BEFORE THE BOARD OF PRIVATE ALTERNATIVE ADOLESCENT

RESIDENTIAL OR OUTDOOR PROGRAMS

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY

STATE OF MONTANA

 

In the matter of the amendment of ARM 24.181.301 definitions and 24.181.2101 renewals

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NOTICE OF EXTENSION OF COMMENT PERIOD ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT

 

TO:  All Concerned Persons

 

            1.  On November 23, 2012, the Board of Private Alternative Adolescent Residential or Outdoor Programs (board) published MAR Notice No. 24-181-6 regarding the public hearing on the proposed amendment of the above-stated rules, at page 2310 of the 2012 Montana Administrative Register, issue no. 22.  A public hearing was announced in the notice and subsequently held in Helena on December 17, 2012.

 

            2.  In response to public request, the board has decided to extend the public comment period to 5:00 p.m., March 8, 2013.

 

            3.  The Department of Labor and Industry (department) will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities who wish to participate in this rulemaking process or need an alternative accessible format of this notice.  If you require an accommodation, contact the Board of Private Alternative Adolescent Residential or Outdoor Programs no later than 5:00 p.m., on March 1, 2013, to advise us of the nature of the accommodation that you need.  Please contact Cyndi Breen, Board of Private Alternative Adolescent Residential or Outdoor Programs, 301 South Park Avenue, P.O. Box 200513, Helena, Montana 59620-0513; telephone (406) 841-2392; Montana Relay 1 (800) 253-4091; TDD (406) 444-2978; facsimile (406) 841-2305; e-mail dlibsdpap@mt.gov.

 

            4.  The rules proposed to be amended remain exactly as proposed and published in the original notice of public hearing, which is referenced in paragraph one above.  For clarity, the rules proposed to be amended provide as follows, stricken matter interlined, new matter underlined:

 

            24.181.301  DEFINITIONS  (1)  "Adjunct ministry" means a charitable facility that meets all of the following criteria:

            (a)  is founded directly by the existing church or its officers and wholly owned and operated by the existing church, which is incorporated by the state;

            (b)  expresses and communicates, as an integral part of the adjunct ministry, the mission of the existing church;

            (c)  funding for is derived solely from the budget of the existing church;

            (d)  is accredited by the National Independent Private Schools Association (NIPSA), Council on Accreditation (COA), Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), or Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO);

            (e)  complies with the standards established by other governmental entities, including building codes for those structures used as a residence for program participants, health and sanitation requirements, and other standards adopted by the board by rules; and

            (f)  informs the public that the adjunct ministry is exempt from the licensure requirements in any advertisement.

            (1) remains the same, but is renumbered (2).

            (2) (3)  "Average daily census" means the arithmetical average of the number of participants served daily by the program, calculated over a calendar year.  This number is calculated by adding the total number of service days, as defined in (2), provided by the program during the last calendar year, and divided by 365 days.

            (3) through (6) remain the same, but are renumbered (4) through (7).

            (7) (8)  "Direct care staff" means program personnel who directly participate in the care, supervision, and guidance of program participant participants in a program.

            (8) (9)  "Number of service days" means any portion of a 24 24-hour period in which service is provided to one participant, multiplied by the number of actual participants on that day.

            (9) and (10) remain the same, but are renumbered (10) and (11).

            (11) (12)  "Significant Change change to Plan plan of Operation operation" means a major addition or deletion of advertised services or location or change of services offered by the program.

 

            AUTH:  37-1-131, 37-48-103, 37-48-113, MCA

            IMP:     37-1-131, 37-48-102, 37-48-103, MCA

 

REASON:  After considering the "adjunct ministry" status of a few programs as justification for not requiring licensure, the board determined it is reasonably necessary to define the term to provide guidance on the exemption that exists in statute.  Section 37-48-102(6), MCA, defines the private alternative adolescent residential or outdoor programs that must be licensed by the board.  The statute also provides six types of programs, schools, or camps that are exempt from the licensure requirement, including organizations or schools that are adjunct ministries of a church incorporated in Montana.  The board is proposing to define "adjunct ministry" at this time to clearly set forth the board's intent regarding the parameters of the licensure exemption.

            Authority and implementation cites are amended to accurately reflect all statutes implemented through the rule and provide the complete sources of the board's rulemaking authority.  Additional nonsubstantive changes are necessary to comply with the formatting requirements of the Secretary of State.

 

            24.181.2101  RENEWALS  (1) through (7) remain the same.

            (8)  The board will conduct random audits of up to 25 percent of renewed licensees to determine if licensees comply with certification requirements for first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

 

            AUTH:  37-1-131, 37-48-103, 37-48-113, MCA

            IMP:     37-1-131, 37-1-134, 37-1-141, 37-48-103, 37-48-113, MCA

 

REASON:  The board is amending this rule to establish a random audit procedure as allowed in 37-1-131, MCA.  Licensed programs are required to have staff certified in first aid and CPR to ensure the health and safety of the program participants.  Having completed several renewal cycles and noting the potential for program staff turnover, the board determined that annual audits following renewal are necessary to ensure that programs are remaining compliant with these certification requirements.

            Authority and implementation cites are amended to accurately reflect all statutes implemented through the rule and provide the complete sources of the board's rulemaking authority.

 

            5.  Concerned persons may present their data, views, or arguments to the Board of Private Alternative Adolescent Residential or Outdoor Programs, 301 South Park Avenue, P.O. Box 200513, Helena, Montana 59620-0513, by facsimile to (406) 841-2305, or by e-mail to dlibsdpap@mt.gov, and must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., March 8, 2013.

 

 

                                                                        BOARD OF PRIVATE ALTERNATIVE

                                                                        ADOLESCENT RESIDENTIAL OR

                                                                        OUTDOOR PROGRAMS

                                                                        DR. JOHN SANTA, CHAIRPERSON

 

/s/ DARCEE L. MOE                                 /s/ PAM BUCY

Darcee L. Moe                                           Pam Bucy, Commissioner

Alternate Rule Reviewer                           DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY

 

 

            Certified to the Secretary of State February 4, 2013