California Assembly Bill AB2430 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2430INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Chesbro FEBRUARY 19, 2010 An act to amend Section 19020 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to blind individuals. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2430, as introduced, Chesbro. Department of Rehabilitation: blindness. Under existing law, the Department of Rehabilitation provides comprehensive, coordinated, effective, efficient, and accountable programs of vocational rehabilitation and independent living for individuals with disabilities, particularly individuals with the most severe disabilities, so that these individuals may prepare for and engage in gainful employment and live more independently. Existing law requires the department to recommend to each organization or agency, the purpose of which is to provide services to the blind, that receives grants or contracts from the department the number of blind members of the board that is appropriate to meet the needs of the community being served by that board. This bill would, instead, require that an organization or agency whose sole purpose is to provide services to the blind or visually impaired, that receives grants or contracts from the department, have at least 20% blind or visually impaired individuals as board members. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 19020 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 19020. (a)  On and after July 1, 1993,   At least 20 percent of  the  department shall recommend to   board of  each organization or  agency, the purpose of which   agency whose sole mission  is to provide services to individuals who are  blind,   blind or visually impaired,  that receives grants or contracts from the department,  the number of   shall be  blind  members of the board that is appropriate to meet the needs of the community being served by that board   or visually impaired individuals  . (b) As used in this section, "blind" means the same as defined in Section 12050 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.