Section 12304.4.

(a) The department shall establish a program of direct deposit by electronic transfer for payments to in-home supportive services providers. A provider may choose to receive payments via direct deposit at his or her option. The department, the Controller, and the California Health and Human Services Agency shall make all necessary automation changes to allow for payment by direct deposit.

(b) On or before March 31, 2008, the department shall complete those items pertaining to the implementation of direct deposit over which they have independent control, or those items that do not depend on ongoing coordination with the office of the Controller in order to be completed. Examples of these items include, but are not limited to, rulemaking Case Management Information and Payroll Systems (CMIPS) modifications, provider notifications, and all-county letters. The department and the office of the Controller shall cooperate fully on coordination, implementation, and testing, on a timeframe that shall not delay implementation of the project. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, direct deposit for in-home supportive services providers shall be implemented on or before June 30, 2008.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person entitled to the receipt of direct payment as an individual provider pursuant to Section 12302.2 for providing in-home supportive services may authorize payment to be directly deposited by electronic fund transfer into the person's account at the financial institution of his or her choice under a program for direct deposit by electronic transfer established by the department.

(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 177, Sec. 35. Effective August 24, 2007.)