Urgent Call To Action — Protect Our Professions And The Deaf Community Now

PROTECT OUR PROFESSIONS AND THE DEAF COMMUNITY NOW: HTTPS://WWW.LAPASSOCIATION.COM/TAKE-ACTION

AB 1850, the clean-up bill to create more exemptions to AB 5, has moved from the State Assembly to the Senate, but still does NOT have our amendments included!

We are running out of time.  We must get this done in the Senate, our last and best hope. Without an exemption, we are under AB 5, with the loss of autonomy for ICs and other effects that will likely be significant and ongoing. And despite the huge budget shortfall, Governor Newsom still has $20 million allotted for AB 5 enforcement.

Reminder: Because the impact is so huge and potentially devastating to the D/HH professions and community, the vast majority of Realtime Captioners and Sign Language Interpreters have not yet felt the impact of AB 5. Please understand that incorporating, having a business license, thinking the business-to-business exemption will work, or ignoring this law and hoping for the best may not shield us whatsoever.

Why must the bill be amended? AB 1850 fails to protect your right to work through agencies. It only safeguards ICs who work solely and directly with their own customers. That leaves those who choose to work with agencies facing a cutoff in California. Professional, quality, equal access to communication for millions of Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Californians is in danger.

Don’t be silent. Direct contact with lawmakers bears fruit in bringing attention and understanding of our issues. Leadership has signaled that they want to listen. But without your voice, they do not know anything about you or what you do. You can make a difference. It is now more important than ever to tell the State Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins to protect your livelihood and the people you serve: Add an exemption to AB 1850 for Realtime Captioners and Sign Language Interpreters!

HERE ARE THE CURRENT RECOMMENDED ACTION STEPS:

Get in touch with Senate Leadership:  It works.  (Even if you’ve written and called before, please do it again!)  Everything you need is below and/or click here for all details:  https://www.lapassociation.com/take-action

1.) PHONE CALLS – VERY HELPFUL:

Senator Toni Atkins    (916) 651-4039

President pro Tempore of the Senate

SUGGESTED SCRIPT:

“Hello, I am calling on behalf of Sign Language Interpreters and Realtime Captioners with regard to AB 1850, the clean-up bill for AB 5. We firmly support this bill if amended to include an exemption for Realtime Captioners and Sign Language Interpreters. They provide crucial ADA-mandated services to the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community. It is imperative that these individuals have meaningful, unrestricted access to these services. Thank you in advance for your support.”

 

2.) EMAIL – FAST & EASY: Write your own letter, or download a letter template from: https://www.lapassociation.com/take-action

Send to:

TO: Senator.atkins@senate.ca.gov

CC: Assemblymember.Gonzalez@assembly.ca.gov, Shubhangi.Domokos@asm.ca.gov, Assemblymember.rendon@assembly.ca.gov, George.wiley@asm.ca.gov, Cesar.Diaz@sen.ca.gov,  

Senator.Hill@senate.ca.gov, Gideon.Baum@sen.ca.gov, Stuart.Thompson@gov.ca.gov, languageaccessprof@gmail.com

 

3.) SNAIL MAIL- THE BEST (use the same letter):

• Again, find template here: https://www.lapassociation.com/take-action
• Every letter received is opened, logged, and routed to the proper consultant.
• Write letter to Senator Toni Atkins; then make copies, and mail those to Rendon, Gonzalez, Hill, and Gov. Newsom Attn: Stuart Thompson.
• IMPORTANT, please be sure to scan a copy of your letter and email to languageaccessprof@gmail.com We need a big bundle of letters for our lobbyist to display and put on lawmakers’ desks, or virtual desks.
• NOTE: As a gay woman, Senator Atkins actively supports the rights of the LGBTQ community and women, and may be receptive to the stories of these individuals and businesses.

Address letter to:

Senator Toni Atkins
President pro Tempore
State Capitol, Room 205
Sacramento, CA 95814

 

Photocopy and snail mail copies to these four leaders:

Honorable Lorena Gonzalez
Assemblymember, 80th District
State Capitol Room 2114
Sacramento, CA 95814

 

Assemblymember Anthony Rendon
Speaker of the Assembly
State Capitol, Room 219
Sacramento, CA 95814

 

Senator Jerry Hill
State Capitol, Room 5035
Sacramento, CA 95814

 

Governor Gavin Newsom
1303 10th Street, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
ATTN:  Stuart Thompson, Chief Deputy Legislative Secretary

 

DON’T FORGET to scan a copy and email to us at: languageaccessprof@gmail.com

 

4.) CONSIDER DONATING TO OUR COALITION’S LOBBYIST: He is working hard on our behalf.  https://www.lapassociation.com/take-action

 

5.) IN ADDITION TO WRITING AND CALLING, sign our petition (individuals – anyone can sign) or endorse us (organizations/businesses). Ask others to do the same.  https://www.lapassociation.com/take-action

 

HOW TO GET AND STAY CONNECTED WITH LAPA

Website: https://www.lapassociation.com/

EMAIL: Languageaccessprof@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ab5infoLAPA/

Please post and pass this along to everyone you know who cares about the rights of D/HH providers and the Deaf community!

PLEASE TAKE ACTION ASAP AND SHARE WIDELY, THANK YOU!