BILL NUMBER: AB 254INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Beall FEBRUARY 3, 2011 An act to amend Section 4646.5 of, and to add Section 4869 to, the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to developmental services. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 254, as introduced, Beall. Developmental services: Employment First Policy. The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act authorizes the State Department of Developmental Services to contract with regional centers to provide support and services to individuals with developmental disabilities. 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. Existing law requires the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to form a standing Employment First Committee to identify strategies and recommend legislative, regulatory, and policy changes to increase integrated employment for persons with developmental disabilities, as specified. This bill would require the regional center, when developing an individual program plan for a transition age youth or working age adult, to be guided by the Employment First Policy. The bill also, beginning when a consumer is 14 years of age, would require the planning team to discuss school-to-work opportunities during individual program plan meetings and to inform the consumer, parent, legal guardian, or conservator that the regional center is available, upon request, to participate in the consumer's individualized education plan meetings to discuss transition planning. The bill would require the planning team, as part of the individual program plan process for working age adults, to address integrated employment opportunities, while respecting the consumer's right to choose. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 4646.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 4646.5. (a) The planning process for the individual program plan described in Section 4646 shall include all of the following: (1) Gathering information and conducting assessments to determine the life goals, capabilities and strengths, preferences, barriers, and concerns or problems of the person with developmental disabilities. For children with developmental disabilities, this process should include a review of the strengths, preferences, and needs of the child and the family unit as a whole. Assessments shall be conducted by qualified individuals and performed in natural environments whenever possible. Information shall be taken from the consumer, his or her parents and other family members, his or her friends, advocates, providers of services and supports, and other agencies. The assessment process shall reflect awareness of, and sensitivity to, the lifestyle and cultural background of the consumer and the family. (2) A statement of goals, based on the needs, preferences, and life choices of the individual with developmental disabilities, and a statement of specific, time-limited objectives for implementing the person's goals and addressing his or her needs. These objectives shall be stated in terms that allow measurement of progress or monitoring of service delivery. These goals and objectives should maximize opportunities for the consumer to develop relationships, be part of community life in the areas of community participation, housing, work, school, and leisure, increase control over his or her life, acquire increasingly positive roles in community life, and develop competencies to help accomplish these goals. (3) When developing individual program plans for children, regional centers shall be guided by the principles, process, and services and support parameters set forth in Section 4685. (4) When developing an individual program plan for a transition age youth or working age adult, the regional center shall be guided by the Employment First Policy described in Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 4868). Beginning when a consumer is 14 years of age, the planning team shall discuss school-to-work opportunities during individual program plan meetings, and the regional center representative shall inform the consumer, parent, legal guardian, or conservator that the regional center is available, upon request, to participate in the consumer's individualized education plan meetings to discuss transition planning.(4)(5) A schedule of the type and amount of services and supports to be purchased by the regional center or obtained from generic agencies or other resources in order to achieve the individual program plan goals and objectives, and identification of the provider or providers of service responsible for attaining each objective, including, but not limited to, vendors, contracted providers, generic service agencies, and natural supports. The plan shall specify the approximate scheduled start date for services and supports and shall contain timelines for actions necessary to begin services and supports, including generic services.(5)(6) When agreed to by the consumer, the parents or legally appointed guardian of a minor consumer, or the legally appointed conservator of an adult consumer or the authorized representative, including those appointed pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 4548 and subdivision (e) of Section 4705, a review of the general health status of the adult or child including a medical, dental, and mental health needs shall be conducted. This review shall include a discussion of current medications, any observed side effects, and the date of last review of the medication. Service providers shall cooperate with the planning team to provide any information necessary to complete the health status review. If any concerns are noted during the review, referrals shall be made to regional center clinicians or to the consumer's physician, as appropriate. Documentation of health status and referrals shall be made in the consumer's record by the service coordinator.(6)(7) A schedule of regular periodic review and reevaluation to ascertain that planned services have been provided, that objectives have been fulfilled within the times specified, and that consumers and families are satisfied with the individual program plan and its implementation. (b) For all active cases, individual program plans shall be reviewed and modified by the planning team, through the process described in Section 4646, as necessary, in response to the person's achievement or changing needs, and no less often than once every three years. If the consumer or, where appropriate, the consumer's parents, legal guardian, or conservator requests an individual program plan review, the individual program shall be reviewed within 30 days after the request is submitted. (c) (1) The department, with the participation of representatives of a statewide consumer organization, the Association of Regional Center Agencies, an organized labor organization representing service coordination staff, and the Organization of Area Boards shall prepare training material and a standard format and instructions for the preparation of individual program plans, which embodies an approach centered on the person and family. (2) Each regional center shall use the training materials and format prepared by the department pursuant to paragraph (1). (3) The department shall biennially review a random sample of individual program plans at each regional center to assure that these plans are being developed and modified in compliance with Section 4646 and this section. SEC. 2. Section 4869 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: 4869. In furtherance of the Employment First Policy established pursuant to this chapter, the individual program plan process for working age adults shall address integrated employment opportunities, while respecting the consumer's right to choose.