[NFBF-L] Legislative Alert!!!: Florida Senate Bill 1050 and House Bill 1103

[Steve Cook]

Just want to say great call last night! Go get them Florida!

 

Steve Cook

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From: NFBF-L <nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of president--- via
NFBF-L
Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2025 12:01 PM
To: 'NFB of Florida List for Leaders' <nfbf-leaders at nfbnet.org>; 'NFB of
Florida Internet Mailing List' <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Cc: president at nfbflorida.org
Subject: [NFBF-L] Legislative Alert!!!: Florida Senate Bill 1050 and House
Bill 1103

 

Greetings Federationists: 

 

Legislation in Florida is running hot in 2025! This email is a follow-up to
our Legislative Committee meeting on Tuesday, February 25. We had an intense
discussion on several issues that will negatively affect us as blind
Floridians and now is the time for us to stand up and stand together against
the tide. This is the first in a series of emails related to legislation
introduced in both the Florida House and Senate. There will be a template at
the bottom of this email, before my signature, that you may use for emails
or phone calls as we rise up to combat legislation that will have a
devastating effect on us. 

 

Florida Senator Jennifer Bradley-R, District 6 has introduced SB1050, a bill
designed to consolidate all disability services into the Agency for Persons
with Disabilities. Florida Representative Jennifer Kincart-Jonsson-R,
District 49 introduced HB1103, a companion bill in the Florida House. The
National Federation of the Blind is opposed to any consolidation of blind
services into one general disability services agency. As of the writing of
this email, no other state legislators have signed on in support of this
bill, but our session opens on Tuesday, March 4. The session is open for 60
days, unless a special session is called to extend it. I have written below
a template you may use to contact your state legislator. If you do not know
who your state Representative and state Senator is, please visit each of the
following websites to locate who your state legislator is: FLHouse.gov and
FLSenate.gov. There is an email form under the contact link on each
legislators page and it appears to be accessible. However, you may wish to
call the office to obtain the email address of the legislator's Legislative
Director or Aide for direct contact. 

 

Email Template: 

 

Dear [insert name of legislator]: 

 

My name is [insert name]. I live in [insert city and state] and am your
constituent. I am a member of the National Federation of the Blind of
Florida, an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, the nation's
oldest and largest transformative civil rights organization of blind people.


 

I am contacting you because legislation has been introduced that will have a
negative effect on the lives and economic capacities of blind Floridians.
Senate Bill 1050 and House Bill 1103 seeks to consolidate Division of Blind
Services and division of Vocational Rehabilitation into one disability
services agency. This consolidation will further decrease access for blind
people to the tools and training necessary to be educated, employed and
living to our fullest earnings capacity. Blind people have specialized
training and equipment vital to our success and our needs will not be
adequately met with a "once size fits all" approach. Attempts in the past
have been made to put all disabilities into one agency and have failed, to
the detriment of all. 

 

I strongly urge that you support blind Floridians by keeping our vocational
and educational needs in the separate agencies as it is now. I have attached
a resolution passed by our convention body on November 10, 2024, which
shares our belief that a separate agency serving blind people is more
effective. 

 

Sincerely,

[insert name] 

[insert any titles in the NFB] 

 

 

  Camille Tate, president

National Federation of the Blind of Florida 

Board of Directors 

 <http://www.nfbflorida.org/> www.nfbflorida.org

Tel: 321.372.4899

 

With love, hope and determination, we transform dreams into reality.

 

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