Our Vision Statement: Disability Rights California will create individual and family supports, chosen and directed by the person with a disability

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Legislative outcomes

November 2, 2009 (Updated December 14, 2009)

This year’s legislative session ended with mixed results for people with disabilities. While most of our efforts were focused on defeating the horrific budget cuts, there were several important bills making their way through the capitol. Below, is a quick review of the ones with the most impact on people with disabilities:

Disability Rights California sponsored legislation:

AB 214 (Chesbro): Would have made health plans cover durable medical equipment (DME) such as wheel chairs, ventilators, hospital beds, and walkers. Keeps health plans from paying smaller amounts for DME than they would for other health services. Did not pass.

AB 287 (Beall): Makes the State Council on Developmental Disabilities create an Employment First Committee. The committee would help make job opportunities available to people with developmental disabilities. Signed by the Governor.

AB 1538 (Ma): Limits how special education staff can restrain students with disabilities. Stops them from using restraint that could cause serious harm or death. Currently a two-year bill.

SB 781(Leno): Makes Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly tell why a person is being evicted in the eviction notice. Explains their right to appeal the eviction. Signed by the Governor.

Signed:

AB 398 (Monning) Support: Moves the Traumatic Brain Injury Program from the Department of Mental Health to the more appropriate Department of Rehabilitation.

AB 1269 (Brownley) Support: Lets people with disabilities who are not working continue to have health insurance for up to 26 weeks through the California Working Disabled Program – a program under Medi-Cal.

AB 1422 (Bass) Support: Continues funding for the California Healthy Families Program by taxing the profits of Medi-Cal managed care health plans.

SB 290 (Leno) Support: Keeps the law that makes a landlord give at least 60 days notice before evicting a tenant. If the tenant has lived there less than one year, they have to give 30 days notice.

SB 630 (Steinberg) Support: Makes health plans cover dental or orthodontic services in certain cases.  They must be provided when the services are part of reconstructive surgery or needed to fix a cleft palate.

Did not make it to the Governor’s desk:

AB 421 (Beall) Oppose Unless Amended: Would have made the state pay the school district or county when a child is placed in for-profit out-of-state placements pursuant to an IEP.  Right now only non-profit placements are paid for by the state.  This bill did not make it out of the Appropriations Committee.

AB 438 (Beall) Support: Would have made more programs to treat people with developmental disabilities charged with nonviolent crimes.  People would be treated in these programs instead of going to jail or prison.  This bill did not make it out of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 465 (Huff) Oppose: People would have had to show a picture ID before they could get a ballot and vote. This bill did not make it out of the Senate Elections Redistricting and Constitutional Amendments Committee.