2008 Sponsored legislation
Each year Disability Rights California legal and legislative staff identify possible legislative fixes for issues affecting people with disabilities. Several legislative proposals are written, and based on priority, political climate and the approval of our Board of Directors, among other factors, we decide which if any bills it will sponsor. Then legislative staff work on finding the right legislator to become the author of each bill, and persuading that legislator to take on the bill. This year we are sponsoring three bills.
AB 2424 (Beall) seeks to increase the number of Californians with developmental disabilities in the work force
AB 2424 is based on stakeholder meetings that concluded that people with developmental disabilities want to work and become more integrated, active participants in their home communities. Read the complete position letter on SB 2424 (Beall) here …
SB 1198 (Kuehl) seeks coverage for durable medical equipment
SB 1198 would require that health service plans provide health care coverage for durable medical equipment. The coverage cannot be less than the annual and lifetime benefit maximums applicable to basic health care. Read the complete position letter in support of SB 1198 (Kuehl) here ...
SB 1515 (Kuehl) limits restraint & seclusion of California pupils
Responding to a PAI investigation, Senator Sheila Kuehl introduced a bill (SB 1515) to prohibit the use of seclusion and to restrict the use of physical restraint in California schools to clearly defined emergency situations. The study of these practices in 6 schools by PAI's investigations unit showed that restraining and secluding pupils was becoming routine, instead of reserved only for emergencies. Link here to read the press release about this bill and read the report here, "Restraint and Seclusion in Public
Schools: A Failing Grade". Read the complete position letter in support of SB 1515 (Kuehl) here ...