BILL NUMBER: AB 873	CHAPTERED  09/27/99

	CHAPTER   493
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 27, 1999
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 27, 1999
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   SEPTEMBER 7, 1999
	PASSED THE SENATE   SEPTEMBER 3, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JULY 12, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   JUNE 2, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 28, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Committee on Human Services

                        FEBRUARY 25, 1999

   An act to amend Section 19801 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to public social services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 873, Committee on Human Services.   Rehabilitative services:
assistive technology.
   Existing law requires independent living centers to perform
various functions and duties with respect to providing assistance to
individuals with disabilities, including providing services and
referrals regarding transportation, job development, equipment
maintenance and evaluation, training in independent living skills,
mobility assistance, and communication assistance.
   This bill would include assistive technology among the services
and referrals required to be provided by independent living centers.
The bill would also require assistive technology activities to
involve collaboration with the Department of Rehabilitation and the
nonprofit contractor selected to implement the federal law relating
to assistive technology, which would be required to serve as the
framework for offering assistance to individuals with disabilities.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 19801 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   19801.  An independent living center shall:
   (a) Be a private, nonprofit organization controlled by a board of
directors.  A majority of the board shall be comprised of individuals
with disabilities.
   (b) Be staffed by persons trained to assist persons with
disabilities in achieving social and economic independence.  The
staff shall include as large a proportion as is practicable of
individuals with disabilities.
   (c) Provide, but not be limited to, the following services to
individuals with disabilities:
   (1) Peer counseling.
   (2) Advocacy.
   (3) Attendant referral.
   (4) Housing assistance.
   (5) Information and referral.
   (d) Provide other services and referrals as may be deemed
necessary, such as transportation, job development, equipment
maintenance and evaluation, training in independent living skills,
mobility assistance, assistive technology, and communication
assistance.  Assistive technology may include information and
outreach about appropriate assistive technology devices or services
and referrals that will enable individuals to gain access to
assistive technology in order to meet their needs and expand options
for independence and productivity.  Assistive technology activities
shall involve collaboration with the Department of Rehabilitation and
the nonprofit contractor selected to implement the federal Assistive
Technology Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-394), which shall serve as the
framework for offering assistance to individuals with disabilities.
   (e) Promote and practice the independent living philosophy of:
   (1) Consumer control of the center regarding decisionmaking,
service delivery, management, and establishment of the policy and
direction of the center.
   (2) Self-help and self-advocacy.
   (3) Development of peer relationships and peer role models.
   (4) Equal access of individuals with disabilities to society and
to all services, programs activities, resources, and facilities,
whether public or private and regardless of the funding source.