Services - California Early Intervention Services Act - Government - CA

Section § 95016

This law ensures that infants and toddlers who are referred for early intervention services in California receive a thorough evaluation to assess their needs and eligibility. Qualified personnel conduct this evaluation, including a family interview to understand the child's strengths and needs, as well as the family's resources and priorities. Assessments are collaborative and shared among all agencies involved. The process is family-focused, voluntary, and includes family participation in all decisions about eligibility and services.

Additionally, regional centers and local educational agencies are responsible for implementing these requirements, which adhere to federal guidelines under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. They follow specific procedures, requirements, and timelines as outlined in related regulations.

(a) Each infant or toddler referred for evaluation for early intervention services shall have a timely, comprehensive, multidisciplinary evaluation of his or her needs and level of functioning in order to determine eligibility. In the process of determining eligibility of an infant or toddler, an assessment shall be conducted by qualified personnel, and shall include a family interview, to identify the child’s unique strengths and needs and the services appropriate to meet those needs; and the resources, priorities, and concerns of the family and the supports and services necessary to enhance the family’s capacity to meet the developmental needs of their infant or toddler. Evaluations and assessments shall be shared and utilized between the regional center and the local educational agency, and any other agency providing services for the eligible infant or toddler, as appropriate. Family assessments shall be family directed and voluntary on the part of the family. Families shall be afforded the opportunity to participate in all decisions regarding eligibility and services.

(b) Regional centers and local educational agencies or their designees shall be responsible for ensuring that the requirements of this section are implemented. The procedures, requirements, and timelines for evaluation and assessment shall be consistent with the statutes and regulations under Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1431 et seq.), applicable regulations, and this title, and shall be specified in regulations adopted pursuant to Section 95028.

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Section § 95018

This law ensures that every eligible infant or toddler and their family receives a service coordinator to help implement their individualized family service plan. The coordinator is responsible for working with different agencies and ensuring services are provided without charge. Coordinators need to meet certain qualifications and training standards, as set by both federal and state laws. They also need to conduct regular reviews of the service plan quarterly.

Each eligible infant or toddler and their family shall be provided a service coordinator who will be responsible for facilitating the implementation of the individualized family service plan and for coordinating with other agencies and persons providing services to the family. The qualifications, responsibilities, and functions of service coordinators shall be consistent with the statutes and regulations under Part C and this title, and shall be specified in regulations adopted pursuant to Section 95028. The State Department of Developmental Services shall ensure that service coordinators, as defined in federal law, meet federal and state regulation requirements, are trained to work with infants and their families, and meet competency requirements set forth in Section 52122 of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations. Service coordinator caseloads shall be as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 4640.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. A service coordinator for each eligible infant or toddler and their family shall conduct at least quarterly reviews of the individualized family service plan. Pursuant to Section 303.521 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations, service coordination is not subject to any fees that might be established for any other federal or state program.

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Section § 95020

This law outlines the requirements for creating an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) for eligible infants or toddlers. If a child is eligible, an initial meeting to develop the IFSP must occur within 45 days of receiving a referral, and parents must be fully informed of their rights throughout the process. The plan should describe the child's current development levels, family concerns, and goals, as well as the services and support needed to meet the child's developmental needs. The law mandates regular reviews of the IFSP to assess progress and allows for in-person or remote meetings per family preference. Communication with families must be in their native language, and any available health benefit information should be provided, although lack of such benefits should not affect the services provided. The law also outlines distinctions between different types of services that can be provided or referred to under the IFSP.

(a) An eligible infant or toddler shall have an individualized family service plan. The individualized family service plan shall be used in place of an individual program plan required pursuant to Sections 4646 and 4646.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the individualized education program required pursuant to Section 56340 of the Education Code, or any other applicable service plan.

(b) For an infant or toddler who has been evaluated for the first time, a meeting to share the results of the evaluation, to determine eligibility and, for children who are eligible, to develop the initial individualized family service plan shall be conducted within 45 calendar days of receipt of the written referral. Evaluation results and determination of eligibility may be shared in a meeting with the family prior to the individualized family service plan. Written parent consent, or consent by a legal guardian, to evaluate and assess shall be obtained within the 45-day timeline. A regional center, local educational agency, or the designee of one of those entities shall initiate and conduct this meeting. Families shall be afforded the opportunity to participate in all decisions regarding eligibility and services. During intake and assessment, but no later than the individualized family service plan meeting, the parents, legal guardian, or conservator shall provide copies of any health benefit cards under which the consumer is eligible to receive health benefits, including, but not limited to, private health insurance, a health care service plan, Medi-Cal, Medicare, and TRICARE. If the individual, or, if appropriate, the parents, legal guardians, or conservators, do not have any benefits, the regional center shall not use that fact to negatively impact the services that the individual may or may not receive from the regional center.

(c)

(1) Parents and legal guardians shall be fully informed of their rights, including the right to invite another person, including a family member or an advocate or peer parent, or any or all of them, to accompany them to any or all individualized family service plan meetings. Notwithstanding any other law, at the request of the parent or legal guardian, an individualized family service plan meeting shall be held by remote electronic communications.

(2)

(A) If a regional center has not held an in-person individualized family service plan meeting or completed any other in-person meeting or visit in the previous six months, the regional center shall hold an in-person individualized family service plan meeting, or other meeting, or visit at a location and at a time that is convenient for, and reflects the preference of, the parent, legal guardian, or authorized representative. This requirement on the part of the regional center shall not impede, delay, or prevent the timely development or revision of an individualized family service plan, or the timely authorization or receipt of services and supports.

(B) The in-person meeting requirement established in this subparagraph shall remain in effect pending the department’s review, in coordination with stakeholders, of implementation of this subdivision, as amended by the act that added this paragraph. The review shall include the development of recommendations that may include, but not be limited to, whether and to what extent the in-person requirements are effective in assisting the infant or toddler in meeting the goals stated in the individual family service plan, in positively facilitating and improving service access and equity, and in helping to build relationships between service coordinators and parents, legal guardians, or authorized representatives. The department shall, after consulting with and receiving input from stakeholders, provide an update to the Legislature on the status of the review no later than January 10, 2026, and shall provide, with any additional consultation and documented input from stakeholders, the completed review to the Legislature no later than May 14, 2026.

(3) With parental consent, or consent by a legal guardian, a referral shall be made to the local family resource center or network. A request for consent shall be offered to the parents or the legal guardian at the initial individualized family service plan meeting and at any subsequent individualized family service plan meeting, if consent was not previously obtained.

(d) The individualized family service plan shall be in writing and shall address all of the following:

(1) A statement of the infant’s or toddler’s present levels of physical development including vision, hearing, and health status, cognitive development, communication development, social and emotional development, and adaptive developments.

(2) With the concurrence of the family, a statement of the family’s concerns, priorities, and resources related to meeting the special developmental needs of the eligible infant or toddler.

(3) A statement of the major outcomes expected to be achieved for the infant or toddler and family where services for the family are related to meeting the special developmental needs of the eligible infant or toddler.

(4) The criteria, procedures, and timelines used to determine the degree to which progress toward achieving the outcomes is being made and whether modifications or revisions are necessary.

(5)

(A) A statement of the specific early intervention services necessary to meet the unique needs of the infant or toddler as identified in paragraph (3), including, but not limited to, the frequency, intensity, location, duration, and method of delivering the services, including by remote electronic communications, and ways of providing services in natural generic environments, including group training for parents and legal guardians on behavioral intervention techniques in lieu of some or all of the in-home parent and legal guardian training component of the behavior intervention services, and purchase of neighborhood preschool services and needed qualified personnel in lieu of infant development programs.

(B) Effective July 1, 2009, at the time of development, review, or modification of an infant’s or toddler’s individualized family service plan, the regional center shall consider both of the following:

(i) The use of group training for parents and legal guardians on behavior intervention techniques, in lieu of some or all of the in-home parent and legal guardian training component of the behavior intervention services.

(ii) The purchase of neighborhood preschool services and needed qualified personnel, in lieu of infant development programs.

(6) A statement of the agency responsible for providing the identified services.

(7) The name of the service coordinator who shall be responsible for facilitating implementation of the plan and coordinating with other agencies and persons.

(8) The steps to be taken to ensure transition of the infant or toddler upon reaching three years of age to other appropriate services. These may include, as appropriate, special education or other services offered in natural environments.

(9) The projected dates for the initiation of services in paragraph (5) and the anticipated duration of those services.

(e) Each service identified in the individualized family service plan shall be designated as one of three types:

(1) An early intervention service, as defined in subsection (4) of Section 1432 of Title 20 of the United States Code, and applicable regulations, that is provided or purchased through the regional center, local educational agency, or other participating agency. The State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Social Services shall provide services in accordance with state and federal law and applicable regulations, and up to the level of funding as appropriated by the Legislature. Early intervention services identified in an individualized family service plan that exceed the funding, statutory, and regulatory requirements of these departments shall be provided or purchased by regional centers or local educational agencies under subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 95014. The State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Social Services shall not be required to provide early intervention services over their existing funding, statutory, and regulatory requirements.

(2) Another service, other than those specified in paragraph (1), that the eligible infant or toddler or their family may receive from other state programs, subject to the eligibility standards of those programs.

(3) A referral to a nonrequired service that may be provided to an eligible infant or toddler or their family. Nonrequired services are those services that are not defined as early intervention services or do not relate to meeting the special developmental needs of an eligible infant or toddler related to the disability, but that may be helpful to the family. The granting or denial of nonrequired services by a public or private agency is not subject to appeal under this title. Notwithstanding any other law or regulation to the contrary, effective July 1, 2009, with the exception of durable medical equipment, regional centers shall not purchase nonrequired services, but may refer a family to a nonrequired service that may be available to an eligible infant or toddler or their family.

(f) An annual review, and other periodic reviews, of the individualized family service plan for an infant or toddler and the infant’s or toddler’s family shall be conducted to determine the degree of progress that is being made in achieving the outcomes specified in the plan and whether modification or revision of the outcomes or services is necessary. The frequency, participants, purpose, and required processes for annual and periodic reviews shall be consistent with the statutes and regulations under Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.) and this title, and shall be specified in regulations adopted pursuant to Section 95028. At the time of the review, the parents, legal guardian, or conservator shall provide copies of any health benefit cards under which the consumer is eligible to receive health benefits, including, but not limited to, private health insurance, a health care service plan, Medi-Cal, Medicare, and TRICARE. If the parents, legal guardian, or conservator have no such benefit cards, the regional center shall not use that fact to negatively impact the services that the individual may or may not receive from the regional center.

(g)

(1) A regional center shall communicate and provide written materials in the family’s native language during the assessment, evaluation, and planning process for the individualized family service plan, as required by Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.) and implementing regulations, and as required by Sections 11135 to 11139, inclusive, and implementing regulations, including providing alternative communication services pursuant to Sections 11161 and 11162 of Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations.

(2) The family’s native language shall be documented in the individualized family service plan.

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Section § 95020.5

This law mandates that starting July 1, 2011, all providers of early intervention services under regional centers in California must transition to electronic billing through the Regional Center e-Billing System. By July 1, 2012, all billings must be submitted electronically, unless the provider’s services are paid by vouchers or electronic billing places a financial burden on them.

(a) Effective July 1, 2011, regional centers shall begin transitioning providers of early intervention services purchased through a regional center to electronic billing. All providers of early intervention services provided or purchased through a regional center shall submit all billings electronically for services provided on or after July 1, 2012, with the exception of the following:

(1) A provider whose services are paid for by vouchers, as that term is defined in subdivision (i) of Section 4512 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(2) A provider who demonstrates that submitting billings electronically for services presents a substantial financial hardship.

(b) For purposes of this section, “electronic billing” is defined as the Regional Center e-Billing System web application provided by the State Department of Developmental Services.

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Section § 95021

This California law outlines requirements for vendors providing Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and intensive behavioral intervention services to infants and toddlers. Vendors must conduct an assessment, prepare a detailed intervention plan, and share that plan with regional centers.

The law also specifies that regional centers are only to purchase evidence-based ABA services. They can't use these services for respite, day care, or school purposes and must stop services once treatment goals are met unless new objectives justify their continuation.

The law encourages, but does not mandate, parental involvement, ensuring services are not withheld due to a lack of participation.

The definitions included specify what constitutes ABA, intensive interventions, evidence-based practices, and parental participation, emphasizing the importance of scientific research, clinical expertise, and individual preferences in treatment planning and execution.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law or regulation to the contrary, any vendor who provides applied behavioral analysis (ABA) services or intensive behavioral intervention services, or both, as defined in subdivision (c), shall:

(1) Conduct a behavioral assessment of each infant or toddler to whom the vendor provides these services.

(2) Design an intervention plan that shall include the service type, number of hours needed, and recommended parent participation to achieve the goals and objectives of the infant or toddler, as set forth in their individualized family service plan (IFSP). The intervention plan shall also set forth the frequency at which the progress of the infant or toddler shall be evaluated and reported.

(3) Provide a copy of the intervention plan to the regional center for review and consideration by the planning team members.

(b)

(1) Notwithstanding any other law or regulation to the contrary, regional centers shall:

(A) Only purchase ABA services or intensive behavioral intervention services that reflect evidence-based practices, promote positive social behaviors, and ameliorate behaviors that interfere with learning and social interactions.

(B) Not purchase either ABA or intensive behavioral intervention services for purposes of providing respite, day care, or school services.

(C) Discontinue purchasing ABA or intensive behavioral intervention services for an infant or toddler when their treatment goals and objectives, as described under subdivision (a), are achieved. ABA or intensive behavioral intervention services shall not be discontinued until the goals and objectives are reviewed and updated as required in paragraph (5) and shall be discontinued only if those updated treatment goals and objectives do not require ABA or intensive behavioral intervention services.

(D) For each infant or toddler, evaluate the vendor’s intervention plan and number of service hours for ABA or intensive behavioral intervention no less than every six months, consistent with evidence-based practices. If necessary, the intervention plan’s treatment goals and objectives shall be updated and revised.

(E) Not reimburse a parent for participating in a behavioral services treatment program.

(F) Not deny or delay the provision of ABA or intensive behavioral intervention services for an infant or toddler due to the lack of parent participation. A regional center shall not adopt, implement, or have in effect any policy or practice that prohibits or substantially prohibits the purchase of ABA or intensive behavioral intervention services due to the lack of parent participation. For purposes of this section, “substantially prohibits” means any policy or practice that generally prohibits a purchase of service, but includes a process for the regional center to allow exceptions.

(2) This subdivision shall not be construed to prohibit a regional center from highlighting the benefit of parental participation as recommended by the intervention plan.

(1) “Applied behavioral analysis” means the design, implementation, and evaluation of systematic instructional and environmental modifications to promote positive social behaviors and reduce or ameliorate behaviors that interfere with learning and social interaction.

(2) “Intensive behavioral intervention” means any form of applied behavioral analysis that is comprehensive, designed to address all domains of functioning, and provided in multiple settings for no more than 40 hours per week, across all settings, depending on the individual’s needs and progress. Interventions can be delivered in a one-to-one ratio or small group format, as appropriate.

(3) “Evidence-based practice” means a decisionmaking process that integrates the best available scientifically rigorous research, clinical expertise, and individual’s characteristics. Evidence-based practice is an approach to treatment rather than a specific treatment. Evidence-based practice promotes the collection, interpretation, integration, and continuous evaluation of valid, important, and applicable individual- or family-reported, clinically observed, and research-supported evidence. The best available evidence, matched to infant or toddler circumstances and preferences, is applied to ensure the quality of clinical judgments and facilitates the most cost-effective care.

(4) “Parent” has the same meaning as defined in paragraph (44) of subdivision (b) of Section 52000 of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations.

(5) “Parent participation” may include, but shall not be limited to, the following meanings:

(A) Completion of group instruction on the basics of behavior intervention.

(B) Implementation of intervention strategies according to the intervention plan.

(C) If needed, collection of data on behavioral strategies and submission of that data to the provider for incorporation into progress reports.

(D) Participation in any needed clinical meetings.

(E) Purchase of suggested behavior modification materials or community involvement if a reward system is used.

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Section § 95022

This section outlines California's early intervention system for infants and toddlers with developmental needs. It's managed by the State Department of Developmental Services, in collaboration with the Department of Education, and advised by an interagency council.

The system includes a directory of services, a public awareness program, standards for trained personnel, a training system, a comprehensive child-find system (to identify and assess children who may need services), and a surrogate parent program. The goal is to ensure children receive early and coordinated support, tailored to cultural needs and inclusive of family participation.

The statewide system of early intervention shall be administered by the State Department of Developmental Services in collaboration with the State Department of Education and with the advice and assistance of an interagency coordinating council established pursuant to federal regulations and shall include all of the following mandatory components:

(a) A central directory that includes information about early intervention services, resources, and experts available in the state, professionals and other groups providing services to eligible infants and toddlers, and research and demonstration projects being conducted in the state. The central directory shall specify the nature and scope of the services available and the telephone number and address for each of the sources listed in the directory.

(b) A public awareness program focusing on early identification of eligible infants and toddlers and the dissemination of information about the purpose and scope of the system of early intervention services and how to access evaluation and other early intervention services.

(d) A comprehensive system of personnel development that provides training for personnel including, but not limited to, public and private providers, primary referral sources, paraprofessionals, and persons who will serve as service coordinators. The training shall specifically address at least all of the following:

(1) Understanding the early intervention services system, including the family service plan process.

(2) Meeting the interrelated social, emotional, and health needs of eligible infants and toddlers.

(3) Assisting families in meeting the special developmental needs of the infant or toddler, assisting professionals to utilize best practices in family focused early intervention services and promoting family professional collaboration.

(4) Reflecting the unique needs of local communities and promoting culturally competent service delivery.

(e) A comprehensive child-find system, including policies and procedures that ensure that all infants and toddlers who may be eligible for services under this title are identified, located, and evaluated, that services are coordinated between participating agencies, and that infants and toddlers are referred to the appropriate agency.

(f) A surrogate parent program established pursuant to Section 303.406 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations to be used by regional centers and local education agencies.

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