(1) Screening for a specific opening is conducted by a local screening committee. The local screening committee selects the person who is to be offered the opening. The local screening committee must select the person, based on the criteria in ARM 37.34.308, from the persons who have been referred for the placement by the local screening committee and the central screening committee.

(2) Persons to be considered for placement in a specific opening are selected as follows:

(a) the local screening committee, as provided in ARM 37.34.308, chooses from local referrals those persons who appear to be most appropriate for the placement and therefore should be considered for placement; and

(b) the central screening committee, as provided in ARM 37.34.308, chooses from outside the local area those persons who appear to be most appropriate for the placement and therefore should be considered for placement. This list of referrals is provided to the local screening committee.

(3) Before a person is considered for a placement, a DD program staff person must determine the following:

(a) whether the person has been determined to have a developmental disability;

(b) whether the person is being referred for the service that the placement is available in; and

(c) whether the referral contains all the required materials and adequate documentation.

(4) Local screening committee decisions concerning placement must be by consensus. If there is no consensus, the matter is considered to be under appeal and a decision is made by a review as provided in ARM 37.34.335. A request for review from a local screening committee's lack of consensus must be sent within 10 working days of the screening to the services coordinator.

(5) Confidential information will be protected and may only be released for other than administrative purposes if consented to by the affected person or if provided for by legal authority.

(6) Only the screening committee members may be present at and participate in the decision-making concerning selection unless all referred persons have waived their rights to confidentiality.

(7) A person being considered for referral or placement, any person representing a person being considered for referral or placement, or any other interested person may provide materials in support of the person's referral or placement to the central screening committee or local screening committee.