Independent Living Centers: funding.

Under existing law, the Department of Rehabilitation is required to provide various services to individuals with physical or mental disabilities who are found to be eligible therefor, including independent living services. Existing law provides for the operation of independent living centers, which are private, nonprofit organizations that provide specified services to individuals with disabilities, in order to assist those individuals in their attempts to live fuller and freer lives outside institutions. Under existing law, the department has the responsibility and authority for the encouragement of the planning, developing, and funding of independent living centers. Under existing law, each independent living center, except those centers that have been both established and maintained using specified federal funding as a primary base grant, is required to receive, to the extent funds are appropriated by the Legislature, at least $235,000 in base grant funds allocated by the department. This bill would delete the above exception for centers that were previously established and maintained with federal funding, thereby requiring those centers to also receive at least $235,000 in base grant funds allocated by the department. The bill would make related findings and declarations.