1. The division of developmental disabilities, created by the omnibus reorganization act of 1974, section 9, appendix B, RSMo, shall be a division of the department. The division shall have the responsibility of insuring that intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities prevention, evaluation, care, habilitation and rehabilitation services are accessible, wherever possible. The division shall have and exercise supervision of division residential facilities, day programs and other specialized services operated by the department, and oversight over facilities, programs and services funded or licensed by the department.

2. The powers, functions and duties of the division shall include the following:

(1) Provision of funds for the planning and implementation of accessible programs to serve persons affected by intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities;

(2) Review of developmental disabilities plans submitted to receive state and federal funds allocated by the department;

(3) Provision of technical assistance and training to community-based programs to assist in the planning and implementation of quality services;

(4) Assurance of program quality in compliance with such appropriate standards as may be established by the department;

(5) Sponsorship and encouragement of research into the causes, effects, prevention, habilitation and rehabilitation of intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities;

(6) Provision of public information relating to developmental disabilities and their habilitation;

(7) Cooperation with nonstate governmental agencies and the private sector in establishing, conducting, integrating and coordinating developmental disabilities programs and projects;

(8) Cooperation with other state agencies to encourage appropriate health facilities to serve, without discrimination, persons with an intellectual disability or a developmental disability who require medical care and to provide them with adequate and appropriate services;

(9) Participation in developing and implementing a statewide plan to alleviate problems relating to developmental disabilities and to overcome the barriers to their solutions;

(10) Encouragement of coordination of division services with other divisions of the department and other state agencies;

(11) Encouragement of the utilization, support, assistance and dedication of volunteers to assist persons affected by intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities to be accepted and integrated into normal community activities;

(12) Evaluation, or the requirement of the evaluation, including the collection of appropriate necessary information, of developmental disabilities programs to determine their cost-and-benefit effectiveness;

(13) Participation in developing standards for residential facilities, day programs and specialized services operated, funded or licensed by the department for persons affected by developmental disabilities.