BILL NUMBER: AB 563	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 4, 2015
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 21, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Lopez
    (   Coauthors:   Assembly Members 
 Brown   and Hadley   ) 

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2015

   An act to add and repeal Section 4648.7 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, relating to developmental services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 563, as amended, Lopez. Developmental services.
   The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act requires the
State Department of Developmental Services to contract with regional
centers to provide services and supports to individuals with
developmental disabilities. Under existing law, the regional centers
purchase needed services for individuals with developmental
disabilities through approved service providers or arrange for those
services through other publicly funded agencies. The services and
supports to be provided to a regional center consumer are contained
in an individual program plan or individualized family service plan,
developed in accordance with prescribed requirements.
   This bill would require the State Department of Developmental
Services and the California Department of Aging to develop best
practices for providing  culturally competent  services and
supports to aging consumers with developmental and intellectual
disabilities, as specified. The bill would require the State
Department of Developmental Services to conduct a 2-year pilot
program that implements those best practices in 3 regional centers
that reflect the geographic diversity of California and, after the
conclusion of the pilot program, by January 1, 2020, submit a report,
as specified, evaluating the pilot program to the Legislature. These
provisions would be repealed January 1, 2021.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 4648.7 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:
   4648.7.  (a) (1) By January 1, 2017, the department and the
California Department of Aging shall develop best practices for
providing  culturally competent  services and supports to
aging consumers with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
   (2) The best practices developed pursuant to this subdivision
shall include, but not be limited to, both of the following:
   (A) Regional center protocols to enhance communication with, and
improve service delivery to, aging consumers with developmental and
intellectual disabilities.
   (B) Identification of services for inclusion in a consumer's
individual program plan, as appropriate, that can better support
aging consumers with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
   (b) The department shall conduct a two-year pilot program that
implements the best practices developed pursuant to subdivision (a)
in three regional centers that reflect the geographic diversity of
California.
   (c) (1) After the conclusion of the pilot program, the department
shall submit a report to the Legislature evaluating the pilot program
conducted pursuant to subdivision (b) by January 1, 2020, which
shall include a determination of whether the best practices
implemented in the pilot program should be implemented statewide.
   (2) The report required by this subdivision shall be submitted in
accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
   (d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2021, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2021, deletes or extends
that date.