(a) This article shall apply to any dispute over the provision of services where the regional center believes that a generic agency, as defined in subdivision (g), is legally obligated to fund or provide a service or services that are contained in the individualized family service plan or individual program plan for any child under six years of age.

(b) This article shall apply only to disputes over which entity is to deliver or pay for a specific type, frequency, or duration of services, or any combination thereof, when the services are contained in the individualized family service plan or individual program plan for any child under six years of age. This article shall not apply to the resolution of disputes between a consumer or his or her authorized representative and a regional center over the provision of, or payment for, a service, nor shall this article apply to the determination of eligibility for any service.

(c) This article does not apply when the dispute has been decided after a due process hearing or resolved by the agreement of all parties, in a proceeding under the California Early Intervention Services Act (Title 14 (commencing with Section 95000) of the Government Code) in which the regional center and local educational agency have been joined.

(d) This article does not apply to a dispute over the type, frequency, and duration of service when a consumer has requested mediation or a due process hearing under the California Early Intervention Services Act (Title 14 (commencing with Section 95000) of the Government Code) and the regional center and local educational agency have been joined in the proceeding.

(e) This article does not modify the mandated responsibility of a regional center or a local educational agency to fund services identified in the individualized family service plan as set forth in subdivisions (b) to (e), inclusive, of Section 95014 of the Government Code and Sections 52106 to 52110, inclusive, of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations.

(f) This article does not modify the responsibilities of regional centers to fund services pursuant to this division.

(g) For purposes of this article, “generic agency” means a publicly funded agency referred to in paragraph (8) of subdivision (a) of Section 4648, except that the term does not apply to Medi-Cal specialty mental health plans that are governed by dispute resolution processes outlined in Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 1810.100) of Division 1 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations, an individual, organization, or entity operating under a Medi-Cal managed care plan contract with the State Department of Health Care Services under Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) or Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14200) of Part 3 of Division 9, the Genetically Handicapped Persons Program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 125125) of Chapter 2 of Part 5 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code, or to the California Children’s Services Program administered by the State Department of Health Care Services pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 123800) of Chapter 3 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code.

(Added by Stats. 2009, Ch. 84, Sec. 1. (AB 140) Effective January 1, 2010.)