Amended in Assembly March 16, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2311

Introduced by Assembly Member Brown

February 18, 2016

An act to add Sections 8588.20, 8598.5, and 8635.5 to the Government Code, relating to emergency services.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2311, as amended, 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 begin insert , in cooperation with the Office for Access and Functional Needs, end insert to provide or contract for a disaster response sign language interpreter begin delete certification end delete begin insert credential end insert program to train begin delete individuals on the use of end delete American Sign Language begin insert interpreters end insert 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 begin delete certification end delete begin insert credential end insert program to provide interpretation services at every media or public briefing begin insert and any emergency shelter end insert 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 1.  

Section 8588.20 is added to the Government
Code, immediately following Section 8588.15, to read:

8588.20.  

The office begin delete shall end delete begin insert shall, in cooperation with the Office
for Access and Functional Needs, or its successor, end insert provide, or
contract for, a disaster response sign language interpreter
begin delete certification end delete begin insert credential end insert program, which shall train begin delete persons on the
use of end delete American Sign Language begin insert interpreters end insert to effectively
communicate public safety information.

SEC. 2.  

Section 8598.5 is added to the Government Code, to
read:

8598.5.  

Every state agency shall utilize a sign language
interpreter who begin delete has completed the disaster response sign language
interpreter certification program as end delete begin insert holds a disaster response sign
language interpreter credential pursuant to the program end insert specified
in Section 8588.20, to provide interpretation services at every
media or public briefing begin insert and any emergency shelter end insert where
actionable information will be disseminated before, during, or after
a state of emergency, state of war emergency, or local emergency.

SEC. 3.  

Section 8635.5 is added to the Government Code, to
read:

8635.5.  

The governing body of a local agency shall utilize a
sign language interpreter who begin delete has completed the disaster response
sign language interpreter certification program as end delete begin insert holds a disaster
response sign language interpreter credential pursuant to the
program end insert specified in Section 8588.20, to provide interpretation
services at every media or public briefing begin insert and any emergency
shelter end insert where actionable information will be disseminated before,
during, or after a state of emergency, state of war emergency, or
local emergency.

SEC. 4.  

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.