This 1979 bulletin documents a formal complaint filed by AFSCME against the State of Rhode Island and its Developmental Disabilities Office, alleging that the state failed to meet federal requirements for protecting employees affected by deinstitutionalization efforts. The complaint argues that Rhode Island’s 1979 State Plan did not include required “preprint assurances” guaranteeing job protections—such as notice, reassignment options, preservation of benefits, and bargaining rights—for workers whose positions were impacted as institutions closed and residents transitioned to community living . AFSCME asserted that these omissions violated federal law, including the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, and created harmful conditions for employees.

The document also includes federal guidelines detailing what states must provide to ensure fair and equitable treatment of employees during deinstitutionalization, including at least six months’ written notice, retraining programs, protections against job loss or worsening of position, and negotiated plans between agencies and labor representatives (see pages 13–17) . The bulletin concludes by urging federal oversight to enforce compliance, noting that both state and federal agencies share responsibility for ensuring that employee protections are upheld while transitions to community-based systems move forward.

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