Section 416.17

It is the intent of this article that the director, when acting as guardian or conservator of the person of a developmentally disabled person, shall maintain close contact with the developmentally disabled person no matter where the person is living in this state; shall act as a wise parent would act in caring for the parent’s developmentally disabled child; shall permit and encourage maximum self-reliance on the part of the developmentally disabled person under their protection; and shall work with regional centers and the person, to the greatest extent possible, to develop and implement less restrictive alternatives to conservatorship.