9901.1 Each home support agency shall maintain an operating office within the District of Columbia. This office shall be staffed at least eight (8) hours per business day.

9901.2 The business hours of the operating office shall be posted publicly so that they are visible from the outside of the office. The home support agency shall maintain a public website that provides, at a minimum, the home support agency's business hours, services provided, ownership information, key personnel, and contact information that includes a phone number and email address.

9901.3 A separate license shall be required for each operating office maintained by a home support agency.

9901.4 Each operating office shall either store at the office in paper form or have immediately available electronically the following records:

1. (a) Client records for all clients served within the District of Columbia;
2. (b) Personnel records for all employees;
3. (c) Home support agency policies and procedures;
4. (d) Incident reports and investigations; and
5. (e) Complaint reports and investigations.

9901.5 All other records and documents required under this chapter and other applicable laws and regulations that are not maintained within the operating office shall be produced for inspection within two (2) hours after a request by the Department, or within a shorter time if the Department so specifies.

9901.6 Each home support agency shall post its license in a conspicuous place within the operating office.

9901.7 Prior to any change in office location, a home support agency shall:

1. (a) Notify the Department in writing at least sixty (60) days prior to the change;
2. (b) Provide the following documentation to the Department:
3. (1) The new address;

(2) A copy of the lease agreement for the new office location, if applicable;

(3) A certificate of insurance reflecting the new address;

(4) A certificate of occupancy reflecting the new address;

(5) A Clean hands certificate in accordance with the D.C. Official Code §§ 47-2861 et seq.; and

(6) A Certificate of Good Standing for a corporation to be obtained from the Office of the Registrar of Corporations at the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs; and

(c) Notify clients and staff in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to the change.

9901.8 The operating office shall be open to employees, clients, client representatives, and prospective clients and their representatives during business hours.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 9476 (August 7, 2020).