(a) Commencing with the 2019-20 fiscal year, the department shall jointly convene with the State Department of Developmental Services and the State Department of Health Care Services one or more workgroups that include representatives from local educational agencies, appropriate county agencies, regional centers, and legislative staff. The workgroups shall convene for the following purposes:

(1) Improving transition of three-year-old children with disabilities from regional centers to local educational agencies, to help ensure continuity of services for young children and families.

(2) Improving coordination and expansion of access to available federal funds through the Local Educational Agency Medi-Cal Billing Option Program, the School-Based Medi-Cal Administrative Activities Program, and medically necessary federal Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment benefits.

(b) On or before October 1, 2020, the workgroups shall provide the chairs of the relevant policy committees and budget subcommittees of the Legislature and the Department of Finance with a progress report that includes all of the following:

(1) A detailed timeline for the implementation of the workgroups, including information on the structure of the workgroups, frequency of meetings, and other relevant information.

(2) Work conducted by each workgroup to date and initial findings, including information gathered, if any, on potential barriers to access the Local Educational Agency Medi-Cal Billing Option Program, the School-Based Medi-Cal Administrative Activities Program, and medically necessary federal Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment benefits.

(3) Information on potential barriers to ensure smooth transitions for three-year-old children with disabilities from regional centers to local educational agencies.

(c) On or before October 1, 2021, the workgroups shall provide the chairs of the relevant policy committees and budget subcommittees of the Legislature and the Department of Finance with a final report that includes recommendations for all of the following:

(1) Strategies to improve the state’s performance in meeting federal deadlines for transitioning three-year-old children with disabilities from individualized family service plans administered by a regional center to individualized education programs administered by a local educational agency.

(2) Best practices for regional centers and local educational agencies to ensure every three-year-old child with disabilities receives an uninterrupted continuum of support services.

(3) Program requirements and support services needed for the Local Educational Agency Medi-Cal Billing Option Program, the School-Based Medi-Cal Administrative Activities Program, and medically necessary federal Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment benefits to ensure ease of use and access for local educational agencies and parity of eligible services throughout the state and country.

(d) Recommendations provided pursuant to this section shall include any specific changes needed to state regulations or statutes, need for approval of amendments to the state Medicaid plan or federal waivers, changes to the implementation of federal regulations, changes to state agency support and oversight, and associated staffing or funding needed to implement the recommendations.

(e) The amount appropriated for purposes of this section in Provision 38 of Item 6100-001-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2019 shall be available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2022.

(f)  The requirements for submitting a report imposed under subdivisions (b) and (c) are inoperative on October 1, 2024, and October 1, 2025, respectively, pursuant to § 10231.5 of the Government Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 24, Sec. 67. (SB 98) Effective June 29, 2020.)