PART OO

Sec. OO-1. 34-B MRSA §1001, sub-§4-A is enacted to read:

4-A.__Office of advocacy.__"Office of advocacy" means a private entity contracted with by the commissioner to perform the duties described in section 1205.

Sec. OO-2. 34-B MRSA §1205, as amended by 1995, c. 560, Pt. K, §18, is further amended to read:

§1205. Office of advocacy

1. Establishment. The Office of Advocacy is established within the Office of Advocacy and Consumer Affairs of the department commissioner shall contract with a private entity to perform the functions of an office of advocacy solely to investigate the claims of rights violations and grievances of clients of the department, to investigate with the Department of Human Services, as appropriate, all allegations of adult and child abuse in state institutions and to advocate on behalf of clients for compliance by any institution, other facility or agency administered, licensed or funded by the department to serve a client with all laws, administrative rules and institutional and other policies relating to the rights and dignity of clients.

1-A.__Terms of contract.__The commissioner may impose standards of contract performance upon the entity contracted to perform as the office of advocacy to ensure that the entity manages and accounts for contract funds appropriately, reports to the department on the results achieved for clients and represents all clients effectively and appropriately within the limits of state and federal law.

2. Chief advocate. A chief advocate shall direct and coordinate the program of the office.

A. The chief advocate shall report administratively to the commissioner and advise, consult with and inform the commissioner on the issues described in this section.

B. The chief advocate shall select other advocates needed to carry out the intent of this section who shall report only to the chief advocate.