WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                   Ch. 760

(1)  PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES SHOULD BE AFFORDED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE THEIR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL THROUGH INCREASED
INDEPENDENCE, PRODUCTIVITY, AND INTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY.

(2)  SERVICES PROVIDED TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITHIN A NATURAL HOME SETTING CHOSEN BY THE
PERSON IN A MANNER THAT IS RESPONSIBLE RESPONSIVE TO THE PERSON'S
NEEDS AND DOES NOT OVERLY INTRUDE INTO THE PERSON'S LIFE.

(3)  INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT SERVICES ARE FLEXIBLE,
CREATIVE SERVICES PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL
NEEDS.

(4)  INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT SERVICES PROMOTE THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S INNER STRENGTHS AND ENCOURAGE
INFORMAL SUPPORT NETWORKS CONSISTING OF FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND THE
COMMUNITY.

(5)  THE PROVISION OF INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT SERVICES IS
COST EFFECTIVE BECAUSE RELIANCE UPON MORE EXPENSIVE DAY AND
RESIDENTIAL SERVICES IS DIMINISHED.

(6)  ALTHOUGH THE FOCUS OF THE INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT
SERVICES PROGRAM IS UPON THE ADULT WITH A DISABILITY, THEIR
PROVISION MAY BEGIN WITH YOUNG ADULTS IN ADOLESCENCE.

(B) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECLARES THAT IT IS THE POLICY OF
THIS STATE TO PROMOTE THE INDEPENDENCE, PRODUCTIVITY, AND
INTEGRATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE
DISABILITIES BY PROVIDING AN ARRAY OF INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT
SERVICES.

7-271 7-708.

(A) (1) THERE IS AN INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM.

(2) (B) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL ENTER INTO GRANT
AGREEMENTS WITH PRIVATE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
FOR THE PROVISION OF INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT SERVICES IN ALL COUNTIES
OR REGIONS OF THE STATE.

(3) FUNDING ALLOCATED TO EACH PROVIDER SHALL INCLUDE

PURCHASE OF SERVICE COSTS AND OPERATIONAL COSTS SO THAT

SUFFICIENT STAFF MAY BE EMPLOYED TO COORDINATE THE INDIVIDUAL
SUPPORT SERVICES.

(4) THE PROGRAM SHALL BE GRANT FUNDED AND EXEMPT FROM
THE STATE PROCUREMENT PROCESS AS DEFINED IN DIVISION II OF THE
STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE.

(5) THE PROGRAM SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL
ELIGIBLE PERSONS SELECTED FOR SERVICE BY THE ADMINISTRATION PRIOR

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