2007 California Welfare and Institutions Code Chapter 4. Life Quality Assessments Conducted By Area Boards

CA Codes (wic:4570)

4570.  (a) In order to remain informed regarding the quality of
services in the area and to protect the legal, civil, and service
rights of persons with developmental disabilities, the Legislature
finds that it is necessary to conduct life quality assessments with
consumers served by the regional centers.
   (b) The department shall enter into an interagency agreement with
the state council, on behalf of the area boards, to conduct the life
quality assessments described in this section.  This interagency
agreement shall include assurances that the state council shall not
direct the area boards in their conduct of these assessments or in
the content or format of the annual reports submitted to the council
by the area boards.
   (c) Consistent with the responsibilities described in this
chapter, the area board, with the consent of the consumer and, when
appropriate, a family member, shall conduct life quality assessments
with consumers living in out-of-home placements, supported living
arrangements, or independent living arrangements no less than once
every three years or more frequently upon the request of a consumer,
or, when appropriate, a family member.  If a consumer who is eligible
to receive a life quality assessment is a dependent of a juvenile
court pursuant to Section 300, 601, or 602, the assessment may be
conducted with the consent of the court or social services agency.  A
regional center or the department shall annually provide the local
area board with a list, including, but not limited to, the name,
address, and telephone number of each consumer, and, when
appropriate, a family member, the consumer's date of birth, and the
consumer's case manager, for all consumers living in out-of-home
placements, supported living arrangements, or independent living
arrangements, in order to facilitate area board contact with
consumers and, when appropriate, family members, for the purpose of
conducting life quality assessments.
   (d) The life quality assessments shall be conducted by utilizing
the "Looking at Life Quality Handbook" or subsequent revisions
developed by the department.
   (e) The assessments shall be conducted by consumers, families,
providers, and others, including volunteer surveyors.  Each area
board shall recruit, train, supervise, and coordinate surveyors.
Upon request, and if feasible, the area board shall respect the
request of a consumer and, when appropriate, family member, for a
specific surveyor to conduct the life quality assessment.  An area
board may provide stipends to surveyors.
   (f) A life quality assessment shall be conducted within 90 days
prior to a consumer's triennial individual program plan meeting, so
that the consumer and regional center may use this information as
part of the planning process.
   (g) Prior to conducting a life quality assessment, the area board
shall meet with the regional center to coordinate the exchange of
appropriate information necessary to conduct the assessment and
ensure timely followup to identified violations of any legal, civil,
or service rights.
   (h) Following the completion of each life quality assessment, the
area board shall develop a report of its findings and provide a copy
of the report to the consumer, when appropriate, family members, and
the regional center providing case management services to the
consumer.  A copy of the life quality assessment of a consumer who is
a dependent of a juvenile court pursuant to Section 300, 601, or 602
shall be provided, upon request, to the court or social services
agency.  In the event that a report identifies alleged violations of
any legal, civil, or service right, the area board shall notify the
regional center and the department of the alleged violation.  The
department shall monitor the regional center to ensure that
violations are addressed and resolved in a timely manner.
   (i) Regional centers shall review information from the life
quality assessments on a systemic basis in order to identify training
and resource development needs.
   (j) (1) On an annual basis, each area board shall prepare and
submit a report to the state council describing its activities and
accomplishments related to the implementation of this section.  The
report shall include, but not be limited to, the number of life
quality assessments conducted, the number of surveyors, including
those provided stipends, a description of the surveyor recruitment
process and training program, including any barriers to recruitment,
the number, nature, and outcome of any identified violations of
legal, civil, or service rights reported to regional centers, and
recommendations for improvement in the life quality assessment
process.
   (2) By September 15 of each year, the state council shall compile
these reports and forward to the Governor, the Legislature, and the
department.
   (k) Implementation of this section shall be subject to an annual
appropriation of funds in the Budget Act for this purpose.