[NFBMT] Montana Legislative Update: Revised

Sat Feb 23 17:20:23 UTC 2019

Good morning, fellow Montana Federationists.

It may be cold and snowy outside, but things are heating up in the 2019
Montana Legislature.

Here is the list of bills we have drafted or have before the 2019 Montana
legislature and their current status.

On Monday, February 25, at 3:00 pm, the
<https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf
59fa7c183d1&id=d1b62939ca&e=d0632197b9> Senate State Administration Committee
will hear
<https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf
59fa7c183d1&id=d5fe99ef31&e=d0632197b9> HB 291, "Revise laws on voting
systems and ballot form."  Sponsored by
<https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf
59fa7c183d1&id=8d2ee69bcc&e=d0632197b9> Sen. Fred Thomas, this bill will
authorize the purchase of new, different accessible voting machines that do
not produce ballots that are the same as the ballots used by other voters.
This
<https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf
59fa7c183d1&id=fcb5367a6a&e=d0632197b9>  hearing will be in room 335.  This
bill is in contradiction to Resolution 2018-07 passed at our annual
convention last September, which states that a ballot which is a different
size or content than a hand-marked ballot cast by a nondisabled voter can be
identified as having been cast by a voter with a disability, and is, as a
result, not a secret ballot, which is in violation of Title II of the ADA.

LC2761 = HB588; Prohibit subminimum wages for workers with disabilities;
Sponsor: Mary Caferro, (D. HD81.) Had its first reading before the House
Business and Labor Committee on February 20, and was not tables.  

HB 588: Prohibit Subminimum Wages for Workers with Disabilities

 Submit Testimony for HB 588 Now!
<http://cqrcengage.com/mtcil/app/take-action?engagementId=497078&ep=AAAAC2Flc
0NpcGhlcjAxDaKD4i_uYRMbU0gkrcYMASKknvqaKI31o-kuCK8TSjAwHvz-5_0fbTZlihFRCZS16v
tZKBR-GM5vxaKlZ8tF4zoFmwzfvUQwAOnu8Hp3VKU&lp=0>  

On Tuesday, February 26, the House Business and Labor Committee
<http://cqrcengage.com/mtcil/app/thru?ep=AAAAC2Flc0NpcGhlcjAxtsDmW0CsV7VSBIE5
s7MGdTur3BupmUvpVB4rPc9wjlvrVNUZffYF7STjtqMCTeeOSz4wxax6nRiywzKcf7Dik4RhE31X-
b93bLgfn2UeYOShQ1Vwp6xTwQNS9Q0K4b1bYO3nI6wP06v8OyVCbWSxSFEOpVjyM95TgUtPioAddL
dMUV6WTbFNQJZ8i6FGnHH5dX6UFncTmN0ob5sNOAjHbLX7tlBHpLzWgCJKcFMPMg-eEUwVqZXycRo
nG8XpoY78Wu_5Q3CaZlBflWtd4Z-1hZLaZNYW2e0yQIN0a6Gk7YQ&lp=0> will hold a
hearing on HB 588
<http://cqrcengage.com/mtcil/app/thru?ep=AAAAC2Flc0NpcGhlcjAxmmhqABvKn6TUWPfy
Go_vtYAK7lXod7Gkn_bhb-rFc2s154QXwRkzujv3DxWv27H9g2hviAWCkNgn4l9JXc7AXTT-PH4WE
GJr9Nz_ztEnUAxitj-o_PLTw-4l_JRD_NfQKPkvY5Ybmnbkm71yi_vobIclLnksfWlKvdJ4Rn4jq4
cNvjGpJ47APpDTa_d_JpaKII7nLd-OIFvjIPs7Y1BoiWo5l_lGtN_-LJ4EWeBv0J3wKO5zb0rbthl
hXoJsic-1qHkkeQ7VsQ_dYk9whHOFW55SZ6xSOtW6rsgkYl8FtIylYR6LhICqvMHOdhHn5woxV4nX
hUuQiPFRKmuxo17pIYeiAM0vbVfCmSQDO9eRQYQ&lp=0> , a bill that would prohibit
subminimum wages for workers with disabilities. The hearing will begin at
8:00 a.m. in room 172 of the Capitol building in Helena
<http://cqrcengage.com/mtcil/app/thru?ep=AAAAC2Flc0NpcGhlcjAx0iL7fhkeqMZMQ0Eg
o2tLzPNKlsy9K6yGNMOVqtF5XzO6k48mqiBhUGan1EimRxuQy2i1NLQV81aKBtX6RmkWaeRX6VOuE
n-4XDcujFNQ5I6Rb9LYJQgSAKEUWqWv_koJLpUN6INZjXIOSD-2bFBxS-CasV1WHQJo3DtwPXQ83h
GbqkQgSO5KfntKdVeWsudCNpPpAl9FH3p7xN9-dvziEizme_iFgQiQc8kJQeS0QXCNk-xWDj_xX9H
4tBblzARl&lp=0> .

HB 588 will ensure that all workers with disabilities are paid at least
minimum wage, whether they are employed by a sheltered workshop or in the
competitive job market. The laws allowing them date to the 1930s and led to
sheltered workshops where people with disabilities are not only segregated,
they are paid pennies on the dollar, often at taxpayer expense.

Ending subminimum wage is a top priority of the disability community. It is
time for Montana to join the national trend and once and for all put an end
to subminimum wage earnings for workers with disabilities.

Workers with disabilities deserve better than job options that pay much less
than what they are worth and keep individuals with disability segregated.
Every worker in America, including workers with disabilities, must have the
right to earn at least the minimum wage for any type of employment.

Please contact members of the House Business and Labor Committee and ask them
to support HB 588 so that we can finally stop treating people with
disabilities as second-class citizens and recognize their worth, hard work,
and economic potential.

We have prewritten a message for you but please personalize your message to
let legislators know why you support ending subminimum wage pay for workers
with disabilities.

 Submit Testimony For HB 588 Here!
<http://cqrcengage.com/mtcil/app/take-action?engagementId=497078&ep=AAAAC2Flc
0NpcGhlcjAxRLvtiNHDkeSpJ8Yvh5x9ycE5GcIp_5El_1XtzdXj0TiLi0HDD-y_xxiKlemeilDk2K
Gj5dJR_Oaw6dsbD5lZC6Fx457jOTK3bS0OaXbfkhY&lp=0>  

LC2762; Establishment of accessible electronic alternative for mail voting.
Draft on hold. 

LC2763; Provide that ballots used for voters with disabilities be same form
used by all.  Draft on hold.

HJ3: Interim study resolution on accessibility for disabled electors.
Sponsor:  Forrest Manneville. (R. HD57.) It was passed by the legislature;
enrolling and final preparation process.  It passed its third reading and was
returned to the House on February 20.  It was sent to enrolling on February
21.  This was not a bill, but an interim study.

LC2764: Establish penalties for negligent injury or death of service animal;
Still in the drafting process.  It has been through the legal review and is
currently being updated to be more consistent with other current Montana
criminal laws without overlapping them.  There are already Montana laws
dealing with a dog which bites a person.  What they are grappling with now is
what to do with a dog which bites a dog or another animal under the law.

LC2765 Protect rights of blind parents in family law.  Draft on hold.

HB95 Generally revise laws relating to protection of vulnerable adult.
Sponsor:  Jim Kean (D., HD73.)  Tabled in House Judiciary Committee on
February 15, 2019.

HB468: Involve certain state agencies in disability integrated employment
programs; Sponsor Jade Bahr (D. HD50); passed its first reading before the
House Business and Labor Committee on Wednesday, February 13.  It had a
hearing before the same committee on Tuesday, February 19, at which some of
us testified.  It has received its fiscal note, which details what the bill
might cost if it is passed.  If HB588 were to pass, it would do away with
subminimum wages, but not the segregated environments in which they flourish.
HB468 would move workers with disabilities into competitive integrated
employment opportunities in their own communities for which they would be
paid comparable wages for comparable work, and bring Montana law more into
line with Federal Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act provisions and other
federal legislation.      

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. 