(a) The department shall adopt regulations to establish rates for work activity program services subject to the approval of the Department of Finance. The regulations shall provide for an equitable and cost-effective ratesetting procedure in which each specific allowable service, activity, and provider administrative cost comprising an overall habilitation service, as determined by the department, reflects the reasonable cost of service. Reasonable costs shall be determined biennially by the department, subject to audit at the discretion of the department.
(b) The department shall adopt the existing work activity program rates as of July 1, 2004, that shall remain in effect until the next ratesetting year.
(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 4648, the regional center shall pay the work activity program rates established by the department.