SENATE DOCKET, NO. 847        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 64

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act establishing a study commission on the needs of the elderly blind and visually impaired citizens of the Commonwealth..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, a special commission, the Needs of the Elderly Blind and Visually Impaired Study Commission, after this referred to as the "commission," is hereby established for the purpose of investigating and studying the needs of elderly blind and visually impaired citizens of the Commonwealth.  These needs shall include, but not be limited to, social services, health services and medically adaptive equipment that would foster the achievement of full and independent living. 

The commission shall consist of: one member appointed by the secretary of elder affairs, one member who is a member of the vocational rehabilitation council, appointed by the commissioner of Massachusetts commission for the blind, one member from the division of vision and hearing, appointed by the commissioner of the department of public health, one member to be appointed by the secretary of executive office of elder affairs, one member to be appointed by the director of the Home Care Assistance Program of the independent living division, one member to be appointed by the secretary of executive office of health and human services, one member to be appointed by the League of Neighborhood Health Centers, one member to be appointed by the Massachusetts Nursing Home Association, one member to be appointed by the Massachusetts council on aging, one member from the Blind Veterans Association, one member to be appointed by the Board of Ophthalmology, and three members to be appointed by the governor who are members of the general public one of which is from the Silver Hair Legislature. 

This commission shall convene one month after the passage of this Act is signed into law and shall file a report one year after passage with the offices of the House Clerk, the Senate Clerk and the Governor , which shall include, but not be limited to, recommendations for improving programs and services offered by the executive office of elder affairs and local councils on aging, federal policies and services affecting the elderly blind and visually impaired, transportation programs for elderly blind and visually impaired citizens, and the dissemination of information regarding health care services and policies relative to elderly blind and visually impaired citizens.