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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=FR>Hi Louise: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=FR><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>The bills are HB 897 and SB 792. The Florida Agencies Serving the Blind (FASB) wrote this bill and it has been introduced in the Florida Legislature for this legislative session. FASB is a private non-profit membership organization that contains most of the CRPs in Florida as member organizations. There are at least two CRPs I know of in Florida that are not members of FASB. I am not sure if the facility you are referencing is one of those two that remain outside of FASB membership. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our objection is multi-fold, but we used two points of objection: <o:p></o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Temporary Waiver: The bill will allow for a CRP or its staff to work with and train blind and low vision people without having the required state certifications. We feel that a CRP or any staff tasked with training blind and low vision people be prepared for such an endeavor and have the proper and appropriate certifications the day their doors are open for clients. <o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>As one of the largest consumer organizations of blind people, no one from FASB contacted or consulted with us before creating this legislation, despite “working” with us on issues of importance on a legislative level. We strongly believe in “nothing about us without us” and had no idea FASB was planning such legislation, which we feel will be a step in the wrong direction for successful training for blind and low vision people. <o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope this answers your questions. Please feel free to reach out to me directly for further clarification. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><span lang=FR style='font-size:11.0pt'>Camille Tate, president<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>National Federation of the Blind of Florida <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Board of Directors <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="http://www.nfbflorida.org/"><span style='color:blue'>www.nfbflorida.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Tel: 321.372.4899<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>With love, hope and determination, we transform dreams into reality.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><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><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> NFBF-L <nfbf-l-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Louise Peyton via NFBF-L<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, January 15, 2026 1:45 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'nfbf-l@nfbnet.org' <nfbf-l@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Louise Peyton <lp2473@hotmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> [NFBF-L] question about a legislative alert from camille tate<br><b>Importance:</b> High<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Hello, all:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>A few days ago, I read a notice on this list from Camille Tate about a Florida house and senate proposed bill which wouldn’t require certification for crp community facility staff. Would you please advise which bills and if my interpretation is accurate? The facility for the blind in this area is unaware of such bills. Thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Louise Peyton<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>