BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2349
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Date of Hearing: May 21, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 2349 (Yamada) - As Amended: March 28, 2014
Policy Committee: Human
ServicesVote:5 - 2
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Office of Community Care Coordination
within the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to be
located on the grounds of the Sonoma Developmental Center
campus. Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires the Office to develop a plan to establish facilities
to assist former residents of developmental centers and to
expand and enhance existing community services and supports by
January 1, 2016.
2)Requires the plan to be consistent with the master plan for
the future of developmental centers prepared by the California
Health and Human Services Agency and address specific facility
and service needs.
3)Requires the Office to develop, as part of the plan, a precise
definition of a "placement of last resort" and an "acute
crisis clinic," including a description of the services
offered at each, and requires the Office to identify which
modifications are necessary to enable the Sonoma DC to operate
as a placement of last resort and an acute crisis clinic.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Minor and absorbable costs to the DDS to develop the required
plan.
2)Significant one-time costs, likely in the range of $1 million
(GF) to establish the office on the Sonoma campus. These costs
include staffing, operating expenses, and equipment.
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3)On-going, unknown costs, likely in the hundreds of thousands
of dollars, to staff and operate the facility. DDS notes this
bill is duplicative of functions the department does (or could
do) already without establishing a new office at Sonoma.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . According to the author, "The Sonoma Developmental
Center has faithfully served the needs of residents who have
challenging behavioral and complex medical needs and is an
invaluable part of the Sonoma Valley. The challenges faced by
the Sonoma Development Center uniquely position it to develop
and implement the changes called for by the Future of
Developmental Centers Task Force. This bill would implement
the recommendations outlined in the Task Force's findings and
ensure that a plan is in place to care for the developmental
center's neediest residents."
2)Developmental centers (DCs) . Approximately 1,300 regional
center consumers reside at one of California's four
developmental centers (Lanterman, Porterville, Sonoma, and
Fairview) and one state-operated, specialized community
facility (Canyon Springs). These facilities provide 24-hour
habilitation and medical and social treatment services. Of the
four remaining DCs, Sonoma DC has the largest population, with
451 residents. It is the oldest facility in California that
was established specifically to serve the needs of individuals
with developmental disabilities.
3)Task Force on the Future of Developmental Centers . 2013 budget
trailer bill language required California's Health and Human
Services Agency (CHHS) to submit to the Legislature a master
plan for the future of DCs by November 15, 2013, and to submit
to the Legislature, by January 10, 2014, the administration's
plans to meet the service needs of all current residents of
the DCs. The secretary formed the Task Force on the Future of
Developmental Centers to offer input leading to the
development of the CHHS plans.
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On January 13, 2014, CHHS released the "Plan for the Future of
Developmental Centers in California." The subsequent plans
required to implement the recommendations of the master plan
have yet to be released, and an official timeline for the
release of those plans has not been released.
This bill codifies the recommendations provided in the
administration's plan with respect to individuals with
challenging behavior and support needs, and seeks to ensure
that the Sonoma DC campus becomes an indispensable component
of that Plan moving forward.
4)Related Legislation .
a) SB 1344 (Evans) 2014, requires the state to establish
the Sonoma Developmental Center as the center of last
resort for Northern California, and requires DDS to confer
with the County of Sonoma to develop a detailed action plan
prior to establishing the Center as a center of last resort
to ensure the inclusion and participation of certain
community entities, including consumers living in the
developmental center and the State Council on Developmental
Disabilities. This bill is pending on the Senate
Appropriations Committee's Suspense File.
b) SB 1428 (Evans) 2014, requires that, prior to the
development of any plan for the sale, lease, transfer, or
major change of use of any portion of the Sonoma DC, DDS
and the Department of General Services confer and cooperate
with public and private entities in the development of an
improvement and redevelopment plan for the center. This
bill is pending on the Senate Appropriations Committee's
Suspense File.
c) AB 89 Chapter 25, Statutes of 2013, a 2013-2014 budget
trailer bill, required the Secretary of the Health and
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Human Services Agency to submit a master plan for the
future of DCs and subsequent plan for individuals living in
those centers.
Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916)
319-2081