Porterville Developmental Center to hold hearing on planned treatment area closure

A public hearing will be held Saturday at Porterville Developmental Center to hear testimony about the planned closure of the general treatment area.

The closure will occur by the end of 2021 and affect 171 residents, the state Department of Developmental Services said.

The secure area at Porterville Developmental Center that now houses 197 people will remain in operation.

Residents affected by the planned closure have autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, epilepsy or developmental disabilities and are cared for in the general treatment area.

They will be moved to group homes and other less restrictive settings as envisioned under the Lanterman Act, said Nancy Lungren, spokeswoman for the Department of Developmental Services.

The public hearing will take testimony from family members of residents, conservators, legal guardians and others. However, it will not include a question-and-answer session, Lungren said. Testimony will be included in a report to the Legislature about plans for closure, she said.

The center employs 1,333 people, of whom 320 are in the general treatment area.

The hearing will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Porterville Developmental Center, 26501 Avenue 140, Porterville. The conference call number is 800-230-1059.

Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. March 1.

This story was originally published January 28, 2016 at 4:52 PM with the headline "Porterville Developmental Center to hold hearing on planned treatment area closure."