Developmental services: fair hearings.

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. Under existing law, the regional centers purchase needed services for individuals with developmental disabilities through approved service providers or arrange for those services through other publicly funded agencies. Existing law requires a service agency, defined, in part, as a developmental center or regional center, to have a fair hearing procedure that meets prescribed requirements, including adequate notice standards, to resolve conflicts between the service provider and recipients of, or applicants for, service. Existing law provides that adequate notice be sent by certified mail to the applicant or recipient and the authorized representative in specified circumstances, including if the service agency makes certain decisions, such as to reduce, to terminate, or to change services described in an individual program plan, without the mutual consent of the service recipient or authorized representative. This bill would instead require the service agency to provide adequate notice by first-class mail, certified mail, or electronic mail, as prescribed, to the above-specified individuals if the service agency makes specified decisions relating to services, irrespective of whether the service agency makes this decision without mutual consent of the service recipient or authorized representative. The bill would make technical, conforming changes and other nonsubstantive changes.