[Ct-nfb] legislative alert!

[ntwales]

Ilene - While the representative's phone number doesn't work, the 
committee phone number does: (860) 240-0440.  You should be able to 
leave a voicemail if no one picks up.
Lucia - Thanks for letting us know even at such short notice.
Nathanael

On 27.03.2013 10:44, Stanley Torow wrote:
> sorry lucia, i called and got no answer at either number.
> eileen torow
>
> -------------------------
>  Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] llee at nfbct.org
>  Wednesday, March 27, 2013 10:35 AM
>  NFB of CT list serve
>  [Ct-nfb] legislative alert!
>
>  Hi all,
>
> The Environment Committee of the state legislature is meeting today 
> at
> 11:00AM to vote on approving pending bills in their committee. HR6654
> is one of them. One section of this bill would remove BESB's first
> right to vending facilities in state parks that the DEEP maintains
> and, instead, open the facilities to the highest bidder. This would
> involve 3 state parks (Rocky Neck, Hammonassett, and Harkness) where
> blind people now run these vending stations. We apologize for the 
> late
> notice, but the agenda was just posted this morning. Please call the
> Environment Committee at 860-240-0440 to express disapproval of
> section 4 of HR6654. Also a call to Representative Craig Miner, who
> introduced this section, would be appreciated. His number
> 860-842-1423.
>
> Thanks,
> Lucia Lee
> NFB of CT
> 860-289-1971
>
>> In January, Rep Miner introduced HR5817 that proposed amending the
>> state statutes to exempt concessions provided by the DEEP from the
>> general requirement that such concessions be provided by the BESB.
>> This bill has apparently died. However, the wording has been
>> included into HR6654, which is on the Environment Committee's agenda
>> for Friday's public hearing. Here is the part that concerns the
>> concessions at DEEP-run parks Underlined sentences are proposed
>> additions; the entire Sec 4 is an addition to current statutes.
>>
>> Sec. 3. Subsection (a) of section 10-303 of the general statutes is
>> repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof
>> (_Effective from passage_):
>> (a) The authority in charge of any building or property owned,
>> operated or leased by the state or any municipality therein shall
>> grant to the Department of Rehabilitation Services apermit to
>> operate in such building or on such property a food service
>> facility, a vending machine or a stand for the vending of
>> newspapers, periodicals, confections, tobacco products, food and
>> such other articles as such authority approves when, in the opinion
>> of such authority, such facility, machine or stand is desirable in
>> such location. Any person operating such a stand in any such
>> location on October 1, 1945, shall be permitted to continue such
>> operation, but upon such person's ceasing such operation such
>> authority shall grant a permit for continued operation to the
>> Department of Rehabilitation Services. The department may establish
>> a training facility at any such location. The requirements of this
>> subsection shall not apply to any state park or forest under the
>> custody and control of the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental
>> Protection.
>> Sec. 4. (NEW) (_Effective from passage_) The Commissioner of Energy
>> and Environmental Protection shall issue a request for proposals for
>> the operation of the food service facilities located in the state
>> parks and forests under the custody and control of the commissioner
>> In awarding any contract for the operation of such food service
>> facilities, the commissioner shall award such contract to the
>> highest responsible bidder. Nothing in this section or section
>> 10-303 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, shall be
>> construed to prohibit the Bureau of Education and Services for the
>> Blind from bidding on any contract authorized pursuant to this
>> section.
>>
>>> -------- Original Message --------
>>> Subject: impending bill a concern
>>> From: "Chris Kuell" <>
>>>
>>> Hi Lucia,
>>>
>>> I heard that Representative Craig Miner, a Republican, has
>>> attached his bill to take away a blind vendor's first right of
>>> refusal to operate a vending facility in a state park to a bill
>>> being considered by the state Environmental Affairs Committee. If
>>> passed, this would immediately put 3 blind vendors in CT out of
>>> work, and of course, set a terrible precedence for future
>>> Randolph-Sheppard entrepreneurs. His bill became an amendment to a
>>> bill being considered by the environmental committee.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> chris