Q: How long does a regional center take, and what does it cost?
A: The Lanterman Act puts a number on every step. Here is the whole chain, with the statute beside each one.
The clocks
Anyone can ask. "Any person believed to have a developmental disability, and any person believed to have a high risk of parenting a developmentally disabled infant shall be eligible for initial intake and assessment services in the regional centers."¹ No referral. No diagnosis required first.
Intake: 15 working days. "Initial intake shall be performed within 15 working days following request for assistance."² Working days — roughly three calendar weeks, not two. Intake must include information and advice about services available from the regional center and other community agencies, and "a decision to provide assessment."²
And since 1 January 2025, a decision inside that window. By the end of the 15-day intake period the regional center must either determine that the person is eligible, or determine that it will start an assessment — and tell you which. If the answer is not eligible, it must give formal notice.³
Assessment: 120 days, or 60 on the fast track. "If assessment is needed, the assessment shall be performed within 120 days following initial intake. Assessment shall be performed as soon as possible and in no event more than 60 days following initial intake where any delay would expose the client to unnecessary risk to his or her health and safety or to significant further delay in mental or physical development, or the client would be at imminent risk of placement in a more restrictive environment."⁴
Note what is not there: no extension provision. The section contains an acceleration clause and nothing that stretches the 120 days.
The plan: 60 days after the assessment finishes. "An individual program plan shall be developed for any person who, following intake and assessment, is found to be eligible… These plans shall be completed within 60 days of the completion of the assessment."⁵
If no agreement at the meeting: another meeting in 15 days. "If a final agreement… cannot be reached at a program plan meeting, then a subsequent program plan meeting shall be convened within 15 days," or later if you ask.⁶
If found ineligible: notice within five business days of the section 4642 and 4643 time limits.⁷
A 25-percent delay in a baby moves faster. For Early Start, "a meeting to share the results of the evaluation, to determine eligibility and, for children who are eligible, to develop the initial individualized family service plan shall be conducted within 45 calendar days of receipt of the written referral."⁸
What it costs: nothing, and this changed recently
Every California regional center family fee has been repealed.
- The Family Cost Participation Program and the Annual Family Program Fee were repealed by AB 162, effective July 2024.⁹
- The Parental Fee Program was repealed by AB 143, effective June 2025.¹⁰
- The Department of Developmental Services states it plainly: those programs "were repealed," collection is finishing for fees assessed through 30 June 2025, and "new fees will not be assessed after that date."¹¹ The implementing regulations were repealed in August 2025.¹¹
Most published guidance still describes a sliding fee scale. It is out of date.
There is no means test. The statute is express: this section "shall not impose any additional liability on the parents of children with developmental disabilities, or… deny services to, any individual who qualifies for regional center services but is unable to pay."¹² The Department states: "There is no charge for the diagnosis and eligibility assessment… Most services and supports are free regardless of age or income."¹³
Not having insurance cannot be held against you. At assessment you provide copies of any health benefit cards you have; if you have none, "the regional center shall not use that fact to negatively impact the services that the individual may or may not receive."¹⁴
Where money can still move: the regional center may pay a copayment, coinsurance or deductible for a service in your plan where the family's gross income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level, and shall pay it for an Early Start service; above 400%, it may still pay on a showing of an extraordinary event, catastrophic loss or significant unreimbursed medical costs.¹⁵ Say plainly what this is not: it is a cost-sharing provision, not a fee charged to you.
Rights inside the meeting
The plan is an agreement, not a decision handed down. Decisions about goals, objectives and services "shall be made by agreement between the regional center representative and the consumer" or the parent, guardian, conservator or authorised representative at the meeting.¹⁶
You can bring anyone. The planning team is defined to include "any individual, including a service provider, invited by the consumer," the parent or guardian, or the authorised representative.¹⁷
In your language. The regional center must communicate in the consumer's preferred language throughout the planning process including at the meeting, that language must be documented in the plan, and a written copy in a threshold language must be provided within 45 days of request.¹⁸
Remote if you want it, and in person at least yearly. A meeting "shall be held by remote electronic communications if requested," and if there has been no in-person meeting or visit in the previous 12 months, the regional center shall hold one.¹⁹
You can sign and still disagree. If you do not agree with all components, you may mark the disagreement on the plan — and "disagreement with specific plan components shall not prohibit the implementation of services and supports agreed to." You must then be sent written notice of your appeal rights.²⁰
You can demand a review. Plans are reviewed at least once every three years, but on request a review must happen within 30 days, or within 7 days where needed for health and safety or to keep the person at home.²¹
Do this: call the regional center, ask for intake, and write down the date you asked — that date starts the 15-working-day clock and everything after it. Ask at the end of intake which of the two decisions they made, because since 2025 they are required to tell you. Bring every existing evaluation. And ignore anything you read about a family fee schedule. Who qualifies → · If they say no →
Sources
- Welfare & Institutions Code §4642(a)(1) — leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
- Welfare & Institutions Code §4642(a)(2).
- Welfare & Institutions Code §4642(a)(3)(A)–(C).
- Welfare & Institutions Code §4643(a) — leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
- Welfare & Institutions Code §4646(c). Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 47 (AB 162) — leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
- Welfare & Institutions Code §4646(h).
- Welfare & Institutions Code §4710(e) — leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
- Government Code §95020(b) — leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
- Stats. 2024, Ch. 47 (AB 162), repealing Welfare & Institutions Code §§4783, 4785, 4785.1 and 4785.2, effective 2 July 2024 — leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Those section numbers now return no operative text.
- Stats. 2025, Ch. 12 (AB 143), repealing Welfare & Institutions Code §4784, effective 27 June 2025 — leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
- Department of Developmental Services, Family Fee Programs Ended — dds.ca.gov; DDS Section 100 memorandum repealing 17 CCR §§50201–50241 effective 14 August 2025 — dds.ca.gov.
- Welfare & Institutions Code §4659(e) — leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
- Department of Developmental Services, Eligibility — dds.ca.gov.
- Welfare & Institutions Code §4643(c).
- Welfare & Institutions Code §4659.1(a)–(d) — leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
- Welfare & Institutions Code §4646(d).
- Welfare & Institutions Code §4512(j) — leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
- Welfare & Institutions Code §4646(j)(1)–(3); §4646.5(a)(5) — leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
- Welfare & Institutions Code §4646(f)(1)–(2).
- Welfare & Institutions Code §4646(i).
- Welfare & Institutions Code §4646.5(b).
All sections read on the operative text on 18 August 2026. This page describes the statute; it is not legal advice.