BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 2784
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 24, 2002

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                              Darrell Steinberg, Chair

                AB 2784 (Chavez) - As Introduced:  February 25, 2002 

          Policy Committee:                              Utilities and  
          Commerce     Vote:                            12-0 (Consent)

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This bill authorizes a licensed optometrist, acting within the  
          scope of practice of their license, to certify that a telephone  
          subscriber's visual disability requires that they be furnished  
          specialized telephone equipment under the Public Utilities  
          Commission's (PUC's) disabled telecommunications program.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Negligible costs to the PUC.

           COMMENTS  

           Purpose  .  This bill is sponsored by the California Optometric  
          Association and the Society for the Blind.  According to the  
          author, California needs to do all it can to help visually  
          impaired citizens gain access to services.  Access to telephone  
          service is crucial to maintaining community connections and  
          maintaining gainful employment.

          The author and sponsor note that many visually impaired  
          individuals require special equipment to assist them in  
          utilizing telephone services.  The requirement in existing law  
          that certification for obtaining the specialized equipment come  
          from a physician or relevant government agency can, in some  
          communities, become a significant barrier.  This bill is  
          intended to create additional options for visually-impaired  
          consumers by increasing the pool of individuals qualified to  
          certify visual disabilities.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081 








                                                                  AB 2784
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