(a) Persons with mental retardation who admit themselves to a facility under § 7-1303.02, and persons with mental retardation whose commitment is sought under § 7-1303.04 or § 7-1303.06, shall have the assistance of a mental retardation advocate in every proceeding and at each stage in such proceedings under this chapter.
(b) Upon receipt of the petition for commitment or notification of admission as provided in §§ 7-1303.02, 7-1303.04, and 7-1303.06, the Court shall appoint a qualified mental retardation advocate selected from a list of such advocates it maintains.
(c) Mental retardation advocates shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) To inform persons subject to the procedures set forth in this chapter of their rights;
(2) To consult with the person, his or her family and others concerned with his or her habilitation and well being;
(3) To ensure by all means, including case referral to legal services, agencies and other practicing lawyers, that the person is afforded all rights under the law; and
(4) To guide and assist the person in such a manner as to encourage self-reliance and enable the person to participate to the greatest extent possible in decisions concerning his or her habilitation plan, and the services to be provided under this plan.
(d) The mental retardation advocate shall receive notice and shall have the right to participate in all meetings, conferences or other proceedings relating to any matter affecting provision of services to the person including, but not limited to, comprehensive evaluation, habilitation plan, petition and hearings for commitment and for periodic review of the commitment.
(e) The mental retardation advocate shall have access to all records, reports and documents affecting his or her client.
(f) The mental retardation advocate shall have access to all personnel and facilities responsible for providing care or services to his or her client and shall be permitted to visit and communicate with his or her client in private, and at any reasonable time without prior notice; provided, that he or she shows reasonable cause for visiting at times other than visiting hours.
(g) The mental retardation advocate shall be a person with training and experience in the field of mental retardation.
(h) Advocates shall be provided directly by the Court or by a contract with individuals or organizations including local associations for consumers of mental retardation services; however, the Court shall ensure that contracts and other arrangements for selection and provision of advocates provide that each mental retardation advocate shall be independent of any public or private agency which provides services to persons subject to this chapter.
(i) In the selection, training and development of the advocacy provision of this section, the Court shall explore and seek out potential sources of funding at the federal and District levels.
(j) Advocates shall be provided with facilities, supplies, and secretarial and other support services sufficient to enable them to carry out their duties under this chapter.
(k) All communication between advocates and their clients shall remain confidential and privileged as if between attorney and client.
(l) The Court shall promulgate such rules amplifying and clarifying this section as it deems necessary.
(m) Persons with mental retardation subject to this chapter may knowingly reject the services of a mental retardation advocate and shall be so advised by the Court. Advocates whose services have been rejected by the person with mental retardation shall not have the rights set forth in subsections (c), (d), (e), (f) and (j) of this section.
(n) If so authorized by the Court, the mental retardation advocate shall be permitted to grant, refuse, or withdraw consent on behalf of his or her client with respect to the provision of any health-care service, treatment, or procedure, consistent with the provisions of Chapter 22 of Title 21.
CREDIT(S)
(Mar. 3, 1979, D.C. Law 2-137, § 413, 25 DCR 5094; Apr. 24, 2007, D.C. Law 16-305, § 26(o), 53 DCR 6198; Oct. 22, 2008, D.C. Law 17-249, § 5(b), 55 DCR 9206.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-1953.
1973 Ed., § 6-1680.
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 16-305, in subsecs. (a) and (m), substituted “persons with mental retardation” for “mentally retarded persons”.
D.C. Law 17-249 added subsec. (n).
Temporary Amendments of Section
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 4(b) of Health-Care Decisions for Persons with Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Temporary Amendment Act of 2005 (D.C. Law 16-46, February 9, 2006, law notification 53 DCR 1454).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 4(b) of Health-Care Decisions for Persons with Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Temporary Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Law 16-194, March 2, 2007, law notification 54 DCR 2492).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 4(b) of Health-Care Decisions for Persons with Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Temporary Amendment Act of 2007 (D.C. Law 17-100, February 2, 2008, law notification 55 DCR 3407).
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 4(b) of Health-Care Decisions for Persons with Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Emergency Amendment Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-190, October 28, 2005, 52 DCR 10021).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 4(b) of Health-Care Decisions for Persons with Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-262, January 26, 2006, 53 DCR 795).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 4(b) of Health-Care Decisions for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-480, September 25, 2006, 53 DCR 7940).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 4(b) of Health-Care Decisions for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-566, December 19, 2006, 53 DCR 10272).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 4(b) of Health-Care Decisions for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Emergency Act of 2007 (D.C. Act 17-161, October 18, 2007, 54 DCR 10932).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 4(b) of Health-Care Decisions for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2008 (D.C. Act 17-245, January 23, 2008, 55 DCR 1230).
For temporary (90 day) amendment, see § 5(b) of Health-Care Decisions for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Emergency Act of 2008 (D.C. Act 17-492, August 4, 2008, 55 DCR 9167).
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 2-137, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 7-1301.02.
For Law 16-305, see notes following § 7-531.01.
For Law 17-249, see notes following § 7-1203.03.