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<BR><BR>SHANNON L. DILLON<BR> <BR>
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From: Guidedogboard@dca.ca.gov<BR>Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:05:19 -0700<BR>Subject: SB 543 - Advisory to Stakeholders<BR>To: <BR><BR>
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<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">Dear State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind Stakeholders:</SPAN></P>
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<P class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">Senate Bill 543 (Steinberg and Price, <SPAN style="COLOR: black">Chapter 448, Statutes of 2011) was enrolled on September 16, 2011, and chaptered on October 3, 2011</SPAN>. Changes to the listed Business and Profession Code Sections will become effective January 1, 2012. Illustrated below are explanations on the changes and how they may affect you.</SPAN></P>
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<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt"><B><U><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">Changes</SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">The Board’s Sunset Review date was extended from January 1, 2012 to January 1, 2014.</SPAN></P>
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<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">7200. (a) There is in the Department of Consumer Affairs a State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind in whom enforcement of this chapter is vested. The board shall consist of seven members appointed by the Governor. One member shall be the Director of Rehabilitation or his or her designated representative. The remaining members shall be persons who have shown a particular interest in dealing with the problems of the blind, and at least two of them shall be blind persons who use guide dogs.</SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> (b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,</SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">2014, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2014, deletes or extends that date. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the repeal of this section renders the board subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature.</SPAN></P>
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<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt"><B><U><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">Changes</SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">The Board’s Arbitration Review Panel for the resolution of disputes between guide dog users and guide dog schools related to the custody of guide dogs was extended from January 1, 2012 to January 1, 2014.</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"></SPAN></P>
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<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">7215.6. (a) In order to provide a procedure for the resolution of disputes between guide dog users and guide dog schools relating to the continued physical custody and use of a guide dog, in all cases except those in which the dog user is the unconditional legal owner of the dog, the following arbitration procedure shall be established as a pilot project.</SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> (b) This procedure establishes an arbitration panel for the settlement of disputes between a guide dog user and a licensed guide dog school regarding the continued use of a guide dog by the user in all cases except those in which the dog user is the unconditional legal owner of the dog. The disputes that may be subject to this procedure concern differences between the user and school over whether or not a guide dog should continue to be used, differences between the user and school regarding the treatment of a dog by the user, and differences over whether or not a user should continue to have custody of a dog pending investigation of charges of abuse. It specifically does not address issues such as admissions to schools, training practices, or other issues relating to school standards. The board and its representative are not parties to any dispute described in this section.</SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> (c) The licensed guide dog schools in California and the board shall provide to guide dog users graduating from guide dog programs in these schools a new avenue for the resolution of disputes that involve continued use of a guide dog, or the actual physical custody of a guide dog. Guide dog users who are dissatisfied with decisions of schools regarding continued use of guide dogs may appeal to the board to convene an arbitration panel composed of all of the following:</SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> (1) One person designated by the guide dog user.</SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> (2) One person designated by the licensed guide dog school.</SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> (3) A representative of the board who shall coordinate the activities of the panel and serve as chair.</SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> (d) If the guide dog user or guide dog school wishes to utilize the arbitration panel, this must be stated in writing to the board. The findings and decision of the arbitration panel shall be final and binding. By voluntarily agreeing to having a dispute resolved by the arbitration panel and subject to its procedures, each party to the dispute shall waive any right for subsequent judicial review.</SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> (e) A licensed guide dog school that fails to comply with any provision of this section shall automatically be subject to a penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per day for each day in which a violation occurs. The penalty shall be paid to the board. The license of a guide dog school shall not be renewed until all penalties have been paid.</SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> The fine shall be assessed without advance hearing, but the licensee may apply to the board for a hearing on the issue of whether the fine should be modified or set aside. This application shall be in writing and shall be received by the board within 30 days after service of notice of the fine. Upon receipt of this written request, the board shall set the matter for hearing within 60 days.</SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> (f) As a general rule, custody of the guide dog shall remain with the guide dog user pending a resolution by the arbitration panel. In circumstances where the immediate health and safety of the guide dog user or guide dog is threatened, the licensed school may take custody of the dog at once. However, if the dog is removed from the user's custody without the user's concurrence, the school shall provide to the board the evidence that caused this action to be taken at once and without fail; and within five calendar days a special committee of two members of the board shall make a determination regarding custody of the dog pending hearing by the arbitration panel.</SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> (g) The arbitration panel shall decide the best means to determine final resolution in each case. This shall include, but is not limited to, a hearing of the matter before the arbitration panel at the request of either party to the dispute, an opportunity for each party in the dispute to make presentations before the arbitration panel, examination of the written record, or any other inquiry as will best reveal the facts of the disputes. In any case, the panel shall make its findings and complete its examination within 45 calendar days of the date of filing the request for arbitration, and a decision shall be rendered within 10 calendar days of the examination.</SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> All arbitration hearings shall be held at sites convenient to the parties and with a view to minimizing costs. Each party to the arbitration shall bear its own costs, except that the arbitration panel, by unanimous agreement, may modify this arrangement.</SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> (h) The board may study the effectiveness of the arbitration panel pilot project in expediting resolution and reducing conflict in disputes between guide dog users and guide dog schools and may share its findings with the Legislature upon request.</SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> (i) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2014, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2014, deletes or extends that date.</SPAN></P>
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