Author: Allison Viramontes-Nhan

Communication and Collaboration Committee Meeting
April 12, 2024
Draft Meeting Notes
Action Items: 
•	Ms. England will share information for the U.S. Access Board with Mr. Alas Bucton.
•	Several items will be moved forward to the next meeting where there is a quorum for approval. 

1.	Call to Order 

2.	Introductions
Anisa Escobedo – SILC Member/C and C Vice-Chair
Roque Alas Bucton – SILC Vice-Chair/C and C Member
Rian Dindzans – SILC Member
Connie Arnold – Disability Rights Advocate
Nicole Zacarias – Public Policy Coordinator, Independent Living County of Kern County (ILCKC)
Carrie England – SILC Executive Director
Allison Viramontes-Nhan - SILC Legislative Specialist
Danielle Hess - SILC Office Manager

3.	Public Comment
Ms. Arnold shared that on Monday, April 15, there will be a demonstration in Marin County of an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) that has been created to allow People with Disabilities to access trails and terrain that they would not otherwise be able to. This can be controlled using a joystick or scooter-type control. 

She also shared that there is a bill to amend titles 18 and 19 of the Social Security Act to require nursing facilities to permit essential caregivers at any time. The ability of people to thrive, especially those with Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related diagnosis, is hindered by not allowing visitation. She would also like to see a discussion about the Social and Self-Directed models of care. 

4.	SILC Member Updates
Mr. Alas Bucton asked if anyone knows about the U.S. Access Board, which provides oversight at the federal level on the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). He is looking for more information about a town hall they will be holding in Los Angeles next week. Ms. England offered to reach out to her federal contacts and send him more information. Ms. Arnold recommends getting on their email list. 

5.	Approval of Draft Minutes from February 9, 2024, Communication and Collaboration Committee Meeting 
There was not a quorum for this meeting, so this item will be held for approval at the next meeting. 

6.	Legislation Update
a.	Legislative Items for Review and Approval
April 26, 2024: Last day for policy committees to hear and report to fiscal committees’ fiscal bills introduced in their house.

i.	For Consideration Bills
Assembly Bills (14 Bills)
•	AB 1813 (Alanis) Senior Tenant Shallow Rental Subsidy Program of 2024: housing grants. STATUS: 1/29/24 Referred to Assembly Health & Community Development.
•	AB 1885 (Addis) 1885 Student Success Completion Grant program. (NEW BILL) STATUS: 4/10/24 In the Assembly Appropriations Committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to Suspense file. 
•	AB 1906 (Gipson) California Law Revision Commission: persons with disabilities: terminology. STATUS: 3/14/24 In Assembly Appropriations Committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to Assembly Suspense file.
•	AB 1925 (Rendon) Childcare and development programs: eligibility. STATUS: 4/2/24 From Assembly Human Services Committee: Do pass and re-refer to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. 
•	AB 1938 (Gallagher) Special education: inclusive practices and strategies. STATUS: 3/6/24 In Assembly Education Committee: Hearing postponed by Committee.
•	AB 2002 (Sanchez) Vehicles: public safety: Blue Envelope Program. (NEW BILL) STATUS: 3/19/24: Coauthors revised. From Assembly Transportation Committee: Do pass and re-refer to the Assembly Appropriations Committee (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) 
•	 AB 2026 (Mathis) Disabilities: person-first terminology. STATUS: 3/12/24 In Assembly Judiciary Committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
•	AB 2173 Addis Special education: emotional disability. (NEW BILL) STATUS: 4/10/24 From Assembly Education Committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) 
•	AB 2415 (Carrillo, Juan) Cash assistance for aged, blind, and disabled immigrants. (NEW BILL) 
•	AB 2510 (Armbula) Dental care for people with developmental disabilities. (NEW BILL) STATUS: 4/9/24 Vote from Assembly Human Services Committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to the Assembly Higher Education Committee. 
•	AB 2541 (Bains) Peace officer training: wandering. (NEW BILL) STATUS: 4/10/24 From Assembly Public Safety: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) 
•	AB 2636 (Bains) Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act. (NEW BILL) STATUS: 4/1/24 Re-referred to Assembly Committee on Aging and Long Term Care. 
•	AB 2753 (Ortega): Rehabilitative and habilitative services: durable medical equipment and services. (NEW BILL) STATUS: 4/3/24 From Assembly Health Committee: Do pass and re-refer to the Assembly Appropriations Committee (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) 
•	AB 2821 (Grayson) Postsecondary education: students with disabilities. (NEW BILL) STATUS: 4/10/24 From Assembly Higher Education Committee: Do pass and re-refer to Assembly Appropriations Committee (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) 

Senate Bills (5 Bills)
•	SB 1196 (Blakespear) End of Life Option Act. (NEW BILL SUGGESTED BY SILC MEMBER) STATUS: 4/9/24 Set for hearing on April 23 in Senate Judiciary pending receipt. 4/22/24 Senate Health Committee 3pm or upon adjournment of Session, 1021 O Street, Room 2200 (Senator Roth Chair); 4/23/24 Senate Judiciary 9:30am, State Capitol, Room 112 (Senator Umberg Chair) 
•	SB 1285 (Laird) Driver’s license: disability identifiers. (NEW BILL) STATUS: 2/29/24 Referred to Senate Transportation Committee; 4/23/24 Senate Transportation Committee 1:30pm, 1021 O Street, Room 1200 (Senator Cortese Chair)
•	SB 1362 (Newman) Qualified ABLE Program: CalABLE accounts: funding. (NEW BILL) STATUS: 4/4/24 Set for hearing April 15; 4/15/24 Senate Human Services 3pm or upon adjournment of Session, 1021 O Street, Room 2200 (Senator Alvarado-Gil Chair)
•	SB 1384 (Dodd) Powered wheelchairs: repair. (NEW BILL) STATUS: 4/5/24 Set for hearing April 15; 4/15/24 Senate Appropriations Committee 10am, 1021 O Street, Room 2200 (Senator Caballero)
•	SB 1486 (Dahle) Accessibility: internet websites. (NEW BILL) STATUS: 4/8/24 Senate Judiciary April 23 hearing postponed by committee.

Bills For Consideration from the Federal Legislature (2 Bills Total)
•	H.R. 5408 (Representative Brian Higgins) The Supplementary Security Income (SSI) Savings Penalty Elimination Act. STATUS: 2/5/24 Representative Davis (IL) asked unanimous consent that he may be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 5408, a bill originally introduced by Representative Higgins, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings. Agreed to without objection. Not officially updated as of April 2024.
•	H.R. 6640 (Representative Jimmy Panetta) Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act.  STATUS: 12/8/23 Referred to the Subcommittee on Health

Mx. Dindzans asked if AB2002, the Blue Envelope Program, will include training for Police Officers on how to work with people with disabilities. They were told that there aren’t details available yet, but there should be some training and education aspect of the bill. 

Ms. Arnold shared information about SB125 and SB1121, which deal with accessible transportation and assessment issues. She recommends more discussion and possibly a speaker to present about Assisted Suicide issues. She would also like to see each bill discussed individually, instead of all as a group. 

ii.	Watchlist Bills
Assembly Bills (8)
•	AB 280 (Holden) Segregated confinement. STATUS: 9/14/23 Failed the necessary Legislative Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(14). May be acted upon Jan 2024.
•	AB 438 (Rubio, Blanca) Pupils with exceptional needs: individualized education programs: postsecondary goals, and transition services. STATUS: 3/6/24 Read second time. Ordered to Senate Third Reading.
•	AB 486 (Kalra) Long-term health facilities: citation appeals. STATUS: 7/14/23 Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was JUD. on 6/14/2023) (May be acted upon Jan 2024)
•	AB 817 (Pacheco) Open meetings: teleconferencing: subsidiary body. STATUS: 1/25/24 Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 54. Noes 8.) In Senate. Read first time. To Senate Rules Committee for assignment. 
•	AB 846 (Bonta) Low-income housing credit: rent increases. STATUS: 1/30/24 Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 59. Noes 6.) In Senate. Read first time. To Senate Rules Committee for assignment.
•	AB 1006 (McKinnor) Aging and Disability Resource Connection program: No Wrong Door System. STATUS: 9/1/23 This bill was held under submission and has failed the necessary Legislative Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). May be acted upon Jan 2024.
•	AB 1157 (Ortega) Rehabilitative and habilitative services: durable medical equipment and services. STATUS: 9/1/23 This bill was held under submission and has failed the necessary Legislative Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). May be acted upon Jan 2024.
•	AB 1672 (Haney) In-Home Supportive Services Employer-Employee Relations Act. STATUS: 7/14/23 Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was L., P.E. & R. on 6/14/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)

Senate Bills (4)
•	SB 37 (Caballero) Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities Housing Stability Act. STATUS: 1/29/24 Read third time. Passed (Ayes 36. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
•	SB 445 (Portantino) Special education: individualized education programs: translation services. STATUS: 9/14/23 Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(14). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/12/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)
•	SB 483 (Holden) Pupil rights: prone restraint. STATUS: 1/29/24 Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
•	SB 585 (Niello) Disability access: construction-related accessibility claims: statutory damages: attorney’s fees and costs. STATUS: 7/14/23 This bill was held under submission and has failed the necessary Legislative Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). May be acted upon Jan 2024.

Federal Legislature SILC Watchlist
•	H.R. 7138 (Representative Raúl M. Grijalva) The Supplementary Security Income (SSI) Restoration Act. STATUS: 1/30/24 Introduced in House of Representatives and Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

iii.	Possible Action and/or Educational Letters
1.	Liberators for Justice “Recommitment to IL” Letter: Virtual Letter 
There was not a quorum for this meeting, so this item will be held for discussion at the next meeting. 

b.	Legislative Items for Consideration from SILC Members
i.	State or Federal Legislation: SB 1196 (Blakespear) End of Life Option Act
There was not a quorum for this meeting, so this item will be held for discussion at the next meeting.
 
c.	Current Events and Updates
There were no new items for SILC members to report. 

7.	Advocacy and Collaborations – Request from Members or Partner Organizations 
a.	YO! Disabled and Proud Updates
Ms. Escobedo shared that the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) is in transition and does not have a YO! Representative at this time, but they will be kept on the agenda for the future. 

b.	Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities (YLF)
Ms. Hess shared that the agenda for the program has been set and speakers have been confirmed. There are 54 Delegates approved at this time, and the staff application is available online at the California Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (CCEPD) YLF webpage. Members are welcome to contact her with any questions. 

c.	California Association of Public Authorities for IHHS (CAPA) Updates
Ms. Viramontes-Nhan shared that there are no updates from Kim Rothschild at CAPA. 

d.	Suggestions for Speakers and Topics
Ms. Arnold suggested that she would like to see a discussion of three additional bills about transportation, and changes for essential caregiver access to facilities. She would also like to see a discussion of Social vs. Self-Directed care models. 

8.	Summary of Activities Requiring Follow-Up at Next Meeting
a.	Next Meeting May 10, 2024 

9.	Adjourn