Chapter 6.5Developmental Services Workforce Stabilization

Section § 4699

Explanation

The California Legislature recognizes a few key issues about the workforce in the developmental services system. There are approximately 120,000 direct support professionals and 5,500 regional center service coordinators serving about 370,000 people. However, there is growing concern about having enough of these workers available in the future.

Over the next five years, the system will need about 33,000 more direct support professionals and 2,700 more service coordinators. To address this, the legislature suggests hiring workers from diverse communities and using technology alongside direct service workers.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699(a) The State Department of Developmental Services estimates that about 120,000 direct support professionals and about 5,500 regional center service coordinators served approximately 370,000 consumers in fiscal year 2021–22.
(b)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699(b) Workforce capacity among direct support professionals and regional center service coordinators is a growing concern in the developmental services system.
(c)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699(c) Based on annual projected regional center caseload growth and assumptions about direct support professional turnover, the developmental services system is projected to need approximately 33,000 direct support professionals and 2,700 regional center service coordinators over the next five years.
(d)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699(d) To be responsive to California’s changing demographics, the department should support regional centers and service providers in undertaking a purposeful approach to recruiting and hiring workers from diverse communities and explore technological advancements as a complement to workers who provide direct services.
developmental services workforce direct support professionals regional center service coordinators workforce capacity caseload growth worker diversity technological advancements service providers recruitment strategies California demographics service delivery workforce shortage hiring from diverse communities regional centers future workforce needs
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 49, Sec. 28. (SB 188) Effective June 30, 2022.)

Section § 4699.1

Explanation

This law says that the provisions in the chapter can only be put into action if the California Legislature allocates money specifically for that purpose. Without this funding, the chapter cannot be implemented.

Implementation of this chapter shall be subject to an appropriation by the Legislature for the purpose of this chapter.
legislative appropriation funding requirement implementation condition budget allocation chapter funding legislative budget financial prerequisite fund availability government funding appropriation dependency
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 49, Sec. 28. (SB 188) Effective June 30, 2022.)

Section § 4699.2

Explanation

This law requires the establishment of a program that offers training stipends to direct support professionals to improve their skills and encourage continuous learning. The program, managed by regional centers with help from service providers, provides up to two $500 stipends to professionals who complete specified training courses. The stipends must be paid within three months of training completion. Part of the funding will also cover administrative costs for service providers. The program began on November 1, 2022, with quarterly tracking and reporting of participation, course selections, and turnover rates starting from January 31, 2023.

(a)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.2(a) The department shall establish, and regional centers shall administer in coordination with service providers, a program to provide training stipends to direct support professionals.
(b)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.2(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enhance the quality of services received by consumers, improve direct support professional retention, and increase interest among direct support professionals in skills development and continuous learning opportunities by offering stipends for the completion of training courses.
(c)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.2(c) A regional center shall provide up to two five-hundred-dollar ($500) training stipends to a direct support professional who completes training and development courses as specified by the department.
(d)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.2(d) Each training stipend shall be paid no later than three months after the conclusion of a training requirement.
(e)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.2(e) A portion of the program funding shall be used to compensate service providers an amount, in the form of a fee, as necessary to cover the reasonable costs to administer the program in coordination with regional centers, as determined by the department.
(f)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.2(f) Service providers and regional centers shall track participation and shall report to the department on a quarterly basis, commencing on January 31, 2023, on cumulative and reporting-period data about the number of participants, the administration of the fee pursuant to subdivision (e), the selection of training and development courses, and turnover information among participants.
(g)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.2(g) Training and development courses shall commence no later than November 1, 2022. A program participant may enroll in a training and development course on a later date.
training stipends direct support professionals skills development continuous learning regional centers service providers training courses skills enhancement professional retention stipend payments training completion program funding administrative costs participant tracking turnover information
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 49, Sec. 28. (SB 188) Effective June 30, 2022.)

Section § 4699.3

Explanation

This law requires the creation of a training and internship program for individuals who want to become direct support professionals, pending funding approval. The goal is to improve service quality and increase hiring and retention by showing the career opportunities in this field and equipping participants with necessary skills.

The program must partner with external agencies for recruitment, offer three-month paid internships, and ensure diversity in recruitment. Interns work up to 30 hours a week and can earn stipends after six months and one year of continuous employment. Regional centers must track program data and report quarterly.

Internship opportunities must be available by June 1, 2023, but participants can start later.

(a)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.3(a) The department shall establish, and regional centers shall administer, an entry-level training and internship program for individuals interested in becoming direct support professionals, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature.
(b)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.3(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enhance the quality of services received by consumers and increase the hiring and retention of direct support professionals through the creation of a training and internship program that demonstrates the career opportunities available to individuals interested in becoming direct support professionals, while providing them with the skills that they need to deliver high-quality services to consumers.
(c)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.3(c) The training and internship program shall do all of the following:
(1)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.3(c)(1) Contract with outside agencies for recruitment outreach.
(2)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.3(c)(2) Offer three-month internships that provide entry-level training and practical work experience for participants.
(3)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.3(c)(3) Outline the wage and employments costs for paid internships up to 30 hours per week, to collectively cover participant wages and service provider costs.
(4)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.3(c)(4) Focus on populations that reflect the state’s diverse population and that do not traditionally have a pathway toward jobs in the developmental services field.
(5)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.3(c)(5) Establish an entry point to the continuum of developmental services workforce development, including the training described in Section 4511.5.
(6)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.3(c)(6) Create opportunities for postinternship permanent employment with service providers and allow for a five-hundred-dollar ($500) retention stipend after six months of continuous employment and another five-hundred-dollar ($500) stipend after one year of continuous employment.
(d)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.3(d) Regional centers shall track participation and report to the department on a quarterly basis on cumulative and reporting-period data about the number of participants, the number of participants hired, and the number of six-month and one-year employment stipends provided.
(e)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.3(e) Internships shall be available no later than June 1, 2023. A program participant may enroll in an internship on a later date.
direct support professionals entry-level training internship program recruitment outreach career opportunities diverse populations wage and cost outline permanent employment retention stipend quarterly reporting developmental services workforce regional centers service quality workforce development participant tracking
(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 47, Sec. 12. (AB 162) Effective July 2, 2024.)

Section § 4699.4

Explanation

This law sets up a tuition reimbursement program for employees at regional centers who are pursuing degrees or certification in health or human services-related fields. The goal is to improve services, expertise, career options, and employee retention. Eligible employees can receive up to $10,000 annually for three years, but must work at a regional center for a year for each year of aid they receive.

The program has specific eligibility criteria and requirements, and applies from the 2022–23 to 2024–25 fiscal years. Regional centers must report annually on the program's progress and participants. If transfer between centers is needed, there are rules for notification and accountability.

(a)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.4(a) The department shall establish, and regional centers shall administer, a tuition reimbursement program for regional center employees who seek a degree or certification in a health or human services-related field.
(b)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.4(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enhance regional center services received by consumers, increase subject matter expertise and career advancement options at regional centers, and improve employee retention rates at regional centers by offering tuition reimbursement for eligible regional center employees.
(c)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.4(c) Each qualifying participant shall be eligible to receive up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) annually for up to three years.
(d)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.4(d) In exchange for tuition reimbursement, participants shall be required to work at the regional center for no less than one year for each year of tuition reimbursement following completion of their degree or certification. An employee may transfer to another regional center to complete this requirement. The funding regional center shall notify the department within 30 days after a request from an employee to transfer to another regional center to complete this requirement. The receiving regional center is responsible for reporting the information required in subdivision (g).
(e)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.4(e) By September 1, 2022, the department shall publish eligibility requirements for regional center staff participation. These requirements shall include information about which regional center staff are eligible, which academic programs or types of academic programs are eligible, minimum application requirements, concurrent regional center work requirements, and postgraduation regional center work requirements. In addition, the department shall describe the terms of the program, including repayment or partial repayment requirements for individuals who do not complete their degree or certification or do not complete the concurrent or postgraduation work requirements.
(f)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.4(f) Tuition reimbursement shall be available for the 2022–23 through 2024–25 fiscal years.
(g)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.4(g) Regional centers shall report to the department on an annual basis, commencing on April 1, 2023, and thereafter on January 1 of each year until January 1, 2026, on data about the program, including number and demographics of applicants and participants and their regional center position, degree and field sought, and how long they were employed by the regional center after completing their degree or certification.
tuition reimbursement regional center employees health field certification human services degree employee retention career advancement eligibility requirements repayment terms fiscal years 2022-2025 academic programs reporting requirements work commitment transfer between regional centers degree completion employee demographics
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 49, Sec. 28. (SB 188) Effective June 30, 2022.)

Section § 4699.5

Explanation

This law requires the department to involve different groups in the process of implementing the chapter. These groups, known as stakeholders, can include a range of people such as consumers with various backgrounds and needs, regional center workers, and service providers. The department can consult with an existing group that fits the necessary criteria to gather this input.

(a)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.5(a) The department shall seek input from stakeholders throughout the implementation of this chapter.
(b)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.5(b) Stakeholders may include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
(1)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.5(b)(1) Consumers and families across different geographic regions of the state and from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, and diverse consumer age groups and disabilities.
(2)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.5(b)(2) Regional center representatives, including executive-level staff, administrative staff, and service coordinators.
(3)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.5(b)(3) Service providers representing a diverse range of service types and models and including executive staff and direct support professionals.
(c)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.5(c) The department may utilize one of its existing stakeholder groups if it meets the criteria described in this section to conduct this consultation.
stakeholder input implementation process diverse backgrounds regional center representatives service coordinators service providers consumer age groups disabilities geographic diversity existing stakeholder groups service types and models executive-level staff direct support professionals consultation process
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 49, Sec. 28. (SB 188) Effective June 30, 2022.)

Section § 4699.6

Explanation

This law section requires a specific department in California to regularly update legislative staff on the progress of certain programs through quarterly briefings. These updates must include data summaries from service providers and regional centers.

Additionally, by January 10, 2026, the department must deliver a comprehensive report to the Legislature assessing the success of these programs. The report should cover aspects such as program participation statistics, demographics, new hires, employee retention and turnover rates, and consumer satisfaction, along with outcomes for those involved in the programs.

(a)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.6(a) The department shall report to the Legislature at quarterly briefings for legislative staff about the progress on the programs described in this chapter. Reporting shall include summaries of the relevant data collected by service providers and regional centers.
(b)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.6(b) The department shall submit a report to the Legislature, in accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, no later than January 10, 2026, evaluating the success of the programs described in this chapter. As applicable, the report shall include, but not be limited to, information about all of the following:
(1)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.6(b)(1) Summary information about each program, including statistics on participation and program completion, participant demographics, and participation by regional center and type of service provider.
(2)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.6(b)(2) Number of new hires at service providers and regional centers.
(3)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.6(b)(3) Employee retention and turnover rates at service providers and regional centers overall and among the program participant population, including available baseline rates prior to implementation of the programs and rates following completion of the programs.
(4)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.6(b)(4) Consumer and family satisfaction and other measures of consumer outcomes.
department reporting quarterly briefings program evaluation legislative staff data summaries service providers regional centers program participation demographics new hires employee retention turnover rates consumer satisfaction participant outcomes January 10 2026
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 49, Sec. 28. (SB 188) Effective June 30, 2022.)

Section § 4699.7

Explanation

This law allows the department to enact and clarify rules for this specific chapter using written directives without following the usual formal rulemaking process until June 30, 2025. It also states that contracts for services related to implementing this chapter do not need to follow typical procurement rules, nor do they require approval from the Department of General Services.

(a)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.7(a) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement, interpret, or make specific, the provisions of this chapter by means of written directives or similar instructions through June 30, 2025.
(b)CA Welfare and Institutions Code § 4699.7(b) Contracts to procure services to implement this chapter shall be exempt from the requirements contained in the Public Contract Code and the State Administrative Manual and from approval by the Department of General Services.
written directives Administrative Procedure Act exemption procurement exemptions contract approval rule implementation Department of General Services Public Contract Code exemption State Administrative Manual exemption service contracts rule clarification June 30 2025 deadline rulemaking flexibility service procurement departmental instructions procurement process
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 49, Sec. 28. (SB 188) Effective June 30, 2022.)