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

[Shannon Dillon]

Thanks, Chuck. I included the language for a sample letter in the body
of my email. It indicates where to insert name, address, etc.

On 6/13/18, Chuck Krugman via NFBC-Info <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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.
>
> _______________________________________________
> NFBC-Info mailing list
> NFBC-Info at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> NFBC-Info:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org/ckrugman%40sbcglobal.net
>
>
> ---
> This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
> https://www.avg.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> NFBC-Info mailing list
> NFBC-Info at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> NFBC-Info:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org/shannonldillon%40gmail.com
>


-- 
SHANNON L. DILLON
Secretary and Legislative Coordinator
National Federation of the Blind
of California