AB 2311, as introduced, Brown. Emergency services: sign language interpreters.
Existing law establishes the Office of Emergency Services within the office of the Governor and under the supervision of the Director of Emergency Services and makes the office responsible for the state’s emergency and disaster response services for natural, technological, or manmade disasters and emergencies. Existing law requires every state agency and officer to cooperate with the secretary in rendering all possible assistance in carrying out the provisions of the act.
This bill would require the office to provide or contract for a disaster response sign language interpreter certification program to train individuals on the use of American Sign Language to effectively communicate public safety information. The bill would additionally require every state agency and every local agency to utilize a sign language interpreter who has completed that certification program to provide interpretation services at every media or public briefing where actionable information will be disseminated before, during, or after a state of war emergency, state of emergency, or local emergency. By increasing the duties of local officials, 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 8588.20 is added to the Government
2Code, immediately following Section 8588.15, to read:
The office shall provide, or contract for, a disaster
4response sign language interpreter certification program, which
5shall train persons on the use of American Sign Language to
6effectively communicate public safety information.
Section 8598.5 is added to the Government Code, to
8read:
Every state agency shall utilize a sign language
10interpreter who has completed the disaster response sign language
11interpreter certification program as specified in Section 8588.20,
12to provide interpretation services at every media or public briefing
13where actionable information will be disseminated before, during,
14or after a state of emergency, state of war emergency, or local
15emergency.
Section 8635.5 is added to the Government Code, to
17read:
The governing body of a local agency shall utilize a
19sign language interpreter who has completed the disaster response
20sign language interpreter certification program as specified in
21Section 8588.20, to provide interpretation services at every media
22or public briefing where actionable information will be
23disseminated before, during, or after a state of emergency, state
24of war emergency, or local emergency.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that
26this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to
27local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
P3 1pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
24 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
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