[NFBMT] Montana Legislative Update: Revised

Mon Feb 25 14:07:58 UTC 2019

I am sorry,

I won't vote for anything, when I have no clue what all of this is about.
Just a bunch of foolishness that drives me crazy when non makes since.
It would be hard for me to ask others to vote how ever when I 
understand nothing.
I wonder how many others feel the same way.
You can read all of this stuff, but when one votes one needs to back up 
in their mind what they are truly voting for.
For those who understand all of this, have a good time.

Original message:
> 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.

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-- 
--Dar
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every saint has a past
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