11772
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTION 11772
11772. (a) (1) The department may enter into agreements and contracts with any person or public or private agency, corporation, or other legal entity, including contracts to pay these entities in advance or reimburse them for alcohol and other drug services provided to alcohol and other drug abusers and their families and communities. (2) The department may make grants to public and private entities that are necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution of its powers. The department may pay these entities in advance or reimburse them for services provided. (3) The Legislature directs the department to contract with any person or public or private agency, corporation, or other legal entity to perform its duties whenever that expertise is available and appropriate to utilize. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the department may not contract directly for the provision of alcohol and other drug services except as follows: (1) To provide referral and monitoring services for recipients of Supplemental Security Income in those counties that choose not to provide these services. (2) For demonstration programs of limited duration and scope, which programs, wherever possible, shall be administered through the counties, and which shall be specifically authorized and funded by the Budget Act or other statutes. (3) To provide supportive services, such as technical assistance, on a statewide basis, or management and evaluation studies to help assure more effective implementation of this part. (c) The Legislature strongly encourages all counties to apply for funds under this part because of the seriousness of alcohol and other drug problems in California and the necessity for affirmative governmental involvement to help alleviate alcohol and other drug problems. However, the Legislature has chosen not to mandate that counties provide those services and programs. In the absence of local community control of the services and programs, the state shall not intervene to operate, directly or through contract, services and programs that the elected county board of supervisors has chosen not to provide to its constituents.