Tulare Times

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 2423, authored by Assemblyman Mathis, which mandates the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to review and update service rates for caregivers of the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Community every two years. This legislative move is expected to enhance funding for local regional centers by up to $1.6 billion.

Assemblyman Mathis emphasized the significance of this development, stating, "With the signing of AB 2423, the IDD Community scored an important & long-overdue victory. For too long now, the rates provided to the DDS regional centers have been too low, preventing these centers from hiring adequate staff or providing critical services to the IDD Community." He expressed gratitude towards the Legislature for their unanimous support and highlighted that care for the IDD Community should not be a partisan issue.

Ron Killingsworth, Director of Legislative Affairs for Promoting Self-Worth, also acknowledged the bipartisan support for AB 2423. He noted that while there is no financial impact on the State budget due to a lack of funding mandate, transparency in DDS rate setting is crucial. "I appreciate the support of the entire State Senate and Assembly in supporting AB 2423 to ensure transparency of funding within the I/DD service system," he said.

Governor Newsom reiterated California's commitment to inclusivity with his statement: “When we say ‘California for ALL,’ we mean every single person in this state should be able to thrive – and that includes those with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities."