(a) In accordance with regulations adopted by the department, and if agreed upon by the work activity program and the regional center, hourly billing shall be permitted, provided that it does not increase the regional center’s costs when used in lieu of full-day billing. A work activity program shall be required to submit a request for the hourly billing option to the regional center not less than 60 days prior to the program’s proposed implementation of this billing option.
(b) If a work activity program and the regional center elect to utilize hourly billing, the hourly billing process shall be required to be used for a minimum of one year.
(c) When the hourly billing process is being used, the definitions contained in subdivisions (h) and (i) of Section 4851 shall not apply.