[Cagdu] Sb 1491

[Robert Stigile]

  The Honorable Gloria Negrete McLeod
Chair, Senate Business Professions and Economic
Development Committee
State Capitol, Room 2053
Sacramento, CA 95814
  Re: SB 1491 -- Amendment to Business and Professions Code 
Section 7210.7 -- In-Home Training
  Dear Senator Negrete McLeod:
  The State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind (Board) is writing 
in support of the language in Senate Bill 1491 which authorizes 
licensed guide dog schools and instructors to provide in home 
training for guide dog users in California, regardless of their 
previous experience with a guide dog.
  In the 1940's, since there were no minimum standards for guide 
dog school operation, it was possible for anyone to start a 
school.  Many schools were inadequate and thus dogs were poorly 
trained.  One of the 19 schools had a snake charmer for a guide 
dog trainer.  In addition, not only was guide dog school funds 
not being used for which they were solicited, the visually 
impaired ended up as the victims.  For the protection of the 
blind and visually impaired, standards needed to be established.  
On July 8, 1947, Assembly Bill 2391 (Brown, Niehouse, Gafney, 
Hawkins and Price) was signed by Governor Earl Warren.  
Advantages of a guide dog board were 1) keeping out the fly by 
night schools 2) protecting the blind by ensuring minimum 
training standards are met for their training and the training of 
the guide dog 3) oversight of the disposition of donor funds to 
licensed schools 4) licensing and regulation of guide dog 
instructors.
  Existing law is unclear, restrictive and problematic.  It does 
not allow consumers who wish to receive in-home training to do so 
unless previous training in an in-residence program has occurred, 
or the requirement of an in-residence program poses an undue 
hardship on the first time guide dog user.  Existing law also 
does not allow out-of-state licensed instructors to compete for 
this training venue with licensed instructors from California.  
Additionally, consumers required to attend the 28 days of 
training in an in-residence program meet the following 
challenges:


 chinin Emotional challenges including; being away from children 
(or other dependents), pets, dependents, pets and home, and the 
stress of being away from the person's place of employment.
  chinin Financial challenges including; not having four weeks of 
vacation, taking unpaid leave, alternate dependent care costs, 
arranging for an individual to take care of bills, pet 
sitting/boardingsthouse sitting fees.
  chinin Logistical challenges including; difficulty finding 
services for dependent care for only one month (if consumer has a 
dependent living with them).
  chinin Physical challenges including; sleeping in a dorm 
facility versus the comfort of one's own home, dietary challenges 
of eating on the same schedule as one's classmate and different 
foods, and;
  chinin Finally, the other health challenges are being away from 
a consumer's physician/provider.  This may pose a challenge for 
those with special needs such as consumers that are on dialysis.

  SB 1491 seeks to accomplish the following:



 chinin Allow schools to provide in-home training regardless of 
the guide dog users' experience with a guide dog.  The statute 
needs to be clarified to give a licensed, out-of-state instructor 
the authority to provide in-home training in the State of 
California.  Making this clarification would result in giving 
consumers in California more choice in selecting an in-home 
provider of guide dog instruction.
  chinin Delete the requirement that allows in-home training only 
for special circumstances.  Currently, California consumers who 
are interested in attending an out-of-state school must leave 
California for the training.  If the language is amended, 
California schools can still be competitive if they can also 
provide in-home training as a venue for instruction, regardless 
of the circumstances of the guide dog user.
  chinin Clarify that the statute gives Board licensed 
instructors the ability to provide in-home training in the State 
of California and that out-of-state instructors need not be 
employed by a Board licensed guide dog school.  The in-home 
training model as a venue of training is consistent with 
international training standards.  There is no cost for consumers 
for a guide dog so there would be no competition for costs 
between schools.  The ways in which guide dog schools stay 
competitive are to keep up with the needs of students in the 
quality and quantity of training provided.
  The amended language presented is the result of a collaborative 
process which included input from senior instructors at the three 
guide dog schools, consumer input, and Board Member 
consideration.
  For the reasons mentioned above, the Board is supportive of a 
change in Business and Professions Code Section 7210.7 via SB 
1491.  If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of the 
information provided above, please feel free to contact me at 
(916) 574-7825.  Thank you.
  Sincerely,

  JEFF NEIDICH
President, State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind

Robert Stigile
E-mail: rstigile at sbcglobal.net
Skype: robertstigile1