[NAGDU] FYI FW: Regarding CA State Guide Dog Board

[Michael Hingson]

This has been a long time in coming. Congratulations to all of us in
California who fought so hard for this day. 

 

 

Best Regards,

 

 

Michael Hingson

 

 

From: Guidedogboard at DCA [mailto:Guidedogboard at dca.ca.gov] 
Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2018 8:29 AM
Subject: Regarding CA State Guide Dog Board

 

To whom it may concern,

 

Assembly Bill (AB) 1705 was signed into law October 11, 2017 and will take
effect January 1, 2018. It repeals the chapter regulating guide dog
instruction (Chapter 9.5 commencing with Section 7200 of Division 3 of the
Business and Professions Code). It also establishes a fine and civil penalty
for persons who improperly represent (or advertise) themselves as guide dog
instructors. Instructors must have knowledge of the special needs of persons
who are blind or visually impaired and be able to teach them, be able to
train guide dogs such that blind or visually impaired persons would be safe
under various traffic conditions, or be employed by a guide dog school
certified by the International Guide Dog Federation or successor entity. AB
1705 also requires guide dog schools to submit to the Department of Consumer
Affairs (DCA), on or before September 1 of each year, a list of all trainers
or guide dog instructors employed or contracted by the school. 

 

Yearly Filing of Mandatory List of Employees/Contractors

 

As noted above, AB 1705 requires a yearly filing with the DCA of a list of
trainers who are employees or contractors of a guide dog school. Guide dog
schools will be responsible for submitting this filing to the DCA Customer
Information Center (CIC) Correspondence Unit on or before September 1st of
each year. The filings may either be postmarked or delivered electronically
to the CIC Correspondence Unit. The contact information for the CIC is
included at the bottom of this letter.

 

Storage of Records and Document Retention

 

Beginning January 1, 2018, DCA will assume responsibility for the Board's
official documents and records.  These records will be stored and/or
disposed of appropriately in accordance with DCA's records and retention
policy.  If you have specific questions regarding this policy, please
contact the CIC Correspondence Unit.  

 

General Inquiries

 

During and after the transition any questions, complaints and inquiries from
consumers, licensees or the general public shall be directed to DCA's
Consumer Information Center. Contact information is provided below.

 

Department of Consumer Affairs

Consumer Information Center

1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N-112

Sacramento, CA 95834 

 

Email -  <mailto:dca at dca.ca.gov> dca at dca.ca.gov

Phone - (800) 952-5210

 

Sincerely,

Original Signed By

Dean Grafilo, Director