HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3419        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 166

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Alyson M. Sullivan

_________________

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 studying best practices for ensuring the safety of blind persons.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Alyson M. Sullivan

7th Plymouth

1/18/2019

Timothy R. Whelan

1st Barnstable

1/28/2019

Michael J. Soter

8th Worcester

1/28/2019

Mathew J. Muratore

1st Plymouth

1/28/2019

William L. Crocker, Jr.

2nd Barnstable

1/28/2019

Jack Patrick Lewis

7th Middlesex

1/29/2019

Brian M. Ashe

2nd Hampden

1/30/2019

Michael D. Brady

Second Plymouth and Bristol

2/1/2019

Angelo L. D'Emilia

8th Plymouth

2/1/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3419        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 166

By Ms. Sullivan of Abington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 166) of Alyson M. Sullivan and others for legislation to establish a special commission (including members of the General Court) to study and determine best practices to ensure the safety of blind persons.  Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

An Act relative to studying best practices for ensuring the safety of blind persons.

 

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 to the contrary, there shall be a special commission established to study and determine best practices to ensure the safety of blind persons. The commission, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, shall be tasked with, but not be limited to, reviewing the following: existing roadway and traffic policies aimed at ensuring the safety of the blind and visually impaired; current use of accessible pedestrian signals; and new technology available to improve upon the safety of blind and visually impaired persons, particularly in cities and highly congested areas.

The commission shall consist of 10 members: the secretary of health and human services, or a designee; the commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, or a designee; two members of the house of representatives, one of whom to be appointed by the speaker and one of whom to be appointed by the minority leader; two members of the senate, one of whom to be appointed by the senate president and one of whom to be appointed by the minority leader; and four people to be appointed by the governor, two of whom must be advocates for the blind and visually impaired community, and two of whom must be experts in roadway safety and accessibility technology.

The commission shall file its report and findings, along with any recommendations for legislation, with the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means, the chairs of the joint committee on health care financing, and the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives within 180 days of the passage of this act.