(a) The commissioner shall employ an assistant commissioner for state supported living centers. The assistant commissioner must be selected based on education, training, experience, and demonstrated ability.
(b) The assistant commissioner reports directly to the commissioner.

(c) The assistant commissioner shall supervise the operation of the state supported living centers. As part of that duty, the assistant commissioner shall:
(1) verify that quality health and medical services are being provided in state supported living centers;
(2) verify and certify employee qualifications for employees of a state supported living center; and
(3) work with the commissioner to create administrative guidelines for proper implementation of federal and state statutory law and judicial decisions.
(d) The assistant commissioner shall coordinate with the appropriate staff of the Department of State Health Services to ensure that the ICF-IID component of the Rio Grande State Center implements and enforces state law and rules that apply to the operation of state supported living centers.
(e) The assistant commissioner shall consult with the appropriate staff at the Department of State Health Services to ensure that an individual with a dual diagnosis of mental illness and an intellectual disability who is a resident of a state supported living center or the ICF-IID component of the Rio Grande State Center is provided with appropriate care and treatment.