North Carolina § 143-117 - 1. Definitions.

§ 143-117. 1. Definitions.

The following definitions apply in this Article: Care. - Care, treatment, training, maintenance, habilitation, and rehabilitation of a person admitted to institutions covered by this Article. Department. - The Department of Health and Human Services. Persons admitted. - Clients of regional psychiatric hospitals, State special care centers, regional developmental centers, schools for children with serious emotional disturbances, and alcohol and drug abuse treatment centers, including clients who may be treated on an outpatient basis. Secretary. - The Secretary of Health and Human Services. History (1985, c. 508, s. 3; 1987, c. 856, s. 15; 1989, c. 145, s. 3; c. 770, s. 41; 1997-443, s. 11A.118(a); 2019-76, s. 27.) Editor's Note. - Session Laws 1987, c. 856, s. 20 provided that ss. 1 through 19 would be effective only upon agreement by Duke University to the terms of ss. 21 through 26 of the act and certification of that fact by the Secretary of the Department of Human Resources to the Governor, and ss. 12 to 17 would be effective on the date of the transfer. Section 20 further provided that any disputes arising out of the transfer would be resolved by the Director of Budget. Sections 21 through 26 of the act provided terms for the transfer of the Lenox Baker Hospital to Duke University. The letter of certification from the Secretary of the Department of Human Resources was dated October 5, 1988, but it appears that this was a typographical error and that October 5, 1987, was the correct date. Session Laws 2019-76, s. 33, provides: "Parts I and II of this act do not affect the coverage, eligibility, rights, responsibilities, or provision of State or federal services or benefits for individuals who have been diagnosed with mental retardation and whose diagnosis has not been changed to a diagnosis of intellectual disability." Session Laws 2019-76, s. 34, made the amendments by Session Laws 2019-76, s. 27 effective October 1, 2019, and applicable to proceedings commenced or services rendered on or after that date. Effect of Amendments. - Session Laws 2019-76, s. 27, rewrote the introductory language, which formerly read: "As used in this Article, the following terms have the meaning specifies unless the content clearly implies otherwise"; substituted "regional development centers" for "regional mental retardation centers" and "children with serious emotional disturbances" for "emotionally disturbed children" in subdivision (3); and made stylistic changes. For effective date and applicability, see editor's note.