HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1612        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1811

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Gerard Cassidy

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to the Save Our Children’s Sight Fund.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1612        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1811

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1846 OF 2015-2016.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

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An Act relative to the Save Our Children’s Sight Fund.

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. Chapter 10 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 63A the following new section: -

Section 63B (a) There is hereby established on the books of the Commonwealth a separate trust fund know as the Save Our Children’s Sight Trust Fund.  The trust fund shall consist of monies voluntarily paid to the Commonwealth on applications for vehicle titles, title transfer or license plate renewal forms, any state appropriations made to the fund and contributions or grants.

(b) The state treasurer shall be the custodian of the Save Our Sight Children’s Trust Fund and shall receive, deposit, and invest all monies transmitted to him under this section and section 2 of this act and shall credit interest and earnings on the trust fund to the trust fund. The monies shall be expended for the purpose of providing coordinated eye health services to children with priority given to children under the age of nine and activities relating to Chapter 181 of the Acts of 2004, in such manner as the commissioner of public health may direct in consultation with the Save Our Children’s Sight Trust Fund advisory committee.

(c) The commissioner of public health shall appoint the Save Our Children’s Sight Trust Fund Advisory Committee, consisting of, but not limited to, 1 ophthalmologist, 1 optometrist, 1 school nurse and 1 parent representative for the purpose of reviewing proposals for funding coordinated eye health services to children with priority given to children under the age of nine and activities relating to Chapter 181 of the Acts of 2004 and making related recommendations relative to, but not limited to data reporting and collection.

SECTION 2. Chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 8D the following new section: -

8DD.  The registrar shall include on the registry’s vehicle title form, transfer of title form and a vehicle license plate form an option for the person submitting the form to donate a sum of not less than $2.00 to the Save Our Children’s Sight Trust Fund established in section 1 of this act.  Any voluntary contribution shall be added to the title or license plate fee and then be at least annually referred to the State Treasurer and credited to Save Our Children’s Sight Fund.

Provided further that the incremental cost of administration of contributions to the fund, not to exceed one percent (1%) of the monies received pursuant to the provisions of this section, shall be paid by the fund to the registry of motor vehicles from amounts received pursuant to the provisions of this section before funds are expended for the purposes of the fund.