Good News! AB 1934 Signed into Law

Last week we received good news in our continuing effort to protect people with I/DD from sexual assault, abuse and neglect. Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Assembly Bill 1934, introduced and carried for us by Assemblyman Reginald Jones-Sawyer, the Assembly Public Safety Committee chair.

Our bill clarifies that people with disabilities are protected by the elder and “dependent adult” and “dependent person”  abuse, neglect and sexual assault laws regardless of the fact that they live independently. The bill also repeals unintended insulting language that equates “dependent adults” and elders with children.

It passed the Assembly 66-0 and trhe Senate 36-0 and becomes law January 1.

Greg deGiere, Civil Rights Advocate, The Arc of California