(a) Humboldt County, Mendocino County, Alameda County, and any additional county or counties, as determined by the Secretary of California Health and Human Services, with the assistance and participation of the appropriate state departments, within the existing resources of those departments, may implement a program, upon approval of the county board of supervisors for the funding and delivery of services and benefits through an integrated and comprehensive county health and human services system.

(b) In providing services through an integrated system to families and individuals, the program may, among other things, do all of the following:

(1) Implement and evaluate a system of universal intake for those seeking services.

(2) Implement and evaluate a system whereby a family or individual eligible for more than one service may be provided those services through an integrated, coordinated service plan.

(3) Implement and evaluate a system of administration that integrates and coordinates the management and support of client services.

(4) Implement and evaluate a system of reporting and accountability that provides for the combined provision of services as provided for in paragraph (2), without the loss of state or federal funds provided under current law.

(5) In consultation with the appropriate state departments, as designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, any participating county may develop specific goals in addition to those specified in paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, to achieve an integrated and comprehensive county health and human services system.

(c) The integrated system may include any or all of the following:

(1) Adoption services.

(2) Child abuse prevention services.

(3) Child welfare services.

(4) Delinquency prevention services.

(5) Drug and alcohol services.

(6) Mental health services.

(7) Eligibility determination.

(8) Employment and training services.

(9) Foster care services.

(10) Health services.

(11) Public health services.

(12) Housing services.

(13) Medically indigent program services.

(d) (1) Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 56) of Division 1 of the Civil Code applies to the programs or services providing integrated services.

(2) Before a program obtains an individual’s medical information, including mental health and drug treatment records, his or her informed authorization shall be obtained, or the informed authorization of his or her custodial parent, or his or her guardian shall be obtained if the individual is a minor, unless the minor is authorized to give consent.

(3) Medical information shall not be disclosed to any individual who is not authorized to have that information pursuant to the authorization provided in paragraph (2).

(4) Medical information shall not be disclosed for any purpose that is not authorized by the authorization in paragraph (2).

(5) The sharing of information permitted under paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) shall be governed by memoranda of understanding among the agencies represented on the team. These memoranda shall specify the types of information that may be shared without a signed release form, and the process to be used to ensure that current confidentiality requirements, as described in subdivision (d), are met.

(6) A client shall have access to his or her medical information and shall have the right to correct any inaccurate information contained in the medical information.

(e) Programs or services shall be included in the program only to the extent that federal funding to either the state or the county will not be reduced as a result of the inclusion of the services in the project. This program shall not generate any increased expenditures from the General Fund.

(f) Each participating county and the appropriate state departments shall jointly seek federal approval of the program, as may be needed to ensure its funding and allow for the integrated provision of services.

(g) This chapter does not authorize each participating county to discontinue meeting its obligations under current law to provide services or to reduce its accountability for the provision of these services.

(h) This chapter does not authorize a participating county to reduce the county’s eligibility under current law for state funding for the services included in the program.

(i) A participating county shall utilize any and all state general and county funds that it is legally allocated or entitled to receive. Through the creation of integrated health and social services structures, the county shall maximize federal matching funds.

(j) The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall designate a lead department to coordinate the state’s participation in the county’s program.

(k) The appropriate state departments, as designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, that are assisting, participating, and cooperating in the implementation of the program authorized by this chapter shall have the authority to waive regulations regarding the method of providing services and the method of reporting and accountability, as may be required to meet the goals set forth in subdivision (b). However, the departments shall not waive regulations pertaining to privacy and confidentiality of records, civil service merit systems, or collective bargaining. The departments shall not waive regulations if the waiver results in a diminished amount or level of services or benefits to eligible recipients as compared to the benefits and services that would have been provided to recipients absent the waiver.

(Added by renumbering Section 18986.86 by Stats. 2017, Ch. 561, Sec. 296. (AB 1516) Effective January 1, 2018.)