Delaware lawmakers have enacted new legislation that will require the state’s developmental disability services division to produce yearly transparency reports about their programs and services.
The measure, known as HB 288, emerged from a comprehensive examination by the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee of adult day programs and employment services offered through the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services.
Under the new requirements, the division must compile annual documentation of their services to enhance public transparency and identify areas where service delivery falls short of community needs.
The legislation mandates that the division include specific data points in their yearly reports. They must provide information about the number of people served, incoming applications, demographic breakdowns of client populations, and details about the size and variety of service providers in the system.
The law also gives the division authority to show how their programs and access methods evolve over time. Additionally, officials will have the flexibility to report on service requests they cannot fulfill, explain the reasons behind service gaps, and identify other challenges within the service delivery system.
Beyond the reporting requirements, the legislation includes technical modifications to bring existing statutes in line with current Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual standards.
