Developmental services.

The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act makes the State Department of Developmental Services responsible for providing various services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities, and for ensuring the appropriateness and quality of those services and supports. Pursuant to that law, the department contracts with regional centers to provide services and supports to persons with developmental disabilities. Existing law requires the department, when approving regional center contracts, to ensure that regional center staffing patterns demonstrate that direct service coordination is the highest priority. Under existing law, as a component of its contract with the department, a regional center is required to have, or contract for, certain services, including staffing arrangements related to the delivery of services that the department determines are necessary to ensure maximum cost-effectiveness and to ensure that the service needs of consumers and families are met. This bill would additionally require a regional center to contract for mobile crisis services to assist consumers in remaining in, or returning to, the community. Existing law declares that improved cooperative efforts between regional centers and county mental health agencies are necessary in order to achieve each specified objectives, including, but not limited to, continuity of services and improved quality of mental health outcomes for persons who are dually diagnosed. To achieve those objective, existing law requires each regional center and county mental health agency to develop a memorandum of understanding to take specified actions, including developing a general plan for crisis intervention for persons served by both systems. This bill would require a regional center to post the memorandum of understanding on the regional center's internet website.