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
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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
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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