SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general law to the contrary, a commission, to study the needs of visually impaired and blind citizens of the commonwealth, hereafter referred to as the “commission” is hereby established for the purposes of investigating, studying and reporting and recommending legislative and regulation remedies for the unmet needs of children and adults who are blind or visually impaired. These needs shall include, but not be limited to, social services, health services and medically adaptive equipment that would foster the achievement of independent living.
For the purposes of this study, an individual shall be considered visually impaired if they meet one or more of the following criteria and are not legally blind: (a) has an impairment of visual function which cannot be improved, by the use of corrective lenses, to a level that would normally be acceptable for reading without a special level of light, or, (2) is unable, due to physical disability to focus or move his eyes to the extent that would normally be acceptable for reading.
The commission shall consist of: the Secretary of Health and Human Services; the Secretary of Elder Affairs; the Commissioner of Early Education and Care; the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind; or their designees; a member of the Department of Public Health’s Division of Vision and Hearing; a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Massachusetts Chapter; a member of the Council on Aging; and 3 members of the public who are blind or visually impaired or who have a family member who is blind or visually impaired.
The commission shall convene within 60 days of the passage of this act and shall file a report within one year of the passage of this act and thereafter before December 31st of each following year. The report shall be filed with the clerks of the House and the Senate; the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means; the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities; and the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing.
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The General Court provides this information as a public service and while we endeavor to keep the data accurate and current to the best of our ability, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.