This section of the law explains key terms used in the chapter. "Continuum" refers to a system of services that supports personal growth and freedom, tailored to individuals' needs throughout their lives. "Normalization" involves offering programs that mirror mainstream society to help integrate individuals culturally and socially. A "Designated agency" is the entity chosen by the state to organize or provide services within each continuum.

This law allows the State Department of Developmental Services in California to create plans for community living arrangements for people with developmental disabilities. They can choose agencies to roll out these plans, based on recommendations from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities and regional centers.

The State Council on Developmental Disabilities in California can review community living programs and suggest which should oversee the community living continuum within different regions. These programs may have been funded by specific grants or hospital programs and can include private nonprofits, public agencies, and joint powers agreement agencies.

The governing or advisory boards of these programs must include at least one-third consumer representatives, including family members of consumers. People with a financial interest in these agencies, except as consumers, cannot serve as directors or advisory committee members.

This section explains the responsibilities of an agency designated by California's Department of Developmental Services. First, the agency must set up services for people with developmental needs in local communities and seek funding from various sources to support these services. Second, the agency must ensure all staff receive relevant training connected with public education agencies. Third, the agency is tasked with promoting public acceptance and full integration of individuals with developmental disabilities into the community. The services offered should follow the normalization principle, allowing individuals to choose where they live—be it home, apartments, or small group settings—close to their community whenever possible.

This section allows the Director of the Department of Developmental Services to form contracts with a specific agency as outlined in the same legal chapter.

The Director of Developmental Services can create consistent rules and standards for certain agencies. These standards should be developed with help from consumer groups and various state agencies, like those for social services, health care, education, and rehabilitation, as well as experts in developmental services.

The director is required to create an annual report for the Legislature that evaluates how well the system is working, using the state's evaluation model.

This law allows the Director of Developmental Services to give financial support in advance to agencies or programs for developing services. They can pay up to 90 days before the services start. The contract with an agency can include regular advance payments, but these cannot be more than 25% of the total yearly contract amount.

The State Department of Developmental Services in California, working with the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, can create a plan to enhance support for people with developmental special needs. This plan should address providing necessary training and evaluation to ensure quality programs and success.

It aims to make the most of available state and federal resources so individuals can live in less restrictive environments. This includes utilizing resources like federal housing subsidies, supplementary security income, and local social and health services.

The plan also needs to set procedural standards for agencies, focusing on program development, worker training, management systems, fiscal management, contract establishment, and program evaluation.

The Director of Developmental Services should prioritize funding programs that are part of a larger, continuous support system when evaluating how to allocate money for community living arrangements from the Program Development Fund.

This law gives the director the authority to enhance community living arrangements for individuals with special needs. The director is tasked with creating advanced training programs, providing technical help to providers through various agencies, and making important information more accessible. There's also an emphasis on setting up competency-based training and helping agencies and centers recruit qualified staff to improve the quality and availability of services.

This law section outlines a set of services that can be provided by a designated agency if such services aren't available through other state or local programs, and if allowed by departmental regulations. These services include financial assistance for families, support for in-home care, and affordable adoptive and foster care options. It also covers alternative respite care, crisis help, independent living arrangements, group homes for small groups, specialized programs for people with medical needs, and services for those with severe behavioral or developmental requirements. The law emphasizes that these should not replace the responsibilities of other agencies.

This law section requires that regional centers and community living continuums create agreements to clearly outline who is responsible for delivering services. These agreements might also involve the Department of Rehabilitation's Independent Living Programs if it's relevant.