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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=MsoPlainText>Hi All!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> We wish to update you on today's progress of the Blind Parents Right to Parent Bill (A2113/S4407). This afternoon, S4407 passed in the Senate 61 to 1 and now has been returned to the Assembly who it is the Speaker's responsibility to send A2113/S4407 to the Governor's desk.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> This is fantastic news and we wish to thank the hard efforts over the past several years of the members of this affiliate getting us to this stage!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> After the Governor signs the bill, it will go into effect three months<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> (90 days) after it has become law. So there is still time left until the legislation becomes law, but we have passed one of the largest hurdles of getting it passed in both the Assembly & Senate!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> On behalf of the legislation committee, thank you all and we will continue to follow up with any continuing updates related to the Governor's action on this matter.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Justin Young<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal'><b>From:</b> president@nfbny.org <president@nfbny.org> <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, June 2, 2021 9:37 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'new-york-news@nfbnet.org' <new-york-news@nfbnet.org><br><b>Subject:</b> UPDATE: ** IMPORTANT CALL TO ACTION ** You immediate action is needed<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Hi All: This is an update of the message we sent yesterday. The Children and Families Committee of the Senate reported our bill out favorably. Accordingly, there is no need to email or call Senator Brisport's office. The bill is now on its way to the Senate floor, and will hopefully come to the floor for a vote any day.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>We may still need to email or call Senator Stewart-Cousins, depending on the progress of the bill this evening. We will keep you informed. Please watch your email before making any calls or sending any emails.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Ray<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal'><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:president@nfbny.org">president@nfbny.org</a> <<a href="mailto:president@nfbny.org">president@nfbny.org</a>> <br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, June 1, 2021 5:51 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:new-york-news@nfbnet.org">new-york-news@nfbnet.org</a><br><b>Subject:</b> ** IMPORTANT CALL TO ACTION ** You immediate action is needed<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hi All:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope you are well and safe. We need to act quickly on the Blind Persons’ Right to Parent Act.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Assembly bill, A 2113 passed unanimously. This is a huge step for us because it has died there in past years. Now we need to get it through the Senate. It passed unanimously in the previous legislature, but is now stuck in the Children and Families Committee, which Senator Jabari Brisport now chairs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We need to flood Senator Brisport’s office with phone calls and emails urging him to move the bill through his committee, so it can go to the senate floor. We also need to call and email the Majority Leader, Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and ask her to bring it to the floor for a vote. It will pass if it gets to the floor, but it has to get there first.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The bill number is S 4407, sponsored by Senator Kevin Parker. We need everyone who can make a phone call or send an email to do so this Thursday, June 3. I will provide their office phone numbers and emails below. So if you can’t make a call or send an email during regular business hours, you can leave a voicemail or send an email at any time that day. Let’s overload their voicemail and email boxes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>When calling Senator Brisport’s office, please provide your name and general location, eg., Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. State that you are calling in support of S 4407, the Blind Persons’ Right to Parent Act, and ask that he report it favorably out of the Children and Families Committee, so it can move to the senate floor. If you are a blind parent, state that, and talk about how this bill is important to you personally.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>When calling Senator Stewart-Cousins’ office, provide the same information as above, and ask that she allow the bill to come to the floor for a vote. Again, if you are a blind parent, say so. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We can get this done if we all work on it. Senator Brisport’s office number is 518-455-3451. His email is<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:brisport@nysenate.gov">brisport@nysenate.gov</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Senator Stewart-Cousins’ phone is 518-455-2715, and her email is<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:scousins@nysenate.gov">scousins@nysenate.gov</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Note: her last name is hyphenated, but her email address does not contain a hyphen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you have any questions, please contact any of us. Let’s bring an end to the discrimination that blind parents have faced for far too long.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Legislation Committee <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ray Wayne, Chair<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>