Yes. The law says regional centers must make sure there are no other agencies or resources with the duty to provide the service you are asking for. This is called “exhausting generic resources.” 

A “generic resource” is an agency or resource required to serve all members of the general public, whether or not they are regional center clients. Examples of generic resources include city parks and recreation programs, schools, and Medi-Cal.^[1]Welfare and Institutions Code, section 4644(b).

The law also lets regional centers fund a service while you are trying to get the generic resource.^[2]Welfare and Institutions Code, section 4659.