Real Fishy About AB 2072's So-Called Advisory "Stakeholder " Group

The revised AB 2072 bill with 16 amendments back to last August 2nd, 2010 is much worst than the original bill. It is definitely written by the lobbyists vested in the cochlear implant companies and AVT schools.

Look at the faction from one amendment in concern for the so-called stakeholder "advisory group" -

(c) (1) The department shall convene an advisory stakeholder panel
to contribute to the development of the informational pamphlet
required pursuant to subdivision (a). The members of the panel shall
receive no compensation for their services, but shall be allowed the
actual necessary traveling expenses incurred in the discharge of
their duties. The panel shall be composed of eleven members, as
follows:
  (A) An adult who is deaf or hard of hearing, and who uses
auditory-oral language, appointed by the Governor.
  (B) An adult who is deaf or hard of hearing, and who uses visual
language, appointed by the Governor.
  (C) An educator of the deaf in an auditory-oral educational
setting, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
  (D) An educator of the deaf in a visual language education
setting, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
  (E) A parent representative of a child who primarily uses
auditory-oral communication methods, appointed by the Governor.
  (F) A parent representative of a child who primarily uses visual
language, appointed by the Governor.
  (G) A representative of a nonprofit organization that services
primarily auditory-oral learners, appointed by the Speaker of the
Assembly.
  (H) A representative of a nonprofit organization that services
primarily visual language learners, appointed by the Speaker of the
Assembly.
  (I) A researcher engaged in the study of auditory-oral
communication for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, appointed
by the Governor.
  (J) A researcher engaged in the study of visual language and
communication modalities for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing,
appointed by the Governor.
  (K) The Secretary for Education, who shall be an ex officio
member.
  (2) (A) All members of the panel shall be appointed no later than
January 1, 2012. An appointee to the panel shall not serve for more
than five years.
  (B) No member of the panel may have a financial relationship or a
conflict of interest with any entity that has contributed funding
pursuant to subdivision (f).
  (3) Subject to subdivision (f), the panel shall commence
operations on January 1, 2012. The panel shall provide
recommendations to be included in the pamphlet developed pursuant to
subdivision (a) six months after the panel commences operations.
Every two years thereafter, the department shall review the pamphlet
and shall revise the information, if the department determines that
new or revised information is necessary. At the request of the
department, the panel may be asked to reconvene to review updates and
changes to the pamphlet. The panel shall then have three months to
review and provide additional recommendations to the department.
  (4) The department and the panel shall consider written input and
information submitted by members of the general public in the
creation of the pamphlet.
  (d) The panel shall remain in existence until January 1, 2017.
  (e) The pamphlet developed pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be
made available in Cantonese, English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The
pamphlet developed pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be made
available on the department's Internet Web site and the
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board's Internet Web site.
  (f) (1) There is hereby created the Language and Communication for
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children Fund in the State Treasury. The
fund shall contain donations that have been collected and deposited
for the purposes of this section, as well as any federal funds made
available for purposes of this section. Notwithstanding Section
16305.7 of the Government Code, the fund shall also contain any
interest and dividends earned on moneys in the fund. No entity may
contribute moneys to this fund that participates in a lobbying
activity or has a financial relationship or any other conflict of
interest, with, any appointed panel members, or that stands to
benefit financially from the outcome of the pamphlet development. No
state funds shall be used to implement this section.
  (2) Subject to paragraph (3), moneys in the Language and
Communication for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children Fund shall be
available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the
implementation of this section.
  (3) No moneys shall be expended from the fund until the Director
of Finance determines that sufficient money is in the fund to
implement this section. If sufficient money is in the fund, the
Director of Finance shall file a written notice thereof with the
Secretary of State. Subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive, shall not be
implemented until moneys in the fund are appropriated for purposes of
this section.
  (g) Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 124116, as used in
this section, "department" means the State Department of Education.

The creation of advisory board is definitely controlled by the hearing people, 
no possibility of "average citizen being given such opporunity to serve on the 
advisory board. Why the individuals ought to be appointed by the Governor and the 
Senate Rules Committee (Tony Mendoza serve on this standing committee. Remmy my latest 
blog posting?)

ASlize yours,
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLMDEAF blog