Amended  IN  Assembly  April 25, 2019
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 21, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill No. 627

Introduced by Assembly Member Frazier

February 15, 2019

An act to add Section 4640.1 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to developmental services.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 627, as amended, Frazier. Developmental services: regional centers.
Existing law, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, requires the State Department of Developmental Services to contract with regional centers to provide services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities. Existing law requires contracts between the department and regional centers to specify the service area and the categories of persons that regional centers are expected to serve and the services and supports that are to be provided.
This bill would require the Director of Developmental Services to identify regional centers that are in need of a satellite office or satellite offices in rural catchment areas. catchment areas where barriers to access may exist. The bill would require the director, on or before July 1, 2020, to consult with each regional center identified by the department for a satellite office director to determine an appropriate location for the satellite office. office or offices. The bill would require a each regional center that is identified to open a satellite office, identified by the director to inform the public of its plans to open a satellite office, one or more satellite offices, and to offer services to individuals with developmental disabilities at that those satellite office offices on or before January 1, 2021.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 4640.1 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

4640.1.
 (a) In order to ensure accessibility of services to individuals with developmental disabilities, the Director of Developmental Services shall identify regional centers that are in need of one or more satellite offices in rural catchment areas. because barriers to access may exist in the catchment area, including, but not limited to, barriers due to a rural location, lack of public transportation, or the potential for significant travel time to the regional center office.
(b) On or before July 1, 2020, the director shall consult with each regional center identified pursuant to subdivision (a) to determine an appropriate location for a satellite office.