SACRAMENTO – Several bills authored by Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis) moved closer to the Governor’s desk after moving out of various policy committees and, in one instance, the Assembly floor, in the last two weeks. The bills, which range from equal access for the disabled to emerging technology and the due process of autistic defendants in the criminal justice system, all passed with little opposition.
“These are good ideas turned into good bills,” said Wolk. “That’s the way the system is supposed to work. Each of these bills will make a difference if signed into law.”
AB 1985 (Wolk), which permits insurers to retain electronic copies of claim forms in auto theft-related claims, passed the State Assembly with a 71-9 vote this week. Existing law requires an insurer, in the case of any claim arising from the theft of an insured vehicle prior to the settlement of the claim, to secure a claim form from the insured containing specified information, and to retain the original claim form for at least 3 years. This bill would allow the insurer to meet the requirement regarding retention of the claim form by retaining an electronic copy.
AB 1987 (Wolk), which passed the Assembly Education Committee this week with an 11-0 vote, gives high school students greater access to Regional Occupational Programs (ROP). Current law allows any 10th grader turning 16 prior to the start of their sophomore year to enroll in ROP. Since many 10th graders do not turn 16 until mid-way through the school year, students are not able to enroll in ROP until their 11th grade year. AB 1987 would expand access of ROP programs to students turning 16 at any point during tenth grade.
AB 1981 (Wolk), which passed the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee last week with a 12-0 vote, allows disabled people to keep up with emerging technology such as accessible cellular phones. The bill would give the disabled, blind, or deaf the option of having either a land-based (residential) line telephone with accessible features, or a cellular phone with accessible features as provided by the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program (DDTP). Accessible mobile technology may include devices that use voice-activated dialing, cell phones compatible with TTY (teletypewriter) or hearing aids, verbal phonebooks, text messagers and pagers.
AB 1956 (Wolk), which passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee, corrects a deficiency in the law relating to diversion of disabled people from the criminal justice system toward services for the developmentally disabled. The key feature of this bill changes the definition of eligibility for diversion from "mentally retarded" to "Cognitive Developmental Disability,” which includes: Mental retardation, autism, or neurological deficits similar to mental retardation or autism.
“It’s exciting to see my colleagues recognize these bills’ importance,” said Assemblywoman Wolk. “I look forward to working with the governor to pass them into law.”