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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Dear Federation Family,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Below please read information from Lucia on upcoming Appropriations and Budget hearings. You can testify online if you are unable to make your way to Hartford. Please read these. They are important to our children’s future.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Thank you,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Maryanne Melley<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><a href="mailto:maryanne.melley@gmail.com"><span style='color:#467886'>maryanne.melley@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>860-212-5549<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>A dream does not become reality through magic: it takes sweat, determination and hard work<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> llee@nfbct.org <llee@nfbct.org> <br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, February 13, 2025 3:54 PM<br><b>To:</b> maryanne.melley@gmail.com<br><b>Subject:</b> 2025 Appropriations Committee information<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Maryanne,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Below are links to the Appropriations Committee’s sub-committee assignments as well as a schedule for agency budget presentations and public hearings. Below those two items are links to the budget ending June 2025. Do a ‘find’ for Blind and information for Educational Aid for Children-Blind & Visually Impaired will be among the other lines that come up. I’m thinking that this information would be crucial for making our opinions known regarding children’s services at BESB. It looks like the Department of Aging & Disability Services presentation and public hearing will be held on February 24<sup>th</sup>. Let me know if there’s anything else I can help with.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lucia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Schedule for state agency budget presentations and public hearings:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.cga.ct.gov/app/docs/2025/2025%20Schedule%20of%20Agency%20Budget%20Presentations%20and%20Public%20Hearings.pdf">https://www.cga.ct.gov/app/docs/2025/2025%20Schedule%20of%20Agency%20Budget%20Presentations%20and%20Public%20Hearings.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2025 Appropriations Sub-Committee Assignments:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.cga.ct.gov/app/docs/2025/2025%20-%202026%20Appropriations%20Subcommittee%20Assignments.pdf">https://www.cga.ct.gov/app/docs/2025/2025%20-%202026%20Appropriations%20Subcommittee%20Assignments.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>First, in 2024, there was a bill (HB5048) to amend the current budget. No changes were made to Children’s Services: $4,873,907<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.cga.ct.gov/2024/TOB/H/PDF/2024HB-05048-R00-HB.PDF">https://www.cga.ct.gov/2024/TOB/H/PDF/2024HB-05048-R00-HB.PDF</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Next, in 2025, there is a proposed change (HB6863) to add $200,000 to Children’s Services for the current fiscal year ending June 2025.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/TOB/H/PDF/2025HB-06863-R00-HB.PDF">https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/TOB/H/PDF/2025HB-06863-R00-HB.PDF</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Finally, in 2025, the proposed biennial budget (HB6864) proposes $5,036,360 as a budget for Educational Aid for Children – Blind & Visually Impaired; the same for both years.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/TOB/H/PDF/2025HB-06864-R00-HB.PDF">https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/TOB/H/PDF/2025HB-06864-R00-HB.PDF</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>