BILL NUMBER: S247
SPONSOR: PERSAUD
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, the social services law, the limited
liability company law and the partnership law, in relation to the
licensing of vision impairment specialists; and providing for the repeal
of certain provisions upon expiration thereof
 
PURPOSE:
This bill would ensure the safety of persons who are blind or partially
sighted by licensing the trained vision rehabilitation professionals who
work with them to restore their independent functioning within the home,
the school, the workplace and in the community.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Creates a new article 168 in the Education law.
§ 8900 Introduction.
§ 8901 Sets out definitions used in the article.
§ 8902 Outlines the use of the titles.
§ 8903 Outlines the State Board for vision impairment specialists.
§ 8904 Spells out the requirements for a license with a specialization
as an orientation and mobility specialist.
§ 8905 Spells out the requirements for a license with a specialization
as a vision rehabilitation therapist.
8906 Establishes limited permits.
8907 Explains the exempt persons.
§ 8908 Outlines special provisions.
§ 8909 Separability provisions.
Also amends the Education, Social Services, Partnership, and Limited
Liability Law; provides for an effective date of 18 months after it
shall have become a law, with provisions.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Vision loss does not have to be devastating. Full independence can be
achieved when there is access to highly qualified vision rehabilitation
professionals (VRPs). A significant number of the more than one million
individuals with vision loss are empowered, self-sufficient and able to
navigate through their lives independently due in part to the special-
ized services they received when they needed them. However, too many
New Yorkers who acquire a visual impairment due to aging or an accident
do not receive the training and services that would enable them to make
the transition from newly visually impaired or blind to an active and
productive life with a disability. This is due in large part because
vision rehabilitation professionals are not yet licensed by the State of
New York and thus, access to VRPs is severely restricted; moreover,
doctors do not refer patients to unlicensed professions.
Vision Rehabilitation Professionals were marginalized in the first half
of the 20th century because the numbers of people with a visual impair-
ment were small, the workers for the blind were largely blind them-
selves, and there was widespread discrimination of all people with disa-
bilities. Licensure is the final step to correct the wrongs of the past
by making every effort to ensure that those who become blind have access
to the highest quality of specially trained rehabilitation profes-
sionals.
To be a Vision Rehabilitation Professional (VRP), individuals who are
either blind or sighted themselves complete a degree from an accredited
university, undergo a rigorous internship and pass an exam given by an
accredited certifying body.
The number of New Yorker with vision loss has grown due to many factors.
The aging of the baby boomer generation and longer life expectancies
have lead to age-related vision loss from macular degeneration, diabetic
retinopathy, glaucoma, and other eye diseases. Low birth weight babies
are surviving but often with vision loss and other disabilities. Sports,
workplace incidents, traumatic brain injuries, and other accidents cause
vision loss in youth and adult populations. The need for vision rehabil-
itation services has burgeoned proportionately.
With pressure on government and private resources for expensive home
health care and other supportive services, money can be saved and quali-
ty of life can be improved by granting these highly qualified profes-
sionals licensure. VRPs work with persons of all ages with vision loss.
The goal is to teach each individual with vision loss to return to being
self-reliant in almost every activity of daily life using adaptive tech-
niques and equipment. This could include teaching the consumer to read
and write Braille, to use a long cane for independent mobility, to use a
talking bill identifier or "talking" speech software to access technolo-
gy.
By licensing vision rehabilitation professionals, the general public and
people of all ages with vision loss will be more likely to learn about
the services available; access the training that leads to independence
and employment; be referred by the general social service and medical
community; receive high quality and comprehensive vision rehabilitation
services, and encourage a sufficient number of professionals to enter
the field of vision rehabilitation.
Licensure ensures that professionals who provide these services will
possess the highest level of specialized skills, expertise and experi-
ence. Through establishing standards of practice that licensure brings,
both sighted and blind individuals who become licensed VRPs can help to
empower consumers to live successful and independent lives.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: S2907 passed Senate
2023: S2907 passed Senate
2022: S3763 passed Senate
2021: S3763 passed Senate
2020: S4695 referred to Higher education
2019: S1695 passed Senate
2018: S3331 reported to Senate Rules Committee
2017: S3361/A3968 passed Senate
2016: S7936/A10427 referred to Higher Education Committee.
2013: S4467-C/A5451-C Veto no.293
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
18 months with provisions.

Statutes affected:
S247: 6503-a education law, 6503-a(1) education law, 6507 education law, 6507(3) education law, 413 social services law, 413(1) social services law, 6505-b education law, 1203 limited liability company law, 1207 limited liability company law, 1301 limited liability company law, 121-1500 partnership law, 121-1502 partnership law