(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) 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.

(2) 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.

(3) When a county decides not to enter into a contract to provide alcohol and drug abuse services or programs, or both, the department shall determine the need for the services or programs, or both, and provide the services or programs, or both, directly or through contract.

(c) (1) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific the amendments to this section made by the act that added this subdivision by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions from the department until regulations are adopted pursuant to that chapter of the Government Code.

(2) The department shall adopt emergency regulations no later than July 1, 2014. The department may subsequently readopt any emergency regulation authorized by this subdivision that is the same as or is substantially equivalent to an emergency regulation previously adopted pursuant to this section.

(3) The initial adoption of emergency regulations and the one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this subdivision shall be deemed an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare. Initial emergency regulations and the one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this subdivision shall be exempt from review by the Office of Administrative Law. The initial emergency regulations and the one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this subdivision shall be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for filing with the Secretary of State and each shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days, by which time final regulations may be adopted.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 36, Sec. 19. (SB 1014) Effective June 27, 2012. Operative July 1, 2012, by Sec. 83 of Ch. 36.)