Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 48 - PUBLIC HEALTH-GENERAL
Part I - General Administration
Subpart 1 - General
Chapter 13 - DHH Policy on Reporting Alleged Abuse, Neglect, Mistreatment and Deaths of Gary W. Class Members
Section I-1323 - External Oversight Committee

A. DHH will ensure the development and maintenance of an External Oversight Committee. The function of the committee is to review and monitor the entire system of abuse/neglect reporting, investigation and correction, and all issues associated with the operation of the DHH policy on reporting abuse, neglect, death and/or mistreatment of Gary W. class-members.

B. In addition to the other reporting requirements established in this policy, the Gary W. Project Office will send the committee copies of its six-month summary reports. The committee will review these reports to determine compliance with state policies and procedures and to make recommendations for preventive/corrective action. The committee may recommend new policies, legislation or administrative rules to further reduce the risk of abuse/neglect of class members. Recommendations prepared by the external oversight committee shall be sent to the secretary of DHH: the Gary W. Project Office: the state program office and plaintiff's counsel.

C. DHH shall assure that the external oversight committee has access to technical expertise in the administration of programs for persons with developmental disabilities to carry out its responsibilities under this policy.

D. As long as the Office of the Special Master and/or the Quality Assurance Monitoring Group exists, it shall perform all the functions of the committee set out above. Upon the termination of the order relating to the Independent Monitoring Unit, the parties shall submit recommendations for an independent monitoring unit to the court and the court will select and appoint a unit to undertake these activities and serve as the external oversight committee.