Supported decision-making agreements; DBHDS to develop and implement a program, etc.

Supported decision-making agreements; report.Directs the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services(the Department) to develop and implement a program to educate individualswith intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and others regarding the availability of supported decision-makingagreements, the process by which an individual with an intellectualor developmental disability may enter into a supported decision-makingagreement with a supporter, and the rights and responsibilities ofprincipals and supporters who are parties to a supported decision-makingagreement, which shall include specific training opportunities, developmentof model supported decision-making agreements, and development ofinformation about and protocols for preventing, identifying, andaddressing abuse and exploitation of individuals with intellectualand developmental disabilities who enter into supported decision-makingagreements. The bill directs the Department to collect data regardingthe utilization of supported decision-making agreements in the Commonwealthand report such information, together with recommendations to enhancethe utilization of supported decision-making agreements, annuallyto the Governor and the General Assembly by November 1.