A. Persons shall be admitted to developmental disabilities programs or services operated by or supported by the department only pursuant to the procedures prescribed in this chapter. An application for admission shall be submitted on forms provided by the department in accordance with the rules and procedures adopted by the department.

B. Admission into any developmental disabilities program or service operated by the department or supported by the department is subject to availability of space in any program or service and is subject to annual legislative appropriation and other available funding.

C. A person shall not receive developmental disabilities services unless proof of the requirements set forth in section 36-559 is provided.

D. An application shall be signed by the responsible person. An admission or assignment of any client to a program, service or facility shall not be made without the consent of the responsible person. If an application for admission to a residential program is made for a client who is fourteen to eighteen years of age and who is capable of giving voluntary informed consent, that client and the client’s parent or guardian shall jointly apply, unless it appears to the department that the client is manifestly incapable of giving consent. An adult capable of giving consent may apply for admission and may be assigned to programs, services or facilities.

E. If an adult applicant applies for admission, or when a minor client served directly or indirectly by the department becomes eighteen years of age, and the applicant or client reasonably appears to be impaired by developmental disabilities to the extent that the person lacks sufficient understanding or capacity to make or communicate responsible decisions concerning his person, the department shall require that prior to receiving or continuing to receive developmental disabilities programs or services the applicant have a guardian appointed pursuant to Title 14, Chapter 5, or shall have had a judicial determination made that it is not necessary to appoint a guardian for that person.

F. There shall be no judicial admissions except pursuant to section 8-242 and as stipulated in section 36-559, subsection D.

G. No person may be admitted or assigned to any developmental disabilities facility, program or service unless the person has received a placement evaluation to determine the need for the developmental disabilities programs and services which are appropriate for that person and the admittance or assignment is consistent with the recommendation or placement evaluation. Each placement evaluation shall be governed by the following conditions:

1. The placement evaluation team shall consist of a group assigned by the department which shall include a department employee to serve as the case manager, the parent or guardian of the applicant and appropriate program staff of the department. Counsel for the applicant and a friend or advocate of the applicant designated in the application for admission may also attend the evaluation sessions for the applicant.

2. A placement evaluation report shall be prepared within thirty days after the placement evaluation is initiated which shall recommend the assignment of the applicant to certain designated types of developmental disabilities programs or services operated by or supported by the department. In this process the specific assignment request of the responsible person shall be given strong consideration.

3. A placement evaluation conducted by the department for the purpose of determining appropriate developmental disabilities programs and services shall not include an evaluation of a child for placement in a special education program in a school district.

4. The procedure prescribed in section 36-559, subsection D constitutes a placement evaluation for the purposes of this chapter.

H. The standards for determining the assignment for the applicant to a particular service shall be in the best interest of the client, taking into consideration the age, the degree or type of developmental disability, the presence of other disabling conditions of the applicant, the ability to provide the applicant with the maximum opportunity to develop the person’s maximum potential, to provide a minimally structured residential program and environment for the applicant and to provide a safe, secure and dependable residential and program environment for the applicant and the particular desires of the applicant. In making this determination, the placement evaluation team shall consider the reports of all previous placement-type evaluations performed for such applicant, the medical and program history of the applicant and the services and programs available from this state, contractors of this state and other providers.

I. After the placement evaluation report has been issued and the responsible person accepts the assignment of all programs or services, the department shall enroll the applicant in the programs or services within thirty days, subject to the provisions of subsection B of this section. If the applicant cannot be enrolled within thirty days, written and oral notice, subject to the requirements of Section 36-551.01, subsection P, shall be given to the applicant and the responsible person, within ten days of the department’s determination that the applicant cannot be enrolled, informing such persons of the department’s determination. The notice shall also include the appropriate procedures, which the applicant or the responsible person should follow to assure that the applicant is enrolled.

J. The department may attach conditions to the direct or indirect provision of services with which the client would be required to comply in order to receive the services. These conditions may include requiring the client to participate in appropriate day programs as a condition of providing residential services and residential facilities. A client assigned to a residential program may be required to assist in daily housework in maintaining the facility as part of the client’s individual program.

K. The department may refuse to provide specific services that are requested by the client but that are not recommended for the client as a result of the evaluation.

L. Application for admission shall be one of the following types:

1. "Regular admission" for placement of a person with a developmental disability for developmental disabilities programs and services after a placement evaluation has been conducted for such person.

2. "Emergency admission" for placement of a person with a developmental disability when there is an immediate and compelling need for short-term developmental disabilities programs and services.

M. Regular admission shall be permitted only after a placement evaluation has been conducted and only if space is available at the facility or in the program or service in which placement is requested.

N. Emergency admission for applicants with developmental disabilities shall be permitted even though a placement evaluation has not been performed, if:

1. Space is available at the facility or in the program or service in which placement is requested.

2. The department determines that the facility, program or service will meet the needs of the client.

3. The client has an urgent need for short-term placement and care which the facility, program or service provides and is otherwise eligible for services pursuant to the requirements set forth in section 36-559.

O. Developmental disabilities programs and services may be provided to a person with developmental disabilities admitted pursuant to an emergency admission for a period not to exceed sixty consecutive days following admission or until a placement evaluation is performed, whichever period first occurs.