SENIOR ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL NO.6

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER OLSON

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AP 6:  TELECOMMUNICATION CERTIFICATION

UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION IS REQUIRED TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE A TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE CAPABLE OF SERVING SUBSCRIBERS WHO ARE CERTIFIED AS DEAF OR HEARING IMPAIRED BY A LICENSED PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON, AUDIOLOGIST, QUALIFIED STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCY, OR LICENSED HEARING AID DISPENSER, AS SPECIFIED.  EXISTING LAW ALSO REQUIRES THAT THE COMMISSION DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED OR SUPPLEMENTAL TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT FOR SUBSCRIBERS WHO ARE CERTIFIED AS DISABLED BY A LICENSED OPTOMETRIST, PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON, OR A FEDERAL AGENCY, AS SPECIFIED.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD AUTHORIZE NURSE PRACTITIONERS, SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, AND PHYSICAL THERAPISTS TO CERTIFY INDIVIDUALS AS DISABLED FOR PURPOSES OF ELIGIBILITY FOR THESE TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMS.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AP 6: RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICATION CERTIFICATION

WHEREAS, SOME INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, PARTICULARLY SENIORS, NEED SPECIALIZED TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICES, BUT FIND THE EXTRA MEDICAL AND TRAVEL EXPENSES INVOLVED IN SEEING A SPECIALIST FOR THE CERTIFICATION CURRENTLY REQUIRED TO BE AN OBSTACLE; AND

WHEREAS, SENIORS ARE THE LARGEST CONSUMER GROUP IN THIS CERTIFICATION PROGRAM; AND

WHEREAS, THE STATE OPERATES PROGRAMS UNDER WHICH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CERTIFIED AS ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM MAY RECEIVE ACCESSIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICES; AND

WHEREAS, MANY SENIORS WHO USE THE PROGRAM HAVE PROGRESSIVE ARTHRITIS AND OTHER PHYSICAL PROBLEMS THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD THE TELEPHONE RECEIVER, OR HAVE SEVERE VISION OR HEARING PROBLEMS; AND

WHEREAS, THE INABILITY TO COMMUNICATE BY TELEPHONE CREATES AN ATMOSPHERE OF ISOLATION, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WITH A MEDICAL CONDITION THAT LIMITS MOBILITY; AND

WHEREAS, NURSE PRACTITIONERS, SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, AND PHYSICAL THERAPISTS POSSESS THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY TO CERTIFY DISABLED INDIVIDUALS; AND

WHEREAS, MANY DISABLED INDIVIDUALS WHO REQUIRE THE USE OF SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT IN ORDER TO ACCESS THE TELEPHONE ALREADY SEE A NURSE PRACTITIONER, SPEECH PATHOLOGIST, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, OR PHYSICAL THERAPIST; AND

WHEREAS, THIS PROPOSAL WOULD LIKELY NOT IMPACT THE STATE BUDGET; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2003 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT NURSE PRACTITIONERS, SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, AND PHYSICAL THERAPISTS BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF MEDICAL PROVIDERS WHO ARE AUTHORIZED TO SIGN THE NECESSARY CERTIFICATION FORM FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR THESE DISABLED ACCESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMS; AND BE IT

FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

RN0316388

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