4519.1. (Added by Stats. 2026, Ch. 80, Sec. 19.)

(a) (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to modernize the department’s financial and case management information technology systems for use by regional centers through the development and implementation of the Life Outcomes Improvement System (LOIS). LOIS shall serve as the system used by all regional centers to improve the user experience, promote access, and manage eligibility and services for individuals and families who are applying for or receiving regional center services.

(2) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(A) LOIS is intended to provide a more consistent statewide experience for individuals and families, regional centers, and service providers.

(B) LOIS is intended to enable individuals, families, and service providers to access and update their own information.

(C) LOIS is intended to simplify the complexity of information technology support needs for the delivery of developmental services and eliminate costly duplications and redundancies and data reconciliation and transfers.

(D) LOIS is intended to enable more robust, timely, complete, and consistent data collection, reporting, and analysis capabilities, enabling better management of regional centers, services to individuals and families, and improved information for oversight, monitoring, and policymaking.

(c) Beginning July 1, 2026, regional centers shall do all of the following to prepare for and assist the transition from their existing information technology systems to LOIS:

(1) Notify the department of any plans to permit or actions permitting third-party applications or information technology systems to access data of any of the following:

(A) Individuals applying for or receiving regional center services, and their families.

(B) Service provider information.

(C) Financial information.

(D) Regional center operations.

(2) Notify the department of any plans to use any new information technology systems that will do either of the following:

(A) Collect, retain, or transmit information described in paragraph (1).

(B) Replicate, enhance, or replace the existing functionality of existing systems.

(3) Prohibit both the transitioning of, or planning the transition of, any existing case management system, such as SANDIS, Virtual Chart, SmartChart, KEA, Atlas, and Atticus, to solutions other than LOIS, without prior written approval from the department.

(4) Prioritize data cleanup and other transitional activities necessary to prepare for the implementation of LOIS, as directed by the department.

(d) Upon readiness of LOIS for implementation, each regional center shall discontinue the use of all other case management and financial technology systems, following instructions from the department. The transition to implementation of LOIS shall be designed and implemented to minimize disruptions for individuals and families and regional center operations.

(e) Beginning July 1, 2026, and until completion of planning for LOIS, the department shall submit quarterly written updates to both the relevant budget subcommittees and policy committees of each house of the Legislature, as well as the Legislative Analyst’s Office, on the planning for LOIS. The written updates shall include a plain language description of progress towards the implementation of LOIS that includes, but is not limited to, all the following:

(1) The most recent estimated cost and schedule of LOIS. If, at the time of an update, the department has not completed the Stage 2 Alternatives Analysis of the Project Approval Lifecycle (PAL) process, the department shall provide the “rough order of magnitude” estimate included in the Stage 1 Business Analysis of the PAL process.

(2) An accounting of LOIS planning expenditures to date and the remaining balances of appropriated funds at the time of the quarterly submission.

(3) Status updates on any requests for federal funding.

(4) A copy of the governance and change management plans for LOIS.

(5) The involvement in LOIS of individuals and families, regional centers, service providers, and advocacy organizations.

(f) The department shall provide the Legislature with a copy of the Post Implementation Evaluation Report for LOIS, when available, which shall include the details of both stakeholder involvement and regular reporting to the Legislature on how the goals specified in subdivision (a) are being met as the project moves into maintenance and operations.

(g) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement and make specific the provisions of this section by means of written directives or similar instructions consistent with this section.