Each client of regional center services, or any representative acting on behalf of any client who believes that any right to which the client is entitled has been abused, punitively withheld, or improperly or unreasonably denied by a regional center, development center, or service provider may pursue a complaint.

The complaint shall be to the clients' rights advocate at the regional center from which the client receives case management services.

The clients' rights advocate shall, within ten working days of receiving a complaint, investigate the complaint and send a written proposed resolution to the complainant and to the regional center or service provider.

If the complainant is not satisfied with the action taken or proposed by the clients' rights advocate, the regional center clients' rights advocate shall, within five working days, refer the complainant to the director of the regional center.

If, within ten working days of receipt, the regional center director is not able to resolve the complaint to the satisfaction of the complainant, the complaint shall be referred by the regional center director to the State Department of Developmental services. The Director of the State Department of Developmental Services shall, within 45 days of receiving a complaint, issue a written administrative decision and send a copy of the decision to the complainant.

(This complaint process is not for resolving disputes concerning the nature, scope or amount of services and supports involving an individual program plan or for resolving disputes regarding rates or audit appeals. Contact the regional center to obtain information on these other dispute resolution or appeal processes).