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<BR>Please see below. thank you.<BR>SHANNON L. DILLON<BR><BR><BR> <BR>
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From: Guidedogboard@dca.ca.gov<BR>To: jsthom@comcast.net; frank-welte@sbcglobal.net; mwillows@sbcglobal.net; shannonldillon@hotmail.com; Creature_girl@comcast.net; kkelly@guidedogs.com; cjordan@guidedogsofamerica.org; BWendler@gddca.org<BR>CC: ngardner@guidedogs.com; DEHartford@GuideDogsofAmerica.org0xL1FFFFz; rhill@gddca.org; tbsfolsom@sbcglobal.net; ERIC@EPHOLM.COM; ericholm@att.net; bbarragan@socal.rr.com<BR>Subject: SB 1491 (Senate Business Professions and Economic Development Committee) - In-home instruction<BR>Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:33:42 -0700<BR><BR><BR><FONT face=Tahoma size=3>Dear Stakeholders:</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3> <BR></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><BR>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:</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3> <BR></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><B><U><BR>Current Language</U></B></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3> </FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><BR>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.</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3><BR></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><BR>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.</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3><BR></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><BR>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.</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3><BR></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><BR>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.</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3><BR></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><BR>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.</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3><BR></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><B><U><BR>Amended Proposed Language</U></B></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3> </FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><I><BR>Schools and instructors licensed by the board may provide home training in the use of guide dogs. </I>Schools <I> and instructors </I> 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 <I> or </I> <I> instructor </I> subsequent to the last report filed with the board. </FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3><BR></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><B><U><BR>Text of Bill</U></B></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3> </FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><BR>http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_1451-1500/sb_1491_bill_20100311_introduced.html </FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3><BR></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><BR>The Board hopes that the amended language will address the following three critical points:</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3> <BR></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><BR>1. Allow schools to provide in-home training regardless of the guide dog users’ experience with a guide dog.</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3> </FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><BR>2. Delete the requirement that allows in-home training only for special circumstances.</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3> </FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><BR>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.</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3> <BR></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><BR>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.</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3> <BR></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><BR>Tom Scott</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3> </FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><BR>Chair, Legislative Committee</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3> </FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><BR>State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3> </FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><BR>1625 North Market Blvd. S-202<BR>Sacramento, CA 95834<BR>(916) 574-7826 - Local and Out-of-State calls<BR>(866) 512-9103 - Toll Free for In-State calls<BR>(916) 574-7829 - Fax<BR>guidedogboard@dca.ca.gov </FONT><FONT face=Tahoma color=blue size=3><U><BR></U></FONT><A><FONT face=Tahoma color=blue size=3><U>www.guidedogboard.ca.gov</U></FONT></A><FONT face=Tahoma size=3> </FONT> </body>
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