OCRA ORIENTATIONOCRA ORIENTATION

4731 COMPLAINTS4731 COMPLAINTS

Who Can File 4731 Complaints?Who Can File 4731 Complaints?

Each consumer or any representative acting Each consumer or any representative acting on behalf of any consumer(s) who believes on behalf of any consumer(s) who believes that any right has been abused, punitively that any right has been abused, punitively withheld, or improperly or unreasonably withheld, or improperly or unreasonably denied by a regional center, developmental denied by a regional center, developmental center, or service provider can file a center, or service provider can file a complaint. 4731(a).complaint. 4731(a).

Who Receives the 4731 Complaint?Who Receives the 4731 Complaint?

The director of the regional center where the The director of the regional center where the consumer receives services, orconsumer receives services, or

The director of the state developmental The director of the state developmental center if the consumer resides there. center if the consumer resides there. 4731(b).4731(b).

How Long Do They Have to How Long Do They Have to Respond to the Complaint?Respond to the Complaint?

The director of the regional center or the The director of the regional center or the state developmental center has 20 working state developmental center has 20 working days to investigate the complaint and send a days to investigate the complaint and send a written proposed resolution to the person written proposed resolution to the person who made the complaint. 4731(b).who made the complaint. 4731(b).

What Can Be Done If The Response What Can Be Done If The Response Is Not Satisfactory?Is Not Satisfactory?

The complaint can be referred to the director of The complaint can be referred to the director of DDS within 15 working days of receiving the DDS within 15 working days of receiving the proposed resolution from the regional center or proposed resolution from the regional center or developmental center.developmental center.

The director of DDS then has 45 days to issue a The director of DDS then has 45 days to issue a written administrative decision.written administrative decision.

If there is no referral to DDS, the proposed If there is no referral to DDS, the proposed resolution becomes effective 20 working days after resolution becomes effective 20 working days after receipt by the person who made the complaint. receipt by the person who made the complaint. 4731(c).4731(c).

What Can OCRA Do?What Can OCRA Do?

OCRA can:OCRA can:

**provide technical assistance to the **provide technical assistance to the consumer or representative making the consumer or representative making the complaint, orcomplaint, or

**assist with the filing of the complaint.**assist with the filing of the complaint.