[Nfbc-info] Please Call State Senators Below and Ask Them to Oppose AB 1705

Mon Jun 12 22:11:59 UTC 2017

Hi Lori,

The two consumer organizations in California composed of blind
people-the National Federation of the Blind of California and the
California Council of the Blind-as well as the largest guide dog
school in California-Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc.-oppose AB 1705.
The Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in San Francisco
also opposes AB 1705. The only entity arguing for the continuance of
the Board is the Board itself.

At its convention in October 2015, the NFBCA passed a resolution
calling on the Legislature to sunset the Board. The Board was created
in 1947 to address issues related to fraudulent guide dog trainers.
Those issues were resolved by the Board and the Board fulfilled its
function at the time.

Now, more than seven decades after the Board was created, in the
United States and internationally, guide dog schools subscribe to
standards set by the International Federation of Guide Dogs (IGDF).
Fourteen United States-based guide dog schools--including the three
guide dog schools based in California--and eighty-five international
guide dog schools, subscribe to the standards and practices of the
IGDF. Accreditation by the IGDF of any guide dog program is accepted
globally as representing the highest standard any guide dog program
can attain.

California remains the only state with a guide dog board, which
created an additional set of parallel standards with which guide dogs
schools must comply. The standards set by the Board are modeled after
the IGDF standards. They are duplicative and add nothing to existing
IGDF standards. Further, there is no evidence that guide dog schools
in other states provide a different quality of service than schools
based in California. Thus, the Board no longer serves the purpose for
which it was created.

Moreover, the Board is more of a hindrance than a help to guide dog
users. It creates hurdles for guide dog users who require follow-up
services from their guide dog schools. In 2009 the Board began to
increase its jurisdiction to prevent out-of-state schools from
entering California to provide follow-up services to guide dog
handlers unless an instructor from the school had a state license.
Rather than work with consumers to resolve problems faced by consumers
caused by the increase of its jurisdiction, the Board fought consumers
every step of the way, causing consumers to seek a legislative
solution with SB 1331. Again, rather than work with consumers to
create solutions, the Board adamantly opposed SB 1331, which the
Legislature passed in 2016. The Board continues to create hurdles
between consumers and their chosen schools.

Additionally, although the Board argues it is an example of California
trend-setting for the nation to explain its continued existence, none
of the other states with guide dog schools has established a similar
board, even though the California board has existed since 1947. The
Board has attempted to expand to other states and has been declined.

The Board has also argued it should continue to exist to conduct
arbitrations between consumers and guide dog schools. In reality, few
arbitrations are conducted. Not even one is conducted in most years.
More importantly, if the legislature deemed it necessary to do so, it
could fashion a dispute resolution mechanism without extending the
term of the Board.

Finally, while the costs of the Board are not derived from general
fund money, oversight by the Department of Consumer Affairs costs the
state a minimal amount. The NFBCA therefore opines that it would be a
fiscally wise decision to oppose AB 1705, extension of the Board’s
term and establishment of a task force.

-Shannon

On 6/12/17, Lori Noyes via NFBC-Info <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I'm new to the group and an FB, but I'm confused a little bit about the
> Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Why does the NFB want this board closed?
>
> Thank you,
>
> Lori
>
> On Jun 6, 2017, at 12:41 PM, Shannon Dillon via NFBC-Info
> <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Good Afternoon Federation Famly,
>
> At our state convention in 2015, we passed a resolution to sunset the
> California State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind on January 1, 2018.
> We have been opposing AB 1705, which would extend the sunset date for
> the Board to January 1, 2019. It would also call for the Department of
> Consumer Affairs to establish a task force to consider the role of the
> board. The task force would be under the jurisdiction of
> the Board. In other words, the board would be in charge of the task
> force established to determine whether it should continue to operate.
> While we still have work
> to do to get rid of the Board, we have made progress in shortening the
> time the board has been extended!
>
> We have great momentum. Let's keep it going. Please call member of the
> Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development
> listed below. If any of the committee members are in your district,
> please call them and ask them to vote no on AB 1705.  Even if one of
> the senators is not in your district, you can call and tell them you
> are
> calling on behalf of the National Federation of the Blind of
> California.  The California Council of the Blind, Golden State Guide
> Dog Handlers, Lighthouse for the Blind, and Guide Dogs for the Blind
> also support abolishing the
> Board.
>
> I will soon we sending out an amended sample letter for you to use to
> write to your senators.
>
> Please make calls ASAP as the bill is moving along quickly.
>
> Thanks for all of your time and work.
>
> Shannon
>
>> Members of the Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic
>> Development
>>
>> Jerry Hill (chair)
>> Capitol Office
>>
>> State Capitol, Room 5035
>>
>> Sacramento, CA 95814
>>
>> Phone: (916) 651-4013
>>
>> Fax: (916) 651-4913
>>
>>
>>
>> District Office
>>
>> 1528 South El Camino Real, Suite 303
>>
>> San Mateo, CA 94402
>>
>> Phone: (650) 212-3313
>>
>> Fax: (650) 212-3320
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Senator Jean Fuller (Vice Chair)
>>
>> Capitol Office
>>
>> State Capitol, Room 4048
>>
>> Sacramento, CA 95814
>>
>> Phone: (916) 651-4016
>>
>> Fax: (916) 651-4916
>>
>>
>>
>> Bakersfield District Office
>>
>> 5701 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 150
>>
>> Bakersfield, CA 93309
>>
>> Phone: (661) 323-0443
>>
>> Fax: (661) 323-0446
>>
>>
>>
>> Senator Bill Dodd
>>
>> Capitol Office
>>
>> State Capitol, Room 5064
>>
>> Sacramento,  CA  95814
>>
>> Phone:  (916) 651-4003
>>
>> Fax:  (916) 651-4903
>>
>>
>>
>> Santa Rosa Office
>>
>> 50 D Street, Suite 300
>>
>> Santa Rosa, CA 95404
>>
>> Phone: (707) 576-2093
>>
>> Fax:  (707) 576-2095
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Senator Cathleen Galgiani
>>
>> Capitol Office
>>
>> State Capitol, Room 5097
>>
>> Sacramento, CA 95814
>>
>> Phone: (916) 651-4005
>>
>> Fax: (916) 651-4905
>>
>>
>>
>> Stockton District Office
>>
>> 31 E. Channel Ste 440
>>
>> Stockton, CA 95202
>>
>> Phone: (209) 948-7930
>>
>> Fax: (209) 948-7993
>>
>>
>>
>> Senator Steven M Glazer
>>
>> Capitol Office
>>
>> State Capitol, Room 5108
>>
>> Sacramento, CA 95814
>>
>> Phone: (916) 651-4007
>>
>> Fax: (916) 651-4907
>>
>>
>>
>> Orinda Office
>>
>> 51 Moraga Way, Suite 2
>>
>> Orinda, CA 94563
>>
>> Phone: (925) 258-1176
>>
>> Fax: (925) 258-9982
>>
>>
>>
>> Senator Dr. Ed Hernandez, O.D.
>>
>> Capitol Office
>>
>> State Capitol, Room 2080
>>
>> Sacramento, CA 95814
>>
>> Phone: (916) 651-4022
>>
>> Fax: (916) 651-4922
>>
>>
>>
>> West Covina District Office
>>
>> 100 S. Vincent Ave, Ste. 401
>>
>> West Covina, CA 91790
>>
>> Phone: (626) 430-2499
>>
>>
>>
>> Senator Josh Newman
>>
>> Capitol Office
>>
>> State Capitol, Room 4082
>>
>> Sacramento, CA 95814
>>
>> Phone: 916.651.4029
>>
>> Fax: 916.651.4929
>>
>>
>>
>> Brea Office
>>
>> 1800 E. Lambert Road, Suite 150
>>
>> Brea, CA 92821
>>
>> Phone: 714.671.9474
>>
>> Fax: 714.671.9750
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Senator Dr. Richard Pan
>>
>> District Office
>>
>> 2251 Florin Road, Suite 156
>>
>> Sacramento, CA 95822
>>
>> Phone: (916) 262-2904
>>
>> Fax: (916) 914-2179
>>
>>
>>
>> Capitol Office
>>
>> State Capitol, Room 5114
>>
>> Sacramento, CA 95814
>>
>> Phone: (916) 651-4006
>>
>> Fax: (916) 651-4906
>>
>>
>>
>> Senator Scott Wilk
>>
>> Capitol Office
>>
>> State Capitol, Room 4090
>>
>> Sacramento, CA 95814
>>
>> Phone: (916) 651-4021
>>
>> Fax: (916) 651-4921
>>
>>
>>
>> Santa Clarita Office
>>
>> 23920 Valencia Blvd, Suite 250
>>
>> Santa Clarita, CA 91355
>>
>> Phone: (661) 286-1471
>>
>> Fax: (661) 286-2543
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Chief Consultant:  Bill Gage
>>
>> Consultants:  Sarah Huchel, Sarah Mason
>>
>> Assistant:  Krimilda McKenzie
>>
>>
>>
>> State Capitol, Room 2053
>>
>> Sacramento, CA 95814
>>
>> Phone: (916) 651-4104
>>
>
> --
> SHANNON L. DILLON
>
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-- 
SHANNON L. DILLON