Developmental services: personal care or assistance and in-home respite services.

Assembly Member McKinnor's legislation establishes new licensing requirements for organizations providing personal care and in-home respite services to individuals with developmental disabilities under the Lanterman Act. The measure requires these organizations to obtain home care organization licenses from the State Department of Social Services and mandates that their employees register on the state's home care aide registry before delivering services.

The bill creates a two-phase implementation timeline. Starting January 1, 2026, all new organizations and employees must meet licensing and registration requirements before beginning service provision. Existing organizations and staff members who began work before that date have until January 1, 2028, to comply with the new standards. The requirements apply specifically to organizations contracted through regional centers or the Department of Developmental Services to provide personal care, personal assistance, or in-home respite services.

The legislation maintains existing exemptions for various healthcare and social service entities, including licensed home health agencies, hospices, health facilities, and organizations primarily serving other populations. Organizations where more than 50 percent of service recipients are individuals with developmental disabilities remain exempt from licensing requirements, except those providing personal care or in-home respite services. The measure classifies violations of these new requirements as misdemeanors under current law.