(a) The Legislature places a high priority on opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities to choose and customize day services to meet their individualized needs; have opportunities to further the development or maintenance of employment and volunteer activities; direct their services; pursue postsecondary education; and increase their ability to lead integrated and inclusive lives. To further these goals, a consumer may choose a tailored day service or vouchered community-based training service, in lieu of any other regional center vendored day program, look-alike day program, supported employment program, or work activity program.
(b) (1) A tailored day service shall do both of the following:
(A) Include an individualized service design, as determined through the individual program plan (IPP) and approved by the regional center, that maximizes the consumer’s individualized choices and needs. This service design may include, but may not be limited to, the following:
(i) Fewer days or hours than in the program’s approved day program, look-alike day program, supported employment program, or work activity program design.
(ii) Flexibility in the duration and intensity of services to meet the consumer’s individualized needs.
(B) Encourage opportunities to further the development or maintenance of employment, volunteer activities, or pursuit of postsecondary education; maximize consumer direction of the service; and increase the consumer’s ability to lead an integrated and inclusive life.
(2) The type and amount of tailored day service shall be determined through the IPP process, pursuant to Section 4646. The IPP shall contain, but not be limited to, the following:
(A) A detailed description of the consumer’s individualized choices and needs and how these choices and needs will be met.
(B) The type and amount of services and staffing needed to meet the consumer’s individualized choices and needs, and unique health and safety and other needs.
(3) The staffing requirements set forth in Section 55756 of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations and subdivision (r) of Section 4851 of this code shall not apply to a tailored day service.
(4) For currently vendored programs wishing to offer a tailored day service option, the regional center shall vendor a tailored day service option upon negotiating a rate and maximum units of service design that includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(A) A daily or hourly rate and maximum units of service design that does not exceed the equivalent cost of four days per week of the vendor’s current rate, if the vendor has a daily day program rate.
(B) A rate and maximum units of service design that does not exceed the equivalent cost of four-fifths of the hours of the vendor’s current rate, if the vendor has an hourly rate.
(5) The regional center shall ensure that the vendor is capable of complying with, and will comply with, the consumer’s IPP, individual choice, and health and safety needs.
(6) For new programs wishing to offer a tailored day service option, the regional center shall vendor a tailored day service option upon negotiating a rate and maximum units of service design. The rate paid to the new vendor shall not exceed four-fifths of the temporary payment rate or the median rate, whichever is applicable.
(7) Effective July 1, 2011, and prior to the time of development, review, or modification of a consumer’s IPP, regional centers shall provide information about tailored day service to eligible adult consumers. A consumer may request information about tailored day services from the regional center at any time and may request an IPP meeting to secure those services.
(c) (1) A vouchered community-based training service is defined as a consumer-directed service that assists the consumer in the development of skills required for community integrated employment or participation in volunteer activities, or both, and the assistance necessary for the consumer to secure employment or volunteer positions or pursue secondary education.
(2) Implementation of vouchered community-based training service is contingent upon the approval of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
(3) Vouchered community-based training service shall be provided in natural environments in the community, separate from the consumer’s residence.
(4) A consumer, parent, or conservator vendored as a vouchered community-based training service shall utilize the services of a financial management services (FMS) entity. The regional center shall provide information about available financial management services and shall assist the consumer in selecting a FMS vendor to act as coemployer.
(5) A parent or conservator shall not be the direct support worker employed by the vouchered community-based training service vendor.
(6) If the direct support worker is required to transport the consumer, the vouchered community-based training service vendor shall verify that the direct support worker can transport the consumer safely and has a valid California driver’s license and proof of insurance.
(7) The rate for vouchered community-based training service shall not exceed fourteen dollars and ninety-nine cents ($14.99) per hour. The rate includes employer-related taxes and all transportation needed to implement the service, except as described in paragraph (8). The rate does not include the cost of the FMS.
(8) A consumer vendored as a vouchered community-based training service shall also be eligible for a regional center-funded bus pass, if appropriate and needed.
(9) Vouchered community-based training service shall be limited to a maximum of 150 hours per quarter. The services to be provided and the service hours shall be documented in the consumer’s IPP.
(10) A direct support worker of vouchered community-based training service shall be an adult who possesses the skill, training, and experience necessary to provide services in accordance with the IPP.
(11) Effective July 1, 2011, and prior to the time of development, review, or modification of a consumer’s IPP, regional centers shall provide information about vouchered community-based training service to eligible adult consumers. A consumer may request information about vouchered community-based training service from the regional center at any time and may request an IPP meeting to secure those services.
(12) The type and amount of vouchered community-based training service shall be determined through the IPP process pursuant to Section 4646. The IPP shall contain, but not be limited to, the following:
(A) A detailed description of the consumer’s individualized choices and needs and how these choices and needs will be met.
(B) The type and amount of services and staffing needed to meet the consumer’s individualized choices and unique health and safety and other needs.
(d) The department may adopt emergency regulations for tailored day service or vouchered community-based training service. The adoption, amendment, repeal, or readoption of a regulation authorized by this subdivision is deemed to be necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare, for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the department is hereby exempted from the requirement that it describe specific facts showing the need for immediate action. A certificate of compliance for these implementing regulations shall be filed within 24 months following the adoption of the first emergency regulations filed pursuant to this subdivision.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 18, Sec. 21. (AB 107) Effective June 27, 2017.)