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

ckrugman at sbcglobal.net ckrugman at sbcglobal.net
Wed Jun 13 15:36:16 UTC 2018


For those of us with busy schedules it would be nice to have a letter on a template that could be submitted by inserting name and address as is done by most organizations that encourage support from consumers and others. As I don't have time to spend writing a letter I will call the office of my senator.
Chuck

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBC-Info <nfbc-info-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Shannon Dillon via NFBC-Info
Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2018 10:00 AM
To: nfbc-info at nfbnet.org
Cc: Shannon Dillon <shannonldillon at gmail.com>
Subject: [Nfbc-info] AB 1865: please write to your senators and tell them you support AB 1865

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.

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