Section 6350.21. Respite care

(a) The Family Resource Services (FRS) funds shall be made available for respite care services at the following places:

(1) The retarded person’s own home or place of residence.

(2) The home of a family that the county mental health and mental retardation office has approved. The ‘‘host’’ family may offer respite care to no more than two mentally retarded persons at one time.

(3) If the retarded person is in need of medical care and supervision, an approved medical facility such as a general hospital or nursing home may be utilized. For a facility to be used for respite care, the county mental health and mental retardation office or its designate shall document the retarded person’s medical needs, and the county mental health and mental retardation administrator shall give approval of the retarded person’s placement in the medical facility.

(b) FRS funds may not be used to pay for respite care in the following situations:

(1) State centers for the mentally retarded. The county mental health and mental retardation program is not responsible for paying for the care of retarded persons who are permanently or temporarily residing in state centers.

(2) County residential facilities which are not licensed by Chapter 6400 (relating to community residential mental retardation facilities).

(c) Allowable time periods for respite care are as follows:

(1) Respite care shall be considered relief care lasting between 24 hours and 4 weeks.

(2) Respite care for any individual shall not exceed 4 weeks within a given fiscal year, that is, July 1 of a given year through June 30 of the following year.

(d) Respite care is provided only for the retarded family member and does not include caring for nonretarded siblings.