The Department of Human Services shall have the power and duty to:

1. 1. Enforce any provision and prosecute any violation of the Group Homes for Persons with Developmental or Physical Disabilities Act;
2. 2. Issue, renew, deny, modify, suspend, and revoke licenses for group homes pursuant to the provisions of the Group Homes for Persons with Developmental or Physical Disabilities Act; provided, however, providers of group home services that have a current contract with the Developmental Disabilities Services Division shall be deemed to be licensed;
3. 3. Establish and enforce standards and requirements for licensure and program certification of group homes which are subject to the provisions of the Group Homes for Persons with Developmental or Physical Disabilities Act and require the submission of, and to review, reports from any person establishing or operating a group home;
4. 4. Enter upon any public or private property for the purpose of inspecting and investigating conditions of the residents in the group home or for the purpose of inspecting and investigating the home for compliance with the provisions of the Group Homes for Persons with Developmental or Physical Disabilities Act, or the standards or requirements for licensure and program certification developed by the Department pursuant to the provisions of the Group Homes for Persons with Developmental or Physical Disabilities Act;
5. 5. Employ or designate personnel to conduct investigations and inspections, to make reports of the condition of group homes and the residents of such homes, and to take necessary action pursuant to the provisions of the Group Homes for Persons with Developmental or Physical Disabilities Act to protect and safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of residents of homes;
6. 6. Establish a procedure for receipt and investigation of complaints regarding a group home or concerning the condition, care, and treatment of a resident of a home, a copy of which procedure shall be distributed to all providers of group home services;
7. 7. Report to the district attorney having jurisdiction or the Attorney General any act committed by a provider, administrator, operator, or employee of a group home which may constitute a misdemeanor pursuant to the provisions of the Group Homes for Persons with Developmental or Physical Disabilities Act;
8. 8. Advise, consult, and cooperate with other agencies of this state, the federal government, other states and interstate agencies, and with affected groups and political subdivisions to further the purposes of the provisions of the Group Homes for Persons with Developmental or Physical Disabilities Act;
9. 9. Develop and enforce rules subject to the approval of the Commission for Human Services to implement the provisions of the Group Homes for Persons with Developmental or Physical Disabilities Act. Such rules shall include, but not be limited to, physical conditions which shall protect the health, safety, and welfare of the residents in a group home as outlined in the Group Homes for Persons with Developmental or Physical Disabilities Act;
10. 10. Investigate, request or otherwise obtain the information necessary to determine the qualifications and background of an applicant for licensure;
11. 11. Establish civil penalties for violations of the provisions of the Group Homes for Persons with Developmental or Physical Disabilities Act as authorized by the Commission pursuant to the provisions of the Group Homes for Persons with Developmental or Physical Disabilities Act;
12. 12. Institute and maintain or intervene in any action or proceeding where deemed necessary by the Department to protect the health, safety, and welfare of any resident of a group home;
13. 13. Transfer or discharge a resident or otherwise protect the health, safety, and welfare of any resident of a group home; and
14. 14. Exercise all incidental powers as necessary and proper for the administration of the Group Homes for Persons with Developmental or Physical Disabilities Act.

Laws 1987, HB 1460, c. 225, § 3, eff. July 1, 1987; Amended by Laws 1994, HB 2591, c. 236, § 4, eff. September 1, 1994; Amended by Laws 1996, SB 1097, c. 155, § 3, eff. November 1, 1996; Amended by Laws 1996, HB 2964, c. 354, § 3, eff. November 1, 1996. Renumbered from 63 O.S. § 1-818.3 by Laws 1996, HB 2964, c.354, § 56, eff. November 1, 1996.