<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><br><br>Robert Stigile <div>818-381-9568</div><div><br></div></div><div><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><b>From:</b> Shannon Dillon <<a href="mailto:shannonldillon@gmail.com">shannonldillon@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Date:</b> April 19, 2017 at 11:14:33 PM PDT<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:shannonldillon@gmail.com">shannonldillon@gmail.com</a><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Re: Chapter Presidents, Oppose AB 1705 - sample letter and talking points attached</b><br><br></div></blockquote><div><span></span></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><span>Dear Chapter Presidents,</span><br><span>Please share this with your chapters and others who may be interested.</span><br><span>Below is a sample letter opposing AB 1705. Please personalize and</span><br><span>email it to the committee members in my previous email. Please email</span><br><span>April 20 and 21. I will also attach a copy as well as a copy of the</span><br><span>talking points and contact information from my previous email.</span><br><span></span><br><span>If you have any questions please call me at 415-218-5862</span><br><span></span><br><span>Thank you.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Evan Low</span><br><span>Committee Chair</span><br><span>Assembly Business and Professions Committee</span><br><span>1020 N Street</span><br><span>Sacramento, CA 95814</span><br><span><a href="mailto:Assemblymember.low@assembly.ca.gov">Assemblymember.low@assembly.ca.gov</a></span><br><span></span><br><span>April20, 2017</span><br><span></span><br><span>Dear Assemblymember ___:</span><br><span></span><br><span>Please oppose AB 1705, which would extend the term of the California</span><br><span>State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind (Board) for four years.</span><br><span></span><br><span>At its convention in October 2015, the National Federation of the</span><br><span>Blind of California (NFBC), an organization composed of blind</span><br><span>Californians, voted to call on the legislature to sunset the Board.</span><br><span>The Board was created in 1947 to address issues related to fraudulent</span><br><span>guide dog trainers. Those issues no longer exist. Currently, United</span><br><span>States and internationally guide dog schools subscribe to standards</span><br><span>set by the International Federation of Guide Dogs (IGDF). Fourteen</span><br><span>United States-based guide dog schools and eighty-five international</span><br><span>guide dog schools subscribe to the standards and practices of the</span><br><span>IGDF. Accreditation by the IGDF of any guide dog program is accepted</span><br><span>globally as representing the highest standard any guide dog program</span><br><span>can attain. California is the only state to create an additional set</span><br><span>of parallel standards with which guide dogs schools must comply. The</span><br><span>standards do not add anything to the existing IGDF standards. They are</span><br><span>duplicative and create only an extra layer for guide dog schools to</span><br><span>comply with for residents of California who have dogs from out of</span><br><span>state schools who need help with their dogs while living in</span><br><span>California.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Further, schools not licensed in California can only provide follow-up</span><br><span>to residents of California. They cannot provide community-based or</span><br><span>in-home training, which serves only to diminish the choices of</span><br><span>consumers living in California, solely because they live in</span><br><span>California. A consumer living in any other state in the United States</span><br><span>can take advantage of in-home training opportunities which are only</span><br><span>available from a few schools which are not all licensed in California.</span><br><span>In-home training is important to people who have work or domestic</span><br><span>responsibilities that prevent them from attending a residential</span><br><span>program. Some consumers simply prefer to train with a dog in an</span><br><span>environment with which they are comfortable and familiar. However,</span><br><span>only a limited number of schools provide these opportunities because</span><br><span>their programs are based upon a residential model, and it is more</span><br><span>cost-effective to train users in this setting.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Finally, guide dog schools could better use the fees paid by their</span><br><span>programs to the Board for consumers and their programs. There is no</span><br><span>use for the fees paid to create an extra layer of regulation that add</span><br><span>nothing to existing standards and practices.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Thank you.</span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>On 4/19/17, Shannon Dillon <<a href="mailto:shannonldillon@gmail.com">shannonldillon@gmail.com</a>> wrote:</span><br><blockquote type="cite"><span>Good evening chapter presidents,</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Please share the following talking points and Business and Professions</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Committee contact information with your chapter members and others you</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>think would be interested.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Please send emails and letters, and/or make calls on April 20 and 21.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span> to the committee members and Elissa Silva, the Consultant for the</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Committee. .</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span> The contact information and talking points are below. I will also</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>send a sample letter that can be personalized.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Overview:</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Assembly Business and Professions Committee will hear AB 1705 on April</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>25. The bill extends the life of the Guide dog board of California</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>until January 1, 2022. We are opposing its extension and working for</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>its repeal.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Committee Chair</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Assembly Business and Professions Committee</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Evan Low Dem Cupertino RM 4126</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>(916)-319-2028</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span><a href="mailto:Assemblymember.low@assembly.ca.gov">Assemblymember.low@assembly.ca.gov</a></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Action Needed:</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>*Write to the Committee Chair and each committee member below. But</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>particularly make sure to get a letter or email to the committee</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>chair, Evan Low.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>*Call the Committee, phone: 916.319.3301 and share talking points with</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>the person who answers.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>*Send emails to <a href="mailto:Elissa.Silva@asm.ca.gov">Elissa.Silva@asm.ca.gov</a>. Elissa is the Consultant for</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>the Assembly Business and Professions Committee.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>*Plan to attend the April 25 hearing. Room 4202 at 9:00 am. Contact</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Shannon Dillon at 415-218-5862 for more information or if you will</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>attend the hearing on April 25.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>*Please feel free to share your email or letter with Shannon Dillon at</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span><a href="mailto:shannonldillon@gmail.com">shannonldillon@gmail.com</a>.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Talking Points:</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>The California State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind is a regulatory</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>body created by the Legislature in 1947. It was established at a time</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>when guidance and regulation of guide dog school programs in the State</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>of California was deemed necessary. The Board states that public</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>protection is the Board’s highest priority.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>But the Board has fought against consumers who tried to make changes</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>that would help guide dog users.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>In 2016, consumers/guide dog handlers authored a Bill, Senate</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Bill1331, to allow out-of-state guide dog schools to provide follow</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>up services, an important consumer need. Before SB 1331, the board</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>was denying California residents access to the follow-up services</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>provided by out-of-state schools which were not licensed by the Board.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Denying follow-up services endangered guide dog teams. It also limited</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>the choice of guide dog schools available to consumers living in</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>California. Rather than choosing a school that met their needs and</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>goals, guide dog users would have to choose a school that could</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>provide follow-up services in California.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>The Board opposed this bill, and yet Senate Bill 1331 was passed</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>unanimously in both Houses, and was signed by the Governor.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Senate Bill 1331 also required the Board to post a Fact Sheet on its</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>web site describing the purpose of the Board. Why did it take a Senate</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Bill to require the Board to post a simple Fact Sheet to explain the</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>purpose?</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Today, the majority of guide dog schools are members of the</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>International Guide Dog Federation, (I.G.D.F.), which accredits guide</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>dog school programs and monitors programs in the United States and</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>internationally. The Board used I.G.D.F. standards as a guide for</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>their own best practices.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>No other state has a board, and yet there is no evidence that</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>out-of-state schools perform significantly worse with respect to their</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>instruction than California schools. Schools self-regulate in an</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>appropriate manner through the IGDF. The board has out-lived its</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>usefulness, and the three schools in this state do not need to be</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>regulated to provide high quality instruction. Further, schools from</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>out of state should not have to have a license to provide guide dogs</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>and guide dog instruction to guide dog users in California. Guide dog</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>users should choose schools that meet their needs and goals. They</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>should not have to worry about whether a school is licensed by the</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Board.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Eliminating the Guide Dog Board is the right decision for guide dog</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>handlers and for all involved.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>We urge you to vote NO on AB 1705.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Committee Contact Info:</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Assembly Business and Professions Committee</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>1020 N. Street</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Sacramento, CA 95814</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Evan Low Dem Cupertino RM 4126</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>(916)-319-2028</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span><a href="mailto:Assemblymember.low@assembly.ca.gov">Assemblymember.low@assembly.ca.gov</a></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>To phone the committee, call 916.319.3301. To write other members,</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>address letters to the room number given with each name, State</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Capitol, Sacramento, 95814. You may also call the member phone</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>numbers given below.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>William P. Brough, Vice Chair Rep San Juan Capistrano Rm 3141</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Phone (916)-319-2073</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span><a href="mailto:assemblymember.brough@assembly.ca.gov">assemblymember.brough@assembly.ca.gov</a></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Dr. Joaquin Arambula Dem Fresno RM 5155</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>(916) 319-2031</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span> <a href="mailto:Assemblymember.arambula@assembly.ca.gov">Assemblymember.arambula@assembly.ca.gov</a></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Catharine B. Baker Rep San Ramon RM 2131</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>(916) 319-201</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span><a href="mailto:assemblymember.Baker@assembly.ca.gov">assemblymember.Baker@assembly.ca.gov</a></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Richard Bloom Dem Santa Monica Rm 2003</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>(916) 319-2050</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span><a href="mailto:assemblymember.Bloom@assembly.ca.gov">assemblymember.Bloom@assembly.ca.gov</a></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>David Chu Dem San Francisco RM 4112</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>(916) 319-2017</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span><a href="mailto:Assemblymember.chiu@assembly.ca.gov">Assemblymember.chiu@assembly.ca.gov</a></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Jordan Cunningham Rep San Luis Obispo Rm 4102</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>(916) 319-2035</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span><a href="mailto:Assemblymember.cunningham@assembly.ca.gov">Assemblymember.cunningham@assembly.ca.gov</a></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Brian Dahle Rep Redding Rm4098</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>(916) 319-2001</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span><a href="mailto:assemblymember.dahle@assembly.ca.gov">assemblymember.dahle@assembly.ca.gov</a></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Susan Talamantes Eggman Dem Stockton RM 4118</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>(916) 319-2013</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span><a href="mailto:assemblymember.eggman@assembly.ca.gov">assemblymember.eggman@assembly.ca.gov</a></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Mike A. Gipson Dem Gardena (RM 3173</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>916) 319-2064</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span><a href="mailto:Assemblymember.gipson@assembly.ca.gov">Assemblymember.gipson@assembly.ca.gov</a></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Timothy S. Grayson Dem Concord Rm 4164</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>(916) 319-2014</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span><a href="mailto:Assemblymember.grayson@assembly.ca.gov">Assemblymember.grayson@assembly.ca.gov</a></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Chris R. Holden Dem Pasadena RM 5136</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>(916)- 319-2041</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span><a href="mailto:assemblymember.holden@assembly.ca.gov">assemblymember.holden@assembly.ca.gov</a></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Kevin Mullen Dem San Mateo RM 3160</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>(916) 319-2022</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span><a href="mailto:assemblymember.mullin@assembly.ca.gov">assemblymember.mullin@assembly.ca.gov</a></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Marc Steinorth Rep Rancho Cucamonga, RM 5128</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>(916)-319-2040</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span><a href="mailto:Assemblymember.steinorth@assembly.ca.gov">Assemblymember.steinorth@assembly.ca.gov</a></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Philip Y. Ting Dem San Francisco RM 6026</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>(916) 319-2019</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span><a href="mailto:assemblymember.ting@assembly.ca.gov">assemblymember.ting@assembly.ca.gov</a></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>-- </span><br><span>SHANNON L. DILLON</span><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div></div></blockquote></body></html>