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Sec. 17a-270. (Formerly Sec. 19a-445). Council on Developmental Services. (a) There is established a Council on Developmental Services which shall consist of fifteen members appointed as follows: Eight shall be appointed by the Governor, for two-year terms, one of whom shall be a doctor of medicine, one of whom shall be a person with intellectual disability who is receiving services from the Department of Developmental Services and at least two of whom shall be a relative or a guardian of a person with intellectual disability; six shall be appointed by members of the General Assembly for two-year terms, one of whom shall be a relative or guardian of a person with intellectual disability, appointed by the speaker of the House, one of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House, one of whom shall be appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall be a relative or guardian of a person with intellectual disability appointed by the majority leader of the House, one of whom shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, and one of whom shall be a relative or guardian of a person with intellectual disability, appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; and one of whom shall be a member of the board of trustees of the Southbury Training School, appointed by said board for a term of one year. No member of the council may serve more than three consecutive terms, except that a member may continue to serve until a successor is appointed. The members of the council shall serve without compensation except for necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties. The Commissioner of Developmental Services or the commissioner's designee shall be an ex-officio member of the Council on Developmental Services without vote and shall attend its meetings. No employee of any state agency engaged in the care or training of persons with intellectual disability shall be eligible for appointment to the council. The council shall appoint annually, from among its members, a chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary. The council may make rules for the conduct of its affairs. The council shall meet at least six times per year and at other times upon the call of the chair or the written request of any two members. 

(b) The council shall consider and advise on such matters as its members, the board of trustees of the training school and the Commissioner of Developmental Services may request. The council shall consult with the Commissioner of Developmental Services on the administration of the state program for persons with intellectual disability. The council shall recommend to the Governor and to the General Assembly such legislation as will in its judgment improve the care and training of persons with intellectual disability.

Sec. 17a-210. (Formerly Sec. 19a-460). Department and Commissioner of Developmental Services. Duties. Patient transfer, programs and placement. Right to object and hearing. (a) There shall be a Department of Developmental Services. The Department of Developmental Services, with the advice of a Council on Developmental Services, shall be responsible for the planning, development and administration of complete, comprehensive and integrated state-wide services for persons with intellectual disability and persons medically diagnosed as having Prader-Willi syndrome. The Department of Developmental Services shall be under the supervision of a Commissioner of Developmental Services, who shall be appointed by the Governor in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-8, inclusive. The Council on Developmental Services may advise the Governor on the appointment. The commissioner shall be a person who has background, training, education or experience in administering programs for the care, training, education, treatment and custody of persons with intellectual disability. The commissioner shall be responsible, with the advice of the council, for: (1) Planning and developing complete, comprehensive and integrated state-wide services for persons with intellectual disability; (2) the implementation and where appropriate the funding of such services; and (3) the coordination of the efforts of the Department of Developmental Services with those of other state departments and agencies, municipal governments and private agencies concerned with and providing services for persons with intellectual disability. The commissioner shall be responsible for the administration and operation of the state training school, state developmental services regions and all state-operated community-based residential facilities established for the diagnosis, care and training of persons with intellectual disability. The commissioner shall be responsible for establishing standards, providing technical assistance and exercising the requisite supervision of all state-supported residential, day and program support services for persons with intellectual disability and work activity programs operated pursuant to section 17a-226. The commissioner shall stimulate research by public and private agencies, institutions of higher education and hospitals, in the interest of the elimination and amelioration of intellectual disability and care and training of persons with intellectual disability. The commissioner shall conduct or monitor investigations into allegations of abuse and neglect and file reports as requested by state agencies having statutory responsibility for the conduct and oversight of such investigations. The commissioner shall receive and investigate complaints from persons with intellectual disabilities and persons receiving services from the Department of Social Services' Division of Autism Spectrum Disorder Services, or legal representatives of such persons or from any other interested person. In the event of the death of a person with intellectual disability for whom the department has direct or oversight responsibility for medical care, the commissioner shall ensure that a comprehensive and timely review of the events, overall care, quality of life issues and medical care preceding such death is conducted by the department and shall, as requested, provide information and assistance to the Independent Mortality Review Board established by Executive Order No. 57 of Governor Dannel P. Malloy. The commissioner shall report to the board and the board shall review any death: (A) Involving an allegation of abuse or neglect; (B) for which the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner or local medical examiner has accepted jurisdiction; (C) in which an autopsy was performed; (D) which was sudden and unexpected; or (E) in which the commissioner's review raises questions about the appropriateness of care. The department's mortality review process and the Independent Mortality Review Board shall operate in accordance with the peer review provisions established under section 19a-17b for medical review teams and confidentiality of records provisions established under section 19a-25 for the Department of Public Health.