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Ch. 445
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2007 Laws of Maryland
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WHEREAS, Substantial cost will be incurred to bring the Rosewood Center into
compliance with State and federal requirements; and
WHEREAS, Studies overwhelmingly demonstrate that individuals with
developmental disabilities thrive and do better living with home and
community-based supports; and
WHEREAS, The policy of the State, expressed in § 7-102 of the Developmental
Disabilities Law, is to support and provide resources to operate community services to
sustain individuals with developmental disability in the community, rather than in
institutions; and
WHEREAS, The U.S. Supreme Court concluded in the 1999 case of Olmstead v.
L.C. that individuals with disabilities residing in institutions have a right to live in
the most integrated setting appropriate to the individual's needs; and
WHEREAS, The Olmstead decision encourages states to develop and implement
a plan that ensures that institutionalized individuals receive services in the most
integrated setting appropriate to each individual's needs; and
WHEREAS, The State developed such a plan in the Final Report of the
Community Access Steering Committee, but little progress has been made in
implementing the plan; and
WHEREAS, 200 individuals currently reside at the Rosewood Center, including
individuals placed under court order; and
WHEREAS, Less restrictive and more appropriate evaluation and service
models exist for persons with cognitive and developmental disabilities, including those
who are under court order; and
WHEREAS, Less restrictive and more appropriate evaluation and service
models exist for persons with cognitive and developmental disabilities, including those
who are under court order; and
WHEREAS, The Department determined in 2004 that: (1) if a State residential
center were to be closed, the Department would recommend the Rosewood Center; and
(2) closure of the Rosewood Center would yield the most savings to the State; and
WHEREAS, The Department's January 2004 Report on Closure of a Residential
Facility for people with Developmental Disabilities stated that "...the Central Region
... provider community has the capacity, experience and expertise to serve all the
resources, more available housing, entertainment, job opportunities, more public
transportation) and a host of other features that make it a more desirable and easier
place to help people find lives in the community"; and
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- 2660 -
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