5.__Respite services.__The department shall support the development of a statewide respite system with the goal of affording persons with mental retardation or autism or their families a planned or unplanned respite.__Respite services must be made available in or reasonably near the current residence of a person.__The department shall, when appropriate, utilize and fund the natural supports of a person in the development of respite services.

6.__Information regarding utilization.__The department shall maintain accurate information as to requests and needs for crisis and respite services sufficient to plan and budget for adequate crisis and respite systems.__Consumers, parents, providers of services and interested persons must be made aware of the availability of these services and the proper means to access them.

Sec. 25. 34-B MRSA §5437, first ¶, as amended by PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. K, §54, is further amended to read:

The department shall establish a contingency fund for use by community-based intermediate care facilities for persons with mental retardation and department clients or autism residing in licensed boarding and foster homes or intermediate care facilities or participating in appropriate day treatment programs. This fund must be used in accordance with the following provisions.

Sec. 26. 34-B MRSA §5437, sub-§3, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 486, §2, is amended to read:

A. Payment for special client assessment and treatment services not reimbursed through the principles of reimbursement for intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded persons with mental retardation or autism;

Sec. 27. 34-B MRSA §5437, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 486, §2, is amended to read:

4. Disbursement not to be approved. No disbursement Disbursement for client needs may not be approved for any service