RCW 43.382.005 Developmental disabilities ombuds—Office creation. (1) There is created an office of the developmental disabilities ombuds. The department of commerce shall contract with a private, independent nonprofit organization to provide developmental disability ombuds services. The department of commerce shall designate, by a competitive bidding process, the nonprofit organization that will contract to operate the […]
RCW 43.382.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) “Administration” means the developmental disabilities administration of the department of social and health services. (2) “Department” means the department of social and health services. (3) “Ombuds” means the office of the developmental disabilities ombuds. [ 2016 […]
RCW 43.382.020 Memoranda of agreement—Authority—Overlap with other agencies. The ombuds shall collaborate and have a memoranda of agreement with the office of the state long-term care ombuds, the office of the family and children’s ombuds, Washington protection and advocacy system, the mental health ombuds, and the office of the education ombuds to clarify authority in […]
RCW 43.382.030 Developmental disabilities ombuds—Prohibited acts. (1) A developmental disabilities ombuds shall not have participated in the paid provision of services to any person with developmental disabilities within the past year. (2) A developmental disabilities ombuds shall not have been employed in a governmental position with direct involvement in the licensing, certification, or regulation of […]
RCW 43.382.040 Confidentiality—Public disclosure exemption. The ombuds shall treat all matters under investigation, including the identities of service recipients, complainants, and individuals from whom information is acquired, as confidential, except as far as disclosures may be necessary to enable the ombuds to perform the duties of the office and to support any recommendations resulting from […]
RCW 43.382.050 Identifying information—Disclosure. (1) Identifying information about complainants or witnesses is not subject to any method of legal compulsion and may not be revealed to the legislature or the governor except under the following circumstances: (a) The complainant or witness waives confidentiality; (b) under a legislative subpoena when there is a legislative investigation for […]
RCW 43.382.060 Privilege—Exceptions. The privilege described in RCW 43.382.050 does not apply when: (1) The ombuds or ombuds’ staff member has direct knowledge of an alleged crime, and the testimony, evidence, or discovery sought is relevant to that allegation; (2) The ombuds or a member of the ombuds’ staff has received a threat of, or […]
RCW 43.382.070 Immunity from liability. (1) An employee of the office of the developmental disabilities ombuds is not liable for good faith performance of responsibilities under this chapter. (2) No discriminatory, disciplinary, or retaliatory action may be taken against an employee of the department, an employee of the department of commerce, an employee of a […]
RCW 43.382.080 Mandatory reporting—Behavior warranting criminal or disciplinary proceedings. When the ombuds or ombuds’ staff member has reasonable cause to believe that any public official, employee, or other person has acted in a manner warranting criminal or disciplinary proceedings, the ombuds or ombuds’ staff member shall report the matter, or cause a report to be […]
RCW 43.382.090 Department of social and health services—Department of health—Duties. The department and the department of health shall: (1) Allow the ombuds or the ombuds’ designee to communicate privately with any person receiving services from the department, or any person who is part of a fatality or near fatality investigation involving a person with developmental […]
