Summary

Would require the provision of designated reading assistance services to a recipient of services under the IHSS program who is blind or visually impaired, or has another disability that affects his or her ability to read.
VETOED...
To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 238 without my signature.

I strongly support the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program
which provides services to low-income aged, blind or disabled persons
so they can remain safely in homes. My Administration has worked
hard to secure more than 1.7 billion in federal funds to protect
these important services. However, I cannot support expanding the
program's scope to include reading services. This expansion would add
more than one million dollars in new costs at a time of ongoing
budget challenges. We must balance our need for important program
services with our fiscal reality.

For these reasons, I am returning AB 238 without my signature.

Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Background

Existing law provides for the county-administered IHSS program, under which, either through employment by the recipient, or by or through contract by the county, qualified aged, blind, and disabled persons receive services enabling them to remain in their own homes.
Under existing law, county welfare departments are required to provide visually impaired applicants and recipients with information on, and referral services to, entities that provide reading services to visually impaired persons.

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