Report 2021-107 Recommendation 14 Responses

Report 2021-107: Department of Developmental Services: It Has Not Ensured That Regional Centers Have the Necessary Resources to Effectively Serve Californians With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (Release Date: June 2022)

Recommendation #14 To: Developmental Services, Department of

To ensure that its staff continue to complete appeal investigations by the statutory deadline, DDS should update its existing appeal investigations policies to reflect its new process by September 2022.

60-Day Agency Response

DDS reviewed internal procedures for W&I Code section 4731 complaints and updated the procedures to reflect the current process. DDS staff received training on the new procedures on August 25, 2022, to ensure that W&I Code section 4731 appeal determinations are completed within the statutory timeline.

All files and folders pertaining to W&I Code section 4731 complaints were transferred to a web-based platform in April 2022 to streamline and improve the review process, as all reviewers have simultaneous access. This has been an efficient and effective method to review relevant documentation and complete investigations within the statutorily required timeline.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Fully Implemented

All Recommendations in 2021-107

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.