(a) It shall be the duty of the State Commissioner of Health to visit and inspect, and examine into the conditions and management of, each domiciliary facility receiving payment from the Department of Public Welfare for services on behalf of a person or persons living in the facility, or receiving payment for services from any such person who is a recipient of public assistance and whose Schedule of Maximum Money Payments for Assistance Plans in Accordance With Living Arrangements, as approved by the Oklahoma Public Welfare Commission, includes an item for maintenance or nursing care; and to make report of his findings to the Director of Public Welfare, and any other state agency that might have an official interest in the findings. For the purposes of this section, a domiciliary facility shall mean any home, establishment, institution, or other facility providing living accommodations, or special living arrangements, or nursing or medical care, for three or more persons living therein.
(b) Whenever the Director of Public Welfare requests him to do so, the State Commissioner of Health shall cause a special inspection to be made to ascertain whether patients or residents of any such domiciliary facility are receiving proper care or treatment, or whether the facility is being operated in accordance with applicable law, and rules and regulations of the Oklahoma Public Welfare Commission; and, whenever the Director of Public Welfare requests him to do so, the State Commissioner of Health shall cause a special investigation to be made to determine whether a patient or resident of any such domiciliary facility has been abused or mistreated, or has not received proper care. After making any such special inspection or investigation, the State Commissioner of Health shall make a written report of his findings to the Director of Public Welfare.
(c) If, as a result of any inspection, investigation or examination, the State Commissioner of Health determines that a criminal law has been or might have been violated, he shall inform the district attorney of his findings, for appropriate action.
(d) The duties and responsibilities vested in the State Commissioner of Health by this section shall be in addition to those vested in the State Commissioner of Health by other laws.
Laws 1967, c. 357, § 1, emerg. eff. May 18, 1967; Laws 1971, c. 337, § 7, operative July 1, 1971.