Bill Text: CA AB2360 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Developmental services: family services: counseling.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2024-08-15 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB2360 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB2360-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  March 04, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2360

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Introduced by Assembly Member Rendon

February 12, 2024

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An act to amend Section 5000 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to mental health. An act to add Section 4685.2 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to developmental services.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2360, as amended, Rendon. Lanterman-Petris-Short Act. Developmental services: family services: counseling.

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 and their families. In order to provide opportunities for children to live with their families, existing law requires the department and regional centers to give a very high priority to the development and expansion of services and supports designed to assist families that are caring for their children at home, including respite for parents, homemaker services, counseling, and mental health services.

This bill would require the department to establish a Family Wellness Pilot Program under which regional centers shall provide counseling and peer support group services to the families of regional center consumers, as specified. The bill would require the department to evaluate the program and submit a report on the evaluation to the Legislature on or before July 1, 2029.

Existing law, the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, provides generally for the evaluation, treatment, and civil commitment of persons with mental health disorders and other specified persons.

This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to the provision naming that act.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

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

SECTION 1.

 Section 4685.2 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

4685.2.

 (a) The department shall establish a Family Wellness Pilot Program under which regional centers shall provide counseling and peer support group services to the families of regional center consumers.

(b) Eligibility for services under the program shall be as follows:

(1) Commencing with the 2024–25 fiscal year, families of regional center consumers who are 6 years of age or younger.

(2) Commencing with the 2025–26 fiscal year, families of all regional center consumers.

(c) (1) The department shall evaluate the program’s effectiveness by looking at all of the following outcomes:

(A) Reduction in psychological distress of the individual and improvement in psychosocial functioning.

(B) Improvement in relational functioning of the family.

(C) Improvement in a couple’s relational functioning.

(D) Learning coping strategies for possible use in the future when another stress is encountered.

(E) Feasibility of virtual versus in-person counseling sessions.

(2) (A) The department shall submit a report on the evaluation to the Legislature on or before July 1, 2029.

(B) A report to be submitted pursuant to this paragraph shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

SECTION 1.Section 5000 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

5000.

This part shall be known, and may be cited, as the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act.