(a) In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 4629, the department’s contract with a regional center shall require the regional center to adopt, maintain, and post on its internet website a board-approved policy regarding transparency and access to public information. The transparency and public information policy shall provide for timely public access to information, including, but not limited to, information regarding requests for proposals and contract awards, service provider rates, documentation related to establishment of negotiated rates, audits, and IRS Form 990. The transparency and public information policy shall be in compliance with applicable law relating to the confidentiality of consumer service information and records, including, but not limited to, Section 4514.
(b) To promote transparency, each regional center shall include on its internet website, as expeditiously as possible, at least all of the following:
(1) Regional center annual independent audits.
(2) Biannual fiscal audits conducted by the department.
(3) Regional center annual reports pursuant to Section 4639.5.
(4) Contract awards, including the organization or entity awarded the contract, and the amount and purpose of the award.
(5) Purchase of service policies and any other policies, guidelines, or regional center-developed assessment tools used to determine the transportation, personal assistant, or independent or supported living service needs of a consumer.
(6) The names, types of service, and contact information of all vendors, except consumers or family members of consumers.
(7) Board meeting agendas and approved minutes of open meetings of the board and all committees of the board.
(8) Bylaws of the regional center governing board.
(9) The annual performance contract and yearend performance contract entered into with the department pursuant to this division.
(10) The biannual Home and Community-based Services Waiver program review conducted by the department and the State Department of Health Care Services.
(11) The board-approved transparency and public information policy.
(12) The board-approved conflict-of-interest policy.
(13) Reports required pursuant to Section 4639.5.
(14) A link to the page on the department’s internet website, specified in subdivision (d).
(15) The salaries, wages, and employee benefits for all managerial positions for which the primary purpose is the administrative management of the regional center, including, but not limited to, directors and chief executive officers.
(16) Regional center-specific reports generated pursuant to, and for the purposes of, subdivision (h) of Section 4571.
(c) The department shall establish and maintain a transparency portal on its internet website that allows consumers, families, advocates, and others to access provider and regional center information. Posted information on the department’s internet website transparency portal shall include, but need not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) A link to each regional center’s internet website information referenced in subdivision (b).
(2) Biannual fiscal audits conducted by the department.
(3) Vendor audits.
(4) Biannual Home and Community-based Services Waiver program reviews conducted by the department and the State Department of Health Care Services.
(5) Biannual targeted case management program and federal nursing home reform program reviews conducted by the department.
(6) Early Start Program reviews conducted by the department.
(7) Annual performance contract and year-end performance contract reports.
(d) The department shall establish and maintain a page on its internet website that includes both a list of services purchased by regional centers or provided directly to consumers by regional centers and a brief description of those services.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 28, Sec. 17. (SB 81) Effective June 27, 2019.)