[Cagdu] FW: Legislative Update

Tue Aug 31 12:17:44 PDT 2010

See e-mail below.
SHANNON L. DILLON

From: Antonette.Sorrick at dca.ca.gov
To: Antonette.Sorrick at dca.ca.gov; tbsfolsom at sbcglobal.net; bbarragan at socal.rr.com; ericholm at att.net; eric at epholm.com
CC: shannonldillon at hotmail.com; frank-welte at sbcglobal.net; ldunbar at calrest.org; John.Perry at dca.ca.gov; tinadt at sbcglobal.net; BWendler at gddca.org; rhill at gddca.org; DEHartford at GuideDogsofAmerica.org; YMMartin at guidedogsofamerica.org; mwatkins at guidedogs.com; Kkelly at guidedogs.com; jneidich at sbcglobal.net; jxavier at dor.ca.gov; Cenne.Jackson at dca.ca.gov
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:52:56 -0700
Subject: RE: Legislative Update

State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind
Legislative Committee Update

SB 1491 (Senate Business Professions and Economic Development Committee) – In-Home Training
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_1451-1500/sb_1491_bill_20100616_amended_asm_v98.html  
If your organization is in support of SB 1491, please send a letter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger encouraging him to sign the bill.  
Update: To enrollment
Board Position: Support

AB 1659 (Huber) – State Government: Agency Repeals
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_1651-1700/ab_1659_bill_20100715_amended_sen_v95.html  This bill would create the Joint Sunset Review Committee to identify and eliminate waste, duplication, and inefficiency in government agencies and to conduct a comprehensive analysis of every "eligible agency," as defined, to determine if the agency is still necessary and cost effective. The bill would define an "eligible agency" as an entity of state government, however denominated, for which a date for repeal has been established by statute on or after January 1, 2011. The bill would require each eligible agency scheduled for repeal to submit a report to the committee containing specified information. The bill would require the committee to take public testimony and evaluate the eligible agency prior to the date the agency is scheduled to be repealed, and would require that an eligible agency be eliminated unless the Legislature enacts a law to extend, consolidate, or reorganize the agency. The bill would specify the composition of the committee, which would be appointed by the President pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly, and certain aspects of its operating procedure.
Update: To enrollment
Contact: John Perry (DCA)
Board Position: None 
Staff Recommendation: Watch

AB 2130 (Huber) – Professions and Vocations: Sunset Reviewhttp://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_2101-2150/ab_2130_bill_20100818_amended_sen_v96.html  This bill would abolish the Joint Committee on Boards, Commissions, and Consumer Protection. The bill would instead make specified boards and regulatory programs subject to review by the Joint Sunset Review Committee. The bill would provide that its provisions would not become operative unless Assembly Bill 1659 of the 2009-10 Regular Session is enacted and establishes the Joint Sunset Review Committee.
Update: To enrollment
Contact: John Perry (DCA)
Board Position: None  
Staff Recommendation: Watch

SB 250 (Florez) – Mandatory spay/neuter 
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0201-0250/sb_250_bill_20100818_amended_asm_v93.html   Update: Read third time.  Refused passage.  Motion to reconsider made by Assembly Member Blumenfield
Contact: Che Salinas (Sen. Florez’ Capitol Office)
Board Position: Oppose Unless Amended
Staff Recommendation: Watch 

SB 294 (Negrete McLeod) – Department of Consumer Affairs: Regulatory Boards.  
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0251-0300/sb_294_bill_20100823_enrolled.html  (2) Existing law also provides for the licensure and regulation ofvarious  profession   professions  and vocations by boards within the department, including, the California Board of Accountancy, the California Architects Board, the Landscape Architects Technical Committee, Professional Fiduciaries Bureau, the Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, and the State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Existing law requires or authorizes, with certain exceptions, these boards to appoint an executive officer or a registrar. With respect to the Professional Fiduciaries Bureau, existing law authorizes the Governor to appoint the chief of the bureau. Under existing law, these provisions will become inoperative on July 1, 2011, and will be repealed on January 1, 2012.
Update: Enrolled
Contact: John Perry (DCA)
Board Position: None
Staff Recommendation: Watch

H.R. 3266 (Rep. Klein) – Wounded Warrior K-9 Corp. 
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3266: 
Congressman was able to get some of the language into another bill.  Currently, Rep. Klein is seeking $5 million to fund service dogs and for the Veteran Affairs Administration to supply a representative sample of veterans to conduct the feasibility study on prescribing service dogs to veterans.  The study is eligible for veterans that have physical/mental disabilities.  Veterans with hearing or vision impairments are not included in the study.  If H.R. 3266 continues in the process, guide dog schools would have access to grant funds for providing guide dogs to veterans. 
Update: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. 
Contact: Mira Kogen Resnick (Rep. Klein’s D.C. Office)
Board position: Support

H.R. 4378 (Rep. Kissell) – To Amend the ADA to require same access to certified trainers of service animals as is afforded to individuals with disabilities 
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.4378:   
The bill’s purpose is to resolve ambiguities between states regarding access rights for trainers of service animals.  There is no bill sponsor.
Update:  3/1/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Contact: Zach Pfister (Rep. Kissell’s D.C. Office)
Board position: Watch

H.R. 5381 (Rep. Waxman) – Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.5381:  
Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT), acting through the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to establish within NHTSA: (1) a Center for Vehicle Electronics and Emerging Technologies to build, integrate, and aggregate NHTSA's expertise in vehicle electronics and other new and emerging technologies; and (2) an honors recruitment program for engineering students and other students interested in vehicle safety to train with engineers and other safety officials for careers in vehicle safety.  Requires the Secretary to initiate a rulemaking to prescribe or amend federal motor vehicle safety standards to: (1) mitigate unintended acceleration in passenger motor vehicles (excluding motorcycles, trailers, or low speed vehicles) through a brake override system; (2) require that at least one redundant mechanism be built into accelerator control systems, including electronic throttle control systems, to maintain vehicle control in the event of accelerator control system failures; (3) prevent potential obstruction of pedal movement by establishing minimum clearances for passenger motor vehicle foot pedals; (4) require electronic systems in passenger motor vehicles to meet minimum performance standards; (5) establish standards for the operation of passenger motor vehicles equipped with push-button ignition systems, particularly in emergency situations when the vehicle is in motion; and (6) improve the recognition of the gear selector positions for drivers, including the conspicuity of the neutral position.  Directs the Secretary to modify federal motor vehicle safety standards to require passenger motor vehicles sold in the United States to be equipped with an event data recorder (EDR) that continuously records vehicle operational data that can be stored and accessed for retrieval and analysis.  Requires the Secretary to issue regulations to require the public disclosure of possible defects of motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment reported to the Secretary by motor vehicle manufacturers (Early Warning data).  Directs the Secretary to: (1) improve public accessibility to information on the NHTSA vehicle safety databases; (2) issue regulations to require passenger motor vehicle manufacturers to affix, in the vehicle glove compartment or another readily accessible location, a sticker, decal, or other device that provides information on how to submit a safety-related motor vehicle defect complaint to NHTSA; and (3) establish a NHTSA passenger automobile safety defect hotline for manufacturer, dealer, and mechanic personnel.  Directs the Secretary to require the senior official for safety for a corporation to be responsible for requests for information in NHTSA safety or compliance investigations. Prescribes civil penalties for persons who knowingly and willfully submit false, misleading, or incomplete information.  Requires the DOT Office of the Inspector General to study over nine years NHTSA use of Early Warning data.  Establishes the Vehicle Safety Fund to meet U.S. obligations in carrying out NHTSA vehicle safety programs. Requires the Secretary to assess and collect, for deposit in the Fund, a vehicle safety user fee from the manufacturer for each motor vehicle certified compliant with applicable motor vehicle safety standards.  Increases civil penalties for persons who violate federal motor vehicle safety requirements.  Requires the Secretary to: (1) notify manufacturers of motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment whose defect or noncompliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards presents a substantial likelihood of death or serious injury to the public; and (2) expedite proceedings for a decision and issuance of an imminent hazard order. Directs the Secretary to issue procedures for the issuance and enforcement of such orders.  Update: 5/26/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 31 - 21.
Update: 7/14/2010 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 307.
Legislative Committee Recommendation: Support.  Will ask for support vote from full Board at October 25, 2010 Board meeting.
Staff Recommendation: Support
April 27, 2010

The Honorable Dean Florez
California State Senate
State Capitol, Room 313
Sacramento, California 95814

RE:  SB 250 

Dear Senator Florez:

The State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind sent a letter of Oppose Unless Amended for SB 250 on May 7, 2009.  An excerpt from the letter is provided below:
“The State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind opposes SB 250 unless it exempts from its provisions guide dogs in training and breeder stock from licensed guide dog schools. Guide dog schools currently pay for dog licenses and should not have to pay an additional fee for unaltered dogs for their breeding stock to produce guide dogs for the visually impaired.”
On August 31, 2009, amendments were made that did address an exemption for any “owner or trainer of guide dogs.”  It has come to our attention, however, that some of our stakeholders remain concerned that guide dog breeders are not also exempt from the licensing requirement.  At their request, we have written to your office to consider adding said language to the bill upon its re-introduction this legislative session.    

Thank you for your consideration.  Should you have any questions regarding this issue, please feel free to contact me at (916) 574-7825.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

Thomas B. Scott

Thomas B. Scott
Chair, Legislative Committee
State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind
1625 N. Market Blvd., S-202
Sacramento, CA 95834
(916) 574-7825 phone
(916) 574-7829 fax
guidedogboard at dca.ca.gov 
www.guidedogboard.ca.gov 

cc:    Board Members
        Frank Welte, Governmental Affairs, California Council of the Blind
        Mary Willows, President, National Federation of the Blind
        Mary Beth Randall, Guide Dog Users California 
        Shannon Dillon, California Association of Guide Dog Users
        Laurie Mehta, Guide Dog Users Incorporated
        Nancy Gardner, CEO, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc.
        Dale Hartford, President, Guide Dogs of America
        Roccie Hill, President, Guide Dogs of the Desert
Kim Kirchmeyer, Deputy Director, Board and Bureau Relations, Department of Consumer Affairs
        John Perry, Legislative Analyst, Department of Consumer Affairs

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