(a) There shall be established in the state government, on or before May 1, 2009, the California Commission on Disability Access. The commission shall consist of 11 public members, and six ex officio nonvoting members, appointed as follows:
(1) Two public members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, with one appointee from the business community and one appointee from the disability community. The Senate Committee on Rules shall request and consider nominations from the business community and the disability community for these appointments.
(2) Two public members appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, with one appointee from the business community and one appointee from the disability community. The Speaker of the Assembly shall request and consider nominations from the business community and the disability community for these appointments.
(3) Seven public members appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Senate. Four of the Governor’s appointees shall be from the disability community. Three appointees shall be from the business community, including an appointee representative from the California Business Properties Association. The Governor shall request and consider nominations from the business community and the disability community for these appointments.
(4) The State Architect, or his or her representative, as a nonvoting ex officio member.
(5) The Attorney General, or his or her representative, as a nonvoting ex officio member.
(6) Two members of the Senate, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules as nonvoting ex officio members. One member shall be from the majority party, and one member shall be from the minority party.
(7) Two members of the Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, as nonvoting ex officio members. One member shall be from the majority party, and one member shall be from the minority party.
(b) It is the intent of this section that the commission shall be broadly representative of the ethnic, gender, and racial diversity of the population of California. It is further the intent of this section that both of the following apply:
(1) The appointees from the disability community shall be persons with a disability relating to, but not limited to, vision, hearing, mobility, breathing, speech, cognitive, cardiac, emotional, developmental, learning, psychological, or immunological disabilities.
(2) The commission recruitment and appointment process shall engage in identifying qualified disability community representatives who should possess elements of the following qualifications:
(A) Identify as people with disabilities, activity limitations, or both.
(B) Have personal experience with disability and disability advocacy and the ability to speak broadly on disability access issues.
(C) Are knowledgeable about cross-disability access issues, including, but not limited to, hearing, vision, mobility, speech, and cognitive limitations.
(D) Are knowledgeable about a variety of physical, communication, and program access issues.
(E) Are involved with segments of national, state, or local constituencies of the disability community, such as active involvement in broad-based disability organizations.
(F) Have in place and use communication networks to facilitate communication with the segments of the disability community they are representing, including, but not limited to, segments of diverse ethnic, cultural, sex, sexual orientation, age, and linguistic communities that are representative of the diverse population of Californians with disabilities.
(c) Public members shall be appointed for three-year terms, except that, with respect to the initial appointees, the Governor shall appoint three members for a one-year term, two members for a two-year term, and two members for a three-year term. The Senate Committee on Rules and the Speaker of the Assembly shall each initially appoint one member for a two-year term and one member for a three-year term. Public members may be reappointed for additional terms.
(d) Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority for the unexpired portion of the terms.
(e) Beginning July 1, 2017, the California Commission on Disability Access shall reside within the Department of General Services.
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 19, Sec. 15. (AB 111) Effective June 27, 2017. Pursuant to Section 14985.11, continuing operation is contingent upon funding.)