[Nfbc-info] SB1109 hearing next Tuesday and other information

Mon Apr 21 19:11:16 UTC 2014

try sending it directly to ben.hueso at sen.ca.gov. I haven't tried it but 
looking at the email format of the staffer this might work. I have used this 
method for contacting other legislators when outside of their districts. If 
this doesn't work I'll do some more research and contact a staffer that I 
know to get his email address.
Chuck
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Shannon Dillon" <shannonldillon at gmail.com>
To: "NFB of California List" <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, April 21, 2014 9:39 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfbc-info] SB1109 hearing next Tuesday and other information


> When I tried to submit my email to Ben Hueso through his Web site, I
> had to state the city of my residence, and then the form won't allow
> me to submit my email because it recognizes that I'm not in his
> district. Did anyone else find a different way to submit this email?
> Otherwise I guess we have to send by snail mail.
>
> On 4/17/14, Michael Hingson <info at michaelhingson.com> wrote:
>> Greetings everyone,
>>
>>
>>
>> As you know, for several years we have been fighting to secure fair wages
>> for all blind people by eliminating provisions in the law that allow
>> sheltered workshops and other organizations to pay blind workers and 
>> other
>> workers with disabilities less than the minimum wage.  On the national
>> level
>> we have been making considerable progress on this.  Now, we have an
>> opportunity here in California to affect change on the local and state
>> level.
>>
>>
>>
>> At present, the law permits organizations that enter into contracts with
>> the
>> state of California to pay workers with disabilities less than the 
>> minimum
>> wage.  Sheltered workshops and some agencies have been very happy with 
>> this
>> current arrangement and, of course, would not like to see a change.
>> However, earlier this year Senator Ben Hueso of the 40th California
>> senatorial district introduced SB 1109 which if passed will change the 
>> law
>> and eliminate wage discrimination for all persons with disabilities. 
>> This
>> is an exciting opportunity for us to affect real change in California
>> concerning the concept of minimum wage.
>>
>>
>>
>> Briefly, SB 1109 calls for a change in the law which would mandate that 
>> any
>> agency or organization wishing to do business with the state of 
>> California
>> must pay all employees the minimum wage prescribed by law.  I am not 
>> going
>> to include the text of the law here as there is still a possibility there
>> may be some small amendments before Tuesday.  This bill makes it clear 
>> that
>> under the revised law no organization or agency can enter into any kind 
>> of
>> contract with the state of California if it pays any of its workers a sub
>> minimum wage.
>>
>>
>>
>> SB 1109 is being heard next Tuesday morning at 9:30 AM by the Government
>> organization Committee at the state capital in room 4203.  I'm writing to
>> ask you to do two things concerning this bill in order to help its 
>> passage.
>> First, if there is any way that you can do so we need you to come to
>> Sacramento to be at the hearing to show support for the bill.  If you 
>> would
>> be willing to testify this would be a plus.  You do not need to arrange 
>> or
>> even prepare any kind of advanced testimony.  Your testimony could be a
>> simple as "my name is... And I am here to tell you that I think it is 
>> wrong
>> that any organization contracting with the state of California can pay me
>> or
>> any person with a disability a subminimum wage while every person without 
>> a
>> disability gets a guaranteed minimum wage ".  Of course, this is just one
>> example of what you might say.  What we need are large numbers of people 
>> to
>> attend the hearing.  The NFB of California does have some funding to help
>> with expenses for people who can come to Sacramento.  I realize that it
>> will
>> be difficult for many people from the South to be able to come, but if 
>> any
>> of you can make the hearing it would be great.  We do need lots of folks
>> from the north, of course.  If you are interested in attending the 
>> hearing
>> please email me expressing your interest.  Please include contact
>> information such as name, phone number, and email address.  I will pass
>> your
>> information to President Willows.  Again, please express your interest by
>> sending me an email.  By the way, we understand that the opposition will 
>> be
>> bringing many people including individuals with developmental 
>> disabilities
>> who will say that passage of this bill would eliminate jobs for disabled
>> persons throughout the state.  The opposition will be working hard to 
>> bring
>> lots of people to the hearing.
>>
>>
>>
>> Second, we need everyone to send letters of support for SB 1109 to 
>> Senator
>> Correa (Chair, Government organization Committee).  Send emails to the
>> senator through his committee consultant, Paul Donahue at
>> Paul.Donahue at sen.ca.gov.  Here is sample wording for you to use.
>>
>>
>>
>> " As a person with a disability, I support SB 1109 because I feel that
>> paying people with disabilities subminimum wages is immoral, 
>> discriminatory
>> and unfair. I know that if state contracts are only awarded to entities
>> that
>> pay all workers at least the minimum wage, then businesses that utilize
>> 14(c) certificates will likely change their business models so that they
>> can
>> obtain state contracts. Just as President Obama's recent Executive Order
>> will ensure that people with disabilities employed under federal 
>> government
>> contracts that provide services and concessions will be paid $10.10 an
>> hour,
>> it is encouraging that state contracts in California will also ensure
>> people
>> with disabilities the pay equality we deserve.
>>
>>
>>
>>  The biggest obstacle facing people with disabilities is that we are 
>> often
>> held to lower expectations than our non-disabled peers. Legally allowing
>> entities to pay us subminimum wages just reinforces this fallible belief.
>> Passage of this bill will be a great step forward in ensuring that people
>> with disabilities are paid fair wages.
>>
>>
>>
>>> Thank you for your consideration of SB 1109.  I hope you will fight for
>> equality for people with disabilities by helping to pass this important
>> legislation..
>>
>>
>>
>>  Sincerely,"
>>
>>
>>
>> it would also be helpful to email Senator Hueso expressing your support 
>> for
>> his bill.  Here is some sample wording for a letter to Senator Hueso.
>>
>>
>>
>> The Honorable Ben Hueso
>>
>> State Capitol, Room 2054
>>
>> Sacramento, CA 95814
>>
>>
>>
>>  Dear Senator Hueso:
>>
>>
>>
>>  Thank you for introducing S.B. 1109 State contracts: integrated
>> employment:
>> persons with disabilities.
>>
>>
>>
>>  As a person with a disability, I support this bill because I feel that
>> paying people with disabilities subminimum wages is immoral, 
>> discriminatory
>> and unfair. I know that if state contracts are only awarded to entities
>> that
>> pay all workers at least the minimum wage, then businesses that utilize
>> 14(c) certificates will likely change their business models so that they
>> can
>> obtain state contracts. Just as President Obama's recent Executive Order
>> will ensure that people with disabilities employed under federal 
>> government
>> contracts that provide services and concessions will be paid $10.10 an
>> hour,
>> it is encouraging that state contracts in California will also ensure
>> people
>> with disabilities the pay equality we deserve.
>>
>>
>>
>>  The biggest obstacle facing people with disabilities is that we are 
>> often
>> held to lower expectations than our non-disabled peers. Legally allowing
>> entities to pay us subminimum wages just reinforces this fallible belief.
>> Passage of this bill will be a great step forward in ensuring that people
>> with disabilities are paid fair wages.
>>
>>
>>
>>  Thank you for fighting for equality for people with disabilities.
>>
>>
>>
>>  Sincerely,
>>
>>
>>
>> if you have any questions or want to talk about any issues concerning the
>> legislation and what I've asked you to do please feel free to email me at
>> mike at michaelhingson.com or phone me at (415) 827-4084.  Thanks very much
>> for
>> helping us to work with Senator Hueso to pass this legislation.  I hope
>> everyone can make it to Sacramento.  Wouldn't that be a great site?  I 
>> look
>> forward to hearing from many of you as you make plans to come help with
>> this
>> effort.  I know that you did not have a lot of notice, but neither did 
>> any
>> of us.  Thanks again.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Best,
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Michael Hingson
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> -- 
> SHANNON L. DILLON
>
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