HB 6408 Summary

• Creates the office of disabilities ombudsman as an autonomous entity within the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget, to be operated by a private nonprofit organization selected through competitive bidding.

• Grants the ombudsman authority to investigate complaints, monitor service delivery procedures, review facilities, and recommend policy changes related to individuals with developmental and physical disabilities.

• Requires the ombudsman to submit annual reports by November 1 to the governor and legislature, develop a plan for expansion into individual ombudsman services by November 1, 2020, and establish collaboration agreements with other ombudsman offices.

• Protects complainant and witness confidentiality through strict restrictions on disclosure of identifying information, with limited exceptions for criminal investigations, imminent harm situations, and legislative or gubernatorial inquiries into ombudsman misconduct.

• Requires state departments to grant the ombudsman private communication access with service recipients, physical access to facilities, and document access for investigations; establishes community outreach program to educate law enforcement on appropriate responses to individuals with disabilities.