Wiggins Introduces Bill Relating to Developmental Disabilities

On February 18, 2010, California State Senator Patricia Wiggins introduced SB 1129, an act that would add Section 4510.5, relating to developmental disabilities, to the Welfare and Institutions Code. The bill was re-referred to the Committee on Human Services on March 17, with a hearing and vote scheduled for today, March 24.

Below are notes on the legislation from the website www.aroundthecapitol.com:

Existing law vests in the State Department of Developmental Services jurisdiction over various state hospitals referred to as developmental centers, including the Sonoma Developmental Center, for the medical and nursing care of patients with developmental disabilities.

[SB 1129] would require the Director of Developmental Services to provide medical, dental, wheelchair repair and modification, orthopedic shoe, and other health-related services at the Sonoma Developmental Center, through the center's operation of an outpatient clinic, to persons with developmental disabilities who reside at the center, and also to individuals who reside in the surrounding community.

This bill would authorize the department to obtain status as a Medi-Cal provider in order to receive reimbursement for services provided to non-developmental center patients and would require the department to pursue other funding sources. The bill would make the provision of services to non-developmental patients contingent upon obtaining appropriate status as a Medi-Cal provider or otherwise obtaining sufficient funds through other funding sources.

This bill would require the costs of administering the program to be funded through existing resources of the department.

This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Sonoma.

You can find more details and updates, including a copy of the legislation, by visiting www.aroundthecapitol.com. More information may also be available by contacting PHA's legislative consultant Mike Smith at irishmike (at) vom (dot) com.