Developmental services: Employment First Policy.

The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act authorizes the State Department of Developmental Services to contract with regional centers to provide support and services 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 requires the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to, among other responsibilities, form a standing Employment First Committee to identify strategies and recommend legislative, regulatory, and policy changes to increase integrated employment, as defined, for persons with developmental disabilities, as specified. This bill would revise the definition of integrated employment to include supported employment, microenterprises, and self-employment, as defined. This bill would require the regional center, when developing an individual program plan for a transition age youth or working age adult, to be guided by the Employment First Policy. The bill also, beginning when a consumer is 14 years of age, would require the planning team to discuss school-to-work opportunities during individual program plan meetings and to inform the consumer, parent, legal guardian, or conservator that the regional center is available, upon request, to participate in the consumer's individualized education plan meetings to discuss and coordinate transition planning with the school district. The bill would require the planning team, as part of the individual program plan process for working age adults, to address integrated employment opportunities, while respecting the consumer's right to choose. The bill would also require regional centers to ensure that consumers, beginning at 14 years of age, and, where appropriate, other specified persons, are provided with information about the Employment First Policy, about options for integrated competitive employment, and about services and supports, including postsecondary education, available to enable the consumer to transition from school to work, and to achieve the outcomes of obtaining and maintaining integrated competitive employment. The bill would authorize the department to request information from regional centers on current and planned activities related to the Employment First Policy, including data on the numbers of consumers engaged in integrated competitive employment.