March 4, 2013
Adopt policy regarding interns and the awarding of an English Learner Authorization. Direct staff to develop 1) proposed regulations for the Commission to consider at the April 2013 meeting, and 2) a process to work with intern programs regarding how programs will plan to provide preparation for the English Learner Authorization to interns who do not already hold this authorization.
Legislative Positions
Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act
February 4, 2013
The reauthorization of VAWA is critical for protecting the civil and human rights of American women to be free from domestic violence.
Incentives for Nondiscriminatory Wellness Programs in Group Health Plans
January 25, 2013
We appreciate some of the protections that the Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services have included in the proposed rule and believe that those protections will help prevent discrimination against people with disabilities in workplace wellness programs. More protections are needed, however. And most importantly, it is critical that the final rule makes clear that wellness programs must also comply with requirements and prohibitions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Elections Code section 2196(e)(2)
September 14, 2012
We are very concerned that the new system is not fully accessible for individuals who would use a screen reader program to complete the online voter registration process.
Civil Rights Tax Relief Act
September 7, 2012
Lawsuits involving employment and civil rights laws are often difficult to settle because of the inequitable tax treatment of settlements and awards in these cases as required by current law.
Inpatient Rehabilitation
September 6, 2012
The LCD denies patients admission to rehabilitation hospitals and hospital-based rehabilitation units based upon their diagnosis alone, rather than an individualized assessment of their condition by a physician and a team of rehabilitation professionals.
Clarifying Amendment to the Pratt-Smoot Act
September 5, 2012
Approximately two million people who are currently unable to read print, a small subset of people with disabilities, would become eligible under the bill.
SB 1186
August 31, 2012
SB 1186 requires that attorneys provide copies of demand letters alleging discrimination caused by violations of construction-related accessibility law by covered entities to the California State Bar for review, reduces money damages for incidences of disability discrimination by public accommodations that are currently commonly available under the Unruh Act, and prohibits attorneys and persons from making a prelitigation demand for money except in limited circumstances.
Welfare and Institutions Code – Public Social Services
August 31, 2012
While DREDF recognizes the importance of appropriate confidentiality and privacy rights, the DPH's restriction of unredacted reports was reduntant and counter-productive. It created delays that could have jeopardized the well-being of the individuals the California P&A agency is mandated to protect. SB 1377 ensures that the P&A agency has timely access to abuse and neglect reporting that is critical to the success of its federally mandated mission to protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
The Government Code – Family and Medical Leave
August 1, 2012
Increases the circumstances under which an employee is entitled to protected leave pursuant to the Family Rights Act by (1) eliminating the age and dependency elements from the definition of "child," thereby permitting an employee to take protected leave to care for his or her independent adult child suffering from a serious health condition, (2) expanding the definition of "parent" to include an employee's parent-in-law, and (3) permitting an employee to also take leave to care for a seriously ill grandparent, sibling, grandchild, or domestic partner, as defined.