BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 158|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 158
Author: Correa (D), et al.
Amended: 5/28/13
Vote: 21
SENATE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE : 5-0, 4/9/13
AYES: Yee, Berryhill, Emmerson, Evans, Wright
NO VOTE RECORDED: Liu
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 7-0, 5/23/13
AYES: De León, Walters, Gaines, Hill, Lara, Padilla, Steinberg
SUBJECT : Autism services: demonstration program
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill establishes, until January 1, 2019, a
demonstration program, the Regional Center Excellence in
Community Autism Partnerships (RE CAP), coordinated by a
University of California (UC) or California State University
(CSU) campus which defines underserved communities in regional
center (RC) catchment areas and establishes guidelines to assist
individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), as specified.
ANALYSIS :
Existing Law:
1. Establishes the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services
Act, which states that California is responsible for
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providing an array of services and supports sufficient to
meet the needs and choices of each person with developmental
disabilities, regardless of age or degree of disability, and
at each stage of life and to support their integration into
the mainstream life of the community.
2. Defines a "developmental disability" as a disability that
originates before an individual attains age 18 years,
continues, or can be expected to continue, indefinitely, and
constitutes a substantial disability for that individual.
This term also includes autism.
3. Establishes in California law that the Department of
Developmental Services (DDS) contracts with private
non-profit RCs to provide supports in order for the state to
carry out many of its responsibilities to provide fixed
points of contact in the community for persons with
developmental disabilities and their families, to the end
that these persons may have access to the services and
supports best suited to them throughout their lifetime.
4. Establishes an Individual Program Plan and defines that
planning process as the vehicle to ensure that services and
supports are customized to meet the needs of consumers who
are served by RCs.
5. Requires that any individual who is believed to have a
developmental disability is eligible for intake and
assessment services, and sets guidelines and timelines for
performing those services.
6. Requires DDS to develop evaluation and diagnostic procedures
for ASD, as specified.
This bill:
1. Permits the establishment of a demonstration program, known
as RE CAP, and requires it to provide improved services,
supports, interventions, and other resources to assist
individuals with ASD, and their families, who are RC
consumers and reside in underserved communities.
2. Permits DDS to contract with a UC or CSU campus to serve as a
coordinating center to develop the RE CAP program.
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3. Permits the coordination center to establish guidelines, best
practices, and technical assistance by which participating
RCs are required to implement measures in underserved
communities to accomplish any of the following goals and
objectives in a linguistically and culturally competent
manner:
A. Promote awareness and reduce the stigma associated
with ASD.
B. Improve the early screening for ASD.
C. Improve the diagnosis and assessment of ASD.
D. Increase access to evidence-based interventions and
treatments for ASD.
4. Requires participation of the RCs to be on a voluntary basis.
5. Requires funding for the RE CAP program to be from existing
RC resources in combination with additional resources
provided by foundations, federal funding, and other sources
and as allocated by the coordinating center for each of the
RE CAP programs. Prohibits additional state funds to be
allocated to the coordinating center for these purposes.
6. Sunsets the program on January 1, 2019.
Comments
This bill is part of a package that arose from a hearing in 2012
by the Senate Select Committee on Autism and Related Disorders
that focused on disparities in services in underserved
communities.
Access to health care services . The United States Department of
Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health has issued
14 standards for health organizations to ensure Culturally and
Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS). In 2001, the Office
of Minority Health released a report which identified adoption
of CLAS standards as a way to correct inequities that currently
exist in the provision of health services, and to make these
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services more responsive to the individual needs of all
patients/consumers.
In 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services'
Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee included research on
disparities among its top objectives. Specifically, the
Committee recommended conducting at least three studies
nationally to identify reasons for the health disparities in
accessing early screening and diagnosis services, including
identification of barriers to implementation of and access to
screening, diagnosis, referral, and early intervention services
among diverse populations, as defined by socioeconomic status,
race, ethnicity, and gender of the child.
Autism . ASD are complex neurological disorders that have an
onset in infancy and can cause mild to severe difficulties in
childhood development. Among the challenges of ASD are language
delays, communication problems, limited social skills and
repetitive or other unusual behaviors. Nationally, ASD affects
an estimated one in 88 children and is present across all
racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Prior Legislation
SCR 51 (Perata, Chapter 124, Statues of 2005) established the
Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism which identifies
gaps in programs and services related to the education and
treatment of children, adolescents, transitional youth, and
adults with ASD, provides recommendations for a comprehensive
and integrated continuum of programs and services, and provides
a report to the Governor and to the Legislature.
AB 1872 (Coto, 2008) would have established the California
Autism Spectrum Disorder Clearinghouse administered by DDS to
provide evidence-based and recommended information and practices
regarding the education of pupils with ASD, including, but not
limited to, information about and examples of instructional
strategies, fiscal management practices, and organizational
structures supporting quality service delivery. The bill was
vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger.
SB 527 (Steinberg, 2008) would have required the DDS to partner
with at least one RC to implement a two-year ASD Early
Screening, Intervention, and Treatment Pilot Program in at least
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three key geographic areas. The Pilot Program would have
established best practices for early screening, diagnosis,
referral, and treatment for children with ASD. The bill was
vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger.
SB 1475 (Torlakson, 2008) would have required DDS to establish a
two-year pilot project to, among other things, provide methods,
instruments, and systems of care between RCs and school
districts for the early identification and assessment of
children with ASD from birth to five years of age. The bill was
vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
Likely one-time costs in the hundreds of thousands for DDS
and the contracting campus to develop program criteria,
guidelines and best practices to and negotiate a contract
(General Fund).
Likely ongoing program oversight costs in the hundreds of
thousands per year for DDS and the contracting campus
(General Fund).
Potential program oversight costs in the hundreds of
thousands to low millions to participating RCs, depending on
how many RCs participate in the demonstration program
(General Fund).
Unknown costs to the RCs to undertake required activities
such as promoting awareness of ASD, improving screening,
increasing access to services, and other activities. Because
these activities are broadly defined in this bill, the total
cost to undertake them is unknown. Costs could be in the
millions depending on how the program is developed (General
Fund).
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/23/13)
Autism Speaks
Center for Autism and Related Disorders
Health Access
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Special Needs Network
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office, this
bill will highlight California's commitment and leadership to
individuals with ASD and their families by establishing landmark
programs throughout the state that will promote best practices
for the appropriate screening, assessment, and treatment of ASD
for individuals and communities that are currently underserved.
JL:k 5/28/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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