California Senate Bill SB367 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 367AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 1, 2013 INTRODUCED BY Senator Block FEBRUARY 20, 2013 An act  to add Section 4647.5 to the Welfare and Institutions Code,  relating to developmental services. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 367, as amended, Block. Developmental services: regional  centers.   centers:   cultural and linguistic competency.  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.  Existing law requires the department, when approving regional center contracts, to ensure that regional center staffing patterns demonstrate that direct service coordination is the highest priority.   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, including the use of a process that reflects the awareness of, and sensitivity to, the cultural background   of the consumer and the family. Existing law authorizes the regional center to, among other things, solicit an individual or agency, by requests for proposals or other means, to provide needed services or supports that are not available to achieve the stated objectives of a consumer's IPP.   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would provide that the department require regional centers to develop annual strategic plans that address issues of cultural and linguistic competency.   This bill would require the department to require regional centers to develop a Regional Center Study and Planning Process for Equity and Cultural and Linguistic Competency (RESPECT) to address issues, outcomes, and monitoring relating to culturally and linguistically competent services and other factors that promote equity, fairness, and diversity for underserved populations. The bill would require RESPECT to be updated at least every 2 years, and include cultural and linguistic competency staff training and a requirement that providers include specified information in their vendor applications. The bill would require regional centers to establish an Advisory Board for Leadership and Equity to promote partnerships between regional centers and community-based organizations and seek to meet biannually and provide specified findings and recommendations to the board of directors of the regional center. Under the bill, a regional center may use an existing group to meet that requirement under certain circumstances. The bill would require regional centers to seek to post information relating to RESPECT on their Internet Web sites.  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would provide that the State Department of Developmental Services require regional centers to  develop annual strategic plans that  address issues of cultural and linguistic competency.  SEC. 2.   Section 4647.5 is added to the   Welfare and Institutions Code   , to read:   4647.5. (a) The department shall require regional centers to develop a Regional Center Study and Planning Process for Equity and Cultural and Linguistic Competency (RESPECT), which shall address issues, outcomes, and monitoring relating to culturally and linguistically competent services and other factors that promote equity, fairness, and diversity for underserved populations. (b) The findings and recommendations contained in RESPECT shall be updated, at least every two years, and shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) Cultural and linguistic competency staff training. (2) A requirement that a provider include in its vendor application to the regional center information about the language capabilities of its staff and its ability to provide services in a culturally and linguistically competent manner. (c) (1) Regional centers shall establish an Advisory Board for Leadership and Equity (ABLE) that shall promote partnerships between regional centers and community-based organizations, including, but not limited to, providers or provider organizations, and shall seek to accomplish the following: (A) Meet at least biannually. (B) Provide annual findings and recommendations to the board of directors of the regional center on regional center policies and procedures that will promote equity, diversity, and cultural and linguistic competency for consumers and their families. (C) Review and provide input on RESPECT. (2) Nothing in this subdivision shall preclude a regional center from using an existing group or organization, including, but not limited to, the regional center's board of directors, to meet this requirement if the group or organization appropriately reflects the diversity and cultural background of the regional center catchment area. (d) Regional centers shall seek to post information relating to RESPECT on their Internet Web sites.