Present law requires the department of disability and aging ("department") to administer a residential pilot program, which must meet certain eligibility requirements, for persons with an intellectual or developmental disability. Present law requires one pilot participant to be located in the western and middle grand divisions. This bill adds that one pilot participant must be located in the eastern grand division. In order to be eligible to participate in the pilot program in the eastern grand division, this bill requires a participant to meet the following criteria:  Possess a license issued by the department to operate an existing residential home, which must be located on property in Bradley County, owned by the participant, and consist of no less than 26 acres.  Offer residential services for no more than 60 additional adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Foster an inclusive community by making available additional homes on the property for adults of all abilities equal to 25% of homes on the property.  Be recognized by the internal revenue service as a tax exempt 501(c)(3) entity. BATHROOM FACILITIES Present law requires each housing building in the pilot program to meet certain standards, including that each bedroom be adjacent to, or across the hallway from, a full bathroom facility. This bill revises this provision so that this standard is met if each bedroom contains, is adjacent to, or across the hallway from, a full bathroom facility. APPLICATION TIMING Present law requires the department to accept applications for pilot program participants in the western and middle grand divisions beginning July 1, 2024, with a deadline of March 31, 2025. This bill creates a timeline for an eastern grand division pilot program participant application, whereby the department must accept applications for participation beginning July 1, 2025, with a deadline of March 31, 2026. ANNUAL REPORT Present law requires the department to submit a report on the outcomes of the pilot program to legislative committees no later than July 31, 2026, and annually no later than July 31 of each year through July 31, 2031. However, this bill does not require the department to report outcomes for an eastern grand division participant until such participant's facility is operational.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 52-2-418(d)(1), 52-2-418, 52-2-418(d)(3), 52-2-418(d)(4)(A)(iv), 52-2-418(d)(5), 52-2-418(d)(7), 52-2-418(d)(8)