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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Again worth a repeat here. But this does go to
issues such as workmen's comp, etc.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.ag.state.mi.us/opinion/datafiles/1990s/op06882.htm">http://www.ag.state.mi.us/opinion/datafiles/1990s/op06882.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Opinion #6882</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The following opinion is presented on-line for
informational use only and does not replace the official version. (Mich Dept of
Attorney General Web Site</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>- <A
href="http://www.ag.state.mi.us">www.ag.state.mi.us</A>)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>STATE OF MICHIGAN</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>FRANK J. KELLEY, ATTORNEY GENERAL</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Opinion No. 6882</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>November 29, 1995</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Operators of vending stands in government owned
buildings</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Blind vending stand operators under the Michigan
Commission for the Blind Business Enterprise Program are not state
employees.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Lowell W. Perry</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Director</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michigan Department of Labor</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>P.O. Box 30015</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Lansing, MI 48909</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>You have asked if blind vending stand operators
under the Michigan Commission for the Blind Business Enterprise Program are
state employees. You indicate</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>your question is prompted by the claims of some
operators that they are employees of the State of Michigan and, thus, do not
have to comply with state</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>laws applicable to employers concerning paying
unemployment compensation taxes and providing workers' compensation
insurance.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Under 1978 PA 260, MCL 393.351 et seq; MSA
17.581(1) et seq (Act), the Michigan Commission for the Blind operates a program
designed to aid blind and visually</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>handicapped individuals. Section 9 of the Act
requires that "[a] concession in a building or on property owned or occupied by
this state shall be operated</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>by a blind person." I have previously concluded
under this Act that blind persons have the exclusive authority to operate
concessions in state owned buildings,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>OAG, 1989-1990, No 6651, p 356, 357 (July 24,
1990), and that the Department of Management and Budget may not charge rent for
the operation of a concession</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>by a blind person. OAG, 1981-1982, No 5940, p 279
(August 4, 1981).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In order to carry out the mandates of the Act, the
Commission for the Blind has established a Business Enterprise Program (BEP). In
section 13 of the Act,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>the Legislature has also designated the Commission
to implement the Randolph Sheppard vending stand act, 20 USC Sec. 107 et seq.
This is a federally funded</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>state program that seeks to provide opportunities
to blind individuals by placing them in vending facilities in various government
buildings. Under section</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>5(g) of the Act, the Commission for the Blind has
promulgated administrative rules to implement the BEP. 1983 AACS, R 393.101 et
seq.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This office has been informed that following
evaluation, training, and other services, a blind person is placed as an
operator in the BEP running a concession</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>in a government building. The operator and the
Commission for the Blind enter into a contract that provides, among other
things, that the operator will</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>pay a certain percentage of the concession profits
to the Commission in what is called a set-aside fee. The Commission, in turn,
will provide supervision</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>and advice, needed equipment, and an initial stock
of goods. The operator sets his own prices and purchases his own stock after the
initial stock is provided.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The operator must obtain a comprehensive liability
insurance policy. The operator may hire other individuals as employees and is
required to provide workers'</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>disability compensation coverage for any employees
hired. Rule 393.107(c).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Under the contract between the operator and the
Commission for the Blind, the operator is not paid by the State of Michigan for
performing work for the</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>state. Rather, operators receive the proceeds from
the operations of their vending facilities after paying their operating costs
and set-aside fees. Rule</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>393.106(2).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If the blind vendors were state employees, it would
be necessary for the Civil Service Commission to classify them in the classified
state civil service</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>in accordance with Const 1963, art 11, Sec. 5,
which provides, in part:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The classified state civil service shall consist of
all positions in the state service except those filled by popular election,
heads of principal departments,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>members of boards and commissions, the principal
executive officer of boards and commissions heading principal departments,
employees of courts of record,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>employees of the legislature, employees of the
state institutions of higher education, all persons in the armed forces of the
state, eight exempt positions</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>in the office of the governor, and within each
principal department, when requested by the department head, two other exempt
positions, one of which shall</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>be policy-making. The civil service commission may
exempt three additional positions of a policy-making nature within each
principal department.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It has been held that except to the extent that a
position may be exempt under this section, all employees of the state are
required to be classified into</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>the state civil service. Commissioner of Insurance
v Michigan State Accident Fund, 173 Mich App 566, 582; 434 NW2d 433 (1988), lv
den 433 Mich 872 (1989).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The position of vending stand operator has never
been exempted from the classified state civil service or classified in the state
civil service by the</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Civil Service Commission.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Blind concession operators are included within the
state employees' retirement system. Section 13a of 1943 PA 240, MCL 38.13a; MSA
3.981(13a) provides in</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>part:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Effective January 1, 1973, blind or partially
sighted persons licensed as vending stand operators within the controlled
programs of the bureau of blind</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>services are deemed to be employees within the
meaning of this act for state retirement purposes only, and except as
hereinafter provided are entitled</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>to all the rights and benefits of state employees
covered by the provisions of this act. [ Emphasis added.]</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The language "for state retirement purposes only"
evidences an intent that blind vending stand operators are not considered state
employees for general</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>purposes.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It is clear that blind vending operators in the BEP
are clients rather than employees of the Michigan Commission for the Blind. With
the exception of those</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>services provided by the Commission in accordance
with the Act and implementing administrative rules, the operators are
independent concessionaires with</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>the authority, in their capacities as employers, to
employ other persons.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It is my opinion, therefore, that blind vending
stand operators under the Michigan Commission for the Blind Business Enterprise
Program are not state employees.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Frank J. Kelley</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Attorney General</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://opinion/datafiles/1990s/op06882.htm">http://opinion/datafiles/1990s/op06882.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>State of Michigan, Department of Attorney
General</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Last Updated 11/10/2008 16:49:34</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial
size=2>_______________________________________________<BR>Vendorsmi mailing
list<BR><A href="mailto:Vendorsmi@nfbnet.org">Vendorsmi@nfbnet.org</A><BR><A
href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/vendorsmi_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/vendorsmi_nfbnet.org</A><BR>To
unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Vendorsmi:<BR><A
href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/vendorsmi_nfbnet.org/joeharcz%40comcast.net">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/vendorsmi_nfbnet.org/joeharcz%40comcast.net</A></FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=suncat0@gmail.com href="mailto:suncat0@gmail.com">Joe Sontag</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=drob1946@gmail.com
href="mailto:drob1946@gmail.com">David Robinson</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A title=vendorsmi@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:vendorsmi@nfbnet.org">VENDORSMI List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, February 14, 2012 6:02
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Vendorsmi] do the BEP
promulgated rules really matter?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I reject the claim that the training is the
problem where operator compliance is concerned. Most of the serious
violations are happening at the hands of experienced operators in the employer
responsibility area, they are willful and they happen mostly because there are
no consequences unless the operator in question has done things to anger BEP
administration, such as help protect another operator's rights. I have
been penalized for operating a business properly and for showing the
financials as they were, not as I always wished they could be, and I have seen
operators receive promotion points for "training" based on nothing more than
their word and I am sick and tired of sitting on my ass and telling myself
that it will all just work out somehow. The PAs have a job that is
defined by both the Civil Service and by our promulgated rules, yet Cannon,
Zanger, Hull and god knows who else work harder at getting their
responsibilities reduced than they do at strengthening and growing our
program. Remember, the topic includes both operators and the agency and,
in my opinion, there's more than enough blame to go around. As free as
certain highly regarded operators are free to break the law and rip off the
program, the BEP administration is even more free to ignore or break the rules
and sell the program down the river, at no risk to themselves.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This is not a sheltered rehab shop, this is not a
blindy pity party, this is an employment program, one that gives blind adults
the opportunity to provide real service in exchange for real financial
compensation, consistent with applicable laws, all of which they agree to as a
condition of participation in the program. If the BEP dies, it will be
hard to distinguish between the effects of operator exploitation and BEP staff
indifference and incompetence when trying to determine the cause of
death.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=drob1946@gmail.com href="mailto:drob1946@gmail.com">David
Robinson</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=suncat0@gmail.com
href="mailto:suncat0@gmail.com">'Joe Sontag'</A> ; <A
title=vendorsmi@nfbnet.org href="mailto:vendorsmi@nfbnet.org">'NFB of
Michigan Vendors List'</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, February 13, 2012
10:50</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: [Vendorsmi] do the BEP
promulgated rules really matter?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dear Joe,
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> This
is an excellent example of the problem throughout the program. Larry
does a good job of pointing out that part of the agency’s role is to help
the operator to stay in full compliance. This is not a one sided issue
however. The agency has an obligation to adhere to the rules as
well. To carry out their responsibility as the <st1:place
w:st="on">SLA</st1:place> and to move a blind person from rehabilitation to
employment. In today’s BEP, I suspect that the problem does not mean
an unwillingness to follow the rules, but the training or lack of training,
that operators have been given. I also contend that some of the rules are
outdated and lacking any understanding of how the business world
works. If the training was good then many of the rules would not be
necessary. Finally, why is the discussion of rules only about the
operator? The agency is willing to break them when they need to do
so.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dave
Robinson<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<HR tabIndex=-1 align=center width="100%" SIZE=2>
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT
face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">
vendorsmi-bounces@nfbnet.org [mailto:vendorsmi-bounces@nfbnet.org] <B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B>Joe Sontag<BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Monday, February 13, 2012 9:18
AM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> VENDORSMI
List<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Cc:</SPAN></B> Steve
Arwood<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> [Vendorsmi]
do the BEP promulgated rules really
matter?</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I now offer you a clue as to why
the Business Enterprise Program is so fouled up. Listen carefully to
the following discussion on the topic "Operators/Agency Staff consistently
following rules as they are<BR>written," which is one of the issues before
the ad hoc. Mr. Hull's remarks are extremely revealing, as is the vote
that was taken near the end of the
session.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">This may be downloaded at the
link below:</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A
href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/22266576/Ad%20hoc%20%2002032012%20excerpt1.MP3">http://dl.dropbox.com/u/22266576/Ad%20hoc%20%2002032012%20excerpt1.MP3</A></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
<HR>
<P></P>_______________________________________________<BR>Vendorsmi mailing
list<BR>Vendorsmi@nfbnet.org<BR>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/vendorsmi_nfbnet.org<BR>To
unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
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