February 11, 2016:

In January of each year, the Governor releases a draft budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The California fiscal year begins on July 1 and ends of June 30. The Legislature considers and modifies the Governor’s budget from February-May, and is required to pass a budget by June 15 in time for the next fiscal year.

The Department of Developmental Services (Department or DDS) is responsible under the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (Lanterman Act) for ensuring that persons with developmental disabilities receive the services and support they require to lead more independent and productive lives and to make choices and decisions about their lives. California provides services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities two ways: the vast majority of people live in family or other community settings and receive state-funded services that are coordinated by one of 21 non-profit corporations known as regional centers. A small number of individuals live in three state-operated developmental centers (DCs) and one state-operated community facility. The number of consumers with developmental disabilities in the community served by regional centers is expected to increase from 290,496 in the current year to 302,419 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2016-17. The number of individuals living in state-operated residential facilities is estimated to be 747 by the end of FY 2016-17.

The Governor’s Budget for FY 2016-17 includes $6.4 billion in total funds for the Department of Developmental Services. This is a net increase of $394.4 million above FY 2015-16 levels. In light of the planned and announced closures for Sonoma, Fairview and Porterville DCs, the Governor’s Budget includes funds for both the Community Services and Developmental Centers Programs. More specifically, the Governor’s Budget includes:

• $78.8 million for regional centers to develop resources in FY 2016-17 to support the transition of DC residents into the community from Sonoma, Fairview, and Porterville GTA. This is an increase of $30.8 million over FY 2015-16 expenditures.
• $1.7 million in FY 2015-16, and $3.0 million) in FY 2016-17 in the Developmental Centers Budget, to begin preliminary closure activities at Sonoma. These activities include inventorying and archiving clinical and historical records, contracting for an independent monitor as stipulated in the settlement agreement with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding Sonoma decertification, and relocating residents and their belongings to community settings.
• $2.1 million ($1.8 million GF) within Headquarters for staffing and contract resources needed to support the continued efforts for multiple developmental center closures.

If you’d like a more in depth understanding of the Governor’s Budget FY 2016-17 pertaining to California’s Community Services and Developmental Centers Programs, please read the document provided below.

Department of Developmental Services – Governor’s Budget Highlights FY 2016-17

Provided courtesy of the Department of Developmental Services website.