Miss-Delectable
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Lawmakers sued for tapping deaf and blind services fund
The Alabama Dual Party Relay Board, which oversees the collection of money from landline phone customers to fund phone services for deaf and blind Alabamians, has filed a suit against lawmakers to stop a bill that would use the money they collect for other uses.
Under the new law, all money collected from a surcharge on landline phones will be reallocated for education spending. Telephone customers were told that the state would continue to use these funds to ensure deaf and blind Alabamians have the services that enable them to use phones.
Ironically, three Alabama Public Service (PCS) commissioners have been named in the suit despite objecting to the reallocation of funds, despite their objections to the bill
The Alabama Dual Party Relay Board is a private entity under the PSC and has managed the fund since 1988. Because the fund has been managed so well, board members say that within the next two to three years, the fund would become self-sustaining. At that time, the surcharge could be permanently removed from phone bills.
Unless the bill is overturned, the $30 million fund will be used within one year to cover education spending, which is unrelated to deaf and blind services.
The Alabama Dual Party Relay Board, which oversees the collection of money from landline phone customers to fund phone services for deaf and blind Alabamians, has filed a suit against lawmakers to stop a bill that would use the money they collect for other uses.
Under the new law, all money collected from a surcharge on landline phones will be reallocated for education spending. Telephone customers were told that the state would continue to use these funds to ensure deaf and blind Alabamians have the services that enable them to use phones.
Ironically, three Alabama Public Service (PCS) commissioners have been named in the suit despite objecting to the reallocation of funds, despite their objections to the bill
The Alabama Dual Party Relay Board is a private entity under the PSC and has managed the fund since 1988. Because the fund has been managed so well, board members say that within the next two to three years, the fund would become self-sustaining. At that time, the surcharge could be permanently removed from phone bills.
Unless the bill is overturned, the $30 million fund will be used within one year to cover education spending, which is unrelated to deaf and blind services.