Sec. 24-67. Duties.

   The Commission must:

   (a)   promote a community-wide goal to end and prevent homelessness;

   (b)   develop a strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness and minimize the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless families and individuals;

   (c)   review and monitor any program that is a component of the Continuum of Care and Housing First Initiative, including:

      (1)   permanent housing, including permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing;

      (2)   transitional housing;

      (3)   supportive services;

      (4)   homeless management information system;

      (5)   homelessness prevention;

      (6)   emergency shelter; and

      (7)   outreach;

   (d)   recommend to the Executive and Council any improvements to local policies to end and prevent homelessness;

   (e)   educate the community about homelessness, best practices to end and prevent homelessness, resources needed to end and prevent homelessness, and long term savings that are achieved by providing permanent stable housing;

   (f)   recommend and promote partnerships with any private organization, business, corporation, philanthropic organization or foundation, and any municipal, state, or federal government agency to improve the County’s ability to prevent and end homelessness; and

   (g)   establish procedures for the effective coordination of the Continuum of Care. (2014 L.M.C., ch. 4, § 1; 2020 L.M.C., ch. 20, §1.)

Sec. 24-68. Annual report.

   By November 30 of each year, the Commission must submit to the Executive and Council a report that:

   (a)   provides data and trends regarding homelessness, including data from the Council of Government’s Point-in-Time survey;

   (b)   identifies gaps in the Continuum of Care that prevent or impede the County’s ability to address needs identified through the review of data on homelessness;

   (c)   makes recommendations for the capital and operating budget;

   (d)   makes recommendations for any legislative or regulatory changes needed to implement the Continuum of Care strategic plan; and

   (e)   reports on any educational or public outreach activities undertaken during the preceding year. (2014 L.M.C., ch. 4, § 1; 2020 L.M.C., ch. 20, §1.)

Sec. 24-69. Advocacy.

   The Commission must not engage in any legislative advocacy at the state or federal levels unless that activity is approved by the Office of Intergovernmental Relations. (2014 L.M.C., ch. 4, § 1.)

Sec. 24-70. Staff.

   The Chief Administrative Officer must provide appropriate staff within the Department of Health and Human Services to staff the Commission. (2014 L.M.C., ch. 4, § 1.)

ARTICLE X. INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COMMISSION.

Sec. 24-71. Definitions and Policy Statement.

   (a)   Definitions. The following terms have the meanings indicated.

      Commission means the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Commission established under this Article.

      Intellectual and developmental disabilities or IDD means a severe, chronic disability of an individual that:

      (1)   is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments;

      (2)   is manifested before the individual attains age 22;

      (3)   is likely to continue indefinitely;

      (4)   reflects the individual’s need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic services, individualized supports, or other forms of assistance that are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated; and

      (5)   results in the substantial functional limitations in 3 or more of the following areas of major life activity:

         (A)   self-care;

         (B)   receptive and expressive language;

         (C)   learning;

         (D)   mobility;

         (E)   self-direction;

         (F)   capacity for independent living;

         (G)   self-direction; and

         (H)   economic self-sufficiency.

   (b)   Policy statement.

      (1)   Montgomery County is committed to creating an inclusive community for people with IDD so that they are afforded every opportunity to live a life of their choosing with the supports needed to participate fully in the life of the County.

      (2)   It is the public policy of the County to:

         (A)   promote and initiate ongoing community input to support the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities;

         (B)   improve communication about programs and services among those with IDD and their families, advocates, support staff, public and private agencies, and the general public;

         (C)   identify service needs and inform decisions on services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and

         (D)   work towards improving accessibility to services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. (2023 L.M.C., ch. 13, §1.)

Sec. 24-72. Commission established.

   There is an Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Commission. (2023 L.M.C., ch. 13, §1.)

Sec. 24-73. Membership; appointment; terms.

   (a)   The Commission consists of 19 voting members and 6 non-voting members.

   (b)   The voting members are appointed by the County Executive, subject to Council confirmation, and must include:

      (1)   2 individuals with IDD;

      (2)   9 family members, guardians, or support staff of individuals with IDD;

      (3)   7 individuals representing service providers or advocacy organizations that support individuals with IDD; and

      (4)   1 member of the Commission on People with Disabilities.

   (c)   The non-voting members are designees of the following agencies:

      (1)   Department of Health and Human Services;

      (2)   Department of Recreation;

      (3)   Montgomery County Public Schools;

      (4)   Montgomery College;

      (5)   WorkSource Montgomery; and

      (6)   Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration. (2023 L.M.C., ch. 13, §1.)

Sec. 24-74. Duties.

   The Commission must:

   (a)   promote direct communication among families, support staff, private and public organizations, and the general public regarding programs and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities;

   (b)   institute and conduct educational and other programs, meetings, and conferences to promote the welfare of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities;

   (c)   cooperate with public and private agencies, departments, and organizations that provide services and programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities;

   (d)   advise the County Council and the County Executive on matters involving the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities;

   (e)   review and report on current gaps in services, including issues of childcare, education, discrimination, transition to adult services, resource coordination, housing, transportation, employment, health care, recreation, and recruitment of providers and direct support staff;

   (f)   prepare recommendations on best practices, innovations in service areas, and information on costs associated with recommended programs and services for individuals with IDD;

   (g)   work with key organizations at the county and state level to best advance the needs of County residents with IDD; and

   (h)   advocate at the local, state, and federal levels to advance the needs of individuals with IDD. (2023 L.M.C., ch. 13, §1.)