BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: sb 1178
SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: correa
VERSION: 4/10/14
Analysis by: Mark Stivers FISCAL: yes
Hearing date: April 29, 2014
SUBJECT:
Housing for persons with developmental disabilities
DESCRIPTION:
This bill dedicates savings from redirecting persons with
development disabilities from development centers to community
housing and revenues from the future lease of developmental
center property to an account set aside for the development of
housing for persons with developmental disabilities.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law establishes the California Department of
Developmental Services (DDS) to administer the Lanterman
Developmental Disabilities Act, which entitles individuals with
developmental disabilities to community services and supports.
DDS provides services in two ways. First, it operates
developmental centers, which currently house 1300 individuals.
Second, it contracts with 21 nonprofit regional centers, which
serve as a local resource to help 265,000 individuals with
developmental disabilities and their families find and access
available community services and supports.
The Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)
administers the Predevelopment Loan Program (PDLP) and the
Multifamily Housing Program (MHP). Under the PDLP, HCD provides
short-term predevelopment loans to finance start-up costs
associated with the development of affordable housing projects,
including land acquisition, engineering studies, architectural
plans, application fees, legal services, permits, bonding, and
site preparation. Under the MHP, HCD offers long-term loans for
the development of affordable rental housing.
This bill dedicates savings from redirecting persons with
development disabilities from state-operated developmental
centers to community housing and revenues from the future lease
SB 1178 (CORREA) Page 2
of developmental center property to an account set aside for the
development of housing for persons with developmental
disabilities. Specifically, the bill:
Requires the Department of Finance annually to calculate the
following amounts for deposit in the newly created California
Developmental Disabilities Community Support Housing Fund:
The savings associated with individuals transitioned
from a developmental center into a community placement
during the preceding fiscal year.
The savings associated with individuals who are
deflected from a development center as a result of
community support services during the preceding fiscal
year.
The savings associated with providing community support
services, as opposed to placement in a developmental
center, to individuals who are at risk of housing
displacement.
Revenues from leases of developmental center facilities
entered into after January 1, 2015.
Requires HCD, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to expend
monies from the fund for the development of community-based
housing for individuals with developmental disabilities
through the PDLP and MHP.
COMMENTS:
1.Purpose of the bill . According to the author, this bill is
necessary to address an impending crisis of consumers with
developmental disabilities who cannot find affordable housing.
When family caregivers are no longer able to support an adult
child with a developmental disability at home, alternative
living arrangements are difficult to locate. California lacks
housing opportunities that are safe, affordable, and
integrated for persons with developmental disabilities as well
as families with children who have developmental disabilities.
This bill establishes a new methodology for capturing savings
associated with housing persons with developmental
disabilities in the community, as opposed to in state-operated
developmental centers. The state in turn will leverage these
savings to create additional community housing opportunities.
By redirecting funding from developmental center operational
funds as consumers are moved into the community, this bill
ensures that resources will follow the consumers.
SB 1178 (CORREA) Page 3
2.The impending crisis . As of March 2014, 74 percent of
individuals served by California's regional centers were
living in the homes of their parents or guardians. Another 11
percent were in community care facilities, while about 10
percent were supported by independent living services. Just
4.5 percent of all residents were residing in a developmental
center, nursing home, or intermediate care facility. As the
parents of developmentally disabled children living at home
age themselves, their ability to continue caring for disabled
children diminishes, making it more likely that the children
will require supportive housing in the community. In
addition, as the number of bed spaces in state-operated
developmental centers falls, these individuals will also need
community housing. This bill seeks to start addressing the
need proactively.
3.Calculating the savings will be key . The author's goal is to
capture the savings from redirecting persons with development
disabilities from development centers to community housing and
use these savings to create additional community housing
options, leading to a virtuous cycle of reduced costs and
better outcomes. The ability to achieve this goal depends on
identifying and calculating the savings, which may be a
difficult task.
4.Technical amendments . In the Senate Human Services Committee,
the author agreed to accept the following technical amendments
in this committee:
Strike the savings associated with consumers at risk of
housing displacement but add language to the findings
describing housing displacement situations.
On page 5, line 8, strike "Social" and insert
"Developmental"
In addition, the following technical amendments are required:
On page 4, line 8, strike "The fund shall consist of"
and insert "There shall be paid into the fund"
On page 4, line 27, after "institution" insert "in the
preceding fiscal year"
PREVIOUS VOTES:
Senate Human Services: 4-0
SB 1178 (CORREA) Page 4
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on
Wednesday, April 23,
2014.)
SUPPORT: Association of Regional Center Agencies (sponsor)
Autism Society San Francisco
Center for Autism and Related Disorders
Sunflower Hill
1 Individual
OPPOSED: None received.