Arkansas Code Title 20. Public Health and Welfare § 20-10-1006. Family counsels--Residents counsels--Responsibilities

(1) Review of procedures of the facility for implementation of residents' rights;

(2) Making recommendations for changes or additions to the facility's policies and procedures, including programming;

(3) Representing residents in their complaints to the department or any other person or agency; and

(4) Assisting in early identification of problems and orderly resolution of problems.

(b)(1) The facility administrator shall designate a staff coordinator and designate space within the facility for the residents' council.

(2) The staff coordinator shall assist the residents’ council in scheduling regular meetings and preparing written reports of meetings for dissemination to all residents of the facility.

(3) The staff coordinator may be excluded from any meeting of the residents’ council.

(c)(1) The department shall prescribe rules that encourage the establishment of family councils for residents' families to meet in the facility with the families of other residents.

(2) The department shall require each facility to inform residents' families of their right to establish a family council within the facility.

(d)(1) Failure to comply with the requirement of establishment and operation of a residents' council as prescribed by the department shall be considered a Class C violation under § 20-10-205 for which civil penalties set forth in § 20-10-206 may be imposed.

(2) Any appeal shall be under the procedure set forth in § 20-10-208.