(a)  Every agency must establish a written grievance procedure. The grievance procedure shall be presented to every participant or applicant in a manner consistent with the participant’s or applicant’s learning style and be conspicuously posted in each agency. The notice of grievance procedure shall include the name of organizations that provide free legal assistance.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 40.1-26-5

  • Advocate: means : (i) A legal guardian; or (ii) An individual acting on behalf of a person with a developmental disability in a manner clearly consistent with the interests of the person with a developmental disability and includes a family member, friend, or professional advocate. See Rhode Island General Laws 40.1-26-2
  • Agency: means any person or organization that provides day-program services, residential services, support services, or advocacy services for persons with developmental disabilities, and that is licensed by the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals pursuant to § 40. See Rhode Island General Laws 40.1-26-2
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Applicant: means any person with a developmental disability who has applied for services from the division of developmental disabilities and/or any agency licensed by the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals pursuant to § 40. See Rhode Island General Laws 40.1-26-2
  • Department: means the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals. See Rhode Island General Laws 40.1-26-2
  • Participant: means any person eighteen (18) years or older, with a developmental disability who receives services from the division of developmental disabilities and/or an agency licensed by the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals. See Rhode Island General Laws 40.1-26-2

(b)  The participant, applicant, or advocate shall be entitled to initiate a grievance at all times and to this end, grievance forms shall be made available at all times. It shall be the duty of each agency to encourage and assist the participant or applicant in exercising his or her rights under this section.

(c)  The participant, applicant, or advocate shall initiate the grievance by filing a grievance form with the director of the agency. The director shall forthwith forward a copy of the grievance form to the chair of the human rights committee.

(d)  The director, or his or her designee, with the assistance of the chair of the human rights committee, or his or her designee, shall investigate the grievance and issue a written decision to the participant, applicant, or advocate within five (5) business days of receipt of the grievance. The written decision shall include a copy of the grievance; a list of persons interviewed in the investigation; the steps taken to resolve the grievance; and the conclusion of the director, or his or her designee.

(e)  A participant, applicant, or advocate who is not satisfied with the decision of the director shall have the right to appeal that decision under regulations promulgated by the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals. These regulations shall, at a minimum, provide for review of the grievance as a “contested case” at an administrative hearing that meets the requirements of § 42-35-9. The chair of the human rights committee, or his or her designee, shall, if necessary, assist the participant in requesting a review.

History of Section.
P.L. 1990, ch. 414, § 1; P.L. 1994, ch. 83, § 2.