HOUSE BILL No. 5771

July 13, 2016, Introduced by Reps. Santana, Kosowski, Heise, LaFontaine, Inman, Cox and Darany and referred to the Committee on Families, Children, and Seniors.

 

     A bill to amend 1978 PA 260, entitled

 

"An act to revise and codify the laws relating to blind persons and

persons with a visual disability; to create a commission; to

prescribe its powers and duties and those of other state agencies

relative to blind persons; to provide services, education,

training, and assistance to blind persons; to regulate concessions

operated by blind persons; to transfer powers, duties, functions,

and appropriations; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,"

 

by amending section 3 (MCL 393.353); and to repeal acts and parts

 

of acts.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 3. (1) The commission shall establish and maintain

 

services as needed for determining the cause and prevention of

 

blindness. The examination to certify statutory blindness may be

 

performed by either an ophthalmologist or physician skilled in the

 

diseases of the eye; or a licensed optometrist, whichever the

 

person shall select. selects. When a blind or partially blind

 

person can be benefited by treatment, the commission shall arrange


for the necessary treatment, with the consent of the person, by an

 

ophthalmologist or physician skilled in the diseases of the eye, a

 

licensed optometrist, or both. An examination shall be provided

 

without charge to the applicant for services to the blind. Unless

 

other funds are available, the examination, and treatment if

 

provided, shall be paid for by the commission.

 

     (2) The commission may contract with the department of social

 

health and human services or the department of public health to

 

provide eye examinations for applicants for aid to the blind.

 

     Enacting section 1. Section 16 of 1978 PA 260, MCL 393.366, is

 

repealed.

 

     Enacting section 2. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days

 

after the date it is enacted into law.