BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 158
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 158 (Correa)
As Amended May 28, 2013
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :39-0
HUMAN SERVICES 7-0 APPROPRIATIONS 16-0
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|Ayes:|Stone, Maienschein, |Ayes:|Gatto, Harkey, Bigelow, |
| |Ammiano, | |Bocanegra, |
| |Ian Calderon, Garcia, | |Bradford, Ian Calderon, |
| |Grove, Dickinson | |Campos, |
| | | |Eggman, Gomez, Hall, |
| | | |Holden, |
| | | |Linder, Pan, Quirk, |
| | | |Wagner, Weber |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | |Noes: |
| | | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Allows the Regional Center Excellence in Community
Autism Partnerships (RE CAP) demonstration program to be
established.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Authorizes the RE CAP demonstration program to be developed,
and requires the program, if established, to provide improved
services, supports, 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 or California State
University 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 by which
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regional centers participating in the RE CAP program will seek
to achieve the following goals in underserved communities:
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; and
d) Increase access to evidence-based interventions and
treatments for ASD.
1)Makes regional center participation in the RE CAP program
voluntary.
2)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.
3)Establishes a January 1, 2019 sunset date for the RE CAP
demonstration program, as specified.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, this program is permissive. Should DDS decide to
implement the project, however, costs could exceed $150,000 for
DDS to contract with a University of California (UC) or
California State University (CSU) to develop program criteria,
best practices, and the necessary guidelines.
COMMENTS : This bill is part of a package of legislation
resulting 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 autism spectrum disorders (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. The report, "A Preliminary
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Report by the Taskforce on Equity and Diversity for Regional
Center Autism Services," published on March 18, 2013, identified
a number of recommendations for changes to current practice
within the developmental services system based on the work of
five subcommittees. Among them was a recommendation for DDS to
"promote strategies and best practices by which effective
programs and services that promote equity and cultural and
linguistic competency could be shared among all of the regional
centers." In response to this and related recommendations in
the report, this bill seeks to establish coordinating centers on
college campuses, in collaboration with DDS, to serve as
clearinghouses for guidelines and best practices that will be
shared with regional centers throughout the state.
Background : The Lanterman Act guides the provision of services
and supports for Californians with developmental disabilities,
including intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy,
and autism. Each individual under the Lanterman Act, typically
referred to as a "consumer," is legally entitled to treatment
and habilitation services and supports in the least restrictive
environment. Lanterman Act services are designed to enable all
consumers to live more independent and productive lives in the
community.
DDS contracts with 21 regional centers throughout the state,
which are private nonprofit entities, to carry out many of the
state's responsibilities under the Lanterman Act. The regional
center caseload is comprised of nearly 260,000 consumers who
receive services such as residential placements, supported
living services, respite care, transportation, day treatment
programs, work support programs, and various social and
therapeutic activities. While most individuals receive
treatment and services in the community, 1,400 consumers reside
at one of California's four Developmental Centers-and one
state-operated, specialized community facility-which provide
24-hour habilitation and medical and social treatment services.
Autism : Defined as a group of neurodevelopmental disorders
linked to atypical biology and chemistry in the brain that
generally appears within the first three years of life, autism
is a growing epidemic among children. Autism is often
characterized by delayed, impaired or otherwise atypical verbal
and social communication skills, sensitivity to sensory
stimulation, atypical behaviors and body movements, and
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sensitivity to changes in routines. While symptoms and severity
differ among individuals with an autism diagnosis, all
individuals affected by the disorder have impaired communication
skills, difficulties initiating and sustaining social
interactions and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior
and/or interests. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD), is one of
the commonly-used terms to describe autism and other pervasive
developmental disorders (PDD), and it more appropriately
captures the array of symptoms and varying levels in the
severity of symptoms experienced by individuals with a diagnosis
within ASD.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Autism and
Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, the
estimated prevalence of ASD for children born in 2008 was 11.3
per 1,000 children, which translates to one in 88 children.
This is a drastic increase from the average prevalence for 2006,
which was 9.0 per 1,000, or one in 110 children. ASD continues
to be four to five times more prevalent for boys than for girls.
March 2013 DDS data shows that 59,852 regional center consumers
have an autism diagnosis, which is nearly double the number of
individuals with the same diagnosis served by regional centers
in 2007. An additional 4,562 consumers are on the autism
spectrum with a diagnosis of PDD. Among the individuals with
ASD served by the regional centers, 11,484 are female and 52,930
are male, and 40% of the population with an autism or PDD
diagnosis is zero to 9 years old. Additionally 32.22% are
identified as Hispanic and 34.85% as White, whereas 7.85% are
identified as Black/African-American and 8.83% are identified as
Asian.
Early intervention services : Research shows that a child's
development can be greatly impacted by early intervention
treatment services, especially when provided during a child's
first three years. During that time, a child is developing
motor skills and language, and begins to socialize with others.
Early intervention services for babies and toddlers that have
been diagnosed with, or seem to be at risk for, a developmental
delay or disability often include physical, cognitive,
communication, social/emotional and self-help skill building.
While there is no proven cure for ASD, early intervention can
dramatically change the trajectory of a child's life over time,
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including his or her ability to learn new skills throughout
childhood and an increased ability to integrate into, and have a
positive relationship with, his or her community.
Need for this bill : According to the author, "The significance
of socioeconomic, psychosocial, and cultural factors in the
evaluation and treatment of ASD are considered to be very
important, but unresolved, issues. According to data from the
National Survey of Children's Health, being African-American,
Latino or poor was associated with decreased access to
services."
By establishing a foundation for the coordination of resources
and pooling and dissemination of information to benefit
underserved communities, this bill seeks to 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. As the incidence of autism
diagnoses continues to grow, special attention to the language,
resource, and cultural needs of underserved communities will
continue to be necessary. This bill additionally acknowledges
the sequential ties between stigma, low rates of autism
diagnoses and the lack of beneficial early intervention
services. Should the demonstration program included in this
bill be authorized, the guidance it will facilitate could help
to ensure children in underserved regions or demographic groups
receive the early intervention they need to experience better
outcomes throughout their lifetimes.
In support of this bill, the Special Needs Network states, "Two
children are newly diagnosed with autism every hour in
California. Delays in diagnosis and gaps in vital services have
a huge impact on the future of children with autism. Low-income
and minority children are especially vulnerable and regional
center services are often the only option to manage or improve
their conditions. Gaps, disparities, and poor delivery of these
services can be catastrophic to a young developing mind?SB 158,
commonly known as the Regional Center Excellence in Community
Autism Partnerships (RE CAP) is intended to promote awareness
and reduce the stigma associated with pervasive developmental
disorders, as well as improve early screening and diagnosis."
Analysis Prepared by : Myesha Jackson / HUM. S. / (916)
SB 158
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319-2089
FN: 0002104