(a)  Any individual of lawful age, either personally, or on the application of any relative, friend, or attorney with the individual’s consent, must apply, orally or in writing, for voluntary admission to any facility provided for by this chapter seeking care and residence for alleged developmental disability.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 40.1-22-7

  • Client: means any developmentally disabled adult who is in potential need of, or is receiving, services aimed at alleviating his or her condition of functional dependence. See Rhode Island General Laws 40.1-22-3
  • Facility: means any public or private facility, inpatient rehabilitation center, hospital, institution, or other domiciliary facility, the office of developmental disabilities or any part thereof, equipped to habilitate, on a residential basis, persons who are developmentally disabled and in need of residential care. See Rhode Island General Laws 40.1-22-3
  • in writing: include printing, engraving, lithographing, and photo-lithographing, and all other representations of words in letters of the usual form. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-16
  • Notice: means written notice in as simple and non-technical language as practicable as required by the department, or the court of competent jurisdiction. See Rhode Island General Laws 40.1-22-3
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6

(b)  In the discretion of the superintendent or other official in charge of the facility, the individual may be retained for a period not exceeding three (3) days after receipt of written notice from the individual of his or her intention or desire to leave the facility. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, no person admitted to any facility as a voluntary client shall be deprived of any civil right solely by reason of admission nor shall admission modify or vary any civil right of the person, including, but not limited to, civil service or merit rating, ranking, and appointment, or rights relating to the granting, forfeiture, or denial of a license, permit, privilege, or benefit pursuant to any law.

History of Section.
P.L. 1970, ch. 324, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 195, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-43.1-7; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 122, § 2.