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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The point that makes the consilidation and the
stripping of powers of the MCB Board and the elimination of the Director's
position (not the director himself<BR>which should have been done)_
unconstitutional is that it is a legislative prerogative and not an executive
one.<BR>Here was when folks on the Michigan Rehab Council investigated the issue
last year.<BR>Again this stuff was done with no public in put and no legislative
action.<BR>Off the record for now is my State Senator is royally pissed and not
for partisan reasons at this naked power grab. He is a Democrat, but he knows
that<BR>there are several Republicans ticked off too. Not that many of them
understand the nuances, but I've made them aware of the checks and balances
issues.<BR>And people just don't like their delegated authorities tamperred
with.<BR>Joe</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>MRC MEMBERSHIP RESEARCH REQUEST</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Date of
Request: April 20th, 2011</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Members:
Jackie Thomas & Luke Zelley</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Staff
Support:
Marlene Malloy</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Due
Date:
June 3, 2011 (next Business Meeting)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Purpose: The MRC considered
taking a position on the possibility of combining/sharing Michigan
Rehabilitation Services (MRS) and Michigan Commission<BR>for the Blind (MCB).
Four options follow:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>1. MRS and MCB remain
separate i.e. no change.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>2. MRS and MCB remain
separate but share office space.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>3. MRS and MCB remain
separate but share staff and other resources.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>4. MRS and MCB
totally combine into one agency.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Recommendation: MRC cannot support # 2:and #3
: sharing office space, as it believes RSA regulations prohibit doing so and
staff and other resources sharing<BR>as doing so is not possible when space
cannot be shared.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Initial research found reports and data with
positives and negatives to combining. Because it ultimately requires
legislative action, Idaho’s legislators<BR>requested a task force look into the
issue before taking action. MRC recommends a task force to include
representation from MRS and MRC, be created to<BR>look into this issue in-depth
before taking action.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Information Requested:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>1. Current research
on the topic of combined agencies.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>2. Status of other
State’s VR programs (separate or combined).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>3. Overview
information about the Michigan Commission for the Blind.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>RESPONSE:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>1. Current Research:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>a. About
MCB:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>·
Michigan Public Act 260 of 1978 Creating MCB</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,1607,7-154-28077_28313-18135--,00.html">http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,1607,7-154-28077_28313-18135--,00.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>·
Overview of MCB:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,1607,7-154-28077_28313-14762--,00.html">http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,1607,7-154-28077_28313-14762--,00.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>b. Idaho: The
Idaho legislators passed a resolution to convene a "Task Force" regarding
combining VR & Commission for Blind</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2011/HCR027.pdf">http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2011/HCR027.pdf</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>c.
Connecticut: Legislative Report with recommendation & plan to
combine</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.cga.ct.gov/2003/pridata/Studies/Consolidation_Final_Report.htm">http://www.cga.ct.gov/2003/pridata/Studies/Consolidation_Final_Report.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>d. A Review of
Research Studies: Separate vs. Combined Agencies</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.familyconnect.org/parentsite.asp?SectionID=85&DocumentID=4488">http://www.familyconnect.org/parentsite.asp?SectionID=85&DocumentID=4488</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>e. 2010
Mississippi State Study: An Update on Services and Outcomes of Blind and
Visually Impaired Consumers Served in Separate and General/Combined<BR>VR
Agencies</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.ncsab.org/alert/2010/final_report_replication_study.doc">www.ncsab.org/alert/2010/final_report_replication_study.doc</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>f. 2005
Ohio State University Study: Combined agencies had higher means on all
variables studied.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://etd.ohiolink.edu/view.cgi?acc_num=osu1126741654">http://etd.ohiolink.edu/view.cgi?acc_num=osu1126741654</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>g. South
Carolina: A Review Restructuring and the Business Enterprise Program at
Commission for the Blind</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://lac.sc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/E1451232-56D6-4665-AE0F-6D7E81B164C4/0/SCCB_Summary.pdf">http://lac.sc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/E1451232-56D6-4665-AE0F-6D7E81B164C4/0/SCCB_Summary.pdf</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>2. Status of Other States: Gained from
Rehabilitation Services (RSA)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>VR SERVICE CATEGORIES BY TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLIC VR
AGENCIES FUNDED BY RSA:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>General Services: 24</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Blind Services: 24</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Combined: 32</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>3.Current national activity level regarding
combining VR agencies:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Most recently combined states: Connecticut
Legislature combined the Blind and General Agencies in May 2011, Pennsylvania
Blind and General were combined<BR>in 1999.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>State currently considering combining: New Mexico
(saving administrative costs); two months ago Idaho considered it, but did not
make the change.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Within the past few years the following states
considered combining: Vermont, Oregon, and Arkansas.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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