When the state's Assembly and Senate take different approaches to various items on the budget, those items go to the Budget Conference Committee, with representation from each house, to arrive at a compromise. The Regional Centers' budget was sent to this committee because the Assembly did not agree to adopt the Governor's proposal to reduce the regional center budget by $25 Million in 2010-11, and to impose an additional reduction of 1.25% (or 4.25% total) to regional center Operations and Purchase of Services.

As of 8/6/10, the Budget Conference Committee reached compromises on budget proposals for the Department of Developmental Services and Regional Centers.  Total reduction to regional centers: $20.4 million in General Fund.

The staff of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Reveiw Committee reported that the Conference Committee agreed upon a reduction to Regional Center Purchase of Services and Operations by a total of 3.65%. 

The of Developmental Services has posted the complete Summary of Budget Reductions for fiscal year 2009-10 (which became effective in July 09) on their website.  OR, Click here for a printable PDF document. 

AB 9: Click Here to read the 2009-10 Budget Trailer Bill Language which lists the changes to the Lanterman Act enacted July, 2009 These program changes are now in effect, and include:

• Payment reductions of 3% to service providers for Purchase of Services, and to Regional Centers Operations
  
• Increasing uniform holidays for regional center service providers to 14 holidays statewide. DDS conducted an online survey of service providers and recipients, and has arrived at a new schedule of holidays which is posted here. 
  
• New adult day activity program components (Custom Endeavors or Senior Service Options), which involve a reduction in hours. client capacity, or client-to-staff service ratio  in adult day activity programs
  
• Changes for Early Start eligibility and services:
  • provision of services only as required by California's participation in Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, ie required for receipt of federal funding. California had been providing some services beyond what is required or funded by Part C.
  • prohibition of funding of any non-required services, though regional centers may refer families to generic sources of these services.
  • elimination of eligibility for Early Start services for at risk children;  replaced by  a new Prevention Program for at risk babies 24 months or under, to include intake, assessment, case management, information and referral to generic services.
  • utilization of neighborhood preschools in lieu of specialized infant day programs.
• The suspension of regional center funding for: 
  • educational services for children ages 3 to 17;
  • non-medical therapies including but not limited to specialized recreation, art, dance and music;
  • camping and associated travel services
  • social recreation activities (unless vendored and provided as a community-based primary day program for adults);
• Reduction of Transportation expenses through the increased use of public transportation, use of the least costly transportation option, and selection of services closest to the client/family's home.
• Revision of General Standards :
  • Prohibition of purchase by the regional center of services which are experimental treatments, services, therapies, or devices.
  • Prohibition of purchase by the regional center of services which are available from CCS, IHSS, Medi-Cal, public school; If a client or family chooses not to access generic services, the regional center may not pay for the service.
  • The Lanterman Act previously required regional centers to use generic services when available. Regional centers shall not purchase medical or dental services covered by generic resources such as MediCal, health plans, or private insurance, without proof of denial of coverage by the provider.
  • Services available from multiple providers that meet the client's needs must be compared, and the regional center must purchase the least costly service that meets the client's needs.
• Restrictions upon the purchase of respite care:
  • purchase of respite only if care needs exceed what would be required for an individual of the same age without a developmental disability
  • no more than 21 days per year of out-of-home respite or 75 hours per quarter of in-home respite
  • no more than 300 hours per year of a combination of in-home our out-of-home respite services
  • allowing specially trained respite workers (rather than LVNs) to provide care for incidental medical needs;
• New requirements governing the purchase of Applied Behavioral Analysis or Intensive Behavioral Intervention:
  • requires that services must be based upon an assessment and specifed goals and outcomes
  • allows purchase only of evidence-based treatment approaches that include the involvement of the parent, and only until treatment goals have been achieved.
  • prohibits purchase of these services for purpose of of day care, respite, school, or emergency crisis services.
  • use of group parent training in lieu of some in-home behavioral  intervention.
• Residential  care
  • Effective immediately, prohibition of vendor approval for any home serving 16 or more individuals unless eligible for federal funds.
  • Effective July 2012, prohibition of purchase of residential care in home serving 16 or more individuals unless approved for HCBS waiver and planned downsizing.
• Increased parental fee requirements for out of home care of minors;
• Staffing reductions to regional centers and other state agencies related to the reductions in program requirements.
• Federal application for expansion of federal funding of services under Medicaid waiver.
• Closure of DDS-operated Sierra Vista facility by January 2010, one of two state-operated small institutions (now closed).
• DDS proposes the development of a new alternative service model called the Individual Choice Model, through which the client and family would be provided a finite budget for obtaining services (and that would represent an overall reduction in purchase of service costs for that individual).

Click here for further information on the State of California, Department of Developmental Services website.