G. Negotiate joint working agreements with the Department of Human Services concerning procedures and respective responsibilities for conducting investigations in state institutions of allegations of abuse pursuant to the Child and Family Services and Child Protection Act, Title 22, chapter 1071.; and

Sec. 5. 34-B MRSA §1205, sub-§3, ¶H is enacted to read:

H.__Work cooperatively with the Consumer Advisory Board established pursuant to section 1216-A in the performance of the duties of the Office of Advocacy and the Consumer Advisory Board.

Sec. 6. 34-B MRSA §1216, as amended by PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. K, §§22 and 23, is repealed.

Sec. 7. 34-B MRSA §1216-A is enacted to read:

§1216-A.__Consumer Advisory Board

1. Responsibilities.__The Consumer Advisory Board, referred to in this section as "the board," as established by the community consent decree, Consumer Advisory Board et al. v. Glover, No. 91-321-P-C (D. Me., September 28, 1994), and former section 1216, is established as an independent oversight board.__The board shall perform its functions for the benefit of members of the class of plaintiffs in Consumer Advisory Board v. Glover, and for persons with mental retardation or autism who are clients of the department but who are not members of the class of plaintiffs in Consumer Advisory Board v. Glover.__The board shall carry out and any consent decrees or orders of a court with jurisdiction over clients of the department and the responsibilities under this section.

A.__The board may review alleged abuse, alleged exploitation or neglect or an alleged dehumanizing practice committed upon or violation of rights of any person with mental retardation or autism who is a client of the department.

B.__The board shall promote the normalization and habilitation of persons with mental retardation or autism.

C.__The board shall work cooperatively with the Office of Advocacy established in section 1205 in the performance of the duties of the board and the Office of Advocacy.