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<DIV id=wmQuoteWrapper>-------- Original Message --------<BR>Subject: House Bill 6654 / threat to blind concessionaires in state<BR>parks<BR>From: "Norton, Andrew" <<a href="mailto:Andrew.Norton@ct.gov">Andrew.Norton@ct.gov</a>><BR>Date: Mon, April 15, 2013 4:35 pm<BR><BR><o:SmartTagType name="PostalCode" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name="Street" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name="address" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType>
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<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue">Hello all:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue"> House Bill 6654, An Act Concerning Sportsmen Related Revisions to the General Statutes, is the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Connecticut</st1:State></st1:place> 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 <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Connecticut</st1:place></st1:State> 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 <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hartford</st1:place></st1:City>. 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></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue">Sections 3 and 4 of HB 6654 would change the state law (<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Conn.</st1:place></st1:State> 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></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; 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></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue">House Democrats (860) 240-8500 or toll free (800) 842-1902<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue">House Republicans (800) 240- 8700 or toll free at (800) 842-1423<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue">Senate Democrats (800) 240-8600 or toll free at (800) 842-1420<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue">Senate Republicans (800) 240-8800 or toll free at (800) 842-1421<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; 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></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue">You can also send a letter to any legislator addressed with their name at the State Capitol - <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">300 Capitol Avenue</st1:address></st1:Street> - <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Hartford</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Connecticut</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">06106</st1:PostalCode></st1:place>. 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></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; 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></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue">Andrew Norton<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue">Legislative Liaison<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue">Department of Rehabilitation Services <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue">(860) 602-4078</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT color=blue><SPAN style="COLOR: blue"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
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<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue"><A href="http://www.cga.ct.gov/" target=_blank>http://www.cga.ct.gov/</A> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><A href="http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/TOB/H/2013HB-06654-R01-HB.htm" target=_blank>http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/TOB/H/2013HB-06654-R01-HB.htm</A><FONT color=blue><SPAN style="COLOR: blue"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><B><FONT color=blue size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></span></body></html>