Amended in Senate March 14, 2013

Senate Bill No. 208

Introduced by Senator Lara

February 8, 2013

An act begin insert to add Section 4648.11 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, end insert relating to developmental services.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 208, as amended, Lara. Developmental services: begin delete regional centers. end delete begin insert request for proposals. end insert

Under existing law, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, the State Department of Developmental Services is authorized to contract with regional centers to provide services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities. The services and supports to be provided to a regional center consumer are contained in an individual program plan (IPP), developed in accordance with prescribed requirements. Existing law authorizes the regional center to, among other things, solicit an individual or agency, by requests for proposals (RFPs) or other means, to provide needed services or supports that are not available to achieve the stated objectives of a consumer’s IPP.

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This bill would establish the Equity and Diversity in Developmental Services Act, and would require a request for proposals that is prepared by the department or by a regional center and that relates to consumer programs or services and supports to include a section on issues of equity and diversity, as specified.

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This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to require that RFPs that are created by regional centers include a section to evaluate the applicant’s ability to provide services and supports that are culturally and linguistically competent.

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Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  begin delete no end delete begin insert yes end insert . State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

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begin insert The Legislature hereby finds and declares the
following: end insert

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(a) Recent and emerging evidence in the number of children
diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in California
and in the United States indicates that ASDs have reached a level
of public health crisis that must be addressed.

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(b) The State Department of Developmental Services and the
regional center system provide treatment, habilitation, and other
services to Californians with developmental disabilities so that
they may lead more independent, productive, and integrated lives.

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(c) California, where diverse communities account for about
60 percent of the population, is now a “majority minority” state.

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(d) The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act
requires that a person who receives services from a regional center
must have programs, services, and supports that are “person
centered” and that are based on the specific assessment and needs
of each consumer.

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(e) Therefore, services provided to regional center consumers
should be provided in a linguistically and culturally competent
manner that promotes equity and diversity for all Californians.

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begin insert SEC. 2. end insert   

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begin insert Section 4648.11 is added to the end insert begin insert Welfare and Institutions
Code end insert begin insert , to read: end insert

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begin insert 4648.11. end insert   

(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as
the Equity and Diversity in Developmental Services Act.

(b) A request for proposals that is prepared by the department
or by a regional center and that relates to consumer programs or
services and supports shall include a section on issues of equity
and diversity.

(c) The section on equity and diversity shall request, but not be
limited to, all of the following:

(1) A statement outlining the applicant’s plan to serve diverse
populations.

(2) Examples of the applicant’s commitment to addressing the
needs of diverse populations.

(3) Any additional information that the applicant deems relevant
to issues of equity and diversity, including hiring bilingual staff,
location of the program site, outreach strategies for underserved
communities, and training and other materials in various
languages and that are provided in a manner that is linguistically
and culturally competent.

(4) Nothing in this section shall alter contracts entered into on
or before January 1, 2014.

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SECTION 1.  

It is the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation to require that requests for proposals that are created
by regional centers include a section to evaluate the applicant’s
ability to provide services and supports that are culturally and
linguistically competent.

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