WHEREAS, In 1965, approximately 13,000 Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) lived in state developmental centers separated from their home communities. During this time in our state’s history, families were provided with few supports for caring for their children with I/DD, and it was common for pediatricians to recommend out-of-home institutionalization; and

WHEREAS, In 1966, Assembly Bill 691 of the regular session of the Legislature, authored by Assembly Member Jerome Waldie, was enacted. This legislation resulted in the establishment of two pilot regional centers, laying the groundwork for today’s community-based services and supports system for Californians with I/DD. The new law established an innovative system that focused on locally performed eligibility determinations and ongoing services and support for people with I/DD and their families; and

WHEREAS, The two pilot regional centers were established at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and at The Arc San Francisco (which later became the Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center and the Golden Gate Regional Center). The centers had limited funding to buy services and support, as well as to offer individual service coordination; and

WHEREAS, In 1968, a State Assembly report studying the effectiveness of the two pilot regional center programs concluded that the centers were successful and recommended their expansion statewide; and

WHEREAS, In 1969, Assembly Member Frank D. Lanterman introduced Assembly Bill 225 of the regular session of the Legislature, known as the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (Lanterman Act), to expand the network of regional center services throughout California. Today there are 21 regional centers statewide; and

WHEREAS, The Lanterman Act established a statewide system organized at the regional level, creating a dynamic network of local services and supports. This initiative marked a bold new direction in public-private partnerships, fundamentally enhancing the quality of life for people with I/DD and their families that would become a model for the nation; and

WHEREAS, Developmental disabilities are defined as autism, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, and conditions that are either closely related to, or require similar services as, intellectual disability, and significantly impact the life of the individual; and

WHEREAS, In the decades following the passage of the Lanterman Act, the service system made great strides in meeting the diverse needs and person-centered choices of individuals at every stage of their lives. It prioritized serving people within their own communities, making sure that options are available that truly reflect their lifestyles, cultural backgrounds, and the languages they speak; and

WHEREAS, The service system remains a demonstration of California’s progressive leadership in creating and sustaining a model for the nation, focused on a commitment to person-centered, community-responsive supports for people with I/DD, and disability justice; and

WHEREAS, The 21 public benefit, nonprofit regional centers in California continue to expand and diversify their services while serving close to 500,000 individuals with I/DD and their families; and

WHEREAS, The year 2026 is the 60th anniversary of the enactment of AB 691 establishing the two pilot regional centers and is an appropriate time to reaffirm our commitment and renew our investment in the community service system; and

WHEREAS, In 2026, approximately 99 percent of children will live at home with their families, and only around 300 of the nearly 500,000 individuals with I/DD in California will receive state-operated services, and the Legislature sees this as a major success of the California regional center community-based system; now, therefore, be it