[NFBMT] Montana Legislative Alert: HB 439

Tue Apr 9 00:23:00 UTC 2019

I enjoy your readings, well thought.
Mine was short and I was afraid to write much, I wanted to make sure 
that mine was counted.
We shall see how it all works out.

Original message:
> FYI, here is a draft of my written testimony opposing HB 439, the bill
> criminalizing the use of fake service animals.

> Criminalizing the misrepresentation of service animals makes no sense to the
> National Federation of the Blind of Montana (NFB-MT).  As the NFB-MT
> President and as a blind citizen who uses a guide dog, I speak for Montanans
> who are blind and who use guide dogs.  We simply do not understand the fuss
> over fake service animals.  Federal rules already address the issue
> adequately, and this bill will not alter how dispute resolution is achieved.
> We encourage shop keepers and others to ask the allowable questions and deny
> fake service animal use.  However, no one in our organization recalls an
> incident in which a fake service animal denied or limited our right to use a
> guide dog.  Disruptive animal and human behaviors, on the other hand, often
> interfere.  Of course, a fake service animal can be troublesome, but so can
> any animal, including other authentic service animals.  If one is serious
> about strengthening the right of Montanans with disabilities to use service
> animals, then HB 439 should be amended to include criminalizing deliberate
> and negligent actions that result in harm or the death of our service
> animals.  Additionally, the bill should include penalties for public
> accommodation authorities who refuse services to those using genuine service
> animals.

> Jim Marks
> President, National Federation of the Blind of Montana
> president at nfbofmt.org
> (406) 438-1421

> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBMT <nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of BRUCE&JOY BRESLAUER via
> NFBMT
> Sent: Friday, April 05, 2019 12:36 PM
> To: nfbmt <nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: BRUCE&JOY BRESLAUER <breslauerj at gmail.com>
> Subject: [NFBMT] Montana Legislative Alert: HB 439

> On Wednesday, April 10, At 9:00, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear HB
> 439, "Revise laws related to misrepresented service animals." This bill
> establishes graduated penalties for an individual who intentionally
> misrepresents an animal as a service animal. This bill will be heard in room
> 303.

> If you would like to leave a message for a legislator, you can call
> 406-444-4800 and operators will take a message that will be forwarded to
> legislators.  Please be aware that they will ask for your name and address,
> which will not be shared other than with the legislator. The operators can
> take a message

> for up to 5 legislators at one time or to an entire committee.

> You may also contact legislators using the online web message form.

> https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/

> Please fill in your name, address, city, state, zip, phone, and email, then
> choose hb from the dropdown list, add 439 to the edit field, tab to and
> choose a check box to indicate whether you want to send a message to a
> legislator or a committee, then choose the Senate judiciary committee from
> the dropdown list, then choose whether you are for or against, type your
> message, and press submit.  I'm explaining this from memory so I might not
> have the steps exactly in order, but you should do ok if you follow the
> prompts.  You can either arrow down or tab through the form.

> Hope this helps.

> Joy Breslauer, First Vice President

> National Federation of the Blind of Montana

> Web Site: http://www.nfbofmt.org <http://www.nfbofmt.org/>

> Live the life you want

> The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
> who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we work
> together to help blind people live the lives they want.

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