Section 37-2-5.2. Regional planning boards -- Duties and functions; power to contract; delegation of powers and duties; books of account

   (a) Under the supervision of the department, each regional office shall have the following duties and functions:

   (1) To prepare, in consultation with consumers and families, community programs, hospitals, other public and private providers, its regional planning board, and appropriate advisory and advocacy groups, an annual plan identifying the needs and priorities for disability services in the region. The plan shall be submitted to the department at a time and in the manner specified by the department so as to ensure that the plan informs the annual appropriations request;

   (2) To provide, as funds become available, for consumer assessment and service authorization and coordination for each consumer receiving services within the region;

   (3) To exercise responsibility and authority as specified in this chapter within the region in all matters relating to the funding and delivery of disability services;

   (4) To receive and administer grants, gifts, moneys, and donations for purposes pertaining to mental health, developmental disability, and addictive disease services;

   (5) To enter into contracts on behalf of the department with any hospital, community service board, or other public or private providers without regard to regional or state boundaries for the provision of disability services, and to enter into all contracts on behalf of the department necessary or incidental to the performance of duties and functions of the department and regional office;

   (6) To encourage the development, in cooperation with the department, of private and public providers of programs and disability services which respond to the needs of consumers and families of consumers within the region;

   (7) To serve as the representative of the citizens of the area in regard to disability services;

   (8) To receive and consider complaints and grievances submitted by individuals, associations, or agencies involved with the delivery or receipt of disability services and, if deemed appropriate, to seek resolution, through processes which may include impartial mediation and alternative dispute resolution, of such complaints and grievances with the appropriate hospital, community service board, or other private or public provider of service;

   (9) To assure the highest achievable level of public awareness and understanding of both available and needed disability services;

   (10) To visit regularly disability services facilities and programs which serve the region in order to assure contracted providers are licensed and accredited by the designated agencies prescribed by the department, and in order to evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of the services, as such services relate to the health, safety, and welfare of service recipients, and to provide technical assistance to programs in delivering services; and

   (11) To participate with other regional offices and planning boards, the department, local, state, or federal government agencies, educational institutions, and public and private organizations in the coordination of planning, research, service development, and evaluation activities:

      (A) To work cooperatively with all units of county and local government, including the county boards of health, within the region;

      (B) To establish goals and objectives, not inconsistent with those established by the department, for its region; and

      (C) To participate in the establishment and operation of a data base and network, coordinated by the department, to serve as a comprehensive management information system for disability services and programs.

(b) It is the express intent of this chapter to confer upon the regional offices as the administrative entities of the department the flexibility, responsibility, and authority necessary to enter into contracts on behalf of the department with a wide range of public and private providers to ensure that consumers are afforded cost-effective, locally based, and quality disability services. Under the supervision of the department, regional offices are specifically authorized to enter into contracts on behalf of the department directly with any county governing authority, any disability services organization created or designated by such county governing authority, any county board of health, any private or public provider, or any hospital for the provision of disability services.

(c) Each regional office shall account for all funds received, expended, and administered and shall make reports to the department regarding the funds received from the department. The audit of such activity shall be part of the annual audit of the department.

Code 1981, § 37-2-5.2, enacted by Ga. L. 1993, p. 1445, § 16; Ga. L. 2002, p. 1324, § 1-7; Ga. L. 2009, p. 453, § 3-1/HB 228; Ga. L. 2010, p. 286, § 7/SB 244; Ga. L. 2010, p. 878, § 37/HB 1387.