New 2024 Laws to Strengthen Disability Rights
Marin Center for Independent Living, along with local, regional and statewide partners, supported and educated the public on 8 new bills.
All 8 bills went to the Governor’s desk for signature. Governor Newsom has signed six of these bills into law. These laws will positively affect people with disabilities, older adults, disabled students and their parents, and service providers.
SB 1384 (Dodd) – Powered wheelchairs: Right to Repair
Empowers consumers and independent repair businesses by allowing them to fix/maintain their own powered wheelchairs. Requires manufacturers to furnish necessary information, tools, and replacement parts to owners or independent repair providers at fair and reasonable terms.
AB 653 (Reyes) – Federal Housing Voucher Acceleration Program
Brings Section 8 reform down to the state level and gives an additional layer of accountability and assistance to place housing choice vouchers. Creates a program to provide housing search assistance, landlord incentives, and deposit resources to help tenants with vouchers find and secure apartments in low poverty neighborhoods.
AB 846 (Bonta) – Low-Income Housing Credit: Rent Increases
Prohibits a project assisted by the low-income housing tax credit from increasing rent for a unit more than the amount permitted by the program because of an increase in the area median gross income, or an unspecified amount, whichever is less.
AB 2821 (Grayson) – Postsecondary education: students with disabilities.
Requires higher education institutions to provide a Disability Access and Compliance Training Program. Ensures that students with disabilities’ needs are fully met and that they can access the accommodations and supportive services they need for success as college students.
AB 3193 (Calderon) – State acquisitions of rehabilitation goods & services.
Permits the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) to award a contract for assistive technology devices without competition or advertising if the value of the purchase is less than $10,000 and meets specified requirements. Exempts these DOR contracts from the state procurement regulatory structure administered by the Department of General Services.
SB 483 (Cortese) – Pupil rights: prone restraint.
SUMMARY: Prohibits all California schools from using “prone restraint” – a disciplinary technique involving the behavioral restraint of students in a facedown position.