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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";font-weight:normal'> Norton, Andrew [mailto:Andrew.Norton@ct.gov] <br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Sent:</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";font-weight:normal'> Monday, April 15, 2013 4:35 PM<br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>To:</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";font-weight:normal'> BESB-DL All Users; Sylvestre, Alan; 'brucewoodie@msn.com'; 'chrisb274@gmail.com'; 'e.g.akers@sbcglobal.net'; 'mcdodd3020@sbcglobal.net'; 'johnsonp@ciboakhill.org'; 'bdemaio@newbritainct.gov'; 'randa.utter@cga.ct.gov'; 'gillispiegeorge@sbcglobal.net'; 'ckuell@comcast.net'; 'fairbanks@ldeo.columbia.edu'; 'iancr@comcast.net'; 'llee@nfbct.org'; 'sbaecker@snet.net'; 'jaykronfeld@sbcglobal.net'; 'famigliettis@ciboakhill.org'; 'info@nfbct.org'; 'pacvi2@aol.com'; 'erival@comcast.net'; 'carolyn.messier@aol.com'; 'optometric.assoc01@snet.net'; 'Eyecare@inclima.net'; 'epinnod@aol.com'; 'Dr.george.adrian@snet.net'; 'Westendeyecare@snet.net'; 'ks@drkimstevens.com'; 'Rkinkade@optonline.net'; 'rstrand@eyecarect.com'; 'optometric.assoc01@snet.net'; 'Drswsm@yahoo.com'; 'bboogie@snet.net'; 'davidparke@comcast.net'; 'larrykline@bigplanet.com'; Filippone, Jennifer; 'enfield-eyecare@cox.net'; 'mgenlot@snet.net'; 'r.h.tyler@sbcglobal.net'; 'lighthouse63@gmail.com'; White, Dee A.; Gerundo-Murkette, Margaret A.; 'ks@drkimstevens.com'; Mawson, Stacie J; 'maryellen.barbiasz@hknc.org'; Blewett, Kathleen K.; 'rjcloonan@comcast.net'; 'waltersd@ciboakhill.org'; 'Sandy.Inzinga@asd-1817.org'; Morgan, Siobhan C; 'jbperacchio@gmail.com'; Thal, Stephen; 'funnytomkaren@gmail.com'; 'dawgmawm@gmail.com'; 'charlie@visiondynamics.com'; Cunnane, Brian; Dombrowski, Stephen; 'c.rafala@snet.net'; 'clow@independenceunlimited.org'; 'sbaecker@crisradio.org'; 'jbperacchio@gmail.com'; 'dgregoire@liberty-bank.com'; 'judith.tencza@med.va.gov'; 'stovallb@ciboakhill.org'; '5040psbs@cox.net'; 'c.ford3@sbcglobal.net'; 'alfredthompsonjr@yahoo.com'; 'davescoffee@juno.com'; Reitano, Andrew; 'lewis_andrews@sbcglobal.net'; 'mvlagocki@aol.com'; 'dave.figley@snet.net'; 'famigliettis@ciboakhill.org'; 'ajackson212@att.net'; 'junerose@startsimply.com'; 'eileen.healy@independencenorthwest.org'; 'tlacava@drcfc.org'; 'marcanthony@cdr-ct.org'; 'ferrycathy@yahoo.com'; 'magallucci@aol.com'; 'momforch@yahoo.com'; 'slkush93@att.net'; 'cheleot@comcast.net'; 'Rachriste1@cs.com'; 'diana200561@yahoo.com'; 'f_roberts@comcast.net'; 'joenerney@charter.net'; 'Raymo@Intergate.com'; Mandry, Marisel; 'marysilverfox@gmail.com'; 'Rb8876@aol.com'; 'khaley18@comcast.net'; 'pvlandis@ncc.commnet.edu'; 'Barbara.blejewski@sbcglobal.net'; 'dwdunne@crisradio.org'; Miles, Sandra; 'connecticutcounciloftheblind@gmail.com'; 'lbphtom@gmail.com'; 'futureeyecare2020@gmail.com'; Friedman, Sharon; 'nyemapinkney@comcast.net'; 'carlnoll@sbcglobal.net'; 'AlbanB@aol.com'; 'emtelk@earthlink.net'; 'diannmurray1@gmail.com'; 'emmbee4@yahoo.com'; 'e.email@snet.net'; 'daria@ctsilc.org'; 'centeroftheblind@sbcglobal.net'; Reddick, Gordon; 'bob.gorman@independencenorthwest.org'; SOTS LEAD<br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Subject:</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";font-weight:normal'> House Bill 6654 / threat to blind concessionaires in state parks<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:blue'>Hello all:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:blue'> House Bill 6654, An Act Concerning Sportsmen Related Revisions to the General Statutes, is the Connecticut legislative bill that would hurt certain persons with blindness. If passed, it would take away blind citizens’ first right or option to operate a store or snack shop at a state park. Blind entrepreneurs have had this right in Connecticut law since the 1940’s. House Bill 6654 was recently passed by the Environment Committee and is now heading to the state house floor in Hartford. It will appear on the House Calendar tomorrow and will be eligible for voting by Thursday; it can be voted on any time after that.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:blue'>Sections 3 and 4 of HB 6654 would change the state law (Conn. Gen Stat. Sec.10-303) that gives blind business people the first right to operate a retail or food concession on government properties. The bill would exclude state parks from this long-standing program. The Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) and its BESB bureau strongly oppose this change to the law. It will put current blind operators out of business and take away that opportunity for future blind operators as well. We hope that the legislature will remove Sections 3 and 4.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:blue'>If you would like to call your State Representative or State Senator to ask them to oppose Sections 3 and 4 of House Bill 6654, you can reach their State Capitol office by phone through the following numbers – <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:blue'>House Democrats (860) 240-8500 or toll free (800) 842-1902<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:blue'>House Republicans (800) 240- 8700 or toll free at (800) 842-1423<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:blue'>Senate Democrats (800) 240-8600 or toll free at (800) 842-1420<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:blue'>Senate Republicans (800) 240-8800 or toll free at (800) 842-1421<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:blue'>I listed the House numbers first because that is the first chamber that will vote on the bill.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:blue'>You can also send a letter to any legislator addressed with their name at the State Capitol - 300 Capitol Avenue - Hartford, Connecticut 06106. You can also visit the legislature’s website for more information. For example, there is a tool to help you find your legislator by typing in your address. The first link at the bottom of this e-mail below my name is to the legislative website. The second link will take you to House Bill 6654 itself.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:blue'>By the way, the other sections of the bill do deal with sportsmen-related issues such as bear hunting and license fees. Please feel free to call me if you need assistance or have a question.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:blue'>Andrew Norton<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:blue'>Legislative Liaison<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:blue'>Department of Rehabilitation Services <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:blue'>(860) 602-4078<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:blue'><a href="http://www.cga.ct.gov/">http://www.cga.ct.gov/</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/TOB/H/2013HB-06654-R01-HB.htm">http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/TOB/H/2013HB-06654-R01-HB.htm</a><span style='color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>