[NFBMT] HB 468 is in Jeopardy: Please Continue Contacting Legislators

Thu Feb 21 01:17:41 UTC 2019

The NFB of Montana supports HB468.  Please contact the Business and labor Committee members listed below to let them know of your support.

HB 468, a bill that seeks to involve state agencies in competitive integrated employment programs for people with disabilities, which was heard on Tuesday morning, February 19 in the House Business and Labor Committee, is in jeopardy. We need individuals to continue to contact committee members and ask that they support this bill. All citizens, regardless of whether they have a disability or not, have a right to seek employment in the competitive, integrated job market. HB 468 is important because it ensures that a process is in place to assist individuals with disabilities in being prepared and gaining the skills necessary to enter the competitive job market.

The inclusion of individuals with disabilities in competitive, integrated employment has been a long-standing goal of Montana's Centers for Independent Living and the NFB of Montana, and HB 468 would help to ensure the process is in place so that real meaningful change can start happening in pursuit of that goal. For far too long, many individuals with disabilities have been shoved aside into sheltered workshops or segregated work environments where, often, they are paid less than minimum wage. This is a travesty, no one, regardless of disability, should have to work for less than minimum wage.

HB 468, if passed, would help Montana in its pursuit of goals laid out under WIOA to increase the participation of people with disabilities in competitive, integrated employment and help to really focus on vocational rehabilitation outcomes on competitive integrated employment and promote greater emphasis on transitional services for youth with disabilities.

Please continue to contact members of the House Business and Labor Committee and ask them for their support of HB 468 so that Montana can take the steps it needs to take in order to seriously start working towards giving people with disabilities a real opportunity to participate in the competitive, integrated job market. It is time people with disabilities be considered viable potential employees and no longer hidden away, or paid pennies on the dollar.

We have prewritten a message for you, but please personalize your message to let committee members know why HB 468 and the inclusion of people with disabilities in competitive, integrated employment is important to you.

Submit Testimony Now! <http://cqrcengage.com/mtcil/app/take-action?engagementId=496906&ep=AAAAC2Flc0NpcGhlcjAxjnFZMY_PnZfOYNKxkSiQGjliwHwllX_0XpA9Qs7qhWHpGSu0HVYfHBa0LrS_PG5y1W-XWmDgodZ_x8jYoO5cHbw-nwbdJD8Drc682whoiyk&lp=0>  

Committee Members

Mark Noland  (R) HD 10 Chair 

Vince Ricci  (R) HD 55 Vice Chair 

Sharon Stewart Peregoy  (D) HD 42 Vice Chair 

Fred Anderson  (R) HD 20 Member 

Edward Buttrey  (R) HD 21 Member 

Willis Curdy  (D) HD 98 Member 

Neil Duram  (R) HD 2 Member 

Ross H Fitzgerald  (R) HD 17 Member 

Moffie Funk  (D) HD 82 Member 

Bruce Grubbs  (R) HD 68 Member 

Steve Gunderson  (R) HD 1 Member 

Derek J Harvey  (D) HD 74 Member 

Joel G Krautter  (R) HD 35 Member 

Denley M Loge  (R) HD 14 Member 

Andrea Olsen  (D) HD 100 Member 

Gordon Pierson  (D) HD 78 Member 

Christopher Pope  (D) HD 65 Member 

Katie Sullivan  (D) HD 89 Member 

Sue Vinton  (R) HD 56 Member 

Pat Murdo Legislative Branch Staffer 

Joanne Kauzlarich Secretary 

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/> .

Joy Breslauer, First Vice President and Public Policies Committee Chair 

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. 