SB 121 Summary

• Expands provisional eligibility for regional center services to children under 5 years of age (previously limited to ages 3-4) and requires assessment of early intervention service recipients for provisional eligibility.

• Extends suspension of family cost participation assessments and annual family program fee collections until June 30, 2024 (previously set to expire June 30, 2023).

• Implements rate reform for service providers by phasing in fully funded rate models by July 1, 2024, with a base rate of 90% and quality incentive payments up to 10%, and requires rates to be updated annually for minimum wage changes.

• Removes requirement that parents participate in applied behavioral analysis (ABA) and intensive behavioral intervention services for authorization and prohibits regional centers from denying or delaying these services due to lack of parent participation.

• Creates Office of Employment First within California Health and Human Services Agency (effective July 1, 2024) to coordinate employment opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities and replaces existing State Council on Developmental Disabilities Employment First Committee.

• Appropriates $10,800,000 to support implementation of Coordinated Family Support Services Pilot Program for adults with developmental disabilities living with families.