(a) No person, firm or corporation shall operate within this state a community living arrangement or community companion home which it owns, leases or rents for the lodging, care or treatment of persons with intellectual disability, Prader-Willi syndrome or autism spectrum disorder unless such person, firm or corporation, upon written application, has obtained a license issued by the Department of Developmental Services. An application for licensure under this section shall be verified by oath, but need not be notarized.

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(b) The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to ensure the comfort, safety, adequate medical care and treatment of such persons at the residential facilities described in subsection (a) of this section. Such regulations shall include requirements that: (1) All residential facility staff be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a manner and time frame prescribed by the commissioner; (2) records of staffing schedules and actual staff hours worked, by residential facility, be available for inspection by the department upon advance notice; (3) each residential facility develop and implement emergency plans and staff training to address emergencies that may pose a threat to the health and safety of the residents of the facility; (4) department staff verify during quality service reviews and licensing inspections, that (A) staff is adequately trained to respond in an emergency, and (B) a summary of information on each resident is available to emergency medical personnel for use in an emergency; (5) all residential facilities serving persons with Down syndrome fifty years of age or older have at least one staff member trained in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia symptoms and care; and (6) for community living arrangements, the commissioner shall determine a minimum number of licensure-related visits that are unannounced.

(c) After receiving an application and making such investigation as is deemed necessary and after finding the specified requirements to have been fulfilled, the department shall grant a license to such applicant to operate a facility of the character described in such application, which license shall specify the name of the person to have charge and the location of each facility operated under the license. Any person, firm or corporation aggrieved by any requirement of the regulations or by the refusal to grant any license may request an administrative hearing in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. If the licensee of any such facility desires to place in charge thereof a person other than the one specified in the license, application shall be made to the Department of Developmental Services, in the same manner as provided for the original application, for permission to make such change. Such application shall be acted upon not later than ten calendar days from the date of the filing of the application. Each such license shall be renewed annually upon such terms as may be established by regulations and may be revoked by the department upon proof that the facility for which such license was issued is being improperly operated, or for the violation of any of the provisions of this section or of the regulations adopted pursuant to this section, provided the licensee shall first be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard in reference to such proposed revocation. Any person, firm or corporation aggrieved by such revocation may request an administrative hearing in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. Each person, firm or corporation, upon filing an application under the provisions of this section for a license for a community living arrangement, shall pay to the State Treasurer the sum of fifty dollars unless such fee is waived by the commissioner.

(d) The Department of Developmental Services may contract, within available appropriations, with any qualified provider for the operation of a community-based residential facility, provided the qualified provider is licensed by the department to operate such facilities. The department shall include in all contracts with such licensed qualified providers, provisions requiring the department to (1) conduct periodic reviews of contract performance, and (2) take progressive enforcement actions if the department finds poor performance or noncompliance with the contract, as follows: (A) The licensed qualified provider may be placed on a strict schedule of monitoring and oversight by the department; (B) the licensed qualified provider may be placed on a partial-year contract; and (C) payments due under the contract may be reduced by specific amounts on a monthly basis until the licensed qualified provider complies with the contract. If compliance cannot be achieved, the department shall terminate the contract.

(e) The department may contract with any person, firm or corporation to provide residential support services for persons with intellectual disability, Prader-Willi syndrome or autism spectrum disorder who reside in settings which are not licensed by the department. The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to ensure the safety, adequate supervision and support of persons receiving such residential support services.

(f) Any person, firm or corporation who operates any facility contrary to the provisions of this section shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than six months or both. Any person, firm or corporation who operates any facility contrary to the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars.