AB 1575 updates Lanterman Act terminology
Oct 4, 2026 edition · GC-2026-0062 · Published 2026-10-04 · Version 2 · Final
AB 1575 replaces “consumer” with “person eligible for regional center services” throughout the Lanterman Act and updates related terminology and gendered wording. The change sits within the existing eligibility and individual planning framework, rather than announcing a new clinical benefit.
What happened
California enacted AB 1575 on September 27, revising terminology across the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act and related early-intervention provisions. The Legislative Counsel digest describes the change as replacing “consumer” with “person eligible for regional center services,” updating other terms and removing gendered language. The act continues to operate through DDS contracts with regional centers and individual program planning for people with developmental disabilities. The terminology revision should therefore be read against the existing service framework. The enactment is the event reported here; the applicable commencement of these provisions must be confirmed separately.
The amended early-intervention provisions continue to address multidisciplinary evaluation, family assessment and participation, and individualized family service plans for eligible infants and toddlers. For example, Government Code section 95016 retains family-directed voluntary family assessment and an opportunity for family participation in eligibility and service decisions. Section 95020 continues to use an individualized family service plan in place of the listed alternative plans. These provisions illustrate why updating labels and communications is different from creating a new benefit or removing the eligibility and planning conditions already governing services.
Scope and timing
- Authority status
- Final
- Applicability
- General intelligence
- Audience
- Health systems, Provider networks
- Jurisdiction
- California
Why it matters
Forms, policies and systems may retain older labels that no longer match the enacted wording. A coordinated terminology update can improve consistency without changing the substance of eligibility decisions or service authorizations.
Recommended action
Confirm the applicable commencement before treating the new provisions as current duties. Prepare the following for implementation at that commencement: Align affected regional-center forms, system labels and policy references during planned revisions. Keep the legal definitions, eligibility criteria and individual planning requirements intact, and distinguish language modernization from a change in clinical entitlement.
Sources
- AB-1575 Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, bill historyOfficial · California Legislature · 2026-08-31 · Source review 2026-09-20
- AB-1575 Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, current bill text (09/04/26 - Enrolled)Official · California Legislature · 2026-09-04 · Source review 2026-09-10
- Governor Newsom issues legislative update 9.27.2026Official · Office of the Governor · 2026-09-27 · Source review 2026-10-04
- AB1575 enacted final textOfficial · California Legislature · 2026-09-27 · Source review 2026-10-05
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