Advancing Equity and Access in the Self-Determination Program Act.

Existing law, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (act) , requires the State Department of Developmental Services to contract with regional centers to provide services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Under existing law, the regional centers purchase needed services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities through approved service providers, or arrange for their provision through other publicly funded agencies. The services and supports to be provided to a regional center consumer are contained in an individual program plan (IPP) , which is developed by the planning team according to specified procedures. Existing law requires the department to establish and implement a statewide Self-Determination Program to provide participants and their families, within an individual budget, increased flexibility and choice, and greater control over decisions, resources, and needed and desired services and supports to implement their IPP, in accordance with prescribed requirements. Existing law declares the intent of the Legislature to provide more statewide uniformity and consistency and promote equity in the administrative practices and services of regional centers, consistent with the act. This bill, the Advancing Equity and Access in the Self-Determination Program Act, would require the department, by January 1, 2026, to establish statewide standardized processes and procedures for the Self-Determination Program, as specified, and to ensure that those processes and procedures are applied consistently by regional centers and that they make measurable improvements towards achieving equitable enrollment by race, ethnicity, and regional center. The bill would require deviation from the standardized processes and procedures to be approved by the department. Existing law provides participants with a choice of financial management services providers who assist the participant to manage and direct the distribution of funds contained in the individual budget, and ensure that the participant has the financial resources to implement their IPP throughout the year. This bill would, subject to eligibility for federal funding, require regional centers to ensure that participant choice of providers is respected and that the full cost of the participant's provider is included in the participant's spending plan, as specified. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 4685.8 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed by SB 1463 to be operative only if this bill and SB 1463 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.