Pursuant to § 1-204.04(b), the Department on Disability Services is established as a separate Cabinet-level agency, subordinate to the Mayor, within the executive branch of the District of Columbia, for the purpose of:

1. (1) Leading the reform of the District’s intellectual or developmental disabilities system by coordinating the collaborative efforts of government agencies, contractor providers, Medicaid waiver providers, labor, and community leaders to improve the care and habilitation services provided to individuals;
2. (2) Ensuring that District laws, regulations, programs, policies, and budgets are developed and implemented to promote inclusion and integration, independence, self-determination, choice, and participation in all aspects of community life for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their families; and
3. (3) Promoting the well-being of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities throughout their life spans, through the delivery of individualized, high-quality, safe services and supports.

History

Mar. 14, 2007, D.C. Law 16-264, § 103, 54 DCR 818

Sept. 26, 2012, D.C. Law 19-169, § 15(b), 59 DCR 5567

May 18, 2022, D.C. Law 24-117, § 2(b)

Editor's Notes

Section 35 of D.C. Law 19-169 provided that no provision of the act shall impair any right or obligation existing under law.

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 103 of Developmental Disabilities Services Management Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-672, December 28, 2006, 54 DCR 1155).

Effect of Amendments

The 2012 amendment by D.C. Law 19-169, in (1), substituted “intellectual” for “mental retardation” and “individuals” for “consumers.”

Section References

This section is referenced in § 7-761.02 and § 7-1301.03.

Applicability

Applicability of D.C. Law 24-117: § 4 of D.C. Law 24-117 provided that the change made to this section by § 2(b) of D.C. Law 24-117 is subject to the inclusion of the law’s fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan. Therefore that amendment has not been implemented.

Section 7139 of D.C. Law 24-167 amended section 4 of D.C. Law 24-117 removing the applicability provision impacting this section. Therefore the amendment of this section by section 2(b) of Law 24-117 has been implemented.