CHAPTER 7. Community-Based Services Network [9530. - 9538.]

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC 7.

in effect

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 9530. Section 9530.

(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.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 9530.5. Section 9530.5.

Consistent with Article 4.05 (commencing with Section 14139.05) of Chapter 7 of Part 3 of Division 9, the Legislature reaffirms the need to restructure the array of categorical programs that offer medical, social, and other support services that are funded and administered by a variety of federal, state, and local agencies. It is in the interest of the state, as a whole, to address the duplication and fragmentation of the long-term care system and the home- and community-based services needs of older adults and adults with functional impairments. Ideally, individuals needing long-term care should be able to access the health and social services system through a central point of entry, disclose basic demographic information, and be referred to the appropriate sources for assessment, care planning, and purchase of services.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 9531. Section 9531.

(a) This chapter establishes the Community-Based Services Network. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that a Community-Based Services Network be initiated by the department in order to do all of the following: (1) Locally integrate the state-funded community-based services programs, specified in this division, for older adults and adults with functional impairments. (2) Provide increased local flexibility in setting priorities for the services contained within the six state General Fund programs specified in Sections 9542 to 9547, inclusive. (3) Contract responsibility for local management of the state-funded community-based services programs specified in Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540) to participating area agencies on aging. (c) Each participating area agency on aging shall ensure the continuation of the funding match currently required for the community-based services programs specified in Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540). The match may consist of either cash or in-kind services. (d) Each participating area agency on aging shall have responsibility for local program management of the community-based services programs specified in Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540).

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 9532. Section 9532.

In addition to the definitions already contained in this division, the following definitions apply to this chapter: (a) “Adult with functional impairment” means an adult 18 years of age or older, who is at risk of institutional placement due to a chronic physical and mental disability, including disabilities caused by organic disorders or diseases, that restrict the individual’s ability to independently perform activities of daily living, who has an inadequate informal or formal support network, and who has to leave their home without supportive home- and community-based services. (b) “Community-based services programs” means the programs specified in Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540). (c) “Local program management” means the area agency on aging’s responsibility to oversee the operation of programs specified in Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540). (d) “Participating area agency on aging” means an area agency on aging that contracts with the department pursuant to this chapter.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 9533. Section 9533.

The department shall be responsible for, but not limited to, all of the following: (a) Reviewing and approving the Community-Based Services Network component of the area plans of participating area agencies on aging. (b) Entering into contracts with area agencies on aging to carry out the requirements set forth in this chapter and Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540) that shall include the requirements set forth in subdivisions (c) and (e) for area agencies local management responsibilities under this division. (c) Developing the respective responsibilities for the department and participating area agencies on aging. (d) Developing model language for area agencies on aging to use in their procurement and final contracts with direct service providers. (e) Enforcing statewide requirements to ensure compliance with the statutes and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter and Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540). (f) Ensuring that a participating area agency on aging that has not been directly providing the services specified under the programs provided for in Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540) shall not commence directly providing these services until the department has reviewed and concurred with the area plan or update documentation demonstrating that the area agency can provide a comparable quality of these services at least as economically and at an enhanced benefit to the consumer or that there is not an adequate supply of these services in the affected area.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 9534. Section 9534.

(a) Contracts between the department and participating area agencies on aging shall be exempt from Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 10290) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code. (b) For the health insurance counseling and advocacy program, participating area agencies on aging that cover a single planning and service area shall maintain the existing service arrangements during the 1997–98 fiscal year, unless either a contractor terminates the agreement according to the terms and conditions of the existing contract, the state and area agencies on aging terminate the agreement for legal cause under the terms and conditions of the existing contract, or if state funds cease to be budgeted for the specified services. (c) For the health insurance counseling and advocacy program, participating area agencies on aging that cover multiple planning and service areas shall enter into mutual agreements or joint powers agreements, or both, to maintain the existing service arrangements for the health insurance counseling and advocacy program for the 1997–98 fiscal year and for one additional year, if needed, but not to extend beyond June 30, 1999, unless either a contractor terminates the agreement according to the terms and conditions of the existing contract, the state and area agency on aging terminate the agreement for legal cause under the terms and conditions of the existing contract, or if state funds cease to be budgeted for the specified services. (d) For the programs other than the health insurance counseling and advocacy program specified in Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540), participating area agencies on aging shall maintain the existing service arrangements during the 1997–98 fiscal year, unless either a contractor terminates the agreement according to the terms and conditions of the existing contract, the state and area agency on aging terminate the agreement for legal cause under the terms and conditions of the existing contract, or if state funds cease to be budgeted for the specified services. (e) For the programs other than the health insurance counseling and advocacy program specified in Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540), participating area agencies on aging shall maintain the existing service arrangements during the 1998–99 fiscal year, unless a contractor terminates the agreement according to the terms and conditions of the existing contract, the state and the area agency on aging terminate the agreement for legal cause under the terms and conditions of the existing contract, or state funds cease to be budgeted for the specified services. (f) Subject to fiscal years specified in subdivisions (b) to (e), inclusive, participating area agencies on aging that elect not to provide the community-based services specified in Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540) directly, shall provide for the services through contracts awarded on the basis of a competitive proposal or bid process, or both, that is conducted at least once every four years, except that an area agency on aging shall not be required to conduct a full competitive process if all of the following conditions are met: (1) A request for application is published, and full outreach is conducted to reasonably notify all potential interested parties, such as formal advertisements in trade journals and association publications. (2) No applicants, in addition to current contractors, respond to the request for application. (3) Complete documentation of the outreach effort is maintained by the area agency on aging. (g) Any dispute regarding the procurement of, and the terms and conditions of the direct service contracts procured by the area agency on aging shall be resolved locally, consistent with subdivision (k) of Section 9535, and as specified in the local area agency procurement documents and contracts.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 9535. Section 9535.

Area agencies on aging shall be responsible for, but not limited to, all of the following: (a) Contracting with the department to locally manage the community-based programs specified in and in accordance with the requirements of this chapter and Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540). (b) Integrating the community-based services programs contracted under this chapter into the local area plan development process. (c) Where the area agency on aging proposes to redirect funding under this chapter, the area agency shall ensure that it has submitted its recommendations to a locally formed advisory committee, that shall include consumers of long-term care services, representatives of local organizations of older adults, adults with functional impairments, representatives of employees who deliver direct long-term care services, and representatives of organizations that provide long-term care services. At least one-half of the members of the advisory committee shall be consumers of services provided under this chapter or their representatives. (d) In addition, where the area agency on aging proposes to redirect funding under this chapter, an administrative action plan shall be developed and shall receive the approval of the area agency’s governing board, which shall consider the input received pursuant to subdivision (c). The administrative action plan shall receive the governing board’s approval prior to submission to the department for final state approval. The administrative action plan shall be an update to the area plan. (e) Effective in the 1999–2000 fiscal year, and except for the health insurance counseling and advocacy program, determining which of the community-based services programs specified in Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540) and contracted under the authority in this chapter will continue to be funded and the amount of funding to be allocated for that purpose. (f) Subject to Section 9534, providing directly, through contracts with other local governmental entities, or through competitively procured contracts, the community-based services programs. (g) When required pursuant to Chapter 875 of the Statutes of 1995, and subject to the annual Budget Act, relinquishing funding originally contracted under this chapter and the associated local management of the community-based services programs, and except for the health insurance counseling and advocacy program, to the long-term care integration pilot program. (h) Monitoring direct services contract performance and ensuring compliance with the requirements of this chapter and any other relevant state or federal laws or regulations and the nondiscrimination requirements set forth under Article 9.5 (commencing with Section 4135) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. (i) Appropriately expending and accounting for all funds associated with this chapter and providing access to all program books of account and other records to state auditors. (j) Maintaining a systematic means of capturing and reporting to the department all required community-based services program data, specified in paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102. (k) The governing body of each participating area agency shall establish a process within its area plan for requesting and providing a hearing for the programs specified under this chapter and Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540). A hearing shall be provided upon the request of either provider whose existing direct services contract is either terminated prior to its expiration date or reduced in scope outside of the state or federal budget process, or any applicant that is not selected in a direct service contract procurement process due to the alleged presence of a conflict of interest, procedural error or omission in solicitation request, or the lack of substantial evidence to support the award.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 9536. Section 9536.

(a) The state funds available for the community-based services programs may not be expended for services other than those specified in Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540), and shall be limited to the state funds appropriated to the department for the implementation of this chapter and Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540). (b) Reimbursement for administrative costs incurred by a participating area agency on aging in operating the community-based services network shall not exceed the administrative funding ratio allowed for area agencies on aging under Title III of the federal Older Americans Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 3001, et seq.), and as specified in the contract. (c) The funding provided under this chapter may not be used to supplant the local matching requirements of other state and federal programs.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 9537. Section 9537.

The funding contracted by the department to the participating area agencies on aging under this chapter shall consist of both of the following: (a) The proportion of local assistance funds appropriated to, and encumbered by, the department for direct services under the community-based services programs specified in Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540). (b) The proportion of state operations cost savings realized by the department that are directly attributable to the local management of the community-based services programs specified in Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540) and any additional funds subsequently appropriated for the administrative costs incurred by the area agencies on aging. (c) Subject to the annual Budget Act, in no event shall the amount appropriated to the participating area agency on aging for purposes of subdivisions (a) and (b), be less than that appropriated in the base fiscal year of 1997–98.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 9538. Section 9538.

(a) Persons involved in the procurement or management of services shall not engage in a conflict of interest, real or apparent. (b) Staff and volunteers shall not engage in the business of insurance or other related activity while associated with the community-based services programs. (c) For the services covered under the community-based services programs, no area agency or contract officer, employee, or board member shall use the formal names or acronyms for the services except in conjunction with the provision of covered services, official duty, and participation in specifically sanctioned events. (d) No information concerning any individual that is acquired by the department, the area agencies on aging, or service providers in the administration and delivery of community-based services specified in Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540), including the fact that an individual has sought or received services, shall be disclosed without the informed written consent of the individual to whom the information applies or unless pursuant to court order, after noticed hearing, irrespective of whether the person or party seeking disclosure already has the information, has other means of obtaining the information, had obtained a subpoena to obtain the information, or asserts any other basis or justification for disclosure of the information. Nothing in this subdivision shall preclude the exchange of information between the department, the area agencies on aging, and service providers which is necessary for the effective state and local administration and oversight of the programs involved, or the sharing of information with state licensing and certification agencies or law enforcement entities when the information is necessary for the performance of their respective duties.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026