§ 122C-143.1. Policy guidance. - North Carolina Statutes

§122C‑143.1.  Policy guidance.

(a)        The GeneralAssembly shall, as it considers necessary, endorse as policy guidance long‑rangeplans for the broad age/disability categories of persons to be served and theservices to be provided by area authorities.

(b)        The Secretary shalldevelop a payment policy that designates, within broad age/disabilitycategories, the priority populations, based on their disability level and thetypes of service to be supported by State resources.  The Secretary shallreview the Department's payment policy annually to assure that payments aremade consistent with the State's long‑range plans.

(c)        The Secretary shallensure that the payment policy provides incentives designated to targetresources consistent with legislative policy and with the State's long‑rangeplans and to promote equal accessibility to services for individuals regardlessof their catchment area.

(d)        Upon request of theSecretary, each area authority shall develop, revise, or amend its local long‑rangeplans to be consistent with the policy guidance set forth in the State's long‑rangeplans.  Local service implementation plans shall be subject to the approval ofthe Secretary.

(e)        The Secretary shallensure that the Department's requests for expansion funds for area authoritiesare consistent with the State's long‑range plans and includeconsideration of needs identified by the area authorities and their localplans. (1993, c. 321, s. 220(e).)