Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 24 - Mental Health
Part 2 - Operational Standards for Mental Health, Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Community Service Providers
Chapter 30 - Residential Services for People with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities
Rule 24-2-30.4 - Environment and Safety for Supervised Living Services for Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities

A. Supervised Living Services locations must be a "home-like" environment.

B. All service locations must have furnishings that are safe, up-to-date, comfortable, appropriate, and adequate. Furnishings, to the greatest extent possible, are chosen by the people currently living in the home.

C. All agency providers must provide access to a washer and dryer in the home, apartment, or apartment complex and must ensure the laundry room or area has an exterior ventilation system for the clothes dryer free from excessive lint and dust accumulation.

D. Agency providers must develop policies regarding pets and animals on the premises. Animal/Pet policies must address, at a minimum, the following:

E. Bedrooms must not have windows over forty-four (44) inches off the floor if identified as a means of egress. All windows at all levels must be operable.

F. Bedrooms must meet the following dimension requirements:

G. Bedrooms must be appropriately furnished with a minimum of a single bed, chest of drawers, appropriate lighting and adequate storage/closet space for each person.

H. Bedrooms must be located so as to minimize the entrance of unpleasant odors, excessive noise, or other nuisances.

I. Beds must be provided with a good grade of mattress which is at least four (4) inches thick on a raised bed frame. Cots or roll-away beds may not be used.

J. Each bed must be equipped with a minimum of one (1) pillow and case, two (2) sheets, spread, and blanket(s). An adequate supply of linens must be available to change linens at least once a week or sooner if the linens become soiled. People must be able to choose their own bedding.

K. People have the freedom to furnish and decorate their own rooms in compliance with any lease restrictions that may be in place regarding wall color, wall hangings, etc.

L. All previously certified service locations serving more than four (4) persons must have a bathroom with at least one (1) operable toilet, one (1) operable lavatory/sink and one (1) operable shower or tub for every six (6) persons.

M. All service locations must ensure bathtubs and showers are equipped with:

N. Each person must be provided at least two (2) sets of bath linens, including bath towels, hand towels, and wash cloths.

O. All Supervised Living Services locations of two (2) stories or more in height where people are housed above the ground floor must be protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system and a fire alarm and detection system.

P. Auditory smoke/fire alarms with a noise level loud enough to awaken people must be located in each bedroom, hallways and/or corridors, and common areas.

Q. Supervised Living Services locations using fuel burning equipment and/or appliances (i.e., gas heater, gas water heater, etc.) must have carbon monoxide alarms/detectors placed in a central location outside of sleeping areas.

R. Each bedroom must have at least two (2) means of egress.

S. The exit door(s) nearest the person's bedroom must not be locked in a manner that prohibits ease of exit.

T. People must not have to travel through any room not under their control (i.e., subject to locking) to reach the designated exit, visiting area, dining room, kitchen, or bathroom.

U. All agency providers must ensure visiting areas are provided for people and visitors, and each visiting area must have at least two (2) means of egress.

V. All service locations must have separate storage areas for:

W. All service locations must ensure an adequate, operable central heating and cooling system is provided to maintain temperature between sixty-eight (68) degrees and seventy-eight (78) degrees Fahrenheit.

X. The setting is integrated in and supports full access to the community to the same extent as people not receiving Supervised Living Services.

Y. Agency providers must provide furnishings used in common areas (den, dining, and bathrooms) if:

Z. People must have keys to their living unit (e.g., house or apartment) if they so choose, to ensure privacy and dignity. Documentation must be maintained in each person's record upon admission and at least annually thereafter.

AA. To protect privacy and dignity, bedrooms must have lockable entrances with each person having a key to his/her bedroom, if he/she chooses, with only appropriate personnel having keys. Documentation must be maintained in each person's record upon admission and at least annually thereafter.

BB. People may share bedrooms based on their choices. Individual rooms are preferred, but no more than two (2) people may share a bedroom. Each person sharing a bedroom must be provided means to secure his/her belongings, for example lockable closet or lockable footlocker, depending on the needs/desires of each person.