[Nfbc-info] AB 1865: please write to your senators and tell them you support AB 1865

[Shannon Dillon]

AB 1865 has gone to the senate floor for a vote by the full senate.
Please write a letter to your senators and let them know you support
AB 1865 as amended. Please send a copy of your letter to
Amanda.Hernandez at asm.ca.gov.

Please note, you don't need to use a guide dog to support this
legislation and if you use a guide dog, it does not need to have been
attacked to support this legislation.

In short, this legislation protects guide, signal or service  dogs who
are attacked whether or not they are working at the time they are
attacked. It also makes it a crime to attack a guide, signal or
service dog in training. It also permits the guide, signal or service
dog handler to recover medical expenses or lost wages that occurred as
a result of the attack on their guide, signal or service dog. Please
see below for further information.

Below is sample language:

[INSERT NAME/ORGANIZATION]
[INSERT DATE]
[INSERT SENATOR NAME]
[INSERT SENATOR ADDRESS]

RE: Support AB 1865

Dear Senator ____:
[INSERT STATEMENT ABOUT YOURSELF OR ORGANIZATION HERE AND INTREST IN THIS BILL]
[INSERT NAME/ORGANIZATION] greatly appreciates your sponsorship of
Assembly Bill 1865, as a means of enhancing protections governing dog
attacks against guide, signal, and service dogs.
Under existing law, it is an infraction or a misdemeanor for any
person to permit any dog which is owned, harbored, or controlled by
him or her to cause injury to or death of any guide, signal, or
service dog while the guide, signal, or service dog is in discharge of
its duties, or actively providing service. However, these attaches
often occur while the dog is not engaged in these duties. Under these
circumstances, it is very difficult for guide, signal, or service dog
handlers to recover potential costs incurred because of these attacks,
such as medical expenses or loss of wages.
This bill will expand the provisions which provide protection for
guide, signal, or service dogs by eliminating the requirement that the
guide, dog, or service dog be in discharge of its duties.
This bill will greatly assist persons of the blind or disabled
communities cope with the detrimental financial and personal costs
associated with attacks against his or her guide, signal, or service
dogs.
Your support and sponsorship of this important legislation is
appreciated as it will extend protections for communities that are
often ignored. Please accept this letter as support for AB 1865:
“Guide, Signal, and Service Dog: Injury or Death.”
Respectfully,

[INSERT NAME/ORGANIZATION]

CC:
Assemblyman Tom Lackey, 36th District
State Capitol, Room 2174
Sacramento, CA 94249-0055


AB 1865, as amended, Lackey. Guide, signal, and service dogs: injury or death.


Under existing law, it is an infraction or a misdemeanor for any
person to permit any dog that is owned, harbored, or controlled by him
or her to cause injury to, or the death of, any guide, signal, or
service dog, as defined, while the guide, signal, or service dog is in
discharge of its duties. Existing law makes any person who
intentionally causes injury to, or the death of, any guide, signal, or
service dog, as defined, while the dog is in discharge of its duties,
guilty of a misdemeanor. Under existing law, if a defendant is
convicted of either of these crimes, the defendant is required to make
restitution to the person with a disability who has custody or
ownership of the dog for any veterinary bills and replacement costs of
the dog if it is disabled or killed, or other reasonable costs deemed
appropriate by the court. Existing law provides for the compensation
of victims of certain crimes by the California Victim Compensation
Board from the Restitution Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, for
specified losses suffered as a result of those crimes. Existing law
authorizes the person with a disability in either of the above crimes
to apply for compensation by the board for veterinary bills and
replacement costs if the dog is disabled or killed, or other
reasonable costs, as specified, in an amount not to exceed $10,000.

This bill would delete, from both crimes, the requirement that the
guide, signal, or service dog be in discharge of its duties when the
injury or death occurs and would make these crimes applicable to the
injury or death of dogs that are enrolled in a training school or
program for guide, signal, or service dogs, as specified. The bill
would require the defendant, convicted of either crime, to also make
restitution to the person for medical or medical-related expenses, or
for loss of wages or income, incurred by the person as a direct result
of the crime. The bill would authorize the disabled person to apply
for compensation from the California Victim Compensation Board and
would authorize the board to pay compensation for medical and
medical-related expenses, and loss of wages or income incurred by the
person with a disability as a direct result of a violation of those
criminal provisions, in an amount not to exceed $10,000.