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Current Status Bill Number:View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.5118 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:20020411 Primary Sponsor:Quinn All Sponsors:Quinn and Rice Drafted Document Number:l:\council\bills\nbd\11584ac02.doc Residing Body:House Current Committee:Ways and Means Committee 30 HWM Subject:Commission for the Blind, revision of History Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ ______________________________________ _______ ____________ House 20020411 Introduced, read first time, 30 HWM referred to Committee Versions of This Bill
TO AMEND CHAPTER 25, TITLE 43, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND, SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE COMMISSION, TO FURTHER SPECIFY REQUIREMENTS FOR APPOINTEES TO THE COMMISSION, TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMISSION SHALL ELECT A VICE CHAIRMAN, IN ADDITION TO A CHAIRMAN, BOTH OF WHOM SHALL SERVE ON THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH PROGRAMS FOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO INCLUDE OPTOMETRISTS IN ITS REGISTER WITH OPHTHALMOLOGISTS, TO AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSION TO PAY FOR EYE EXAMINATIONS CONDUCTED BY OPTOMETRISTS, TO DELETE PROVISIONS FOR EMPLOYING ITINERANT TEACHERS TO ASSIST IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES THAT BENEFIT ALL PERSONS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS, TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDS APPROPRIATED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION MUST BE APPROPRIATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION TO CONSOLIDATE THE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION AND THE DEPARTMENT, AND TO REVISE PROCEDURES FOR PERSONS AGGRIEVED BY ACTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT; AND TO AMEND SECTIONS 43-26-10 AND 43-26-40, RELATING TO LICENSES FOR VENDING FACILITIES OPERATED BY BLIND PERSONS, SO AS TO DEFINE BLIND PERSONS AS PERSONS "VISUALLY IMPAIRED", RATHER THAN "VISUALLY HANDICAPPED" AND TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH LICENSES ARE ISSUED FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD RATHER THAN ONE YEAR AND TO DELETE PROVISIONS REQUIRING THE COMMISSION TO SECURE FOR VENDOR LICENSES OR PERMITS REQUIRED BY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 25, Title 43 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
Section 43-25-10. There is hereby created the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. The commission shall consist consists of seven members, one from each of the six Congressional Districts and one from the State at large, of whom three four shall have a visual acuity not to exceed 20/200, one of whom must be a parent of a blind child, one of whom must be an educator of blind children, and one of whom must have knowledge of programs for the blind. The Governor shall, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint the members of the commission for terms of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualify. All vacancies shall must be filled in the manner of the original appointment for the unexpired portion of the term only. The members of the commission shall elect one of its members as chairman and one as vice-chairman for a term of two years one year or until his successor has their successors have been elected and both shall serve as members of the governing board of the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. The commission also may elect other officers it considers necessary from among its members for terms of one year. Of the officers elected, at least one must be blind. The chairman shall preside at the regular meetings of the commission to be held at least once each month quarterly. The chairman also may call a meeting when he deems considers it necessary to be held at a time to be determined by the commission. The Commission shall appoint a commissioner and such other officers as it deems necessary, none of whom shall be a member of the Commission, and shall fix the compensation and prescribe the duties of such appointees. The members of the commission shall receive no salary may not receive salaries but shall be are allowed the usual mileage, subsistence, and per diem as authorized by law for commissions, committees, and boards. The Department of Vocational Rehabilitation shall provide for reimbursement of the members of the commission.
Section 43-25-20. For purposes of this chapter, 'blindness' and 'severe visual disability impairment' are the criteria for acceptance for services for persons who qualify.
(1) 'Blindness' is defined as that level of central visual acuity, 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting glasses best correction, or a disqualifying field defect in which the peripheral field has contracted to such an extent that the widest diameter of visual field subtends an angular distance no greater than twenty degrees and which is sufficient to incapacitate him an individual for self-support, or an eighty per cent percent loss of visual efficiency resulting from visual impairment in more than one function of the eye, including visual acuity for distance and near, visual fields, ocular, mobility, and other ocular functions and disturbances.
(2) 'Severe visual disability impairment' is defined as any a progressive pathological condition of the eye or eyes supported by acceptable eye examination, which in the opinion of the examiner may or will result in legal blindness within twenty-four months.
Section 43-25-30. The commission shall:
(1) promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.;
(2) apply for, receive, and expend moneys monies from all governmental agencies, both state and federal;, and accept gifts, grants, donations, devises, and bequests made for providing aid to the visually handicapped impaired, including expenses of administration. All such funds shall must be paid into the State Treasury.;
(3) submit to the Governor and publish an annual report showing the total amount of money disbursed, the total number of blind and visually handicapped impaired persons who received services, and such other information as may be deemed is considered advisable.;
(4) maintain a complete register of persons current and former clients whose vision, with correcting lenses, best correction does not exceed 20/200 which shall also must include the conditions, cause of loss of sight, capacity for educational and industrial training of each, and other pertinent facts.;
(5) Maintain bureaus of information and industrial aid to assist the visually handicapped in finding employment and to teach them industries which may be followed in their homes, and to assist them in whatever manner may seem advisable to the Commission in disposing of the products of their home industry. establish programs for vocational rehabilitation for persons considered eligible by the commission to assist in entering, retraining, or regaining employment;
(6) make inquiries concerning the cause of loss of sight, learn what proportion of these cases are preventable, and inaugurate and cooperate with the State in any measure as may seem seems wise.;
(7) cooperate with the State Department of Health and Environmental Control in the adoption and enforcement of proper preventive measures.;
(8) establish, equip, and maintain a center for vocational, industrial, and other training and employ qualified instructors. The center shall must provide for orientation and adjustment for the visually handicapped impaired. Training in such the centers shall be is limited to persons deemed considered eligible by the commission.;
(9) supervise and control all concession stands established and operated formerly by the State Department of Social Services and all concession stands established by the commission.;
(10) have the authority to enter into contracts with owners of private property for the purpose of installing concession stands which shall must be under the control of the commission.;
(11) establish, supervise, and render totally operative and effective prevention of loss of sight programs using such the facilities in the State as the commission may deem considers necessary including a mobile ophthalmological laboratory and office.; and
(12) assist in the furtherance of furthering the purposes of Sections 44-43-110 to 44-43-160 and 44-7-10 Article 3, Chapter 43 and Section 44-7-10."
Section 43-25-40. The commission shall designate the procedure to be followed and shall establish a register of ophthalmologists and optometrists from which the applicant may select one to conduct a competent medical examination for determining the extent of his the applicant's visual handicap impairment. The commission shall pay for such the examination.
Section 43-25-50. The commission may arrange for the examination of the eyes of a visually handicapped persons impaired person and may secure and pay for his or her medical and surgical treatment for such persons whenever if, in the judgment of an ophthalmologist or optometrist, the eyes of such the person may be benefited thereby. Whenever If, upon examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist any a person is found to have no vision or vision with glasses which is best correction so defective as to prevent the performance of ordinary activities for which eyesight is essential, such the examining ophthalmologist or optometrist shall, within thirty days, report the results of the examination to the commission.
Section 43-25-60. The commission may employ qualified itinerant teachers to assist teachers in public or private schools who are responsible for the teaching of visually handicapped students. The itinerant teacher shall assist the public or private school teacher by providing methods and materials for teaching such student. The State Department of Education shall report to the Commission the schools having visually handicapped students. All principals or heads of private schools shall report to the Commission the names of visually handicapped students in attendance. The commission shall maintain a Special Services Division to provide educational services that benefit all persons with visual impairments, not just those eligible for vocational rehabilitation services. Educational services include services to children, independent living services, and other specialized educational programs for the blind.
Section 43-25-70. The commission is empowered to may operate concession stands in any state, county, or municipal building and in any state park. and The commission shall negotiate with the proper agency or governing body regarding the establishment of a concession on such the property. In buildings where a stand existed on May 25, 1940, the person who was then operating such a stand shall not be removed, but when such operator ceases to operate such stand the operation of the concession for further operation shall be is granted to the commission when the individual operating the stand as of May 25, 1940 ceases to operate the stand. No rental or other charge shall may be required by the commission for the granting of an operation permit. Any A rental payment or commission charged by the owner of private property for the location of such a the stand shall must be collected from the operator of the stand by the commission. No charge shall may be made for the installation or operation of a concession stand or for the maintenance of equipment of a concession stand regardless of location.
Section 43-25-80. Any Sums appropriated by the General Assembly for treatment and training of the visually handicapped shall impaired persons must be kept by the State Treasurer in a fund for the treatment and training of the visually handicapped impaired and shall must be used to carry out the particular purpose assigned to it. Funds for carrying out certain administrative functions of the commission including, information technology, leasing of district offices, human resource management, budgeting, and accounting must be appropriated to the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation to consolidate the administrative functions of the commission and the department. The Commission for the Blind shall provide the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation with the on-going information necessary to carry out these administrative functions.
Section 43-25-90. Every person aggrieved by an action of the Commission shall be granted, upon request, a hearing before a hearing officer assigned by the Commission. The hearing officer shall not be a member of the Commission. The hearing officer shall have has the authority to conduct hearings, to issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses and the production of records and other documents, to administer oaths, and to take testimony. An appeal may be taken from the decision of the hearing officer to the Commission for the blind. The Commission shall hold a hearing on the matter which shall be attended by at least three members. An appeal may be taken from the decision of the Commission to the court of common pleas for the county where the appellant resides and the matter shall be heard de novo in the court as a matter of equity. The appellant shall, within ten days after notice of the decision of the Commission, serve notice of appeal upon the chairman of the Commission, stating grounds upon which the appeal is founded and file such notice with the clerk of court to which such appeal is taken. Such appeal shall act as a supersedeas until it is finally determined. The clerk of court shall place the case upon the docket for trial. An applicant or eligible individual who is dissatisfied with a determination made by an agency representative concerning the furnishing or denial of services may make a written request for an impartial due process hearing within fifteen days of the date of the decision upon which review is sought. An impartial hearing officer must be selected on a random basis to hear a particular case relating to a determination or by agreement between the commission and the individual or an authorized representative of the individual. A request for review of the hearing officer's decision must be made in writing within twenty days of the hearing officer's decision. Review of the hearing officer's decision must be made by a representative for the Governor's Office. Before beginning the due process hearing procedure and upon the request of a dissatisfied applicant or eligible individual, mediation must be available at the expense of the commission.
Section 43-25-100. The powers and duties of the Division for the Blind of the State Department of Social Services including, but not limited to, the distribution of talking book machines, vocational rehabilitation, and other special services for the visually handicapped impaired except those duties and responsibilities surrounding the administration of the State Federal Program of Aid to the Needy Blind shall be are devolved upon the South Carolina Commission for the Blind."
SECTION 2. Section 43-26-10(a) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(a) 'Blind persons' means persons who are visually handicapped impaired as defined in Section 43-25-20 of the 1976 Code."
SECTION 3. Section 43-26-40 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 43-26-40. In issuing licenses for the operation of vending facilities by blind persons, the commission shall give preference to applicants who are in need of employment. Licenses shall must be issued only to applicants who are 'blind persons', within the meaning of this chapter, who are eighteen years of age or older and are residents of this State. All licenses shall be for one year, but the Commission may renew licenses upon application of the license holder prior to the expiration of the then existing license are issued for an indefinite period. A license may be terminated by the commission when the commission is satisfied that the vending facility is not being operated in accordance with the commission's regulations promulgated by it.
The commission shall be responsible for securing on behalf of its licensees the issuance of any license or permit required by another State agency or political subdivision of the State for the conduct of such business; but any such license shall be issued free of charge to a qualified blind person licensed by the Commission.
A hearing shall must be granted by the commission if requested by the licensee. The license shall may not be terminated unless a majority of all of the members of the commission, or a designee, after the hearing vote to terminate it."
SECTION 4. Nothing in this act may be construed to expand the scope of practice of an optometrist.
SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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