(a) It is the goal of the State of Georgia that every citizen be provided an adequate level of disability care through a unified system of disability services. To this end, the department through the division shall, to the maximum extent possible, allocate funds available for services so as to provide an adequate disability services program available to all citizens of this state. In funding and providing disability services, the division and the regional boards shall ensure that all providers, public or private, meet minimum standards of quality and competency as established by the department and the division.

(b) Fees generated, if any, by hospitals, community service boards, and other private and public providers, providing services under contract or purview of the regional board, shall be reported to the regional board and applied wherever appropriate against the cost of providing, and increasing the quantity and quality of, disability services. The regional boards with guidance from the division shall be responsible for developing procedures to properly account for the collection, remittance, and reporting of generated fees. The regional boards shall work with the community service boards and other public or private providers to develop an appropriate mechanism for accounting for the funds and resources contributed to local disability services by counties and municipalities within the area. Such contributions are not required to be submitted to either the community service board or the regional board; however, appropriate documentation and accounting entries shall make certain that the county or municipality is credited, and if necessary compensated, appropriately for such contribution of funds or resources.

(c) No person shall be denied disability services provided by the state as defined in this chapter based on age, gender, race, ethnic origin, or inability to pay.