This evening I learned that SB6426 had passed through the Senate with
additional amendments which adds the suspending of certain boards and
commissions. Amongst those added to this category is the State
Rehabilitation Council for Department of Services for the Blind. My urgency
is that the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee of which you
are Vice Chair, is hearing this bill first thing tomorrow morning, Thursday,
Feb 18, in Executive Session.
The SRC is a very hard working council that meets regulations set forth by the Rehabilitation Services Administration and fulfills criteria set forth by that federal agency. We also continue to work closely with Department of Services for the Blind and blind and visually impaired Washingtonians to ensure that the programs delivered by DSB are of the utmost high quality and benefit to its customers.
This Council costs about $4500 each year to run from the State General
fund; the majority of funding supporting the SRC comes from federal dollars.
Please do what you can to see this bill die or to have the amended portions to the bill removed, or to somehow remove the SRC from the current bill.
I would very much appreciate it if you could tell me what we might be able to do to try and stop this bill if the bill does pass through your committee.
As always, thank you for your representation and voice out there for us.
Warmly,
Cindy Van Winkle, Chair State Rehabilitation Council
Department of Services for the Blind
Home address
6686 Capricorn Ln. NE
Bremerton, WA 98311
(360) 689-0827
cindy.vw@msn.com