BILL NUMBER: AB 238 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Beall JANUARY 31, 2007 An act to add Section 12304.7 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to public social services. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 238, as introduced, Beall. In-home supportive services: reading services for blind and visually impaired recipients. Existing law provides for the county-administered In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, under which, either through employment by the recipient, or by or through contract by the county, qualified aged, blind, and disabled persons receive services enabling them to remain in their own homes. Existing law permits services to be provided under the IHSS program through the employment of individual providers, a contract between the county and an entity for the provision of services, a contract between the county and a nonprofit consortium, or the creation by the county of a public authority. Under existing law, county welfare departments are required to provide visually impaired applicants and recipients with information on, and referral services to, entities that provide reading services to visually impaired persons, as specified. This bill additionally would require the provision of designated reading assistance services to a recipient of services under the In-home Supportive Services program who is blind or visually impaired, or has another disability that affects his or her ability to read. By expanding the scope of available services under the IHSS program, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 12304.7 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: 12304.7. A recipient of services under this article who is blind or visually impaired, or who has another disability that affects his or her ability to read, shall be provided with reading assistance services for financial and other documents and forms. SEC. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.