(a) Whenever the State Department of Developmental Services proposes the closure of a state developmental center, the department shall be required to submit a detailed plan to the Legislature not later than April 1 immediately prior to the fiscal year in which the plan is to be implemented, and as a part of the Governor’s proposed budget. A plan submitted to the Legislature pursuant to this section, including any modifications made pursuant to subdivision (b), shall not be implemented without the approval of the Legislature.
(b) A plan submitted on or before April 1 immediately prior to the fiscal year in which the plan is to be implemented may be subsequently modified during the legislative review process.
(c) Prior to submission of the plan to the Legislature, the department shall solicit input from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Association of Regional Center Agencies, the protection and advocacy agency specified in Section 4901, the local regional center, consumers living in the developmental center, parents, family members, guardians, and conservators of persons living in the developmental centers or their representative organizations, persons with developmental disabilities living in the community, developmental center employees and employee organizations, community care providers, the affected city and county governments, and business and civic organizations, as may be recommended by local state Senate and Assembly representatives.
(d) Prior to the submission of the plan to the Legislature, the department shall confer with the county in which the developmental center is located, the regional centers served by the developmental center, and other state departments using similar occupational classifications, to develop a program for the placement of staff of the developmental center planned for closure in other developmental centers, as positions become vacant, or in similar positions in programs operated by, or through contract with, the county, regional centers, or other state departments, including, but not limited to, the community state staff program, use of state staff for mobile health and crisis teams in the community, and use of state staff in new state-operated models that may be developed as a component of the closure plan.
(e) Prior to the submission of the plan to the Legislature, the department shall confer with the county in which the developmental center is located, and shall consider recommendations for the use of the developmental center property.
(f) Prior to the submission of the plan to the Legislature, the department shall hold at least one public hearing in the community in which the developmental center is located, with public comment from that hearing summarized in the plan.
(g) The plan submitted to the Legislature pursuant to this section shall include all of the following:
(1) A description of the land and buildings at the developmental center.
(2) A description of existing lease arrangements at the developmental center.
(3) A description of resident characteristics, including, but not limited to, age, gender, ethnicity, family involvement, years of developmental center residency, developmental disability, and other factors that will determine service and support needs.
(4) A description of stakeholder input provided pursuant to subdivisions (c), (d), and (e), including a description of local issues, concerns, and recommendations regarding the proposed closure, and alternative uses of the developmental center property.
(5) The impact on residents and their families.
(6) A description of the unique and specialized services provided by the developmental center, including, but not limited to, crisis facilities, health and dental clinics, and adaptive technology services.
(7) A description of the assessment process and community placement decision process that will ensure necessary services and supports are in place prior to a resident transitioning into the community.
(8) Anticipated alternative placements for residents.
(9) A description of how the department will transition the client rights advocacy contract provided at the developmental center pursuant to Section 4433 to the community.
(10) A description of how the well-being of the residents will be monitored during and following their transition into the community.
(11) The impact on regional center services.
(12) Where services will be obtained that, upon closure of the developmental center, will no longer be provided by that facility.
(13) A description of the potential job opportunities for developmental center employees, activities the department will undertake to support employees through the closure process, and other efforts made to mitigate the effect of the closure on employees.
(14) The fiscal impact of the closure.
(15) The timeframe in which closure will be accomplished.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 313. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018