BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 468 Page 1 Date of Hearing: August 30, 2013 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Mike Gatto, Chair SB 468 (Emmerson and Beall) - As Amended: August 21, 2013 Policy Committee: Human ServicesVote:7 - 0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: SUMMARY This bill requires the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to establish a Self-Determination (SD) Program, which would allow regional center consumers to use an individual budget to purchase services and supports at the consumer's direction. Specifically, this bill: 1)Requires the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to implement a statewide Self-Determination Program that would provide a participant and his or her family an individual budget to maximize choice and flexibility in services provided to implement the participant's individual program plan (IPP). 2)Phases in the statewide Self-Determination Program over three years, initially serving up to 2,500 regional center consumers, which includes the remaining participants in the self-determination pilot project authorized pursuant to Section 13 of Chapter 1043 of the Statutes of 1998. 3)Requires DDS to ensure that the Self-Determination Program is cost neutral in the aggregate and improves consumer outcomes over time through increasing consumer and family control over services. 4)Requires regional centers to establish an individual budget for each consumer that would be no more than the consumer would receive through the regular service model. 5)Allows consumers to require that perspective providers undergo criminal background checks and requires that the Department of Justice costs associated with those checks be borne by the SB 468 Page 2 provider. 6)Defines self-determination as a voluntary delivery system consisting of a defined and comprehensive mix of services and supports, selected and directed by a participant through person-centered planning, in order to meet all or some of the objectives in his or her IPP and promote inclusion in the community, as specified. FISCAL EFFECT 1)One-time GF costs potentially in excess of several hundred thousand dollars for the workload associated with creating the new SD program. 2)On-going costs of $1.3 million for DDS to administer and process the required background checks for providers. 3)On-going costs of up to $2 million for the Regional Centers for outreach, training, and administration of the SD program. 4)Annual savings of approximately $2.75 million GF from shifting the current pilot project participants to the new statewide program which is eligible for 50% federal funding. The current pilot project costs over $5 million GF per year. 5)Language in the bill requires that the program be implemented in a way that is cost-neutral to the state. COMMENTS 1)Purpose . The author states this bill is intended to increase choices of services for families of consumers with developmental disabilities to allow them to have more control and flexibility in their service plans. This is important, he argues, because due to recent budget constraints and lack of funding, many types of effective services have been cut. This bill creates a Self-Determination Program, which will allow the consumer and parents to create a service plan that is more beneficial to the individual receiving the services. 2)California's Developmental Services System . The Department of Developmental Services is responsible for coordinating services and supports for about 250,000 people with developmental disabilities. The vast majority of these people SB 468 Page 3 are served by 21 regional centers, which are non-profit entities that contract with the state. In addition, the state's four Developmental Centers (Fairview, Lanterman, Porterville, and Sonoma) and one smaller, community facility (Canyon Springs) provide 24-hour care to about 2,000 individuals with developmental disabilities. The DCs provide a full range of care, including medical and recreational services. Under current practice, regional center staff (in consultation with consumers and their families) develop an Individual Program Plan for each consumer. The Individual Program Plan lays out the services and supports that the consumer is entitled to, based on his or her individual needs. The regional centers then work with outside vendors to arrange for the provision of those services and supports. 3)Self-Determination Pilot Projects . SB 1038 (Thompson; Chapter 1043, Statutes of 1998) authorized the planning and implementation of self-determination pilot projects at three RCs: East Los Angeles Regional Center, Tri-Counties Regional Center, and Redwood Coast Regional Center. Two other regional centers (Kern Regional Center and San Diego Regional Center) also created independent self-determination pilots through approval of alternative service delivery models pursuant to W&I Code Section 4669.2. The pilot programs, which vary somewhat among the five participating RCs, were limited to a total of approximately 140 consumers. These self-determination pilot programs are ongoing and, reportedly, successful, with a high level of participant satisfaction. Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916) 319-2081