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State addendum · first edition, October 2026 Ready
Employment Services in California
California serves people through 21 regional centers, pays supported employment by the hour with statutory incentives on top, and ended subminimum wage in 2025.
California at a glance
| Agency for employment services | Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and 21 regional centers |
|---|---|
| How employment is funded | HCBS Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities; Self-Determination Program |
| Vocational rehabilitation | Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) |
| Medicaid agency | Department of Health Care Services (Medi-Cal) |
| Minimum wage | $16.90 statewide; higher in many cities |
The three biggest differences
- Regional centers, not a state office. Providers are vendored by a regional center and reach CARF accreditation within four years.
- Hourly rates plus incentives. Placement and retention fees and competitive-employment incentives sit on top of hourly billing.
- Broader incident reporting. New rules from May 2026 widen what must be reported within 24 hours.
What the full addendum gives you
Twelve sections, filed directly behind Volume 0 and adopted by a single change request. Every rule cites its official source; anything not yet confirmed is marked for verification, never guessed.
- How to use the addendum, and the three biggest differences
- At a glance: every Maryland role and its local equivalent
- Crosswalk: each Maryland reference, its replacement, and where it is amended
- Waiver (or local) employment services: codes, units, rates, limits
- Vocational rehabilitation: becoming a vendor, fees, invoicing, fading
- Provider certification and staffing
- Incident reporting and protection from harm
- Billing, records and retention
- Local law that changes the package: wages, recording, false claims, safety, breach
- State-use purchasing and contract sites
- Volume-by-volume amendments, 0 to 15
- Open items to verify, and the official sources
The addendum is issued with the Adoption License. Ask for it here and the Adoption Office replies within one business day.