CA AB126

Increases minimum base grant funding for Family Empowerment Centers on Disability from $150,000 to $246,000 effective July 1, 2021, with annual cost-of-living adjustments beginning in fiscal year 2022-23.

Requires the State Department of Education to award grants by March 1, 2022 to establish new Family Empowerment Centers on Disability in regions that do not currently have one, prioritizing applicants that ensure continuity of support for families transitioning from early intervention to special education services.

Establishes a uniform data collection system and template requiring centers to track parent trainings, individualized education program meeting attendance, disability categories served, family demographics, dispute resolution methods, and parental satisfaction by June 30, 2022.

Requires the Family Empowerment and Disability Council's annual budget to increase from $150,000 to $246,000 to support statewide coordination, technical assistance, and independent evaluation of center effectiveness.

Appropriates $20,000,000 from the federal Governor's Emergency Education Relief II Fund (subject to legislative appropriation) for grants requiring at least 50% of funds to support alternative dispute resolution and individualized education program facilitation in partnership with special education local plan areas, with remaining funds supporting family conflict resolution and support services related to COVID-19 pandemic impacts.