BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 1331
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 3, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
SB 1331
(Pavley) - As Amended June 29, 2016
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|Policy |Business and Professions |Vote:|16 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable:
No
SUMMARY: This bill makes several changes pertaining to the Board
of Guide Dogs for the Blind (Board). Specifically, this bill:
1)Allows out-of-state personnel to provide follow-up services in
California without a license under specified conditions, if
the out-of-state school is certified by the International
Guide Dog Federation.
2)Revises the composition of the Board to include three, instead
of two, representatives of the legally blind or visually
impaired community and requires one representative each from a
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designated consumer organization representing Californians who
are blind or visually impaired, as specified.
3)Requires the Board to create a factsheet that provides
specified information about the Board which must be made
available to each licensed school, which then must provide the
fact sheet to every student receiving training from that
school.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Minor and absorbable costs to the Board of Guide Dogs for the
Blind.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. This bill is sponsored by the California Council of
the Blind. According to the author, "Highly trained guide
dogs are vital companions for people who are blind or visually
impaired. They partner with a guide dog to help them move
about safely and independently. This bill seeks to improve
services for those who partner with guide dogs by making a
number of reforms to the Board that oversees licensing of the
services dogs."
2)Background. The Board was established in 1948 for the purpose
of providing well-trained guide dogs to blind persons and
training blind persons as guide dog consumers. The Board
licenses: a) guide dog schools, b) guide dog instructors, and
c) fundraising programs to open new guide dog schools. The
Board inspects all schools, requires new active guide dog
instructors to take written and practical examinations, and
requires instructors to submit proof of eight hours of
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continuing education each year to remain licensed. The Board's
licensing population includes approximately 100 licensees and
three California schools.
California is the only state to license and regulate guide dog
instructors and guide dog schools. As such, some California
residents seek guide dog training services from unlicensed
schools outside of California. There are about sixteen guide
dog schools across the country. Schools outside of California
can obtain California licensure, but there are a few schools
outside of the state that have chosen not to. Current law
does not prohibit California-based residents from obtaining
services from unlicensed schools or instructors outside of
California, but an issue arises when a California resident who
obtained training from an out-of-state school seeks to obtain
follow-up instruction from the unlicensed school or instructor
who provided the original services outside of California.
Currently, follow-up services or formal instruction with a
client is prohibited in California without a license.
This bill would provide that, with respect to an out-of-state
school certified by the International Guide Dog Federation, a
staff member of that school could come into California without
a license from the Board solely to provide follow-up
instruction for the guide dog handler who obtained his or her
dog at the out-of-state school. This will enable Californians
who have chosen an out-of-state school and who need follow-up
instruction often in emergency situations such as the dog
having been attacked or been in an accident, to obtain that
service.
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Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916)
319-2081