BILL ANALYSIS
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 2784
Author: Chavez (D)
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
SENATE ENERGY, U.&C. COMMITTEE : 8-0, 6/11/02
AYES: Bowen, Morrow, Alarcon, Battin, Dunn, Murray, Sher,
Speier
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 67-0, 5/2/02 (Passed on consent) - See
last page for vote
SUBJECT : Telephone equipment for the disabled
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill authorizes a licensed optometrist to
provide a statement of visual needs in order to allow
disabled individuals to apply for and receive specialized
telephone equipment.
ANALYSIS : Current law establishes programs to enable and
subsidize telecommunications service for the deaf, hearing
impaired, visually impaired and handicapped, collectively
known as the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program
(DDTP).
Current law establishes a fund in the state treasury to
receive monies in support of this program and to disburse
CONTINUED
AB 2784
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monies to pay for this program.
Current law requires certification by a licensed physician
or surgeon before a customer can participate in the
disabled DDTP program.
This bill permits a licensed optometrist to provide the
certification.
Background
Since the 1980's, the State Public Utilities Commission has
administered programs to assist the deaf and disabled in
using telephone service. The programs provide specialized
telecommunications equipment, discounted telephone rates,
and a telecommunications translator service, known as a
dual-party relay service, through which the deaf can
communicate with others. Funding for these programs is
provided by a surcharge on telecommunications service,
which has been kept in accounts administered by the PUC.
The aggregate program costs are about $50 million annually.
Roughly 34,000 blind or visually impaired people take
advantage of the DDTP program, representing 19 percent of
total program participants, with about 800 new enrollees
each month. These participants can obtain speed dialing
capabilities and extra operator assistance without charge
through the DDTP program.
The Legislature has previously expanded the types of
professionals who can certify qualification for the DDTP
programs to include professionals other than physicians or
surgeons. AB 1051 (Bordonaro), Chapter 38, Statutes of
1998, authorized licensed hearing aide dispensers to
qualify deaf individuals for the DDTP program.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 6/24/02)
California Optometric Association (co-source)
California Public Utilities Commission (co-source)
AB 2784
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California Council of the Blind
California Public Utilities Commission
ASSEMBLY FLOOR
AYES: Aanestad, Alquist, Aroner, Bates, Bogh, Calderon,
Bill Campbell, John Campbell, Canciamilla, Cardenas,
Cardoza, Chan, Chavez, Chu, Cogdill, Corbett, Correa,
Cox, Daucher, Diaz, Dickerson, Dutra, Firebaugh, Frommer,
Goldberg, Harman, Havice, Hollingsworth, Horton, Jackson,
Kehoe, Kelley, Koretz, La Suer, Leach, Leonard, Leslie,
Liu, Longville, Lowenthal, Maddox, Maldonado, Matthews,
Migden, Mountjoy, Nakano, Nation, Negrete McLeod,
Oropeza, Papan, Pescetti, Richman, Salinas, Shelley,
Simitian, Steinberg, Strom-Martin, Thomson, Vargas,
Washington, Wayne, Wiggins, Wright, Wyland, Wyman,
Zettel, Wesson
NC:kb 6/24/02 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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