BILL NUMBER: AB 2311	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 16, 2016

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  , in cooperation with the
Office for Access and Functional Needs,  to provide or contract
for a disaster response sign language interpreter 
certification   credential  program to train
 individuals on the use of  American Sign Language
 interpreters  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   credential
 program to provide interpretation services at every media or
public briefing  and any emergency shelter  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  shall   shall, in
cooperation with the Office for Access and Functional Needs, or its
successor,  provide, or contract for, a disaster response sign
language interpreter  certification   cred 
 ential  program, which shall train  persons on the
use of  American Sign Language  interpreters  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  has completed the disaster response sign
language interpreter certification program as   holds a
disaster response sign language interpreter credential pursuant to
the program  specified in Section 8588.20, to provide
interpretation services at every media or public briefing  and
any emergency shelter  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  has completed the disaster
response sign language interpreter certification program as 
 holds a disaster response sign language interpreter credential
pursuant to the program  specified in Section 8588.20, to
provide interpretation services at every media or public briefing
 and any emergency shelter  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.