BILL ANALYSIS
AB 302
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Date of Hearing: April 1, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
AB 302 (Beall) - As Introduced: February 17, 2009
Policy Committee: Human Services
Vote: 5-2
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Developmental Services
(DDS) to conduct annual analysis to be published in the
aggregate and for each of the 21 Regional Centers (RC) to
determine:
1)The proportion of RC-eligible individuals by ethnicity, age,
and primary language who have no purchase of services (POS)
expenditures.
2)The average annual per capita POS expenditures for consumers
by residence type, service category, ethnicity, age, and
primary language.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)One-time cost of $200,000 GF and on-going costs of $100,000 GF
to conduct statewide and RC-specific analysis and post it
online. This bill requires the analysis of eligible but
unserved consumers. It is not clear that this population is
easily identified, therefore actual costs may be higher.
2)This bill is designed to highlight inequities in POS spending
and reduce differences between ethnic and racial groups. If
this research is effective, cost pressures are created to
increase entitlement services under the Lanterman Act. The
2009-10 POS budget is $2.8 billion. A one-percent increase in
this budget is $280 million (66% GF).
COMMENTS
AB 302
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1)Rationale . This bill requires DDS to publish annual reports
regarding POS expenditures and services by a number of
demographic variables, including primary language and
ethnicity. The author indicates several reports over the past
15 year have shown significant differences in expenditures for
consumers of different racial groups. For example, a recently
published report by researchers at the University of
California, San Francisco concluded that African-American,
Asian, and Latino consumers had annual POS expenditures 10%
and 25% lower than their Caucasian counterparts. Research
indicates such differences may reflect service access, demand,
and discrimination.
2)Many Codes within Purchase of Services . POS for consumers by
RCs fall into 10 major service categories and total $2.5
billion (all funds) in 2008-09. The 10 categories are 1)
community care facilities, 2) medical facilities, 3) day
programs, 4) habilitation services, 5) transportation, 6)
support services, 7) in-home respite, 8) out-of-home respite,
9) health care, and 10) miscellaneous services. Within the 10
major service categories, about 190 different and more
specific service expenditure codes are authorized by DDS and
used by the RCs to classify purchase of service expenditures
for entry into the central POS database.
3)Is More Study Needed ? Numerous studies on the actual or
suspected inequities in POS expenditures have been conducted
since the early 1990s through the present day. Although
findings have varied, many of the studies have confirmed
questions of access and equity for a number of subpopulations.
It is unclear how this bill will further answer the subsequent
questions about solutions, including increased funding, to
reduce disparities and improve quality for RC consumers.
4)Related Legislation . AB 1535 (Bass) in 2005 addressed similar
research and equity issues as this bill. AB 1535 was amended
to address a different subject.
Analysis Prepared by : Mary Ader / APPR. / (916) 319-2081