(a) As part of its role in providing leadership to the area agencies on aging in the development of systems of home and community-based services to maintain individuals in their own homes or least restrictive homelike environments and to ensure the availability of information and awareness of their benefits, rights, and responsibilities, the department shall contract for an array of state-funded community-based services specified in this division to older individuals and functionally impaired adults.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to facilitate central points of access through integration of the financing and local management of the community-based services programs, specified in Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540) under the area agencies on aging. Except for any new funds appropriated, the department shall contract for these services in the planning and service areas where the services are currently provided.

(c) It is the intent of the Legislature to ensure that contracts for services specified in Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540) be awarded through a competitive procurement process, considering factors such as cost and scope of services. Where not otherwise prohibited by state or federal law or regulations, programs may benefit from the economical use of shared resources that are colocated. This chapter shall not prohibit the development or continuation of the colocation of these programs.

(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1097, Sec. 13. Effective January 1, 1997.)