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. (a) The commission shall design and implement a program to
provide a telecommunications device capable of serving the needs of
individuals who are deaf or hearing impaired, together with a single
party line, at no charge additional to the basic exchange rate, to a
subscriber who is certified as an individual who is deaf or hearing
impaired by a licensed physician and surgeon, audiologist, or a
qualified state or federal agency, as determined by the commission,
and to a subscriber that is an organization representing individuals
who are deaf or hearing impaired, as determined and specified by the
commission pursuant to subdivision (h). A licensed hearing aid
dispenser may certify the need of an individual to participate in the
program if that individual has been previously fitted with an
amplified device by the dispenser and the dispenser has the
individual's hearing records on file prior to certification. In
addition, a physician assistant may certify the needs of an
individual who has been diagnosed by a physician and surgeon as being
deaf or hearing impaired to participate in the program after
reviewing the medical records or copies of the medical records
containing that diagnosis.
(b) The commission shall also design and implement a program to
provide a dual-party relay system, using third-party intervention to
connect individuals who are deaf or hearing impaired and offices of
organizations representing individuals who are deaf or hearing
impaired, as determined and specified by the commission pursuant to
subdivision (h), with persons of normal hearing by way of
intercommunications devices for individuals who are deaf or hearing
impaired and the telephone system, making available reasonable access
of all phases of public telephone service to telephone subscribers
who are deaf or hearing impaired. In order to make a dual-party relay
system that will meet the requirements of individuals who are deaf
or hearing impaired available at a reasonable cost, the commission
shall initiate an investigation, conduct public hearings to determine
the most cost-effective method of providing dual-party relay service
to the deaf or hearing impaired when using a telecommunications
device, and solicit the advice, counsel, and physical assistance of
statewide nonprofit consumer organizations of the deaf, during the
development and implementation of the system. The commission shall
apply for certification of this program under rules adopted by the
Federal Communications Commission pursuant to Section 401 of the
federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-336).
(c) The commission shall also design and implement a program
whereby specialized or supplemental telephone communications
equipment may be provided to subscribers who are certified to be
disabled at no charge additional to the basic exchange rate. The
certification, including a statement of visual or medical need for
specialized telecommunications equipment, shall be provided by a
licensed optometrist, physician and surgeon, or physician assistant,
acting within the scope of practice of his or her license, or by a
qualified state or federal agency as determined by the commission.
The commission shall, in this connection, study the feasibility of,
and implement, if determined to be feasible, personal income
criteria, in addition to the certification of disability, for
determining a subscriber's eligibility under this subdivision.
(d) (1) The commission shall also design and implement a program
to provide access to a speech-generating device to any subscriber who
is certified as having a speech disability at no charge additional
to the basic exchange rate. The certification shall be provided by a
licensed physician, licensed speech-language pathologist, or
qualified state or federal agency. The commission shall provide to a
certified subscriber access to a speech-generating device that is all
of the following:
(A) A telecommunications device or a device that includes a
telecommunications component.
(B) Appropriate to meet the subscriber's needs for access to, and
use of, the telephone network, based on the recommendation of a
licensed speech-language pathologist.
(C) Consistent with the quality of speech-generating devices
available for purchase in the state.
(2) The commission shall adopt rules to implement this subdivision
and subdivision (e) by January 1, 2014.
(e) All of the following apply to any device or equipment
described in this section that is classified as durable medical
equipment under guidelines established by the United States
Department of Health and Human Services:
(1) It is the intent of the Legislature that the commission be the
provider of last resort and that eligible subscribers first obtain
coverage from any available public or private insurance.
(2) The commission may require the subscriber to provide
information about coverage for any or all of the cost of the device
or equipment that is available from any public or private insurance,
the cost to the subscriber of any deductible, copayment, or other
relevant expense, and any related benefit cap information.
(3) The total cost of any device or equipment provided to a
subscriber under this section shall not exceed the rate of
reimbursement provided by Medi-Cal for that device or equipment.
(f) Nothing in this section requires the commission to provide
training to a subscriber on the use of a speech-generating device.
(g) The commission shall establish a rate recovery mechanism
through a surcharge not to exceed one-half of 1 percent uniformly
applied to a subscriber's intrastate telephone service, other than
one-way radio paging service and universal telephone service, both
within a service area and between service areas, to allow providers
of the equipment and service specified in subdivisions (a), (b), (c),
and (d) to recover costs as they are incurred under this section.
The surcharge shall be in effect until January 1, 2020. The
commission shall require that the programs implemented under this
section be identified on subscribers' bills, and shall establish a
fund and require separate accounting for each of the programs
implemented under this section.
(h) The commission shall determine and specify those statewide
organizations representing the deaf or hearing impaired that shall
receive a telecommunications device pursuant to subdivision (a) or a
dual-party relay system pursuant to subdivision (b), or both, and in
which offices the equipment shall be installed in the case of an
organization having more than one office.
(i) The commission may direct a telephone corporation subject to
its jurisdiction to comply with its determinations and specifications
pursuant to this section.
(j) The commission shall annually review the surcharge level and
the balances in the funds established pursuant to subdivision (g).
Until January 1, 2020, the commission may make, within the limits set
by subdivision (g), any necessary adjustments to the surcharge to
ensure that the programs supported thereby are adequately funded and
that the fund balances are not excessive. A fund balance that is
projected to exceed six months' worth of projected expenses at the
end of the fiscal year is excessive.
(k) In order to continue to meet the access needs of individuals
with functional limitations of hearing, vision, movement,
manipulation, speech, and interpretation of information, the
commission shall perform ongoing assessment of, and if appropriate,
expand the scope of the program to allow for additional access
capability consistent with evolving telecommunications technology.
(l) The commission shall structure the programs required by this
section so that a charge imposed to promote the goals of universal
service reasonably equals the value of the benefits of universal
service to contributing entities and their subscribers.