Information for Searching DDS Decisions

OAH has increased its functionality in searching for DDS Decisions. 

SEARCH LINK:

• Decisions - DDS Decisions Search

SEARCHING DDS DECISIONS

Decisions are accessible through the above search link.

OAH’s DDS Decisions search feature is based on “Boolean” search tools. The search tools use specific words and symbols, such as the asterisk (*), to find specific words or phases in a document database. They can also be used to exclude documents that contain a specific word. General instructions on how to search for decisions relevant to a particular issue or search word are provided below.  

SEARCH INSTRUCTIONS:

Click on the "DDS Decisions Search" link in blue text above to access the DDS Decisions Search page.

Once on the DDS Decisions Search page, in the search field near the top of the page, enter the word or phrase that is an essential part of the subject you are seeking, then either press enter on your keyboard or press the blue "SEARCH" button located to the right of the search bar to populate the results.  You may narrow your search by using the below search tools.

Quotation Marks - "": tells the search function to find whatever word or phrase is inside the quotation marks.  For example, if you enter the phrase “respite services” within quotation marks, the search will show the cases where those two words are in that order in the decision.

Parentheses - (): tells the search function to group words together. This allows you to ask for different options. For example, if you want to find a decision that has either the word “assessment” or the word “evaluation,” you would enter the search “(assessment OR evaluation)."  See also, the “Grouping" section below.

Logical Operators:

Include Terms - AND: tells the search function that all the connected words must appear in your results (must use AND, not ampersand, &).  For example,  Respite AND IHSS, will include decisions with both the terms “respite” and “IHSS.”

Exclude Term - NOT: the NOT tool allows a search for a word in a decision when you want to exclude decisions that have another specific word. For example, a search of "autism not private" would result in decisions that have the word "autism" but do not have the word "private."   

Alternative Words - OR: the use of "OR" will include decisions with either term.  For example, "respite OR IHSS," will include decisions with one or the other term: “respite” or “IHSS.”

Variations of a Word (also called a Wildcard) Tool - * or ?: using an asterisk or a question mark at the end of a part of a word will retrieve decisions with words including that part.  For example, "assess* retrieves decisions with the word "assess," "assessor," or "assessment"; "autis?" retrieves decisions with "autism" or "autistic."

Grouping: by combining the use of a combination of the search tools, you can create a complex search.  For example, you can use parentheses to group words or terms with logical operators.

(assessment AND autism) OR (evaluation AND autism)

will retrieve decisions where both “assessment” and” autism appear,” as well as decisions where both “evaluation” and “autism” appear                

From your search results, you can click on the link for the decision that best suits your search, and a PDF version of that document will download for your review.

Things to consider:

• On March 1, 2023, the Lanterman Act was revised. It began allowing for reconsideration of final decisions. It also made some OAH decisions proposed decisions. DDS reviews proposed decisions. OAH posts the final decisions issued by OAH, DDS’s orders on proposed decisions, and orders on reconsideration of final decisions.

• If you would like to see the decision for a certain case, you can search for the case by the OAH case number if you know it. If a case has further proceedings after reconsideration, the new final decision will have a case number with .1 added at the end of the original case number. To view the full decision history of a case that has had further proceedings after reconsideration, please search by the original OAH case number, as well as that case number with .1 added at the end. For example, search by OAH No. 1234567891, as well as OAH No. 1234567891.1.

• The “Document Date” appearing next to the “Document Size” in each search result is not searchable and does not reflect the date the decision was issued.