Amended in Assembly May 27, 2016

Amended in Assembly March 16, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 2311


Introduced by Assembly Member Brown

February 18, 2016


An act tobegin delete add Sections 8588.20, 8598.5, and 8635.5 toend deletebegin insert amend the heading of Article 6.5 (commencing with Section 8593) of Chapter 7 of Division 1 of Title 2 of, and to add Section 8593.3 to,end insert the Government Code, relating to emergency services.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2311, as amended, Brown. Emergency services:begin delete sign language interpreters. end deletebegin insert access and functional needs in emergencies.end insert

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.begin delete 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.end deletebegin insert Existing law defines the terms “political subdivision” and “emergency plan” for purposes of emergency services provided by local governments. Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services to work with specified entities to improve communication with deaf and hearing-impaired persons during emergencies.end insert

This bill would requirebegin delete the office, in cooperation with the Office for Access and Functional Needs, to provide or contract for a disaster response sign language interpreter credential program to train 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 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.end deletebegin insert each political subdivision of the state to integrate access and functional needs, as defined, into its emergency plan, as specified.end insert 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:

begin delete
P2    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 8588.20 is added to the Government
2Code
, immediately following Section 8588.15, to read:

3

8588.20.  

The office shall, in cooperation with the Office for
4Access and Functional Needs, or its successor, provide, or contract
5for, a disaster response sign language interpreter credential
6program, which shall train American Sign Language interpreters
7 to effectively communicate public safety information.

8

SEC. 2.  

Section 8598.5 is added to the Government Code, to
9read:

10

8598.5.  

Every state agency shall utilize a sign language
11interpreter who holds a disaster response sign language interpreter
12credential pursuant to the program specified in Section 8588.20,
13to provide interpretation services at every media or public briefing
14and any emergency shelter where actionable information will be
15disseminated before, during, or after a state of emergency, state
16of war emergency, or local emergency.

P3    1

SEC. 3.  

Section 8635.5 is added to the Government Code, to
2read:

3

8635.5.  

The governing body of a local agency shall utilize a
4sign language interpreter who holds a disaster response sign
5language interpreter credential pursuant to the program specified
6in Section 8588.20, to provide interpretation services at every
7media or public briefing and any emergency shelter where
8actionable information will be disseminated before, during, or after
9a state of emergency, state of war emergency, or local emergency.

end delete
10begin insert

begin insertSECTION 1.end insert  

end insert

begin insertThe heading of Article 6.5 (commencing with
11Section 8593) of Chapter 7 of Division 1 of Title 2 of the end insert
begin insert12
Government Code
end insert
begin insert is amended to read:end insert

13 

14Article 6.5.  Accessibility to Emergencybegin delete Servicesend delete Information
15
begin insert and Servicesend insert
16

 

17begin insert

begin insertSEC. 2.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 8593.3 is added to the end insertbegin insertGovernment Codeend insertbegin insert, to
18read:end insert

begin insert
19

begin insert8593.3.end insert  

(a) A political subdivision shall integrate access and
20functional needs into its emergency plan by addressing, at a
21minimum, how the access and functional needs population is served
22by the following:

23
(1) Emergency communications, including the integration of
24interpreters, translators, and assistive technology.

25
(2) Emergency evacuation, including the identification of
26transportation resources and resources that are compliant with
27the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
28Sec. 12101 et seq.) for individuals who are dependent on public
29transportation.

30
(3) Emergency sheltering, including ensuring that designated
31shelters are compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities
32Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.) or can be made
33compliant through modification and that showers and bathrooms
34are fully accessible to all occupants.

35
(b) For purposes of this section, the “access and functional
36needs population” consists of individuals who have developmental
37or intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, chronic conditions,
38injuries, limited English proficiency or who are non-English
39speaking, older adults, children, people living in institutionalized
40settings, or those who are low income, homeless, or transportation
P4    1disadvantaged, including, but not limited to, those who are
2dependent on public transit or those who are pregnant.

end insert
3

begin deleteSEC. 4.end delete
4
begin insertSEC. 3.end insert  

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that
5this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to
6local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
7pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
84 of Title 2 of the Government Code.



O

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