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	Record Group Number:	000400
	Series/Collection Number:	.S 2032
	Creator:	Florida. Dept. of Education.
	Title, Dates:	Division of Blind Services retirement lawsuit records, 1975-1996.
	Amount:	2.00 cubic ft.
	Medium Included:
	Organization/Arrangement:	Chronological within volumes (records disbound from original ring binders).
	Restrictions:	Restricted: Social Security Numbers present in these records are exempt from public disclosure per s. 119.071(5), F.S.
	Terms Governing Use:	Archives staff will review records prior to providing them to researchers and will provide researchers with redacted copies of any records containing Social Security Numbers.
	Biographical/Historical:	The Division of Blind Services is currently under the Department of Education (2001-present). The agency functioned previously as the Division of Blind Services under the Department of Labor and Employment Security (1995-2000); the Division of Blind Services under the Department of Education (1976-1995); the Bureau of Blind Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitative Services under the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services (1969-1976); and the Florida Council for the Blind under the Office of the Governor (1941-1969). Florida Blind Services is the agency responsible for ensuring that people of all ages in Florida who have visual impairments can live independently and achieve their goals. A Vending Stand Program was established for eligible clients to receive training in how to operate a vending stand. This allowed blind and partially sighted individuals to enter into a business enterprise that enabled them to be self-supporting members of their respective communities. The Business Enterprises Program is authorized by the Randolph-Sheppard Act (P.L. 74-732, as amended by P.L. 83-565 and P.L. 93-516; 20 U.S.C. section 107 et seq.). It provides persons who are blind with profitable employment and self-support through the operation of vending facilities on Federal and other property. The program, enacted into law in 1936, was intended to enhance employment opportunities for trained, licensed blind persons to operate such vending facilities. Vending stands began to open in 1942, and stands were placed in the lobbies of Federal office buildings and post offices. Florida's first stand was located in the Pensacola Post Office. In just one year, the Florida Council for the Blind opened fifteen stands with the financial support of the Florida Lions Clubs and other civic organizations. The law was subsequently amended in 1954 and again in 1974 to ultimately ensure individuals who are blind a priority in the operation of vending facilities, which include cafeterias, snack bars, and automatic vending machines, on Federal property. Florida broadened the Federal Randolph-Sheppard Act with its own legislation. Under the Little Randolph-Sheppard Act (s. 413.051, F.S.), blind licensees are given the first opportunity to participate in the operation of vending stands on all state properties acquired after July 1, 1979, when such facilities are operated under the supervision of the Division of Blind Services of the Department of Education.
	Summary:	This series documents a lawsuit filed by visually impaired vending stand operators relating to Retirement Set-Aside issues and the Business Enterprise Program's Food Service Vendors. The issue was whether to include the vendors in the State of Florida's Retirement System or to exclude them and regard them as independent business people. If the plaintiffs were to be excluded from the retirement system, they were seeking the return of all retirement contributions that had been appropriated by the State of Florida. The records consist primarily of copies of court documents, reports, State Committee of Vendors minutes, audits, budgets, financial statements, operation agreements, Division of Retirement summary of amendments (rule package), faxes, correspondence, and legal opinions.
	Finding Aids:	Folder listing available. 0
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	Subject Access Fields:	Florida. Dept. of Education. Florida. Dept. of Health and Rehabilitative Services. Florida. Dept. of Labor and Employment Security. Florida. Division of Blind Services. Florida. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. People with disabilities Florida. Handicapped Florida Disabled persons. Retirement Florida Vending stands Florida. Vocational rehabilitation Florida. Agreements. aat Audits. aat Budgets. aat Floppy disks. aat Judicial records. aat Legislative records. aat Letters. aat Minutes. aat Personnel records. aat Reports. aat Florida. Leon County (Fla.) Tallahassee (Fla.)
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