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H0026...........................................................by MR. SPEAKER
Requested by: Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
BLIND - DEFINITIONS - Amends existing law to revise the definition of "blind"
or "visually impaired"; and to provide a definition of "functionally blind."
01/06 House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
Rpt prt - to Health/Wel
02/13 Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
02/14 2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
02/19 3rd rdg - PASSED - 67-0-3
AYES -- Andersen, Barraclough, Barrett, Bauer, Bedke, Bell, Bieter,
Black, Block, Boe, Bolz, Bradford, Campbell, Cannon, Clark, Collins,
Crow, Cuddy, Deal, Denney, Douglas, Eberle, Edmunson, Ellsworth,
Eskridge, Field(18), Field(23), Gagner, Garrett, Harwood, Henbest,
Jones, Kellogg, Kulczyk, Lake, Langford, Langhorst, Martinez, McGeachin,
McKague, Meyer, Miller, Mitchell, Moyle, Naccarato, Nielsen, Raybould,
Ridinger, Ring, Ringo, Roberts, Robison, Sali, Sayler,
Schaefer(Schaefer), Shepherd, Shirley, Skippen, Smith(30), Smith(24),
Smylie, Snodgrass, Stevenson, Tilman, Trail, Wills, Wood
NAYS -- None
Absent and excused -- Jaquet, Rydalch, Mr. Speaker
Floor Sponsor - Ring
Title apvd - to Senate
02/20 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to Health/Wel
03/14 Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
03/17 2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/19 3rd rdg - PASSED - 33-0-2
AYES -- Andreason, Bailey, Bunderson, Burkett, Burtenshaw, Calabretta,
Cameron, Compton, Darrington, Gannon, Geddes, Goedde, Hill, Ingram,
Kennedy, Keough, Little, Lodge, Malepeai, Marley, McKenzie, McWilliams,
Noble, Noh, Pearce, Richardson, Schroeder, Sorensen, Stegner, Stennett,
Sweet, Werk, Williams
NAYS -- None
Absent and excused -- Brandt, Davis
Floor Sponsor - Ingram
Title apvd - to House
03/20 To enrol
03/21 Rpt enrol - Sp signed
03/24 Pres signed
03/25 To Governor
03/27 Governor signed
Session Law Chapter 127
Effective: 07/01/03
|||| LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO |||| Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session - 2003IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE BILL NO. 26 BY MR. SPEAKER Requested by: Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired 1 AN ACT 2 RELATING TO THE IDAHO COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED; AMENDING 3 SECTION 67-5402, IDAHO CODE, TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "BLIND" OR 4 "VISUALLY IMPAIRED" AND TO PROVIDE A DEFINITION OF "FUNCTIONALLY BLIND." 5 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho: 6 SECTION 1. That Section 67-5402, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 7 amended to read as follows: 8 67-5402. DEFINITIONS. As used in this act, unless the context otherwise 9 requires: 10 (1) "Commission" means the Idaho commission for the blind and visually 11 impaired. 12 (2) "Blind" or "visually impaired" means a person whose visual acuity 13 with correcting lenses is not better than 20/200 in the better eye; or a per- 14 son whose vision in the better eye is restricted to a field which subtends an 15 angle of not greater than 20 degrees; or a personfor whom there exists the16medically documented opinion that the personwho is functionally blind; or a 17 person who is without any sight. 18 (3) "Functionally blind" means a person with a visual impairment which 19 constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment, or substan- 20 tially limits one (1) or more major life activities. 21 (4) "Prevention of blindness and sight restoration" means treatment or 22 operations to prevent blindness or restore vision to applicants or recipients 23 of services to the blind without financial resources to procure such services 24 for themselves, who request and make written application for such treatment or 25 operation.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS 12315
This bill is necessary to remove from Idaho Code 67-5402(2) the
requirement of a medically documented opinion in determining
whether an individual is functionally blind. The Idaho Commission
for the Blind and Visually Impaired believes that a medical opinion
should only be one of the factors used in determining whether an
individual is functionally blind and this amendment would allow
Commission counselors the ability to consider additional factors in
making a final decision as to whether an individual is functionally
blind.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the State of Idaho.
CONTACT
Name: Michael Graham
Agency: Blind Commission
Phone: 334-3220
Statement of Purpose/Fiscal Impact H26