Department to establish official standards for certification.

In order to ensure that consumers of mental health services through state facilities, community mental health centers, and other providers under contract to the department receive individual treatment and that rights delineated in Section 22-56-4 and elsewhere in state and federal law are consistently observed within mental health programs operated by the providers, the department shall establish within 180 days of January 1, 1996, official standards for certification to be observed by all state facilities, community mental health centers, and other providers under contract to the department. These standards shall be developed with the active participation of mental health providers, consumers and family members of consumers. The department shall establish teams to monitor the compliance with these standards by state facilities, community mental health centers, and providers under contract to the department, and consumers and family members shall be significantly represented on the teams.

(Acts 1995, No. 95-744, p. 1690, §5.)