AMENDED IN SENIOR SENATE OCTOBER 31, 2012

AMENDED IN SENIOR ASSEMBLY OCTOBER 30, 2012

SENIOR ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL NO. 33

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER DOROTHY SORENSEN

(PRINCIPAL COAUTHOR: SENIOR SENATOR JOHN SORENSEN)

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AP 33: BUILDING STANDARDS: STAIRWAY WARNINGS FOR SIGHT-IMPAIRED SENIORS

UNDER EXISTING LAW, PUBLIC BUILDINGS ARE SUBJECT TO VARIOUS ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS. EXISTING LAW REQUIRES THAT SPECIFIED STRIPING BE PLACED IN FRONT OF STAIRS IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE TACTILE SURFACES, OTHER THAN THOSE USUALLY IDENTIFIED AS YELLOW OR GREY RAISED KNOBS, TO BE PLACED BEFORE STAIRWAYS IN BUILDINGS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC AS A WARNING FOR SIGHT-IMPAIRED SENIORS.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AP 33: RELATING TO BUILDING STANDARDS

WHEREAS, SIGHT-IMPAIRED SENIORS DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT WARNING THAT THEY ARE APPROACHING A STAIRWAY IN A BUILDING ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC; AND

WHEREAS, FALLING DOWN STAIRS IS A MAJOR CAUSE OF INJURY AND SOMETIMES DEATH, ESPECIALLY WITH SENIORS; AND

WHEREAS, SIGHT-IMPAIRED SENIORS NEED TO KNOW THEY ARE NEAR STAIRS AND THAT A HAZARD EXISTS; AND

WHEREAS, TACTILE MATS, USUALLY IDENTIFIED AS YELLOW OR GREY RAISED KNOBS, HELP SIGHT IMPAIRED SENIORS RECOGNIZE THE END OF A SIDE WALK AND WARN THEM THAT THEY ARE COMING TO A TRAFFIC AREA; AND

WHEREAS, THE INSTALLATION OF TACTILE SURFACES OF SIMILAR DESIGN BEFORE STAIRWAYS IN BUILDINGS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC WILL PREVENT MANY ACCIDENTS FOR SIGHT IMPAIRED SENIORS AND GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO PROCEED SAFELY TOWARD STAIRS; 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 2012 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT TACTILE SURFACES, OTHER THAN THOSE USUALLY IDENTIFIED AS YELLOW OR GREY RAISED KNOBS, BE PLACED BEFORE STAIRWAYS IN BUILDINGS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC SO THE SIGHT-IMPAIRED WILL BE AWARE THEY ARE COMING TO A STAIRWAY; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING, THE OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY, THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAZARD ASSESSMENT, AND THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION, TO TAKE ACTION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; 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.

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