California Assembly Bill AB2311 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2311AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 16, 2016 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Brown FEBRUARY 18, 2016 An act to add Sections 8588.20, 8598.5, and 8635.5 to the Government Code, relating to emergency services. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2311, as amended, Brown. Emergency services: sign language interpreters. Existing law establishes the Office of Emergency Services within the office of the Governor and under the supervision of the Director of Emergency Services and makes the office responsible for the state' s emergency and disaster response services for natural, technological, or manmade disasters and emergencies. Existing law requires every state agency and officer to cooperate with the secretary in rendering all possible assistance in carrying out the provisions of the act. This bill would require the office  , in cooperation with the Office for Access and Functional Needs,  to provide or contract for a disaster response sign language interpreter  certification   credential  program to train  individuals on the use of  American Sign Language  interpreters  to effectively communicate public safety information. The bill would additionally require every state agency and every local agency to utilize a sign language interpreter who has completed that  certification   credential  program to provide interpretation services at every media or public briefing  and any emergency shelter  where actionable information will be disseminated before, during, or after a state of war emergency, state of emergency, or local emergency. By increasing the duties of local officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 8588.20 is added to the Government Code, immediately following Section 8588.15, to read: 8588.20. The office  shall   shall, in cooperation with the Office for Access and Functional Needs, or its successor,  provide, or contract for, a disaster response sign language interpreter  certification   cred   ential  program, which shall train  persons on the use of  American Sign Language  interpreters  to effectively communicate public safety information. SEC. 2. Section 8598.5 is added to the Government Code, to read: 8598.5. Every state agency shall utilize a sign language interpreter who  has completed the disaster response sign language interpreter certification program as   holds a disaster response sign language interpreter credential pursuant to the program  specified in Section 8588.20, to provide interpretation services at every media or public briefing  and any emergency shelter  where actionable information will be disseminated before, during, or after a state of emergency, state of war emergency, or local emergency. SEC. 3. Section 8635.5 is added to the Government Code, to read: 8635.5. The governing body of a local agency shall utilize a sign language interpreter who  has completed the disaster response sign language interpreter certification program as   holds a disaster response sign language interpreter credential pursuant to the program  specified in Section 8588.20, to provide interpretation services at every media or public briefing  and any emergency shelter  where actionable information will be disseminated before, during, or after a state of emergency, state of war emergency, or local emergency. SEC. 4. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.