BILL NUMBER: AB 1244INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Chesbro (Coauthors: Assembly Members Ammiano and Beall) FEBRUARY 18, 2011 An act relating to developmental services. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1244, as introduced, Chesbro. Developmental services: individual choice budgets. Under existing law, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, the State Department of Developmental Services is authorized to contract with regional centers to provide support and services 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 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), developed in accordance with prescribed requirements. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would support the implementation of individual choice budgets for regional center consumers. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) The Legislature recognizes the aspirations of people with developmental disabilities to make their own life decisions, such as where and with whom one lives, the role one plays within his or her community, when to enter into and whether to sustain long-term relationships, and how to pursue economic and spiritual goals. (b) Individual choice budgets offer regional center consumers authority over a fixed budget allocation, the freedom to design supports of their choosing, and the support necessary to maximize control over their services and their lives. This option promotes core quality outcomes based on universal human aspirations. (c) Individuals who have the choice to spend their allocation on a wide range of supports and services, such as hiring their own workers and purchasing items and services, have the ability to make creative, nontraditional purchases based on their individual needs and aspirations. (d) Direct support workers are the foundation for the supports necessary for people with developmental disabilities to access full citizenship and employment opportunities and to pursue a life of meaning in the ways that they choose. Therefore, individuals should have the right to utilize their allocation to hire workers of their choice and to supervise, direct, schedule, evaluate, train, and terminate employees. (e) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would support the implementation of individual choice budgets for regional center consumers.