[tabi] Requesting your help to get SB 1192 and HB 405 passed

From: "Sila Miller" <silam@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:56:52 -0500
Hello Listers,

I hope this is something everyone will get behind. We'll all benefit. Many 
thanks for reading, considering and calling!

Sila 



Greetings everyone,
As you know, FCB has chosen as its legislative imperative for the 2012 session 
of
the Florida Legislature, HB 405 introduced by Rep. Taylor for the purpose of 
educating
about and enforcement of Florida's White Cane Law.  I am delighted to tell you 
that
we now have a Companion Bill in the Florida Senate, SB 1192,  introduced by our 
friend,
Senator Evelyn Lynn, that exactly mirrors the House Bill on which stakeholders 
had
such significant input.
.  Once again we have joined in coalition with the National Federation of the 
Blind
of Florida (NFBF) and the Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind 
(FAASB).
Please phone the legislators representing you in the Florida House and Senate 
asking
them to co-sponsor and actively support this legislation.
A short time ago, the Position Paper prepared by Paul Edwards, Doug Hall and me 
and
approved by the coalition referenced above was circulated on this list.  At that
time, there was no Senate Bill.  As a result, I am attaching to this post the 
Position
Paper that now lists both bills and acknowledges their sponsors.  Therefore, you
can present this document to members of both Houses of the Florida Legislature.
It is crucially important that you contact the legislators representing you 
immediately.
You can contact your local Library or phone Florida State Legislative 
Information
at (800) 342-1827 to learn who represents you in the Florida legislature.
Thank you very much in advance for doing your part to further the passage of 
this
crucially important legislation.
Respectfully,
Debbie Grubb
debbiecg@xxxxxxxxxxx



Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind, (FAASB)

Florida Council of the Blind, (FCB)

National Federation of the Blind of Florida, (NFBF)

 

HB 405 SB 1192

 An act relating to persons with disabilities;

Position paper of sponsoring Organizations

 

White cane laws have protected the rights of pedestrians who are blind or have 
mobility impairments for many years. However, in Florida as in other states, 
many drivers have no idea of what the White Cane Law is or what it says. In 
addition, there is virtually no effort being made to maintain records of 
incidents involving people with disabilities. People with disabilities have the 
right to assume that laws that are on the books are being enforced and are 
understood. However, this is simply not the case. Florida's White Cane Law is 
actually found in two places. S. 316.1301 covers pedestrians who are blind. S. 
316.1303 covers pedestrians who have mobility impairments.

 

In Florida, Representative Dwayne Taylor and Senator Evelyn Lynn have 
introduced legislation known as House Bill 405 and Senate Bill 1192 which aim 
to correct some of the shortcomings just described. Here are the things the 
legislation does. First, there will now be a requirement that incidents 
involving people with disabilities be reported to a state agency and that 
records be kept on all crimes involving people with disabilities so that it 
will be possible to know just how often such people are involved in incidents. 
Second, the legislation would require that everyone seeking a driver's license 
would have to answer a question relating to the White Cane Law. Third, driver's 
education programs including those taught in high school must include 
information about the white cane law. Fourth, training for police must now 
include education on the rights of pedestrians who are disabled. The law is 
scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2012.

 

We believe that passage of this legislation will make a huge difference for 
people who are blind or otherwise disabled in Florida. At last, people who seek 
driver's licenses will be required to know about the law and we will be able to 
know just how often it is broken. When police know about the law, they will be 
more likely to enforce it. People who are blind cannot see the people who are 
breaking the law. It is up to the police to enforce the law.  We urge all our 
members to work to see that this simple but important legislation is adopted.
[tabi] Requesting your help to get SB 1192 and HB 405 passed

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