53-20-142. Rights while in a residential facility. Persons admitted to a residential facility for a period of habilitation shall enjoy the following rights:
     (1) Residents have a right to dignity, privacy, and humane care.
     (2) Residents are entitled to send and receive sealed mail. Moreover, it is the duty of the facility to foster the exercise of this right by furnishing the necessary materials and assistance.
     (3) Residents must have the same rights and access to private telephone communication as patients at any public hospital except to the extent that the individual treatment planning team or the qualified mental retardation professional responsible for formulation of a particular resident's habilitation plan writes an order imposing special restrictions and explains the reasons for the restrictions. The written order must be renewed monthly if any restrictions are to be continued.
     (4) Residents have an unrestricted right to visitation except to the extent that the individual treatment planning team or the qualified mental retardation professional responsible for formulation of a particular resident's habilitation plan writes an order imposing special restrictions and explains the reasons for the restrictions. The written order must be renewed monthly if restrictions are to be continued.
     (5) Residents have a right to receive suitable educational and habilitation services regardless of chronological age, degree of retardation, or accompanying disabilities or handicaps.
     (6) Each resident must have an adequate allowance of neat, clean, suitably fitting, and seasonable clothing. Except when a particular kind of clothing is required because of a particular condition, residents must have the opportunity to select from various types of neat, clean, and seasonable clothing. The clothing must be considered the resident's throughout his stay in the facility. Clothing, both in amount and type, must make it possible for residents to go out of doors in inclement weather, to go for trips or visits appropriately dressed, and to make a normal appearance in the community. The facility shall make provision for the adequate and regular laundering of the residents' clothing.
     (7) Each resident has the right to keep and use his own personal possessions except insofar as such clothes or personal possessions may be determined by the individual treatment planning team or the qualified mental retardation professional to be dangerous either to himself or to others.
     (8) Each resident has a right to a humane physical environment within the residential facility. The facility must be designed to make a positive contribution to the efficient attainment of the habilitation goals of the resident. To accomplish this purpose:
     (a) regular housekeeping and maintenance procedures that will ensure that the facility is maintained in a safe, clean, and attractive condition must be developed and implemented;
     (b) pursuant to an established routine maintenance and repair program, the physical plant must be kept in a continuous state of good repair and operation so as to ensure the health, comfort, safety, and well-being of the residents and so as not to impede in any manner the habilitation programs of the residents;
     (c) the physical facilities must meet all fire and safety standards established by the state and locality. In addition, the facility must meet the provisions of the life safety code of the national fire protection association that are applicable to it.
     (d) there must be special facilities for nonambulatory residents to ensure their safety and comfort, including special fittings on toilets and wheelchairs. Appropriate provision must be made to permit nonambulatory residents to communicate their needs to staff.
     (9) Residents have a right to receive prompt and adequate medical treatment for any physical or mental ailments or injuries or physical disabilities and for the prevention of any illness or disability. Such medical treatment must meet standards of medical practice in the community. However, nothing in this subsection may be interpreted to impair other rights of a resident in regard to involuntary commitment for mental illness, use of psychotropic medication, use of hazardous, aversive, or experimental procedures, or the refusal of such treatment.
     (10) Corporal punishment is not permitted.
     (11) The opportunity for religious worship must be accorded to each resident who desires such worship. Provisions for religious worship must be made available to all residents on a nondiscriminatory basis. An individual may not be compelled to engage in any religious activities.
     (12) Residents have a right to a nourishing, well-balanced diet. The diet for residents must provide at a minimum the recommended daily dietary allowance as developed by the national academy of sciences. Provisions must be made for special therapeutic diets and for substitutes at the request of the resident, his parents, guardian, or next of kin, or the responsible person appointed by the court in accordance with the religious requirements of any resident's faith. Denial of a nutritionally adequate diet may not be used as punishment.
     (13) Residents have a right to regular physical exercise several times a week. It is the duty of the facility to provide both indoor and outdoor facilities and equipment for such exercise. Residents have a right to be outdoors daily in the absence of contrary medical considerations.
     (14) Residents have a right, under appropriate supervision, to suitable opportunities for the interaction with members of the opposite sex except where the individual treatment planning team or the qualified mental retardation professional responsible for the formulation of a particular resident's habilitation plan writes an order to the contrary and explains the reasons for the order. The order must be renewed monthly if the restriction is to be continued.

     History: En. 38-1221 by Sec. 21, Ch. 468, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 38-1221; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 485, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 381, L. 1991.