History of AB2072

A Brief History of AB 2072 from the Deaf Community Stakeholders’ point of view:2006: AB 2651 (Dave Jones) passes in Legislature requiring that ALL hospitals in California screen newborns’ hearing. Previously, screening occurs at hospitals that are approved by California Children’s Services.

2007: OptionSchools (currently “California Coalition”) approaches Assemblymember Dave Jones about writing a bill to modify California’s current Newborn Hearing Screening Program. Assemblymember Jones checks with Sheri Farinha of NorCal Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing regarding the Deaf community’s involvement on this request. Sheri Farinha is also a local representative for the California Coalition of Agencies Serving the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, commonly known as “California Coalition.” A meeting was set up with Dave Jones and related government people. In attendence were: Sheri Farinha, Ella Mae Lentz, Judy Gough, Bridgetta Bourne-Firl, Kevin Clark, Danielle Reader, Michele Berke and several others. Also present were representatives for OptionSchools: Theresa Bulger (representative for OptionSchools from outside California), CCHAT teachers and parents (one brought her Deaf twins who were students at CCHAT). After this meeting, Assemblymember Jones decided not to go forth with writing the bill.August 1, 2008 Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico’s (D-Newark) bill to provide improved notification about state special schools services to parents of children assessed for an individualized education program was signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The bill, AB 2555, passed the Assembly the previous month on a 75-0 vote. It is intended to make more parents aware of the services provided by the state’s three special schools – the California School for the Blind, in Fremont, and the California School for the Deaf, which has campuses in Fremont and Riverside.December 2008 to early 2009: OptionSchools tries again. They lobby many legislators and narrows down to State Senator Wiggins to persuade to introduce the bill. Senate Wiggins hosts a closed meeting with representatives from OptionSchools, Sheri Farinha and Tony Ronco attend. Senator Wiggins determines that because there is no consensus on the issue, she backs out from introducing the bill.February 2010: Unbeknownst to the Deaf community, Assemblymember Tony Mendoza (D-Los Angeles) introduces the bill titled AB 2072. It’s main sponsor is called “California Coalition.” Upon further research, we find it’s all representatives from OptionSchools in California. The bill refers to AB 2555 as “related bill.”March 2010: Alice McGill, Deputy Director of NorCal, while periodically checking bills introduced in the California State Legislature for any that are relevant to the Deaf community notices AB 2072 and alerts Sheri Farinha who then alerts the state-wide Deaf community. Mobilization for opposition to this bill begins.April 20, 2010: The Assembly Health Committee is the first policy committee to review the bill. The bill passes out of the committee with the minimum of 10 “ayes” required despite the Chair (Monning) opposing it and double the number of attendees opposing the bill than these supporting it.April 28, 2010: The bill is rushed to the full Assembly and it is voted on. It passes with 47 in favor and 7 opposed, and 26 abstaining (a large number). The bill goes to the Senate Rules Committee which will determine which policy committee will hear and vote on this bill before it goes to the full Senate.Early May 2010: The Senate Rules Committee refers the bill to the Senate Health Committee. AB 2072 will be reviewed on June 16, 2010