developmental disabilities.

This article sets forth provisions enabling the commissioner of the office for people with developmental disabilities to regulate and assure the consistent high quality of services provided within the state to its citizens with developmental disabilities. The commissioner may adopt and promulgate any regulation reasonably necessary to implement and effectively exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred by this article. This article shall govern the operation of programs, provision of services and the facilities hereinafter described and the commissioner's powers and authority with respect thereto, and shall supersede, as to such matters, sections of article thirty-one that are inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter.

Any provisions of this article which explicitly or implicitly apply to, or reference, persons who are mentally retarded, shall be deemed to apply to, or reference, persons with developmental disabilities.