The early intervention services specified in this title shall be provided as follows:
(a) Direct services for eligible infants and toddlers and their families shall be provided pursuant to the existing regional center system under the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 4500) of the Welfare and Institutions Code) and the existing local education agency system under appropriate sections of Part 30 (commencing with Section 56000) of the Education Code and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, and Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1431 et seq.).
(b) (1) In providing services under this title, regional centers shall comply with the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 4500) of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and its implementing regulations (Division 2 (commencing with Section 50201) of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations) including, but not limited to, those provisions relating to vendorization and ratesetting, and the Family Cost Participation Program, except where compliance with those provisions would result in any delays in, the provision of early intervention, or otherwise conflict with this title and the regulations implementing this title (Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 52000) of Division 2 of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations), or Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1431 et seq.), and applicable federal regulations contained in Part 303 (commencing with Section 303.1) of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Notwithstanding any other law or regulation to the contrary, private health insurance for medical services or a health care service plan identified in the individualized family service plan, other than for evaluation and assessment, shall be used in compliance with applicable federal and state law and regulation.
(2) When compliance with this subdivision would result in any delays in the provision of early intervention services for the provision of any of these services, the department may authorize a regional center to use a special service code that allows immediate procurement of the service.
(c) The use of private health insurance or a health care service plan to pay for early intervention services under Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1431 et seq.) shall not:
(1) Count towards or result in a loss of benefits due to the annual or lifetime health insurance or health care service plan coverage caps for the infant or toddler with a disability, the parent, or the child’s family members who are covered under that health insurance policy or health care service plan contract.
(2) Negatively affect the availability of health coverage for the infant or toddler with a disability, the parent, or the child’s family members who are covered under that health insurance policy or health care service plan contract, or result in a discontinuance of the health insurance policy or the health care service plan contract or coverage under the health insurance policy or health care service plan contract for these individuals.
(3) Be the basis for increasing the health insurance or health care service plan premium of the infant or toddler with a disability, the parent, or the child’s family members covered under that health insurance policy or health care service plan contract.
(d) Services shall be provided by family resource centers that provide, but are not limited to, parent-to-parent support, information dissemination and referral, public awareness, family professional collaboration activities, and transition assistance for families.
(e) Existing obligations of the state to provide these services at state expense shall not be expanded.
(f) It is the intent of the Legislature that services be provided in accordance with Sections 303.124, 303.126, and 303.527 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(Amended (as amended by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 9, Sec. 1) by Stats. 2012, Ch. 25, Sec. 1. (AB 1472) Effective June 27, 2012. Repealed conditionally as prescribed in Section 95003. See same-numbered section in the later operative Title 14 that was added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 945, Sec. 4.)