Developmental Center Bills Approved by the Governor

Two bills affecting the way California runs its developmental centers were approved by the Governor days before the September 30th deadline. Both bills expedite a developmental center's report of any incident of resident harm or death and more clearly define the internal protection
agency's responsibilities.

California Senate Bill 1522, introduced by Senator Mark Leno, which proposed new reporting requirements for the State's developmental centers, was signed by Governor Brown on September 27th, along with SB 1051, a bill similarly designed to improve reporting procedures as well as set certain qualification requirements for the Director of Protective Services. 

(see SB 1522 (Leno) - search Chapter 666 in 2012)
(see SB 1051 (Emmerson and Liu) - search Chapter 660 in 2012)

SB 1522 and SB 1051 will also require developmental center employees to get further training on the reporting of abuse incidences. Both were introduced in the wake of specific problems at Sonoma Developmental Center.