Ohio Revised Code Title LI. Public Welfare § 5123.171

As used in this section, “respite care” means appropriate, short-term, temporary care provided to a person with a developmental disability to sustain the family structure or to meet planned or emergency needs of the family.

The department of developmental disabilities shall provide respite care services to persons with developmental disabilities for the purpose of promoting self-sufficiency and normalization, preventing or reducing inappropriate institutional care, and furthering the unity of the family by enabling the family to meet the special needs of a person with a developmental disability.

In order to be eligible for respite care services under this section, the person with a developmental disability must be in need of services that are part of habilitation, as defined in section 5126.01 of the Revised Code.

Respite care may be provided in a residential facility licensed under section 5123.19 of the Revised Code, including a residential facility certified as an ICF/IID, and a respite care home certified under section 5126.05 of the Revised Code.

The department shall develop a system for locating vacant beds that are available for respite care and for making information on vacant beds available to users of respite care services. ICFs/IID shall report vacant beds to the department but shall not be required to accept respite care clients.

The director of developmental disabilities shall adopt, and may amend or rescind, rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for both of the following: