SENIOR SENATE FEDERAL PROPOSAL NO. 1

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR FAUSTMAN

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SFP 1:  REHABILITATION ENTITLEMENT FOR PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND

UNDER EXISTING FEDERAL LAW, THERE IS A BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FUNDS TO THE STATES FOR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES TO SENIORS WHO ARE BLIND.

EXISTING LAW ALSO PROVIDES FOR FEDERAL MATCHING FUNDS TO STATES FOR THE PROVISION OF REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE BLIND.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CREATE A REHABILITATION ENTITLEMENT FOR PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND THAT IS ADEQUATE FOR REEDUCATION AND INDEPENDENCE.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SFP 1: RELATING TO REHABILITATION ENTITLEMENT FOR PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND

WHEREAS, THE NUMBER OF PERSONS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS WILL INCREASE EVERY YEAR. IT IS ESTIMATED BY 2010 THERE WILL BE 1.6 MILLION PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND IN THE COUNTRY; AND

WHEREAS, ACCORDING TO POLLS, VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IS CONSIDERED BY THE AVERAGE CITIZEN TO BE THE GREATEST HANDICAP; AND

WHEREAS, MOST PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND CANNOT AFFORD ASSISTIVE DEVICES, INCLUDING COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY, MAGNIFICATION DEVICES, BOOK-READERS, AND OTHER DEVICES THAT ASSIST THEM IN THEIR DAILY LIVES; AND

WHEREAS, FOUR PERCENT OF 80 YEAR OLDS ARE BLIND DUE TO MACULAR DEGENERATION, WITH AN ADDITIONAL ONE PERCENT BEING BLIND DUE TO CAUSES SUCH AS DIABETIC RETINOPATHY; AND

WHEREAS, A PERSON WHO IS BLIND IS NOT ENTITLED UNDER FEDERAL LAW TO STATE REHABILITATION SERVICES; AND

WHEREAS, LESS THEN $6 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUND IS APPROPRIATED TO SERVE 2.7 MILLION, APPROXIMATELY $2.22 PER PERSON, ELDERLY AMERICANS WHO ARE BLIND; AND

WHEREAS, THE NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND GROW EACH YEAR; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2005 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES TO CREATE A REHABILITATION ENTITLEMENT FOR PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND THAT IS ADEQUATE FOR REEDUCATION AND INDEPENDENCE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT 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 PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON AGING, AND TO EACH SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.