[NFBMO] Resolutions, amendments, and the senior agenda

[Gary Wunder]

Please look these over. I hope I got in all the changes. If not, we'll fix
it on the cutting floor on Friday evening. I'm looking forward to our
in-person gathering.

 

Warmly,

 

Gary

 

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A RESOLUTION REGARDING REMOVAL OF THE CERTIFIED MAIL REQUIREMENT FOR THE MISSOURI BLIND PENSION

WHEREAS, each blind Missourian who receives the blind pension or supplemental Aid to the blind is required to be evaluated annually to see if they still qualify for the assistance provided through these programs; and

WHEREAS, concerns about the receipt of the paperwork to do this recertification prompted legislation requiring that these recertification materials be sent by certified mail; and

WHEREAS, the seeming good will and commonsense of this amendment was and still is evident, the results have not been as expected, and the certified mail requirement has led to extra expense on the part of the state, to blind recipients, and has added to the difficulty in filing for recertification in a timely manner: Now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri in Convention assembled this first day of April, 2022, in the City of Springfield, Missouri, that this organization urge the Missouri General Assembly to remove the requirement that these materials be sent by certified mail; and

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that we urge the adoption of an automated system to alert recipients that materials for their recertification will soon appear in their mailboxes and to explain when these materials must be returned to the Family Support Division.


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A RESOLUTION REGARDING VOTING by BLIND MISSOURIANS

WHEREAS, the right to vote is one of the most sacred rights of being an American citizen, and the right to do so privately and independently is crucial if one's vote is to be cast free from tampering and intimidation; and

WHEREAS, a number of bills currently before the Missouri Legislature are concerned with voting procedures, seeking either to change the law or to strengthen the public's confidence in the system we use; and

WHEREAS, in this process the need for blind people to be able to vote privately and independently gets lost in the discussion about voter fraud and breaches of security; and

WHEREAS, we know that systems exist that will let a blind person vote without the involvement of a third party to observe or in any way alter this vote and that many of our counties currently have such systems: Now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri in convention assembled this first day of April, 2022, in the City of Springfield, Missouri, that this organization urge the Missouri General Assembly to preserve the right of blind Missourians to vote privately and independently by ensuring that ballot-marking devices are made available for every election and at every voting location in the state and that poll workers receive adequate instruction to setup and assist the blind user in casting their vote.
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A RESOLUTION REGARDING THE BRITE ACT, HB 2150

WHEREAS, education is the foundation for success in today's information age; and 

WHEREAS, HB 2150, also known as the BRITE Act, consolidates and clarifies the obligations of elementary and secondary schools in Missouri to provide instruction and services to each blind student; and 

WHEREAS, this bill makes it clear that none of these services may be denied to a legally blind student simply because they may have some remaining vision; and

WHEREAS, this bill represents the work of consumers, teachers, school administrators, and specialists working in school districts across the state and demonstrates unity that is too seldom found in proposals before the Missouri General Assembly: Now, therefore:

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri in convention assembled this first day of April, 2022, in the City of Springfield, Missouri that this organization urge the Missouri General Assembly to pass this bill, for the governor to sign it, and for all parties to perform the necessary oversight to see that both the letter and the spirit of the law are carried out for the betterment of Missouri's blind students as they move toward leading fulfilling and productive lives along with their sighted peers.

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A RESOLUTION REGARDING BRENDA SHIELDS

	WHEREAS, very often members of the legislature will either introduce or cosponsor a piece of legislation at the behest of their constituents merely to show supposed responsiveness but do little or no follow-up, thereby allowing the issue to languish; and

WHEREAS, Representative Brenda Shields has worked diligently on the BRITE Act for over a year, including numerous meetings with stakeholders and fellow legislators, leading to her introduction of HB 2150; and

WHEREAS, she continues to push for passage of this vital piece of legislation through the daunting legislative process: Now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri in convention assembled this 3rd day of April, 2022, in Springfield, Missouri, that we highly commend Representative Shields for her efforts on behalf of the blind and visually impaired children of Missouri.
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A RESOLUTION REGARDING REMOVAL OF THE CERTIFIED MAIL REQUIREMENT FOR THE MISSOURI BLIND PENSION

WHEREAS, each blind Missourian who receives the blind pension or supplemental Aid to the blind is required to be evaluated annually to see if they still qualify for the assistance provided through these programs; and

WHEREAS, concerns about the receipt of the paperwork to do this recertification prompted legislation requiring that these recertification materials be sent by certified mail; and

WHEREAS, the seeming good will and commonsense of this amendment was and still is evident, the results have not been as expected, and the certified mail requirement has led to extra expense on the part of the state, to blind recipients, and has added to the difficulty in filing for recertification in a timely manner: Now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri in Convention assembled this first day of April, 2022, in the City of Springfield, Missouri, that this organization urge the Missouri General Assembly to remove the requirement that these materials be sent by certified mail; and

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that we urge the adoption of an automated system to alert recipients that materials for their recertification will soon appear in their mailboxes and to explain when these materials must be returned to the Family Support Division.


-------------- next part --------------
A RESOLUTION REGARDING VOTING by BLIND MISSOURIANS

WHEREAS, the right to vote is one of the most sacred rights of being an American citizen, and the right to do so privately and independently is crucial if one's vote is to be cast free from tampering and intimidation; and

WHEREAS, a number of bills currently before the Missouri Legislature are concerned with voting procedures, seeking either to change the law or to strengthen the public's confidence in the system we use; and

WHEREAS, in this process the need for blind people to be able to vote privately and independently gets lost in the discussion about voter fraud and breaches of security; and

WHEREAS, we know that systems exist that will let a blind person vote without the involvement of a third party to observe or in any way alter this vote and that many of our counties currently have such systems: Now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri in convention assembled this first day of April, 2022, in the City of Springfield, Missouri, that this organization urge the Missouri General Assembly to preserve the right of blind Missourians to vote privately and independently by ensuring that ballot-marking devices are made available for every election and at every voting location in the state and that poll workers receive adequate instruction to setup and assist the blind user in casting their vote.
-------------- next part --------------
A RESOLUTION REGARDING THE BRITE ACT, HB 2150

WHEREAS, education is the foundation for success in today's information age; and 

WHEREAS, HB 2150, also known as the BRITE Act, consolidates and clarifies the obligations of elementary and secondary schools in Missouri to provide instruction and services to each blind student; and 

WHEREAS, this bill makes it clear that none of these services may be denied to a legally blind student simply because they may have some remaining vision; and

WHEREAS, this bill represents the work of consumers, teachers, school administrators, and specialists working in school districts across the state and demonstrates unity that is too seldom found in proposals before the Missouri General Assembly: Now, therefore:

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri in convention assembled this first day of April, 2022, in the City of Springfield, Missouri that this organization urge the Missouri General Assembly to pass this bill, for the governor to sign it, and for all parties to perform the necessary oversight to see that both the letter and the spirit of the law are carried out for the betterment of Missouri's blind students as they move toward leading fulfilling and productive lives along with their sighted peers.

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A RESOLUTION REGARDING BRENDA SHIELDS

	WHEREAS, very often members of the legislature will either introduce or cosponsor a piece of legislation at the behest of their constituents merely to show supposed responsiveness but do little or no follow-up, thereby allowing the issue to languish; and

WHEREAS, Representative Brenda Shields has worked diligently on the BRITE Act for over a year, including numerous meetings with stakeholders and fellow legislators, leading to her introduction of HB 2150; and

WHEREAS, she continues to push for passage of this vital piece of legislation through the daunting legislative process: Now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri in convention assembled this 3rd day of April, 2022, in Springfield, Missouri, that we highly commend Representative Shields for her efforts on behalf of the blind and visually impaired children of Missouri.
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