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History
- Reported and committed to rules
- Reported and committed to finance
- Notice of committee consideration - requested
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Establishes the save our sight program and the save our sight fund to provide vision screening and educational information
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor Keith L.T. Wright
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, the vehicle and traffic law and the state finance law, in relation to establishing the save our sight program and the save our sight fund
Purpose
To establish the "Save Our Sight Program" and the "Save Our Sight Fund" to help raise funds for vision screening programs to detect vision problems in children.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the Public Health Law by adding a new Section 22 whereby the Health Commissioner in conjunction with the Motor Vehicles Commissioner establishes a "Save Our Sight Program." The program will provide support to nonprofit organizations that offer vision screening and education services, as well as implement a voluntary children's vision screening training and certification program for caregivers and teachers; track amblyopia treatment in children; establish a matching grant program for the purchase of protective eye wear for children; and provide vision health and safety program materials to classrooms.
Section 2 amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law by adding a new Section 401-c that establishes a program whereby people applying for or renewing motor vehicle registrations or driver licenses may voluntarily contribute $1 to the "Save Our Sight Fund."
Section 3 amends the State Finance Law by adding a new Section 81 to create the "Save Our Sight Fund." All monies of the fund shall be made available from the State Comptroller to the Commissioner of the Department of Health for the "Save Our Sight Program".
Justification
This legislation would provide for a $1 voluntary check-off box on motor vehicle and driver license registration and renewal forms. Contributions raised would be administered by the Department of Health to support programs to help detect and prevent blindness in children.
Greater attention needs to be paid to the vision of children, as vision disorders are one of the most prevalent disabilities among youth. Untreated eye problems, such as amblyopia (lazy eye), eye injuries, muscle imbalances and color blindness in children can lead to difficulties in learning and behavior as well as eventual blindness. Since, according to Prevent Blindness, vision problems affect one in twenty preschoolers and one in four school-age children, screening should be widespread. Also, treatment is most successful when problems are detected early. Yet, approximately 80 percent of children under age six (more than 1.3 million New York children) are not being screened for vision problems before they enter school. This legislation provides for an easy mechanism to raise funds for a vision screening program.
Fiscal implications
None.
Legislative history
2007-08: S.2926 - Referred to Health 2005-06: S.1467 - Referred to Health 2003-04: S.1984 - Referred to Health 2001-02: S.1499 - Referred to Health
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.