1. A. The Department of Human Services shall develop and annually review rules establishing minimum standards for group homes. These standards shall be promulgated by the Commission for Human Services and submitted to the Legislature no later than January of each year. These standards shall regulate:

   1. 1. Location and construction of the home, including plumbing, heating, lighting, ventilation, and other physical conditions which shall ensure the health, safety, and comfort of residents and protection from fire hazards;
   2. 2. All sanitary conditions within the group home and its surroundings, including water supply, sewage disposal, food handling, and general hygiene, which shall ensure the health and comfort of residents;
   3. 3. Diet related to the needs of each resident based on sound nutritional practice and on recommendations which may be made by the physicians attending the resident; and
   4. 4. Equipment essential to the health and welfare of the residents.
2. B. The Department may, as necessary and appropriate, establish a system of classification for group homes based upon the level of care or treatment, training, habilitation or rehabilitation services required by residents of the group home, and establish minimum program certification standards for each classification.

3. C. The Commission shall promulgate rules establishing minimum standards for certification of the programs and services of a group home provided to or obtained on behalf of the residents for the specialized care, treatment, training, habilitation or rehabilitation of the residents. The certification standards shall provide for:

   1. 1. Number and qualifications of all personnel, including management and supervisory, direct care, specialized professional or para-professional and other personnel, having responsibility for any part of the care given to residents. The Department shall establish staffing requirements for homes which shall specify the supervision, continued education and training requirements that are needed for care of the residents of the various types of group homes or areas within group homes;
   2. 2. An individualized written plan for the training, habilitation or rehabilitation for each resident of the group home specifying the training, habilitation or rehabilitation objectives and activities for the resident. The plan shall be prepared by an interdisciplinary team of professional, para-professional and direct care personnel of the group home and with the participation of the resident and the resident's guardian or advocate, if any;
   3. 3. Training for the safe administration of medication to a resident;
   4. 4. Accountability for the management and safekeeping of any resident's funds which the group home manages; and
   5. 5. Conditions and procedures for the involuntary transfer or discharge of a resident from a group home.

4. D.

   1. 1. The certification standards for programs and services shall be developed jointly by the Department and the Advisory Board for presentation to the Commission for Human Services for its approval. The standards shall be reviewed at least annually for any necessary modifications by the Department and the Group Homes for Persons with Developmental or Physical Disabilities Advisory Board, and any necessary modifications shall be presented to the Commission for its approval.
   2. 2. Any provider of group home services that has a current contract with the Developmental Disabilities Services Division of the Department of Human Services shall be deemed to be licensed.

Laws 1987, HB 1460, c. 225, § 11; Amended by Laws 1994, HB 2591, c. 236, § 9, eff. September 1, 1994; Amended by Laws 1996, SB 1097, c. 155, § 11, eff. November 1, 1996; Amended by Laws 1996, HB 2964, c. 354, § 11, eff. November 1, 1996; Renumbered from 63 O.S. § 1-818.11 by Laws 1996, HB 2964, c. 354, § 56, eff. November 1, 1996.