The cost of 24-hour out-of-home care through the state’s regional centers for children with developmental disabilities will drop for some parents in California.
Gov. Jerry Brown (D) this week signed into law AB 564 by Assembly member Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton).
The new law raises the threshold for paying a parental fee for those families with a child in 24-hour out-of-home care through the regional centers, so that families earning between 100% and 200% of federal poverty level can now be exempted from the fee.
State officials estimate the change will cost the state about $190,000 a year. Roughly 4,200 developmentally disabled children use 24-hour out-of-home care through the regional centers.
The 21 regional centers are not-for-profit private corporations that contract with the state’s Department of Developmental Services to provide services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities.
The law will:
- Change the threshold for the parental fee requirement for children receiving 24-hour out-of-home care, from above 100% of federal poverty level to those who earn more than 200% of federal poverty level;
- Allow the Department of Developmental Services to grant a temporary waiver to families undergoing certain financial events; and
- Establish a parental fee credit for removing a child from 24-hour out-of-home care placement for a home visit for six or more consecutive hours.
The law will go into effect in July 2016.