BILL ANALYSIS
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 873
Author: Assembly Human Services Committee
Amended: 7/12/99 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 13-0, 9/1/99
AYES: Johnston, Alpert, Bowen, Burton, Escutia, Johnson,
Karnette, Kelley, Leslie, McPherson, Mountjoy, Perata,
Vasconcellos
SUBJECT : Rehabilitative services: assistive technology
SOURCE : California Foundation for Independent Living
Centers
DIGEST : This bill adds assistive technology to the
services and referral requirements of Independent Living
Centers.
Note : This bill was recently amended to reinstate the
provisions of AB 1682 before it became a budget trailer
bill. The provisions passed Senate Health and Human
Services Committee 5-0 and the Assembly Floor 76-0 on
Consent.
ANALYSIS : Current law:
1.Establishes Independent Living Centers (ILCs),
administered by the Department of Rehabilitation, to
assist persons with disabilities in achieving social and
economic independence.
CONTINUED
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2.Specifies the various services to be provided by the ILCs
including peer counseling, advocacy, attendant referral,
housing assistance, information and referral,
transportation, job development, equipment maintenance
and evaluation, training in independent living skills,
mobility assistance, and communication assistance.
This bill:
1.Requires assistive technology among the services and
referrals, as deemed necessary, to be provided by ILCs.
2.Specifies that assistive technology may include
information and outreach about appropriate assistive
technology devices or services.
3.Requires 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.
Comments :
Independent Living Centers
The mission of the Independent Living program is to empower
and enable persons with disabilities to manage their own
affairs, participate in a fulfilling day to day life in
their communities, and have self-determination and not
dependence on others.
In 1988 through Title VII (a) of the federal Rehabilitation
Act, California received its first Independent Living
Rehabilitation Services (ILRS) grant. In 1992, the mission
and organization of the ILRS underwent a significant change
as a result of the 1992 Amendments to the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973. Rather than providing services directly by
the department staff, the services were contracted to 26
grantees. Currently, there are 28 ILCs. The 28 ILCs are
all community-based, consumer driven, non profit
organizations.
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Assistive Technology :
The purpose of the Assistive Technology program is to
facilitate access to assistive technology for persons with
disabilities that includes both service and devices. The
program goals include increasing awareness; reducing
barriers in obtaining assistive technology, and make the
technology more available.
The Department of Rehabilitation's (DR) federal allocation
for assistive technology increased on October 1, 1998 to
$1.337 million from $912,000. DR plans to use part of the
funds for services to be provided by contract agencies.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 Fund
Assistive technology 3,000 3,000General
Comments :
Based on estimates by the sponsors the centers could use
$100,000 each for these new services. Actual spending
depends on budget act appropriations. If less than $3
million is provided, centers will have to provide
information about assistive technologies to the extent that
funds are available and can be redirected from existing
uses.
SUPPORT : (Verified 9/1/99)
California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
(source)
Association of Regional Center Agencies
Golden Gate Regional Center
Modesto Independent Living Center
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OPPOSITION : (Verified 9/1/99)
Department of Finance
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : Proponents indicate that
individuals with disabilities frequently do not have access
to locating appropriate assistive technology. This bill
proposes to enable ILCs to use federal funds to assist
individuals with disabilities to find and receive the
technology that they need to function more independently
and productively.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION : The Department of Finance is
opposed tot his bill because it requires additional
services to be provided by the Department of
Rehabilitation-funded ILCs beyond that provided for in the
1999 Budget. This bill does not provide an appropriation.
CP:jk 9/2/99 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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