Section 1001.21.

(a) This chapter shall apply whenever a case is before any court upon an accusatory pleading at any stage of the criminal proceedings, for any person who has been evaluated by a regional center for the developmentally disabled and who is determined to be a person with a cognitive developmental disability by the regional center, and who therefore is eligible for its services.

(b) This chapter applies to any offense which is charged as or reduced to a misdemeanor, except that diversion shall not be ordered when the defendant previously has been diverted under this chapter within two years prior to the present criminal proceedings.

(c) This chapter shall apply to persons who have a condition described in paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 1001.20 only if that person was a client of a regional center at the time of the offense for which he or she is charged.

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 290, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2005.)