[Cagdu] FW: SB 1491 (Senate Business Professions and Economic Development Committee) - In-home instruction

[Shannon L. Dillon]

Please see below. thank you.
SHANNON L. DILLON


 


From: Guidedogboard at dca.ca.gov
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Subject: SB 1491 (Senate Business Professions and Economic Development Committee) - In-home instruction
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:33:42 -0700


Dear Stakeholders: 

SB 1491 (Senate Business Professions and Economic Development Committee) was introduced on March 11, 2010.  This bill includes amendments to Business and Professions Code Section 7210.7 regarding in-home guide dog training.  Please see below the current language and the amended language of the bill: 

Current Language 
The board may authorize schools licensed by the board or instructors employed by those schools to provide home training in the use of guide dogs.  If a school desires to provide home training in the use of guide dogs, it shall apply to the board and provide the board with a written plan and procedure for conducting that home training, which shall be approved by the board prior to conducting any home training.

Schools providing home training in the use of guide dogs shall, annually, provide the board with the names and addresses of those persons who are receiving home training and shall include those persons who have received home training from the school subsequent to the last report filed with the board.

The guide dog user, as a condition of receiving home training, shall have completed a formal in-residence training program from a school licensed by the board to provide guide dog training, or from a school recognized by another state to provide guide dog training.

The requirement for a formal in-residence training program from a school licensed by the board may be waived by the school when that requirement imposes an undue hardship on the guide dog user.

Home training, as provided in this section, shall consist of not less than 20 hours of training.  This section shall only apply to those schools that are licensed by the board to furnish guide dogs and to train persons to use guide dogs, who desire to provide home training in the use of guide dogs, and who apply to the board for approval to provide that home training.

Amended Proposed Language 
Schools and instructors licensed by the board may provide home training in the use of guide dogs. Schools  and instructors  providing home training in the use of guide dogs shall, annually, provide the board with the names and addresses of those persons who are receiving home training and shall include those persons who have received home training from the school  or   instructor  subsequent to the last report filed with the board. 

Text of Bill 
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_1451-1500/sb_1491_bill_20100311_introduced.html 

The Board hopes that the amended language will address the following three critical points: 

1.  Allow schools to provide in-home training regardless of the guide dog users’ experience with a guide dog. 
2.  Delete the requirement that allows in-home training only for special circumstances. 
3.  Clarify that the statute gives Board licensed instructors the ability to provide in-home training in the State of California and that licensed out-of-state instructors need not be employed by a Board licensed guide dog school. 

We would like to encourage you to help us amend this section of the Guide Dog Act by writing a letter in support of SB 1491.  If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact Antonette Sorrick, Executive Officer at (916) 574-7825.  Thank you. 

Tom Scott 
Chair, Legislative Committee 
State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind 
1625 North Market Blvd. S-202
Sacramento, CA 95834
(916) 574-7826 - Local and Out-of-State calls
(866) 512-9103 - Toll Free for In-State calls
(916) 574-7829 - Fax
guidedogboard at dca.ca.gov 
www.guidedogboard.ca.gov  		 	   		  
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