SB 208, as amended, Lara. Developmental services: request for proposals.
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.
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.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
The Legislature hereby finds and declares the
2following:
3(a) Recent and emerging evidence in the number of children
4diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in California
5and in the United States indicates that ASDs have reached a level
6of public health crisis that must be addressed.
7(b)
end delete
8begin insert(end insertbegin inserta)end insert The State Department of Developmental Services and the
9regional center system provide treatment, habilitation, and other
10services to Californians with developmental disabilities so that
11they may lead more independent, productive, and integrated lives.
12(c)
end delete
13begin insert(end insertbegin insertb)end insert California, where diverse communities account for about
1460 percent of the population, is now a “majority minority” state.
15(d)
end delete
16begin insert(end insertbegin insertc)end insert The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act
17requires that a person who receives services from a regional center
18must have programs, services, and supports that are “person
19centered” and that are based on the specific assessment and needs
20of each consumer.
21(e)
end delete
22begin insert(end insertbegin insertd)end insert Therefore, services provided to regional center consumers
23should be provided in a linguistically and culturally competent
24manner that promotes equity and diversity for all Californians.
Section 4648.11 is added to the Welfare and
26Institutions Code, to read:
(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as
28the Equity and Diversity in Developmental Services Act.
29(b) A request for proposals that is prepared by the department
30or by a regional center and that relates to consumer programs or
31services and supports shall include a section on issues of equity
32and diversity.
33(c) The section on equity and diversity shall request, but not be
34limited to, all of the following:
35(1) A statement outlining the applicant’s plan to serve diverse
36populations.
37(2) Examples of the applicant’s commitment to addressing the
38
needs of diverse populations.
P3 1(3) Any additional information that the applicant deems relevant
2to issues of equity and diversity, including hiring bilingual staff,
3location of the program site, outreach strategies for underserved
4communities, and training and other materials in various languages
5and that are provided in a manner that is linguistically and
6culturally competent.
7(4) Nothing in this section shall alter contracts entered into on
8or before January 1, 2014.
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