Welf. & Inst. Code, § 4698.1

(a) A certificate of program approval shall not be issued pursuant to this article until the publication in Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations of emergency regulations filed by the State Department of Developmental Services. These regulations shall be developed in consultation with stakeholders, including the State Department of Social Services, consumer advocates, and regional centers. The regulations shall address at least all of the following:

(1) Program standards, including program design requirements, staffing structure, staff qualifications, and training. Training requirements shall include all of the following:

(A) A minimum of 16 hours of emergency intervention training, which shall include the techniques the facility will use to prevent injury and maintain safety regarding consumers who are a danger to self or others and shall emphasize positive behavioral supports and techniques that are alternatives to physical restraint.

(B) Additional training for direct care staff to address the specialized needs of the consumers, including training in emergency interventions.

(2) Requirements and timelines for the development and updating of each consumer’s individual program plan, including time-limited objectives and a plan to transition the consumer to his or her prior residence or an alternative community-based residential setting with needed services and supports. In developing these regulations, the department shall place a high priority on transitioning the consumer to his or her prior residence, when that is the preferred objective in the consumer’s individual program plan.

(3) Procedures and requirements for identifying and providing supplemental and ancillary staffing and supports, including therapeutic, behavioral, and clinical services and supports, based on individual consumer need.

(4) The rate methodology.

(5) Consumer rights and protections.

(b) The adoption, amendment, repeal, or readoption of a regulation authorized by this section is deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the State Department of Developmental Services is hereby exempted from the requirement that it describe specific facts showing the need for immediate action. These emergency regulations shall be developed in consultation with system stakeholders. A certificate of compliance for these implementing regulations shall be filed within 24 months following the adoption of the first emergency regulations filed pursuant to this section. The emergency regulations may be readopted and remain in effect until approval of the certificate of compliance.