BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 2160
                                                                  Page  1


          ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
          AB 2160 (Carter)
          As Amended April 2, 2008
          Majority vote 

           AGING               6-0         APPROPRIATIONS      17-0        
           
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          |Ayes:|Berg, Anderson, Brownley, |Ayes:|Leno, Walters, Caballero, |
          |     |Carter, Levine, Walters   |     |Davis, DeSaulnier,        |
          |     |                          |     |Emmerson, Furutani,       |
          |     |                          |     |Huffman, Karnette,        |
          |     |                          |     |Krekorian,                |
          |     |                          |     |La Malfa, Lieu, Ma,       |
          |     |                          |     |Nakanishi, Nava, Sharon   |
          |     |                          |     |Runner, Solorio           |
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 

           SUMMARY  :  Adds the California Fair Employment and Housing Act  
          (CFEHA) definition of disability to the Mello-Granlund Older  
          Californians Act (OCA).  Specifically,  this bill  :  

          1)Defines "disability" for the OCA as either of the following:

             a)   A mental disability, as defined in CFEHA, which  
               includes, but is not limited to, having a mental or  
               psychological disorder or condition that limits a major  
               life activity; or,

             b)   A physical disability, as defined in CFEHA, which  
               includes, but is not limited to, having a physiological  
               disease, disorder, condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or  
               anatomical loss that limits a major life activity.

          2)Deletes the current definition of "disability" in the OCA for  
            the Senior Wellness Program which is the same as the federal  
            Rehabilitation Act and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  According to the Assembly Appropriations  
          Committee, no direct fiscal impact to conform the OCA to CFEHA.

           COMMENTS  :  All services funded by the OCA are required to comply  
          with ADA.  Minimum standards for programs under the OCA include  
          a provision requiring equal access to diverse populations.  In  








                                                                  AB 2160
                                                                  Page  2


          addition, the OCA already references CFEHA and includes  
          provisions that require equal access to programs and services  
          provided through both the Older Americans Act and the OCA  
          regardless of physical or mental disabilities, language  
          barriers, cultural or social isolation, including that caused by  
          actual or perceived racial and ethnic status, including but not  
          limited to: ancestry; national origin; religion; sex; gender  
          identity; marital status; familial status; sexual orientation;  
          or, any other basis set forth in the CFEHA.  


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Allison Ruff / AGING & L.T.C. / (916)  
          319-3990



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