BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 158
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 14, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
SB 158 (Correa) - As Amended: May 28, 2013
Policy Committee: Human
ServicesVote:7 - 0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill authorizes the establishment of the Regional Center
Excellence in Community Autism Partnerships (RE CAP)
demonstration project. Specifically, this bill:
1)Authorizes the RE CAP demonstration program to be developed,
and requires the program, if established, to provide improved
services, interventions, and other resources to assist
regional center consumers with autism spectrum disorders (ASD)
who reside in underserved communities and their families.
2)Authorizes the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to
contract with a University of California (UC) or California
State University (CSU) campus to serve as a coordinating
center to develop the RE CAP program.
3)Provides that the coordinating center may establish
guidelines, best practices, and technical assistance.
4)Makes regional center participation in the RE CAP program
voluntary.
5)Prohibits the use of state funds, beyond existing regional
center resources, for purposes of funding the RE CAP program,
and allows for additional resources provided by foundations,
federal funding, and other sources allocated by the
coordinating center for each RE CAP program.
6)Establishes a January 1, 2019 sunset date for the RE CAP
demonstration program, as specified.
SB 158
Page 2
FISCAL EFFECT
This program is permissive. Should DDS decide to implement the
project, however, costs could exceed $150,000 for DDS to
contract with a UC or CSU to develop program criteria, best
practices, and the necessary guidelines.
COMMENTS
Purpose . The intent of this legislation is to establish a
foundation for the coordination of resources and pooling and
dissemination of information to benefit underserved communities.
The author hopes that this bill will increase access to
necessary developmental services for children and families that
may otherwise never interact with a regional center or receive
adequate treatment and services.
The bill comes from recommendations of the Senate Select
Committee on Autism and Related Disorders. The Select Committee
held an informational hearing on April 30, 2012 to discuss
questions surrounding equal access to regional center services
for consumers with ASD. An outcome of the hearing was the
creation of a 20-member Taskforce on Equity and Diversity for
Regional Center Autism Services, which was charged with
developing recommendations to ensure that consumers of regional
center services receive appropriate and timely supports
regardless of race, ethnicity, educational background and other
socio-economic factors.
Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)
319-2081