Developmental services: dental services.

Under existing law, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, the State Department of Developmental Services is responsible for providing various services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities, and for ensuring the appropriateness and quality of those services and supports. Under existing law, the department contracts with regional centers to provide services and supports to persons with developmental disabilities. Existing law requires the department to ensure that regional center staffing patterns demonstrate that direct service coordination is the highest priority, and requires a regional center contract to include specified staffing levels and expertise, including criminal justice and special education expertise. This bill would, by December 31, 2021, require a contract between the department and a regional center to require the regional center to have, or contract for, a full-time dental coordinator, or equivalent thereof, to serve consumers. The bill would require the department to establish uniform expectations and performance outcomes for the dental-coordinator position, and to fund this position at each regional center.