D.C. Act 21-629. Medical Respite Services Exemption Emergency Amendment Act of 2016.

AN ACT

To amend, on an emergency basis, the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005 to define the term medical respite services, to require a provider of medical respite services to provide 24-hour notice before a placement will end, and to exempt the provision of medical respite services from certain requirements of the act, including the transfer, suspension, termination, and hearing requirements.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Medical Respite Services Exemption Emergency Amendment Act of 2016".

Sec. 2. The Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005, effective October 22, 2005 (D.C. Law 16-35; D.C. Official Code § 4-751.01 et seq.), is amended as follows:

(a) Section 2 (D.C. Official Code § 4-751.01) is amended by adding new paragraph (26A) to read as follows:

"(26A) "Medical respite services" means limited-time acute and post-acute 24-hour residential care that is provided 7 days a week to eligible individuals who are:

"(A) Homeless; and

"(B) Determined by a qualified medical professional, licensed in the District and regulated by and subject to the grievance processes of the appropriate professional licensing board, to require medical assistance.".

(b) Section 19 (D.C. Official Code § 4-754.33) is amended by adding a new subsection (b-2) to read as follows:

"(b-2) All providers of medical respite services shall give to any client receiving medical respite services prompt oral and written notice that the client no longer requires medical respite services and that the placement will end within 24 hours following receipt of the written notice.".

(c) A new section 29a is added to read as follows:

"Sec. 29a. Medical respite services; exemptions.

"Medical respite services shall be exempt from the requirements of section 9(a)(15), (16), and (18), and sections 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27.".

Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).

Sec. 4. Effective date.

This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), and shall remain in effect for no longer than 90 days, as provided for emergency acts of the Council of the District of Columbia in section 412(a) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 788; D.C. Official Code § 1-204.12(a)).