(a) The Legislature intends that in order to increase effectiveness and opportunity to gain meaningful integrated competitive employment opportunities, pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 4869, habilitation services shall also provide community-based vocational development services to enhance community employment readiness, develop social skills necessary for successful community employment, and build a network of community and employment opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities.

(b) The department shall conduct a four-year demonstration project, pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 4869, to determine whether community-based vocational development services increase integrated competitive employment outcomes and reduce purchase of service costs for working age adults.

(1) For purposes of this section,“community-based vocational development services” means (A) services provided to enhance community employment readiness, which may include the use of discovery and job exploration opportunities, (B) social skill development services necessary to obtain and maintain community employment, (C) services to use internship, apprenticeship, and volunteer opportunities to provide community-based vocational development skills development opportunities, (D) services to access and participate in postsecondary education or career technical education, and (E) building a network of community and employment opportunities.

(2) If community-based vocational development services are determined to be a necessary step to achieve a supported employment outcome, a plan shall be developed and may include, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(A) An inventory of potential employment interests.

(B) Preferences for types of work environments or situations.

(C) Identification of any training or education needed for the consumer’s desired job.

(D) Opportunities to explore jobs or self-employment as a means to meet the consumer’s desired employment outcome.

(E) Identification of any personal or family networks the consumer may use to achieve his or her desired employment outcomes.

(3) The habilitation service provider and the regional center shall review the plan developed pursuant to paragraph (2) semiannually to document progress towards objectives, additional barriers, and other changes that impact the consumer’s desired employment outcome.

(4) The hourly rate for community-based vocational development services, for the purposes of this section, shall be forty dollars ($40) per hour for a maximum of 75 hours per calendar quarter for all services identified and provided in the community-based vocational development plan as developed pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3). Prior to the implementation of community-based vocational development services, the department shall secure federal Medicaid funding for this service.

(5) Hours of participation in community-based vocational development services may be provided in lieu of hours of participation in other community-based day program services, as determined by the consumer’s individual program planning team, for up to two years. Community-based vocational development services may be authorized for an additional two years, if the consumer’s individual program planning team determines and documents at each semiannual review that the consumer is making significant progress toward the habilitation services objectives. A consumer’s participation in community-based vocational development services shall not exceed a total of four years.

(c) The department shall select up to five volunteer regional centers that reflect the geographic diversity of California to participate in the demonstration project.

(d) The department shall publish a notice on the department’s Internet Web site when the demonstration project has been implemented.

(e) (1) After conclusion of the demonstration project, the department shall review the effectiveness of the demonstration project and make determinations whether community-based vocational development services (A) increase employment outcomes, (B) reduce purchase of service costs, and (C) may be implemented on a statewide basis.

(2) The department shall notify the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of both houses of the Legislature of the determinations made pursuant to this subdivision.

(f) This section shall be implemented only to the extent that federal financial participation is available and any necessary federal approvals have been obtained.

(g) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2025, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2025, deletes or extends that date.

(Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 431, Sec. 2. (SB 577) Effective January 1, 2015. Repealed as of January 1, 2025, by its own provisions.)