CaliforniaOffice of the Developmental Services Ombudsperson.
What it does
Existing law, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, requires the State Department of Developmental Services to contract with regional centers to provide services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Existing law requires the department to establish an Office of the Self-Determination Program Ombudsperson to be headed by an individual to be known as the Self-Determination Program Ombudsperson, who is appointed by the Director of Developmental Services. Existing law requires the office to be an independent and autonomous entity within the department and prescribes specified duties and rights of the office, including recommending to the department strategies for change and improvement of the program.
More detail
This bill would repeal the above-described provisions establishing the Office of the Self-Determination Program Ombudsperson and instead establish the Office of the Developmental Services Ombudsperson as an independent and autonomous entity within the department for the purpose of monitoring the implementation of specified services for individuals served by a regional center, as defined. The bill would set forth the duties of the Office of the Developmental Services Ombudsperson, including, among other things, disseminating information and providing training and technical assistance, and receiving and possibly investigating complaints made by or on behalf of individuals served by a regional center. The bill would establish the position of the Developmental Services Ombudsperson to head the office and specify appointment procedures and the duties of that position.
Existing law provides that, except as otherwise provided by statute, all relevant evidence is admissible. The California Constitution provides for the Right to Truth-In-Evidence, which requires a 23 vote of the Legislature to exclude any relevant evidence from any criminal proceeding, as specified.
This bill would prohibit the ombudsperson or their staff from being compelled to testify or be deposed, or to disclose specified records, in a judicial or administrative proceeding. Because this prohibition would affect the admissibility of relevant evidence in criminal proceedings, the bill would require a ⅔ vote of the Legislature.
Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.
This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Oct 1Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 223, Statutes of 2025.Latest
- Oct 1Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 22Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.To Governor
- Sep 10Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2827.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB471 Menjivar Urgency Clause Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Sep 10Urgency clause adopted.Major
- Sep 9In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 471 Menjivar Third Reading Urgency By Jeff Gonzalez. Result: pass.Lower
- Sep 9Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. (Ayes 80. Noes 0. Page 3085.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Sep 4Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Sep 4Read third time and amended.Major
- Sep 3Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Sep 2Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 29From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 29).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 20August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Jul 10Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jul 9From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (July 8).Major
- Jul 8
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Jul 2From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Major
- Jul 2From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Jul 1
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 24From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.Major
- Jun 16Referred to Coms. on HUM. S. and JUD.Minor
- Jun 5In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Jun 4Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 1522.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Special Consent. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 2Ordered to special consent calendar.
- May 27Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 23Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- May 23From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1201.) (May 23).Major
- May 16Set for hearing May 23.
- May 5May 5 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 25Set for hearing May 5.
- Apr 23From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0. Page 835.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 22
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 8From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 682.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Apr 7
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 4Set for hearing April 22 in JUD. pending receipt.
- Mar 13Set for hearing April 7.
- Feb 26Referred to Coms. on HUMAN S. and JUD.Minor
- Feb 20From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22.
- Feb 19Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced