Lawmakers mull next steps for developmental centers

Amy Julia HarrisMax Whittaker/For California Watch People with developmental disabilities and their supporters call on lawmakers to shut down the state's developmental centers. SACRAMENTO– State lawmakers weighed today whether to appoint an inspector general to oversee state centers for the developmentally disabled and close a center in Sonoma where patients suffered the worst instances of abuse, neglect and sexual assaults.During a daylong hearing, members of a Senate budget subcommittee on health and human services heard testimony from state officials and advocates for the developmentally disabled but did not indicate what action they might take.The proposal to create an inspector general met with opposition from the Department of Developmental Services, which objected to its cost. The idea also found little support among advocates and family members of the disabled, who say the state-run centers should be shut down.The influential state Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended in its budget analysis that the Legislature create an independent Office of Inspector General to oversee the five developmental centers at a cost of $500,000 to $1 million. The inspector general would have the authority to review patient complaints, conduct audits, investigate allegations of wrongdoing and help prosecute individuals who threaten patients or staff.Shawn Martin, representing the Legislative Analyst's Office, testified that a new layer of oversight is ...
Source: California Watch - Category: American Health Authors: Tags: Health and Welfare Daily Report Department of Developmental Services Office of Protective Services patient abuse Sonoma Developmental Center Broken Shield Source Type: news