Section 40.1-22-1. – Short title.

§ 40.1-22-1. Short title. This chapter shall be known as the “Developmental Disabilities Law.” History of Section.P.L. 1970, ch. 324, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-43.1-1; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 122, § 2.

Section 40.1-22-10. – Discharges — Judicial review.

§ 40.1-22-10. Discharges — Judicial review. (a) Any resident over eighteen (18) years of age or married residents under eighteen (18), except any resident who is under court-ordered restriction, shall be free to leave any public or private developmental disabilities facility at any time upon giving written or oral notice of the intention to the […]

Section 40.1-22-11. – [Repealed.]

§ 40.1-22-11. [Repealed.] History of Section.P.L. 1970, ch. 324, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 195, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-43.1-11; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; Repealed by P.L. 1995, ch. 122, § 2, effective July 1, 1995.

Section 40.1-22-12. – Forwarding of client’s letters.

§ 40.1-22-12. Forwarding of client’s letters. All letters written by clients in any public or private developmental disabilities facility shall be forwarded unopened. History of Section.P.L. 1970, ch. 324, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-43.1-12; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 122, § 2.

Section 40.1-22-13. – Visits.

§ 40.1-22-13. Visits. No public or private developmental disabilities facility shall restrict the visiting of a client by anyone at any time of the day or night; however, in special circumstances when the client is ill or incapacitated and a visit would not be in his or her best interest, visitation may be restricted temporarily […]

Section 40.1-22-14. – Retention of client for more than six (6) months.

§ 40.1-22-14. Retention of client for more than six (6) months. In cases other than voluntary admissions, if it is determined that care and treatment for a period in excess of six (6) months is required, and no prior application for a hearing was made by the client or someone in his or her behalf, […]

Section 40.1-22-15. – Hearings.

§ 40.1-22-15. Hearings. In the case of a hearing the matter shall be heard as provided in § 40.1-22-10, so far as possible. History of Section.P.L. 1970, ch. 324, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-43.1-15; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1.

Section 40.1-22-16. – Discharge.

§ 40.1-22-16. Discharge. The director or the superintendent or official in charge of any facility, on having his or her reasons noted on the client’s record, may discharge any client: (1) Who, in his or her judgment, is substantially improved. (2) Who, in his or her opinion, is not developmentally disabled. (3) Who is not […]

Section 40.1-22-17. – Refusal to discharge.

§ 40.1-22-17. Refusal to discharge. (a) When the official in charge of any facility is unwilling to certify to the discharge of an unimproved client upon request, and so certifies in writing, noting his or her reasons therefor, in the client’s record, he or she shall give a copy thereof to the person applying for […]

Section 40.1-22-18. – [Repealed.]

§ 40.1-22-18. [Repealed.] History of Section.P.L. 1970, ch. 324, § 1; P.L. 1971, ch. 266, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 195, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-43.1-18; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; Repealed by P.L. 1995, ch. 122, § 2, effective July 1, 1995.

Section 40.1-22-19. – Aliens and nonresidents.

§ 40.1-22-19. Aliens and nonresidents. (a) The director shall be responsible for the investigation and examination of all alien and nonresident persons who are developmentally disabled in any facility under the jurisdiction of the department of health, department of human services or elsewhere if admitted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, and to attend […]

Section 40.1-22-2. – [Repealed.]

§ 40.1-22-2. [Repealed.] History of Section.P.L. 1970, ch. 324, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-43.1-2; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; Repealed by P.L. 1995, ch. 122, § 2, effective July 1, 1995.

Section 40.1-22-20. – Exclusiveness of this chapter.

§ 40.1-22-20. Exclusiveness of this chapter. Where under any provision of any existing law, except in the case of a person held under criminal process, any person coming within the definition of a developmentally disabled adult as defined in this chapter, shall have recourse to or be dealt with as provided in this chapter, exclusively. […]

Section 40.1-22-21. – State support of poor or indigent clients.

§ 40.1-22-21. State support of poor or indigent clients. The director may maintain without charge or defray the expense of care and treatment of such poor or indigent persons as are developmentally disabled clients under treatment in accordance with the provisions of this chapter who are residents of this state and proper subjects of state […]

Section 40.1-22-22. – Guardians ad litem.

§ 40.1-22-22. Guardians ad litem. (a) At any hearing hereunder, the court may appoint guardians ad litem to represent any client in matters of admission or retention under the provisions of this law. It shall be the duty of the guardian ad litem to make an investigation of the facts, and to report the facts […]

Section 40.1-22-23. – Emergency medical or surgical care.

§ 40.1-22-23. Emergency medical or surgical care. Whenever it shall be brought to the attention of the person in charge of a facility, that a client who is resident in that facility is in need of emergency medical and/or surgical care and treatment on the written advice of a physician licensed to practice in Rhode […]

Section 40.1-22-24. – [Repealed.]

§ 40.1-22-24. [Repealed.] History of Section.P.L. 1970, ch. 324, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-43.1-24; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; Repealed by P.L. 1995, ch. 122, § 2, effective July 1, 1995.

Section 40.1-22-25. – Conspiracy to commit person improperly.

§ 40.1-22-25. Conspiracy to commit person improperly. Any person who willfully conspires with any other person unlawfully or improperly to cause to be admitted to any facility as developmentally disabled any person who is not developmentally disabled as defined in this chapter shall, on conviction therefor, be fined not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) or […]

Section 40.1-22-26. – Deprivation of rights.

§ 40.1-22-26. Deprivation of rights. Any person who willfully withholds from or denies to any person admitted to a facility as defined in § 40.1-22-3 any of his or her rights as granted in this chapter shall, on conviction thereof, be fined not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000) or imprisoned not exceeding two (2) years […]

Section 40.1-22-27. – Disciplinary action against employee.

§ 40.1-22-27. Disciplinary action against employee. Any employee of any facility who shall deny to or withhold from any client any right granted him or her by law shall, independently of the criminal sanctions described in § 40.1-22-26, be subject to such disciplinary action as the director of the facility shall see fit to impose, […]