Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 39, September 26, 2024
(a) Each
contracting CDDO, in conjunction with the council of community members as
specified in K.A.R. 30-64-31, shall develop and implement a dispute resolution
procedure that shall provide persons being served by the CDDO, or by any
community service provider affiliated with that CDDO, with a means for
resolving disputes that may arise between the following:
(1)
(A) The
person;
(B) the person's legal
guardian, if one has been appointed; or
(C) other individuals from the person's
support network; and
(2)
(A) The
CDDO;
(B) an affiliated community
service provider; or
(C) any other
component of the community services system.
(b) These procedures shall provide a means
for resolving disputes that may arise between any of the following:
(1) The CDDO and any affiliated community
service provider;
(2) the CDDO and
any entity that wishes to become an affiliated provider;
(3) the CDDO and any other component of the
community services system;
(4) any
affiliated community service providers; or
(5) any affiliated provider and any other
component of the community service system.
(c) The procedures shall provide for the
following:
(1) A local dispute-resolution
process providing the opportunity for resolution between the disputing parties,
to be completed no later than 20 calendar days following receipt of written
notice to the CDDO of a dispute;
(2) an opportunity for the intervention into
the dispute by a mediator who has no decision-making authority and is impartial
to the issues being discussed, and a mechanism by which any fees charged by the
mediator can be shared equally between the parties to the mediation. A person
shall not be denied mediation services solely because of an inability to pay
the applicable fee. Mediation shall be completed no later than 40 calendar days
following the receipt of written notice to the CDDO of a dispute referred to in
paragraph (c) (1) above. Any party to the dispute may decline to enter into any
process of mediation if that party chooses to proceed directly to the appeal
procedures provided for in paragraph (c) (3) below. Any party to the dispute
may withdraw from any mediation whenever that party believes further efforts at
mediation will not likely result in resolution of the dispute; and
(3) the right of any party to the dispute to
appeal to either of the following:
(A) The
governing board of the CDDO, or any other body that the board may designate, if
the dispute involves the CDDO as a party. The board shall have 20 days from the
date of receipt of a written notice of appeal to conduct any appropriate
proceedings and issue a written decision concerning the issues in dispute. If
the board fails to issue a written decision by the end of this 20-day period,
the appeal shall be deemed to have been decided in favor of the appellant. Each
decision of the board shall be binding upon the parties unless either party
further appeals to the commission as specified in paragraph (c) (3) (B); or
(B) the commission, unless the
dispute involves the CDDO as a party, in which case the appeal shall first have
been made to the governing board, as specified in paragraph (c) (3) (A). If the
appeal is from a decision of the governing board of the CDDO, a written notice
of appeal shall be delivered to the commission within 10 calendar days of the
appealing party's receipt of the board's decision. If the dispute does not
involve the CDDO as a party, a written notice of appeal shall be delivered to
the commission within 60 calendar days following the CDDO's receipt of written
notice of the dispute as specified in paragraph (c) (1) above. The authority to
review the dispute and make an appropriate decision shall be reserved by the
commission to assist the parties in resolving the dispute and preventing
similar disputes in the future, including by requiring changes of policies,
procedures, or practices of community service participants; by requiring
corrective action or a peer review process by community service participants;
or by using other resolution guidelines. The decision of the division may be
appealed to the office of administrative appeals within the Kansas department
of administration pursuant to article 7.
(d) Nothing in this resolution shall be
construed to limit the right of any person to bring any action against a CDDO,
any affiliated community service provider, or any other individual or entity as
may be permitted by law.