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AB-2360 Developmental services: family services: counseling.(2023-2024)

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Date Published: 05/16/2024 09:00 PM
AB2360:v96#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  May 16, 2024
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 21, 2024
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 04, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2360

Introduced by Assembly Member Rendon

February 12, 2024

An act to add Section 4685.2 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to developmental services.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2360, as amended, Rendon. Developmental services: family services: counseling.
Existing law, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, requires the State Department of Developmental Services to contract with regional centers to provide services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. In order to provide opportunities for children to live with their families, existing law requires the department and regional centers to give a very high priority to the development and expansion of services and supports designed to assist families that are caring for their children at home, including respite for parents, homemaker services, counseling, and mental health services.
This bill would require the department to establish a Family Wellness Pilot Program under which regional centers shall provide counseling and peer support group services to the families of regional center consumers, as specified. families of regional center consumers who are 3 years of age or younger. The bill would require the department to evaluate the program and submit a report on the evaluation to the Legislature on or before July 1, 2029.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 4685.2 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

4685.2.
 (a) The department shall establish a Family Wellness Pilot Program under which regional centers shall provide counseling and peer support group services to the families of regional center consumers.

(b)Eligibility for services under the program shall be as follows:

(1)

(b) Commencing with the 2024–25 fiscal year, families of regional center consumers who are six years of age or younger. three years of age or younger are eligible for services under the program.

(2)Commencing with the 2025–26 fiscal year, families of all regional center consumers.

(c) (1) The department shall evaluate the program’s effectiveness by looking at all of the following outcomes:
(A) Reduction in psychological distress of the individual and improvement in psychosocial functioning.
(B) Improvement in relational functioning of the family.
(C) Learning coping strategies for possible use in the future when another stress is encountered.
(D) Feasibility of virtual versus in-person counseling sessions.
(2) (A) The department shall submit a report on the evaluation to the Legislature on or before July 1, 2029.
(B) The report to be submitted pursuant to this paragraph shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.