AB 1147

Seven DVU board members sit around a conference table meeting with DDS Director Nancy Bargmann, who sits at the head of the table

Governor Gavin Newsom Signs AB 1147 Bringing Full Transparency to California’s Regional Centers

The Disability Equity and Accountability Act, authored by Assemblymember Dawn Addis, has been signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom today. AB 1147 requires regional centers to be subject to the Public Records Act. This will ensure full transparency over the organizations who serve over 475,000 Californians and spend $15 billion of federal and state taxpayer dollars. Governor Newsom’s press release can be found HERE.

Judy Mark, President of Disability Voices United, a co-sponsor of the bill, expressed her “deep gratitude to Governor Newsom for his commitment to transparency and accountability over the systems that support people with developmental disabilities.” She continued, “This bill was signed because of the intense engagement by self-advocates and family members who fought for this bill, made calls and wrote letters. This legislation will increase the trust in our system that has been the subject of multiple investigations and hearings in the past few years.”

Disability Voices United was a co-sponsor of the bill with the Integrated Community Collaborative, an organization that works with Latino families who receive services from regional centers. Elizabeth Gomez, Director of the ICC, said, “We are truly grateful to Governor Newsom and Assemblymember Addis for their support for this legislation. The Latino community has faced chronic disparities in regional center services for decades and we hope that greater transparency will help us eliminate those inequities.”

DVU and ICC thank Governor Newsom, outgoing Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly, and Assemblymember Dawn Addis for their incredible dedication to people with developmental disabilities and their families.

Big Problems Require Bold Solutions

Almost everybody seems to agree that the system that serves people developmental disabilities is very troubled. When we hear frustrations about the developmental disability service system, we hear many different stories with the same themes. People want:

  • more effective oversight of regional centers
  • the reduction and elimination of racial and ethnic disparities
  • better outcomes for the people served by this system
  • transparency from the system that serves them

The Disability Equity and Accountability Act (AB 1147) was introduced to move us in that right direction. AB 1147 is a civil rights bill authored by Assemblymember Dawn Addis, who represents California’s Central Coast. DVU is cosponsoring this bill with the Integrated Community Collaborative.

What Does the Bill Do? Our Action Plan

Big problems require bold solutions, not just small fixes around the edges of an issue. AB 1447 was created by self-advocates, family members, and state policy experts. It works towards three goals:

  • a more equitable system
  • a more accountable system
  • a more transparent system
Read the Fact Sheet on AB 1147

Make Your Voice Heard! Support AB 1147 

Check back for more information on how you can support AB 1147 as the legislative session continues.