Montana to Close the Doors of Last Developmental Center

As described in the article, to accomplish the closure of the center, the legislature identified the following tasks to be completed:

(1)  In conjunction with the transition planning committee established in [section 2] of the SB, develop and implement a plan to close the Montana developmental center by June 30, 2017;

(2)  Funds will be transferred and authorized by sections 17-7-139, 53-20-214, and federal laws and regulations to develop the services needed to move people currently living at the Montana developmental center into community-based services; and

(3)  The target date set to transition most of the people living at the Montana developmental center into community-based services is December 31, 2016.

As part of this transition, the Department of Public Health and Human Services is responsible to:

(a) Actively pursue the timely discharge of Montana developmental center residents into community-based services; and

(b) Work with community providers to build capacity to develop necessary services.

FMI:  Read the article at http://leg.mt.gov/bills/2015/billpdf/SB0411.pdf.