(a) If a consumer is, or has been determined to be, eligible or provisionally eligible for services by a regional center, the consumer shall also be considered eligible or provisionally eligible by any other regional center if the consumer has moved to another location within the state.

(b) An individual who is determined by any regional center to have a developmental disability or to be provisionally eligible shall remain eligible for services from regional centers unless a regional center, following a comprehensive reassessment, concludes that the original determination is clearly erroneous.

Ask an insurance law question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(c) Whenever a consumer transfers from one regional center catchment area to another, the level and types of services and supports specified in the consumer’s individual program plan (IPP) shall be authorized and secured, if available, pending the development of a new IPP for the consumer. If these services and supports do not exist, the regional center shall convene a meeting to develop a new IPP within 30 days. Prior to approval of the new IPP, the regional center shall provide alternative services and supports that best meet the IPP objectives in the least restrictive setting. The department shall develop guidelines that describe the responsibilities of regional centers in ensuring a smooth transition of services and supports from one regional center to another, including, but not limited to, pretransferring planning and a dispute resolution process to resolve disagreements between regional centers regarding their responsibilities related to the transfer of case management services.

(d) (1) The following procedures shall apply to a consumer who is transferred from one regional center’s catchment area to a different catchment area and meets any of the following conditions:

(A) The consumer has an order for foster care placement.

(B) The consumer is awaiting foster care placement.

(C) The consumer is placed in out-of-home care through voluntary placement as defined in subdivision (o) of Section 11400.

(2) (A) The county social worker or county probation officer shall immediately send a notice of relocation to the consumer’s regional center of origin, which is the sending regional center, regarding a consumer who meets the criteria set forth in paragraph (1). The consumer’s court-appointed attorney may also provide written notice of relocation. The notice of relocation shall be deemed received when the sending regional center receives written notice of relocation.

(B) Upon receiving the notice of relocation, the sending regional center shall immediately send a notice of transfer, and records needed for the planning process, including, but not limited to, the current IPP or individualized family services plan (IFSP), assessments, contact information for the consumer, the caregiver, the consumer’s legal guardian, the current developmental services decisionmaker, and the current educational rights holder, by priority mail, facsimile, or email, to the receiving regional center, which is the regional center in the catchment area that the child will be transferred to.

(C) (i) The receiving regional center shall provide the sending regional center with contact information for a staff member who is available to confer with the planning team at the sending regional center regarding the types of services and providers available to address the service needs of the consumer in the consumer’s new residential location.

(ii) Within 14 days of the notice of transfer, the receiving regional center shall provide the sending regional center with information regarding appropriate vendors and services to meet the needs of the consumer.

(iii) The sending regional center shall confer with the planning team and, using information provided by the receiving regional center, determine whether changes to the current IPP or IFSP are needed to meet the service needs of the consumer in the new residential location.

(iv) Prior to transfer of case management, the sending regional center shall ensure that services needed to support the consumer in the new residential location are included in the IPP or IFSP and the consumer is receiving the services and supports listed in the new or revised IPP or IFSP.

(3) (A) In the case of a consumer receiving services under this division, notwithstanding subdivision (g) of Section 4646, the sending regional center shall make every reasonable effort to initiate services, as provided for in the consumer’s current IPP, as soon as possible following the notice of transfer to a new catchment area, but no later than 30 days from the date of notice of transfer. Efforts shall begin in advance of the IPP meeting. If all services identified in the consumer’s IPP have not been initiated within 30 calendar days of the notice of transfer, the regional center shall report to the court of jurisdiction as described in subparagraph (B).

(B) If all services identified in the consumer’s IPP have not been initiated within 30 calendar days after the notice of transfer, the sending regional center shall report in writing to the court, the county social worker or probation officer, as applicable, and the developmental services decisionmaker, all services that are being provided to the consumer, and the process to secure any additional services that have been identified in the consumer’s IPP but not yet initiated. If all services identified in the consumer’s IPP have not been initiated within 30 days, the regional center shall report in writing to the court, county social worker, probation officer, as applicable, and the developmental services decisionmaker at 30-day intervals until all services are initiated.

(C) (i) Services shall continue to be provided pursuant to subparagraph (A), pending the court’s appointment of a developmental services decisionmaker, pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 319, subdivision (a) of Section 361, or subdivision (b) of Section 726.

(ii) If the regional center is unable to obtain confirmation of the parent’s, guardian’s, or current developmental services decisionmaker’s participation in the IPP meeting, the regional center shall notify the court having jurisdiction, the county placing agency, and the consumer’s attorney that the appointment of a new developmental services decisionmaker may be necessary.

(4) In the case of a consumer receiving services under the California Early Intervention Program pursuant to Title 14 (commencing with Section 95000) of the Government Code, the following procedures shall apply:

(A) The sending regional center shall make every reasonable effort to initiate services, as provided for in the consumer’s current IFSP, as soon as possible following the notice of transfer but no later than 30 calendar days from the date of notice of transfer. Efforts shall begin in advance of the IFSP meeting. If all services identified in the consumer’s IFSP have not been initiated within 30 calendar days of the notice of transfer, the regional center shall report to the court of jurisdiction as described in subparagraph (B).

(B) If all services identified in the consumer’s IFSP have not been initiated within 30 calendar days of the notice of transfer, the sending regional center shall report in writing to the court, the county social worker or probation officer, as applicable, and the educational rights holder, all services that are being provided to the consumer, and the process to secure any additional services that have been identified in the consumer’s IFSP but not initiated. If all services identified in the consumer’s IFSP have not been initiated within 30 days, the regional center shall report in writing to the court, county social worker, probation officer, as applicable, and the educational rights holder at 30-day intervals until all services are initiated.

(C) (i) Services not requiring consent shall continue to be provided pursuant to subparagraph (A) pending the court’s appointment of an educational rights holder, pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 319, subdivision (a) of Section 361, or subdivision (b) of Section 726.

(ii) If the regional center is unable to obtain confirmation of the parent’s, guardian’s, or current educational rights holder participation in the IFSP meeting, the regional center shall notify the court of jurisdiction, the county placing agency, and the consumer’s attorney that the appointment of a new educational rights holder may be necessary.

(e) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) “Consumer” refers to individuals as defined in Section 4512 and any eligible infant or toddler, as defined in § 95014 of the Government Code.

(2) “Initiation of services” means the point at which the consumer begins to receive a particular service and may include assessment procedures for services, if necessary, if those services begin immediately following the completion of the assessment.

(3) “Notice of relocation” means a written notice informing a regional center that currently serves a consumer described in subdivision (d) that the consumer has been relocated to a foster home that is located in a catchment area that is not served by that regional center. “Notice of relocation” includes, at a minimum, the following information:

(A) The consumer’s name, date of birth, and current address.

(B) The name of the consumer’s caregiver.

(C) The court of jurisdiction.

(D) The name of, and contact information for, the consumer’s educational rights holder or developmental services decisionmaker, if applicable.

(E) The name of, and contact information for, any person who may provide authorization and consent for the release of the consumer’s regional center records or vendor assessment records, or both.

(4) “Notice of transfer” means a written notice that a consumer described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) is transferring from a regional center located in one catchment area to a regional center located in a different catchment area and includes, at a minimum, the following information:

(A) The consumer’s name and date of birth.

(B) The name of, and contact information for, the consumer’s parent, or the consumer’s educational rights holder or developmental services decisionmaker, if applicable.

(C) The name of, and contact information for, the consumer’s current caregiver.

(D) A copy of the consumer’s current IFSP or IPP.

(E) The name of, and contact information for, the child’s county social workers.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 76, Sec. 30. (AB 136) Effective July 16, 2021.)