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

Shannon Dillon shannonldillon at gmail.com
Mon Apr 21 20:00:39 UTC 2014 

Thanks, Chuck!

On 4/21/14, ckrugman at sbcglobal.net <ckrugman at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> I just tried my advice and it worked with the email to Senator Hueso.
> Therefore if you want you can contact each member of the Governmental
> Organization using the same method. The members of the committee are listed
>
> below in case any of you are represented by them or wish to contact each
> membewr individually which is what is generally done by groups and
> organizations when showing supporting a piece of legislation. You would use
>
> the formula name.sen.ca.gov. The committee members are listed as follows:
>
> Members
>
> Senator Lou Correa (Chair)
> Senator Tom Berryhill (Vice Chair)
> Senator Anthony Cannella
> Senator Kevin de León
> Senator Cathleen Galgiani
> Senator Ed Hernandez
> Senator Ted W. Lieu
> Senator Alex Padilla
> Senator Norma J. Torres
> Senator Andy Vida
>
> Chuckk
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <ckrugman at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "NFB of California List" <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, April 21, 2014 12:11 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfbc-info] SB1109 hearing next Tuesday and other information
>
>
>> 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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>>
>>
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-- 
SHANNON L. DILLON

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