(a) Notwithstanding any other law or regulation, a regional center shall not approve a service level for a residential service provider, as defined in Section 56002 of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations, if the approval would result in an increase in state costs or the rate to be paid to the provider that is greater than the rate that is in effect on June 30, 2008, or, for residential service providers subject to subdivision (b), unless the regional center demonstrates to the department that the approval is necessary to protect the consumer’s health or safety and the department has granted prior written authorization.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) or any other law or regulation, the department shall, effective July 1, 2016, establish a rate schedule for residential community care facilities vendored to provide services to a maximum of four persons with developmental disabilities.
(c) Community care facilities with rates established pursuant to subdivision (b) are subject to the regulatory requirements contained in Subchapter 4 (commencing with Section 56001) of Chapter 3 of Division 2 of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations.
(d) Rate changes made as a result of implementing the rate schedule established pursuant to subdivision (b) for community care facilities vendored to provide services to a maximum of four persons with developmental disabilities are not subject to the restrictions of subdivision (a) if the approved service level is not higher than the service level in effect at the time of the change.
(e) No later than February 1, 2017, regional centers shall report to the department on the number of residential community care facilities with rates established pursuant to subdivision (b). The report shall include, but not be limited to, both of the following:
(1) The number of facilities vendored since July 1, 2016, by service level and vendored capacity.
(2) The number of facilities vendored prior to July 1, 2016, that have subsequently been approved for a new rate, by service level, vendored capacity, and prior vendored capacity, if applicable.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 26, Sec. 10. (AB 1606) Effective June 27, 2016.)