BILL NUMBER: AB 2311 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 27, 2016
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
amend the heading of Article 6.5 (commencing with
Section 8593) of Chapter 7 of Division 1 of Title 2 of, and to add S
ection 8593.3 to, the Government Code, relating to
emergency services.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2311, as amended, Brown. Emergency services: sign
language interpreters. access and functional needs in
emergencies.
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. 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.
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 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. each political
subdivision of the state to integrate access and functional needs, as
defined, into its emergency plan, as specified. 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, in cooperation with the Office for
Access and Functional Needs, or its successor, provide, or contract
for, a disaster response sign language interpreter credential
program, which shall train 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 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 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.
SECTION 1. The heading of Article 6.5 (commencing
with Section 8593) of Chapter 7 of Division 1 of Title 2 of the
Government Code is amended to read:
Article 6.5. Accessibility to Emergency Services
Information and Services
SEC. 2. Section 8593.3 is added to the
Government Code , to read:
8593.3. (a) A political subdivision shall integrate access and
functional needs into its emergency plan by addressing, at a minimum,
how the access and functional needs population is served by the
following:
(1) Emergency communications, including the integration of
interpreters, translators, and assistive technology.
(2) Emergency evacuation, including the identification of
transportation resources and resources that are compliant with the
federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101
et seq.) for individuals who are dependent on public transportation.
(3) Emergency sheltering, including ensuring that designated
shelters are compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.) or can be made compliant
through modification and that showers and bathrooms are fully
accessible to all occupants.
(b) For purposes of this section, the "access and functional needs
population" consists of individuals who have developmental or
intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, chronic conditions,
injuries, limited English proficiency or who are non-English
speaking, older adults, children, people living in institutionalized
settings, or those who are low income, homeless, or transportation
disadvantaged, including, but not limited to, those who are dependent
on public transit or those who are pregnant.
SEC. 4. SEC. 3. 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.