BILL NUMBER: SB 208	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 28, 2013
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 11, 2013
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 14, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Lara

                        FEBRUARY 8, 2013

   An act to add Section 4648.11 to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to developmental services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 208, as amended, Lara. Developmental services: request for
proposals.
   Under existing law, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities
Services Act, the State Department of Developmental Services 
is authorized to contract   contracts  with
regional centers to provide services and supports 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 authorizes the regional center to, among other things,
solicit an individual or agency, by requests for proposals (RFPs) 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  establish the Equity and Diversity in
Developmental Services Act, and would  require a request for
proposals that is prepared  by the department or 
by a regional center  and that relates to   for
 consumer programs or  services and supports to
include a section on issues of equity and diversity, as specified.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  yes
  no  . State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares the
following:
   (a) The State Department of Developmental Services and the
regional center system provide treatment, habilitation, and other
services to Californians with developmental disabilities so that they
may lead more independent, productive, and integrated lives.
   (b) California, where diverse communities account for about 60
percent of the population, is now a "majority minority" state.
   (c) The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act requires
that a person who receives services from a regional center must have
programs, services, and supports that are "person centered" and that
are based on the specific assessment and needs of each consumer.
   (d) Therefore, services provided to regional center consumers
should be provided in a linguistically and culturally competent
manner that promotes equity and diversity for all Californians.
  SEC. 2.  Section 4648.11 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read: 
   4648.11.  (a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the
Equity and Diversity in Developmental Services Act.
   (b) 
    4648.11.    (   a)  A request for
proposals that is prepared  by the department or  by
a regional center  and that relates to   for
 consumer  programs or  services and supports
shall include a section on issues of equity and diversity. 
   (c) 
    (  b)  The section on equity and diversity
shall request, but not be limited to, all of the following 
information  :
   (1) A statement outlining the applicant's plan to serve diverse
populations  , including, but not limited to, culturally and
linguistically diverse populations  .
   (2) Examples of the applicant's commitment to addressing the needs
of  those  diverse populations.
   (3) Any additional information that the applicant deems relevant
to issues of equity and  diversity, including hiring
bilingual staff, location of the program site, outreach strategies
for underserved communities, and training and other materials in
various languages and that are provided in a manner that is
linguistically and culturally competent   diversity
 . 
   (4) Nothing in this 
    (c)     This  section shall  not
 alter contracts entered into  on or  before
January 1, 2014.