Developmental services: Self-Determination Program.

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. Under existing law, the regional centers purchase needed services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities through approved service providers, or arrange for their provision through other publicly funded agencies. 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 establishes, contingent upon approval of a federal waiver, the Self-Directed Services Program, and requires the program to be available in every regional center catchment area to provide participants, within an individual budget, greater control over needed services and supports. This bill would repeal the provisions establishing the Self-Directed Services Program and would, instead, contingent upon approval of federal Medicaid matching funding, establish the Self-Determination Program to be available in every regional center catchment area to enable individuals with developmental disabilities to exercise their rights to make choices in their own lives, and would make conforming changes. This bill would require that program participants be provided with a capitated individual funding allocation, as prescribed, to be used for the purchase of services and supports necessary to implement the participant's individual program plan. This bill would require the department to establish a risk pool fund to meet the unanticipated needs of participants in the program. This bill would require the department to take all steps necessary to ensure federal financial participation is available for all program services and supports by applying for amendments to a specified federal waiver or by applying for a new waiver.