2005 Arizona Revised Statutes - Revised Statutes §36-203  Mentally retarded persons assigned to state hospital; duties of division

A. The division shall develop and provide, in coordination with the department of economic security, specialized treatment programs for mentally retarded persons who have been admitted to the state hospital. The division may contract with the department of economic security in providing such programs.

B. The division shall, to the extent practicable, provide separate areas at the state hospital for persons diagnosed as mentally retarded and shall, to the extent practicable, provide that treatment programs developed pursuant to subsection A of this section are separate from treatment programs for other patients and for separate use of facilities by persons diagnosed as mentally retarded.

C. The division, upon request of a parent or guardian of a mentally retarded minor or the guardian of a mentally retarded adult or upon the request of a mentally retarded adult, shall notify the department of economic security prior to the release of such person from the state hospital and request that the department of economic security provide placement evaluation and case management services for such person. Such evaluation shall consider the mentally retarded person's needs for housing, day programs, employment training, employment and support services.

D. The division may, upon the application of a parent or guardian of a mentally retarded minor or the guardian of a mentally retarded adult or upon the request of a mentally retarded adult, when the mentally retarded person has been authorized for discharge from the state hospital, provide interim care and custody for such mentally retarded person pending the availability of mental retardation programs and services in accordance with the provisions of section 36-556.