(a) Establishment.--The department shall establish and develop under this act programs of attendant care services for eligible individuals.(b) Solicitation of proposals.--The department shall solicit proposals to provide attendant care services under this act. Providers shall submit proposals in the form and manner required by the department.(c) Proposal selection criteria.--Proposals shall be selected based on service priorities developed by the department; however, priority shall be given to proposals that will serve the severely disabled and those at greatest risk of being institutionalized as defined by the department.(d) Agreements with providers.--In order to provide attendant care services, the department may enter into agreements with providers. Each agreement shall include, at minimum, the number of clients to be served, the types of attendant care services to be provided, the cost of services, the method of payment and the criteria to be used for evaluating the provision of services.(e) Participation of eligible clients.--Providers, where appropriate, shall include eligible clients in the planning, startup, delivery and administration of attendant care services and training of personal care attendants.(f) Consumer assessment reports.--Determination of eligibility and the need for attendant care services shall be supported by consumer assessment reports as required by the department.(g) Weekly maximum hours of service.--Each attendant care provider agency's average hours of service per consumer must not exceed 40 hours per seven-day week.(h) Waiting list.--The department and providers shall develop a waiting list, by service priority, for those eligible clients who cannot be served immediately.1986, Dec. 10, P.L. 1477, No. 150, § 4, effective 7/1/1987.