Laws & Regulations for Service Providers
Regional Center vendors are mandated by law to provide services in accordance with the Lanterman Act. For more information regarding the Lanterman Act, please click here.
2024 Minimum Wage Increase:
The new minimum wage effective 1/1/2024, pursuant to SB 3, and the DDS directive letter dated 12/01/23 allows for provisions to certain vendors (if conditions apply) to request a rate adjustment to DDS or to the Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center to adjust employees’ pay to comply with the state new minimum wage. All requests must be received by DDS no later than March 1, 2024.
Vendors of the Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center (ELARC) may now begin submitting worksheets AND the supporting documentation needed to request a 2024 minimum wage rate adjustment as a result of the SB3, if you meet the qualifications. Please note, according to California law, if a local entity (city or county) has adopted a higher minimum wage than the state mandate, employees must be paid the local wage where it is higher than the state or federal minimum wage rates.
The worksheet, along with the instructions, were posted on the ELARC website. This applies to vendors whose rate was originally set through negotiations between the vendor and ELARC and who have any employees paid less than $16.00 an hour. Additionally, please re-read the notice dated December 1, 2023 for additional information and instructions.
Access the worksheets and instruction bellow. Carefully, read the instructions for completing the forms and the list of supporting documentation needed for each request:
Be mindful that, by law, employers must also comply with local ordinances (cities and counties) which may establish a higher minimum wage rate for employees working within their local jurisdiction (https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/faq_minimumwage.htm). The rate adjustment must be specific to the unit of service that is affected by the new minimum wage and shall only include those costs necessary to increase an employee’s actual hourly wage to the new minimum wage and associated mandated employer costs, e.g., Social Security, Medicare, workers’ compensation. Please submit rate adjustment requests AND supporting documentation by end of business day on March 1, 2024.
ELARC providers that have the following services do not need to complete the worksheet. ELARC will automatically adjust rates based on the rate calculation data on file:
- Service Code 093, Parent-Coordinated Personal Assistance
- Service code 405, Day Care Family Member
- Service Code 455, Participant Directed Day Care Services – Family Member
All vendors whose rates are adjusted will receive an Authorization to Purchase Services that reflect the new rate effective January 1, 2024. Should you have any questions or need additional information about these increases and claim procedures contact your purchase of services representative. For any questions regarding rates set through negotiation please contact Jessica Barba at (626) 299-4711 or jbarba@elarc.org