BILL NUMBER: SB 1774 CHAPTERED 09/27/08 CHAPTER 419 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 27, 2008 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 27, 2008 PASSED THE SENATE APRIL 28, 2008 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY JULY 15, 2008 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 7, 2008 INTRODUCED BY Senator Corbett FEBRUARY 28, 2008 An act to amend Sections 4521 and 4521.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to developmental disabilities. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1774, Corbett. State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Existing law creates the 29-member State Council on Developmental Disabilities appointed by the Governor, to advise the State Department of Developmental Services and perform various other duties. Under existing federal law, 5-year grants are given to various University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service to provide leadership in, advise federal, state, and community policymakers about, and promote opportunities for, individuals with developmental disabilities. Two members of the state council are representatives from university centers of excellence in the state. Existing law requires that the Governor appoint 6 members at large, of whom 2 shall be persons with developmental disabilities as defined by federal law. This bill would, instead, require that the state council include a representative from each of the 3 university centers for excellence, and would increase from 2 to 3 the number of appointees with developmental disabilities thus increasing the council membership to 31. Existing law requires that certain heads of state departments and agencies or their chief deputies be appointed to the state council. This bill would, instead, allow the heads of these state departments and agencies or their designees to serve on the state council. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 4521 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 4521. (a) All references to "state council" in this part shall be a reference to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. (b) There shall be 31 voting members on the state council appointed by the Governor, as follows: (1) One member from each of the 13 area boards on developmental disabilities described in Article 6 (commencing with Section 4543), nominated by the area board to serve as a council member, who shall be persons with a developmental disability, as defined in Section 15002(8) of Title 42 of the United States Code, or parents or guardians of minors with developmental disabilities or conservators of adults with developmental disabilities residing in California. Five of these members shall be persons with a developmental disability, as defined in Section 15002(8) of Title 42 of the United States Code, three shall be parents, immediate relatives, guardians, or conservators of persons with developmental disabilities, and five shall be either a person with a developmental disability or a parent, immediate relatives, guardian, or conservator of a person with a developmental disability. The nominee from each area board shall be an area board member who was appointed by the Governor. (2) Eleven members of the council shall include the following: (A) The Secretary of California Health and Human Services, or his or her designee, who shall represent the agency and the state agency that administers funds under Title XIX of the Social Security Act for people with developmental disabilities. (B) The Director of Developmental Services or his or her designee. (C) The Director of Rehabilitation or his or her designee. (D) The Superintendent of Public Instruction or his or her designee. (E) A representative from a nongovernmental agency or group concerned with the provision of services to persons with developmental disabilities. (F) One representative from each of the three university centers for excellence in the state, pursuant to Section 15061 et seq. of Title 42 of the United States Code, providing training in the field of developmental services. These individuals shall have expertise in the field of developmental disabilities. (G) The Director of Health Care Services or his or her designee. (H) The executive director of the agency established in California to fulfill the requirements and assurance of Title I, Subtitle C, of the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 for a system to protect and advocate the rights of persons with developmental disabilities, or his or her designee. (I) The Director of Aging or his or her designee. (3) Seven members at large, appointed by the Governor, as follows: (A) Three shall be persons with developmental disabilities, as defined in Section 15002(8) of Title 42 of the United States Code. (B) One shall be a person who is a parent, immediate relative, guardian, or conservator of a resident of a developmental center. (C) One shall be a person who is a parent, immediate relative, guardian, or conservator of a person with a developmental disability living in the community. (D) One shall be a person who is a parent, immediate relative, guardian, or conservator of a person with a developmental disability living in the community, nominated by the Speaker of the Assembly. (E) One shall be a person with developmental disabilities, as defined in Section 15002(8) of Title 42 of the United States Code, nominated by the Senate Committee on Rules. (c) Prior to appointing the 31 members pursuant to this section, the Governor shall request and consider recommendations from organizations representing, or providing services to, or both, persons with developmental disabilities, and shall take into account socioeconomic, ethnic, and geographic considerations of the state. (d) The term of each member described in paragraph (1) of, subparagraphs (E) and (H) of paragraph (2) of, and paragraph (3) of, subdivision (b) shall be for three years; provided, however, of the members first appointed by the Governor pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), five shall hold office for three years, four shall hold office for two years, and four shall hold office for one year. In no event shall any member described in paragraph (1) of, subparagraphs (E) and (H) of paragraph (2) of, and paragraph (3) of, subdivision (b) serve for more than a total of six years of service. Service by any individual on any state council on developmental disabilities existing on and after January 1, 2003, shall be included in determining the total length of service. (e) Members appointed to the state council prior to June 1, 2002, shall continue to serve until the term to which they were appointed expires. Members appointed on June 1, 2002, or thereafter shall have their terms expire on January 1, 2003. (f) Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 4546, members described in subdivision (b) shall continue to serve on the area board following the expiration of their term on the area board until their term on the state council has expired. (g) A member may continue to serve following the expiration of his or her term until the Governor appoints that member's successor. The state council shall notify the Governor regarding membership requirements of the council and shall notify the Governor at least 60 days before a member's term expires, and when a vacancy on the council remains unfilled for more than 60 days. SEC. 2. Section 4521.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 4521.5. Notwithstanding Section 7.5 of the Government Code, each designee shall act as the member in his or her place and stead to all intents and purposes as though the director or secretary were personally present, including the right of the designee to be counted in constituting a quorum to participate in the proceeding of the state council and to vote upon any and all matters. Each designee shall have the right to represent the director or secretary who appointed him or her regardless of the number of other designees representing directors or secretaries at a particular meeting or session of the state council. Each designee shall represent only one director or secretary at any meeting or session of the state council.