Residential bed capacity

1. A facility may not receive a licensing amendment to increase or decrease facility bed capacity without approval of the department. 2. To qualify for an increase or decrease, a facility shall: a. Submit a written request; b. Provide a rationale for bed capacity change; and c. Be in compliance with North Dakota Century Code chapter 50-11 and this chapter. 3. The department shall review the facility's request and may approve or deny the request within fifteen working days after considering the need for the beds and the number of beds available. If accepted, the facility will receive an amended license. 4. The department has the authority to conduct a needs assessment at any time to determine the maximum number of licensed qualified residential treatment program beds required to meet the treatment needs of North Dakota children statewide. The needs assessment will allow the department to license facility beds accordingly. The department shall notify facility providers with a sixty-day notice of intent to increase or decrease bed capacity.