[Nfbf-l] Message from the Director: 2011 Legislative Session

[RJ Sandefur]

I have a question concerning the director. It seems like Joyce is taking 
alot of the credit for what's happened this year, and she gives Credits 
FAASB, and never once does she mintion NFB or FCB. Just my thoughts. RJ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sherri" <flmom2006 at gmail.com>
To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2011 6:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Message from the Director: 2011 Legislative Session


> Really great news! Thanks Dwight!
> Have you visited my personal page at
> http://www.raceforindependence.org/goto/Sherri.Brun
> If so, Thank you for changing what it means to be blind.
> If not, please go there now!
> Thank you.
> flmom2006 at gmail.com
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <MisterAdvocate at aol.com>
> To: <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>; <nfbf-leaders at yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 3:54 PM
> Subject: [Nfbf-l] Message from the Director: 2011 Legislative Session
>
>
> Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 2:18  PM
> To: #$DBS_ALL_USERS
> Subject: Message from the Director:  2011 Legislative Session
> Importance: High
>
>
>
>
>
> Dear DBS  Employees,
> The 2011  legislative session was very difficult for all state programs 
> and
> services for  our most vulnerable citizens.  Everything from budget cuts 
> to
> agency  reorganizations was up for discussion and debate.  Facing a $4
> billion  budget shortfall amid a still-struggling economy, the Legislature 
> was
> forced  to make many tough decisions.
> We are pleased to  say that the Division of Blind Services (DBS) came out
> of the process mostly  intact after surviving two potential pitfalls.  The
> first involved the  House budget plan, which proposed to cut $852,000 in
> general revenue funding  for the 2011-2012 DBS Budget.  The proposed cuts 
> would
> impact the  following programs:
>    *   The  Blind Babies program, which maximizes the ability of visually
> impaired  children from birth to five years old and contribute to their
> success in  school.
>    *   The  Independent Living Program for Seniors which teaches these
> elders how to  care for themselves in their own home and therefore keep 
> them
> from living  in nursing homes or other institutions.
> If the  proposed $852,000 was cut from the DBS budget and split 50/50
> between these general revenue funded programs, the impact  would be 164 
> babies
> or 17.7 percent of babies currently  served and 203 or 4.3 percent of 
> seniors
> currently served would no  longer receive services.  The good news came
> during the next to last week  of Session when the House agreed to the 
> Senate
> version of the DBS budget and  dropped the proposed cuts.
> The other proposed  change to impact DBS involved the reorganization of
> several state agencies to  create a new “jobs agency” that is a Governor
> priority.  Prior to  session, the Governor’s Office and the Senate had 
> indicated
> they would not  support changes to the current structure of DBS within the
> Department of  Education (DOE).  On April 6, amendments were filed and
> adopted that  would in fact transfer DBS to this new agency.  Within an 
> hour, the
> Senate voted to reconsider the adoption of the amendments and withdrew 
> them
> resulting in DBS staying with DOE.   It is difficult to know how  this
> change would have affected the operations of the Division but we do know
> transitioning to a new agency would take time and attention away from our 
> focus
> on client services.
> All in all, there  will be no negative effect on the programs offered by
> the Division and through  our partner organizations. In both of these
> situations we can thank the  Governor, our legislative supporters and the 
> Florida
> Association for Agencies  Serving the Blind for their active support on 
> behalf
> of blind and visually  impaired Floridians.
> We will send additional  information regarding the 2011 Legislative 
> actions
> soon.
> Thank  you,
> Joyce Hildreth,  Director
> Division of Blind  Services
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
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