BILL ANALYSIS
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 1723
Author: Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee
Amended: 9/12/01 in Senate
Vote: 27
SENATE ENERGY, U.&C. COMMITTEE : 9-0, 7/10/01
AYES: Bowen, Morrow, Alarcon, Battin, Murray, Sher,
Speier, Vasconcellos, Vincent
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 11-0, 9/10/01
AYES: Alpert, Battin, Bowen, Burton, Escutia, Johnson,
Karnette, McPherson, Murray, Perata, Poochigian
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 73-0, 6/5/01 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : State Library: telephonic reading systems
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill authorizes the State Librarian to
provide toll-free telephone access to telephonic reading
systems for persons with print disabilities who don't live
near a telephone reading center to call from their homes
without paying long-distance telephone charges.
Senate Floor Amendments of 9/12/01 reduce the appropriation
from $2,000,000 to $830,000.
ANALYSIS : Current law authorizes the California State
Library to provide toll-free telephone services to
print-disabled persons who are unable to read due to visual
CONTINUED
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impairments, dyslexia, or orthopedic disabilities that
prevent them from handling books, turning pages, etc., in
order to give those people direct access to library
services.
Current law authorizes the California Public Utilities
Commission (CPUC) to impose a surcharge on each telephone
bill to fund the California Teleconnect Fund (CTF) for the
purpose of providing telephone lines and discounted
telecommunications services to qualifying schools,
libraries, hospitals, and community-based organizations.
The surcharge set by the CPUC is currently set at 0.185
percent of each telephone bill and is adjusted annually by
the CPUC, depending on how many organizations are eligible
to receive funding.
This bill establishes the Kevin Starr Access to Information
Act of 2001 and authorizes the State Librarian to provide
toll-free access throughout California to telephonic
reading systems for people with print disabilities.
This bill authorizes the State Librarian to operate a
telephonic reading system itself and/or to fund the
operation of a telephonic reading systems operated by
qualifying entities.
This bill authorizes the State Librarian, in cooperation
with qualifying entities, to expand the type and scope of
materials available on telephonic reading systems to meet
the local, regional, or foreign language needs of people
with print disabilities.
This bill authorizes the State Librarian to conduct
outreach efforts, including direct mailings, telephone
contact, and public service announcements, to inform people
about the availability of telephonic reading services.
This bill defines "telephonic reading system" to mean a
system whereby a caller can hear the reading of materials
such as newspapers, magazines, newsletters, broadcast media
schedules, transit route and schedule information, and
other reference or time sensitive materials.
This bill defines "qualifying entity" to mean any agency,
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instrumentality, or political subdivision of the State or
any nonprofit organization whose primary mission is to
provide services to people who area blind or visually
impaired.
This bill specifies that qualifying entities that were
eligible, as of January 1, 2001, to receive funding form
the State Librarian for the operation of a telephonic
reading system may continue to receive funding from the
State Librarian.
This bill authorizes $830,000 to be appropriated from the
CTF to the California State Library, on or before July 1,
2002, for the purpose of funding the seven existing
telephonic reading centers in Los Angeles, San Diego,
Fresno, San Francisco, and Sacramento. The bill specifies
that any funds not encumbered on or before July 1`, 2002,
must revert to the CTF.
Comments
The California Teleconnect Fund provided approximately $50
million annually of discounted telecommunications services
to schools, libraries, hospitals, and community-based
organizations, paid for by every California telephone
customer via a 0.185 percent surcharge on their bill.
Qualifying organizations receive a 50 percent discount off
the best rate they can negotiate with telecommunication
providers.
Centers in Los Angeles (2), Sacramento (2), Fresno, San
Diego, and San Francisco serve an estimated 47,819
print-disabled Californians. These programs received
federal funding through 9/30/00. State funding was made
available for these sites from 10/1/00 to 9/30/01, through
an appropriation of $245,000 in the 2000-01 Budget Act.
The centers have statewide toll-free access that costs up
to $800,000 annually. Since the bill requires funding for
six months, the appropriation should be for approximately
$525,000 for that period.
The CPUC indicates that as much as $90 million in
unobligated funds may be available in reserve.
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FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the State Library, the estimated annual cost
for statewide toll-free telephone service to telephonic
reading centers under this bill would be in the range of
$492,000 to $830,000.
SUPPORT : (Verified 9/6/01)
California Council of the Blind
California Newspaper Publishers Association
California Optometric Association
San Francisco Public Library
ASSEMBLY FLOOR
AYES: Aanestad, Alquist, Aroner, Ashburn, Bates, Bogh,
Briggs, Calderon, John Campbell, Canciamilla, Cardenas,
Cardoza, Chan, Chavez, Chu, Cogdill, Cohn, Corbett,
Correa, Cox, Daucher, Diaz, Dickerson, Dutra, Firebaugh,
Florez, Frommer, Goldberg, Harman, Havice, Hollingsworth,
Horton, Jackson, Keeley, Kehoe, Kelley, Koretz, La Suer,
Leach, Leonard, Leslie, Liu, Longville, Lowenthal,
Maddox, Maldonado, Matthews, Migden, Mountjoy, Nakano,
Nation, Negrete McLeod, Oropeza, Rod Pacheco, Papan,
Pescetti, Reyes, Richman, Runner, Salinas, Shelley,
Simitian, Steinberg, Strom-Martin, Thomson, Vargas,
Wayne, Wesson, Wiggins, Wright, Wyland, Wyman, Hertzberg
NC:kb 9/14/01 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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