AB 163: Developmental services.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

(1)Existing law establishes the State Department of Developmental Services and sets forth its powers and duties, including, but not limited to, the administration of state developmental centers, community facilities, and acute crisis homes to provide care to persons with developmental disabilities, as specified.

This bill would authorize the department to make direct care purchases in individual amounts of less than $10,000 commencing with the 2026–27 fiscal year, as specified, for facilities operated by the department, and would require the department to establish and maintain a written policy and procedures manual to guide the implementation of these provisions. The bill would define “direct care purchases” to mean a good or service necessary for an individual’s health, safety, or continuity of care, as specified.

(2)Existing law places various requirements on the department to report specified information to the Legislature, including reports on how the department will provide access to crisis services after the closure of a developmental center, the use of the department’s employees in providing services in the community to assist in meeting the goal of successfully transitioning developmental center residents to community living, best practices for regional center administrative management and purchase of services, and the estimated amount of General Fund expenditures used to backfill federal funding as a result of the decertification of intermediate care facility units at the Sonoma Developmental Center.

This bill would remove those and other obsolete reporting requirements on the department.

(3)Existing law authorizes family home agencies to offer services and supports in family homes or family teaching homes, as defined. Existing law requires the department to promulgate regulations for family home agencies, family teaching homes, and family homes that include standards and requirements related to, among other things, rates of payment for family home agencies and approved family home providers.

This bill would authorize the department to establish a distinct service code and rate model for the family teaching home that is separate from the service code and rate model for the family home agency and that considers costs for housing, staffing, and census. If established by the department, the bill would require family home agencies that provide family teaching homes to use the service code and rate model for those family teaching homes.

Sponsors

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. August 6, 2026Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Laird.
2. June 29, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
3. June 29, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (June 29).
4. June 26, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on B. & F. R.
5. April 2, 2025Referred to Com. on B. & F. R.
6. March 20, 2025In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
7. March 20, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 53. Noes 17. Page 744.)
8. March 18, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
9. March 17, 2025(Ayes 53. Noes 17. Page 643.)
10. March 17, 2025Ordered to second reading.
11. March 17, 2025Withdrawn from committee.
12. February 3, 2025Referred to Com. on BUDGET.