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<p class="MsoNormal">Wow, this is pretty historic and exciting.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do you think PA and other states will follow suit?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We shall see what happens.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Congrats to all!!!:-)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Preston</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sent from <a href="https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986">
Mail</a> for Windows</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;padding:0in"><b>From: </b><a href="mailto:mdabs@nfbnet.org">Maryland President via MDABS</a><br>
<b>Sent: </b>Thursday, April 6, 2023 2:11 PM<br>
<b>To: </b><a href="mailto:nfb-maryland@nfbnet.org">nfb-maryland@nfbnet.org</a>; <a href="mailto:nfbmd@nfbnet.org">
nfbmd@nfbnet.org</a>; <a href="mailto:greater-baltimore@nfbnet.org">greater-baltimore@nfbnet.org</a>;
<a href="mailto:nfbmdtlc-chapter@nfbnet.org">nfbmdtlc-chapter@nfbnet.org</a>; <a href="mailto:central-md-chapter@nfbnet.org">
central-md-chapter@nfbnet.org</a>; <a href="mailto:md-atlarge@nfbnet.org">md-atlarge@nfbnet.org</a>;
<a href="mailto:md-sligo@nfbnet.org">md-sligo@nfbnet.org</a>; <a href="mailto:nationalharbor@nfbnet.org">
nationalharbor@nfbnet.org</a>; <a href="mailto:mabm@nfbnet.org">mabm@nfbnet.org</a>;
<a href="mailto:mdabs@nfbnet.org">mdabs@nfbnet.org</a>; <a href="mailto:mdpobc@nfbnet.org">
mdpobc@nfbnet.org</a>; <a href="mailto:md-baltimore-county@nfbnet.org">'NFB of Maryland, Baltimore County List'</a><br>
<b>Cc: </b><a href="mailto:president@nfbmd.org">Maryland President</a><br>
<b>Subject: </b>[MDABS] Congratulations to Us! Accessible Prescription Labels - HB 456</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Federation Family,<br>
Congratulations! Just moments ago, the Maryland Senate passed HB 456,<br>
Accessible Prescription Labels for Blind, Visually Impaired, and Print<br>
Disabled Individuals. This bill now just awaits Governor Moore's signature.<br>
Under this bill, the Maryland Board of Pharmacies must promulgate<br>
regulations that will go into effect no later than January 1, 2025, to<br>
require that Maryland pharmacies provide prescription labels, bag tags, and<br>
guides in accessible format for those who are blind, low vision, or<br>
otherwise print disabled. Pharmacies must also have information readily<br>
available and accessible so that patients know accessible labeling is<br>
available. The accessible prescription labels, bag tags, and guides must be<br>
made available at no additional cost to the patient and in the same<br>
timeframe as prescriptions with standard labels. The Board of Pharmacy must<br>
work with the blind community when promulgating these regulations. Finally,<br>
the Maryland Department of Health must conduct an analysis by December 1,<br>
2023, to determine if there are ways to help off-set the cost of the labels<br>
and labeling technology for certain types of pharmacies.<br>
<br>
<br>
In a nutshell, as of January 1, 2025, any of us in Maryland should be able<br>
to walk into our local pharmacy or call in a prescription, tell them we want<br>
accessible labels in Braille or large print or audio, and get those<br>
prescriptions with the label type of our choice, at no extra cost to us, in<br>
the same timeframe as any other patient.<br>
<br>
I would urge those who can to send an email to our sponsor, Delegate Michele<br>
Guyton - Michele.Guyton@house.state.md.us - to thank her and her staff for<br>
their extraordinary work on this bill.<br>
<br>
Also, thank you to each of you who testified, attended a hearing, wrote a<br>
letter, made a phone call, or worked to see this bill move from idea to law.<br>
Special thanks to our brilliant Director of Legislation and Advocacy, Sharon<br>
Maneki, for all of her hard work. I had a front-row seat for the literally<br>
dozens of meetings, in person visits, and conversations with everyone from<br>
the legislature to the Governor's Office to the Pharmacists Association to<br>
the Maryland Retailers Association to the Maryland Hospital Association and<br>
so on for this bill, and Sharon, per usual, handled them masterfully.<br>
<br>
Relatedly, SB 940 just, again, moments ago, received a favorable report from<br>
the House Health and Government Operations Committee and should be on the<br>
House floor for second reader this afternoon or tomorrow morning. Even<br>
though HB 456 has already passed both houses, it's always wonderful to also<br>
get the cross-file across the finish line too.<br>
<br>
More to come on SB 940!<br>
<br>
Yours,<br>
Ronza<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Ronza Othman, President<br>
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<br>
443-426-4110<br>
Pronouns: she, her, hers<br>
<br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Maryland President <president@nfbmd.org> <br>
Sent: Wednesday, April 5, 2023 8:47 PM<br>
To: 'nfb-maryland@nfbnet.org' <nfb-maryland@nfbnet.org>; 'nfbmd@nfbnet.org'<br>
<nfbmd@nfbnet.org>; 'greater-baltimore@nfbnet.org'<br>
<greater-baltimore@nfbnet.org>; 'nfbmdtlc-chapter@nfbnet.org'<br>
<nfbmdtlc-chapter@nfbnet.org>; 'central-md-chapter@nfbnet.org'<br>
<central-md-chapter@nfbnet.org>; 'md-atlarge@nfbnet.org'<br>
<md-atlarge@nfbnet.org>; 'md-sligo@nfbnet.org' <md-sligo@nfbnet.org>;<br>
'nationalharbor@nfbnet.org' <nationalharbor@nfbnet.org>; 'mabm@nfbnet.org'<br>
<mabm@nfbnet.org>; 'mdabs@nfbnet.org' <mdabs@nfbnet.org>;<br>
'mdpobc@nfbnet.org' <mdpobc@nfbnet.org>; 'NFB of Maryland, Baltimore County<br>
List' <md-baltimore-county@nfbnet.org><br>
Subject: RE: Update: Accessible Prescription Labels - HB 456 and SB 940<br>
<br>
Hi Everyone,<br>
Here's an update on our Accessible Prescription Labels legislation.<br>
<br>
SB 940 was moved out of the House Rules Committee this morning and is before<br>
the House Health and Government Operations Committee. They have a voting<br>
session tomorrow and Friday, so we're hopeful it'll get out on time to get<br>
to the House floor before Monday. I've been speaking with the Chair of HGO,<br>
and she's committed to do what she can to get it out.<br>
<br>
Meanwhile, HB 456, the House Companion, has come before the Senate earlier<br>
this week for what is called second reader, and we're just waiting on the<br>
Senate to vote on third reader. We thought that would happen today, but the<br>
Senate adjourned early for Passover. So tomorrow's a great day to listen to<br>
the Senate Stream because once HB 456 is passed by the Senate, we just need<br>
Governor Moore's signature for it to become law.<br>
<br>
So if you want to listen to the Senate stream tomorrow (Thursday) to see our<br>
bills hopefully get final passage both for HB 456 and for SB 535, go to:<br>
<a href="https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/">https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmgaleg.maryland.gov%2Fmgawebsite%2F&data=05%7C01%7C%7C084032bc602d4714670408db36ca6659%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638164015161589852%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kPn545qSuS4TwgYVKNr7aLjRGTfwOPpPl5FV1TFflYQ%3D&reserved=0</a><br>
<br>
The Senate is scheduled to convene at 10AM, but they nearly always start<br>
late. Just keep refreshing the browser until the link changes from<br>
"adjourned" to "convened" and then select "play" on the browser. The page<br>
will automatically update as bills are heard and voted on. <br>
<br>
<br>
Ronza Othman, President<br>
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<br>
443-426-4110<br>
Pronouns: she, her, hers<br>
<br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Maryland President <president@nfbmd.org> <br>
Sent: Saturday, April 1, 2023 8:57 AM<br>
To: 'nfb-maryland@nfbnet.org' <nfb-maryland@nfbnet.org>; 'nfbmd@nfbnet.org'<br>
<nfbmd@nfbnet.org>; 'greater-baltimore@nfbnet.org'<br>
<greater-baltimore@nfbnet.org>; 'nfbmdtlc-chapter@nfbnet.org'<br>
<nfbmdtlc-chapter@nfbnet.org>; 'central-md-chapter@nfbnet.org'<br>
<central-md-chapter@nfbnet.org>; 'md-atlarge@nfbnet.org'<br>
<md-atlarge@nfbnet.org>; 'md-sligo@nfbnet.org' <md-sligo@nfbnet.org>;<br>
'nationalharbor@nfbnet.org' <nationalharbor@nfbnet.org>; 'mabm@nfbnet.org'<br>
<mabm@nfbnet.org>; 'mdabs@nfbnet.org' <mdabs@nfbnet.org>;<br>
'mdpobc@nfbnet.org' <mdpobc@nfbnet.org>; 'NFB of Maryland, Baltimore County<br>
List' <md-baltimore-county@nfbnet.org><br>
Subject: RE: Update: Accessible Prescription Labels - HB 456 and SB 940<br>
<br>
Hi Everyone,<br>
The Senate passed out SB 940 earlier this week, and it is now at the House<br>
Rules and Executive Nominations Committee waiting to be assigned to the<br>
House and Government Operations Committee. Everything that gets passed past<br>
a certain date goes to Rules first and the relevant committee with<br>
jurisdiction has to pull it into their committee. Stay tuned, as if the<br>
bill does not get assigned to HGO early next week, we'll need your<br>
collective action. The current legislative session ends in 10 calendar<br>
days.<br>
<br>
HB 456 is in the Senate Finance Committee and is scheduled for a vote on<br>
Monday. We'll keep you posted on our progress.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Ronza Othman, President<br>
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<br>
443-426-4110<br>
Pronouns: she, her, hers<br>
<br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Maryland President <president@nfbmd.org> <br>
Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2023 7:10 AM<br>
To: 'nfb-maryland@nfbnet.org' <nfb-maryland@nfbnet.org>; 'nfbmd@nfbnet.org'<br>
<nfbmd@nfbnet.org>; 'greater-baltimore@nfbnet.org'<br>
<greater-baltimore@nfbnet.org>; 'nfbmdtlc-chapter@nfbnet.org'<br>
<nfbmdtlc-chapter@nfbnet.org>; 'central-md-chapter@nfbnet.org'<br>
<central-md-chapter@nfbnet.org>; 'md-atlarge@nfbnet.org'<br>
<md-atlarge@nfbnet.org>; 'md-sligo@nfbnet.org' <md-sligo@nfbnet.org>;<br>
'nationalharbor@nfbnet.org' <nationalharbor@nfbnet.org>; 'mabm@nfbnet.org'<br>
<mabm@nfbnet.org>; 'mdabs@nfbnet.org' <mdabs@nfbnet.org>;<br>
'mdpobc@nfbnet.org' <mdpobc@nfbnet.org>; 'NFB of Maryland, Baltimore County<br>
List' <md-baltimore-county@nfbnet.org><br>
Subject: Update: Accessible Prescription Labels - HB 456 and SB 940<br>
<br>
Hi All,<br>
Congratulations! On Saturday, the Maryland House passed HB 456, Accessible<br>
Prescription Labels for Blind, Visually Impaired, and Print Disabled<br>
Patients. This bill was sponsored by our good friend and advocate, Delegate<br>
Michele Guyton. <br>
<br>
It moved to the Senate on Monday and we are very hopeful about it's chances.<br>
<br>
<br>
We had our hearing in the Senate on the cross-file of HB 456, which is SB<br>
940 this past Tuesday. Yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee issued a<br>
favorable report on SB 940, and it'll come to the full Senate for two rounds<br>
of vote starting this morning.<br>
<br>
What will happen next is that either the Senate will vote on whether to<br>
adopt the House bill, or provided the Senate bill passes out of the Senate,<br>
the House will vote whether or not to adopt the Senate bill. One chamber<br>
needs to adopt the other's by April 10 when the 2023 legislative session<br>
ends.<br>
<br>
Stay tuned, but for now, we celebrate!<br>
<br>
<br>
Ronza Othman, President<br>
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<br>
443-426-4110<br>
Pronouns: she, her, hers<br>
<br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: president@nfbmd.org <president@nfbmd.org> <br>
Sent: Tuesday, March 7, 2023 7:28 PM<br>
To: nfb-maryland@nfbnet.org; nfbmd@nfbnet.org; greater-baltimore@nfbnet.org;<br>
nfbmdtlc-chapter@nfbnet.org; central-md-chapter@nfbnet.org;<br>
md-atlarge@nfbnet.org; md-sligo@nfbnet.org; nationalharbor@nfbnet.org;<br>
mabm@nfbnet.org; mdabs@nfbnet.org; mdpobc@nfbnet.org; NFB of Maryland,<br>
Baltimore County List <md-baltimore-county@nfbnet.org><br>
Subject: Progress on Guide Dog Bill<br>
<br>
Hi everyone, we have some significant progress on our guide dog protection<br>
in housing legislation. The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee has voted<br>
the bill out of the committee with a favorable report. That means in the<br>
next few days, the bill will be considered by the full Maryland senate. The<br>
Senate will have two opportunities to consider the bill and debate it. If,<br>
on the second review, they vote to adopt it, it will then move over to the<br>
House of Delegates for their consideration. We will keep you posted as<br>
things progress, and hopefully things will move quickly now <br>
<br>
Ronza Othman, President<br>
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<br>
443-426-4110<br>
Sent from my iPhone<br>
<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
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