General within the Department of Human Services to investigate allegations of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation at mental health and developmental disability facilities and agencies.

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

• Establishes the Inspector General with independent authority to investigate, issue findings (substantiated, unsubstantiated, or unfounded), and recommend corrective actions; the Inspector General reports to the Secretary and Governor with a 4-year term requiring Senate confirmation.

• Requires reporting substantiated findings of physical abuse, sexual abuse, financial exploitation, or egregious neglect to the Health Care Worker Registry with notice to affected employees and opportunity for administrative hearing.

• Creates a Quality Care Board of 7 members appointed by the Governor to oversee the Inspector General's operations and provide expert consultation on investigation policies, training, and intergovernmental relationships.