Assembly Actions -
Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE |
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Jun 02, 2014 |
referred to higher education delivered to assembly passed senate |
May 28, 2014 |
advanced to third reading |
May 21, 2014 |
2nd report cal. amended 3558d |
May 20, 2014 |
1st report cal.839 |
May 09, 2014 |
print number 3558c |
May 09, 2014 |
amend and recommit to finance |
Apr 29, 2014 |
reported and committed to finance |
Feb 03, 2014 |
print number 3558b |
Feb 03, 2014 |
amend and recommit to higher education |
Jan 09, 2014 |
print number 3558a |
Jan 09, 2014 |
amend and recommit to higher education |
Jan 08, 2014 |
referred to higher education returned to senate died in assembly |
Jun 05, 2013 |
referred to higher education delivered to assembly passed senate |
Jun 03, 2013 |
advanced to third reading |
May 30, 2013 |
2nd report cal. |
May 29, 2013 |
1st report cal.794 |
Apr 16, 2013 |
reported and committed to finance |
Feb 05, 2013 |
referred to higher education |
Senate Bill S3558D
2013-2014 Legislative Session
Provides for the licensing of licensed orientation and mobility specialists and vision rehabilitation therapists
download bill text pdfSponsored By
(R, C) 53rd Senate District
Archive: Last Bill Status - In Assembly Committee
- Introduced
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- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
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- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
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- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- Delivered to Governor
- Signed By Governor
Actions
Votes
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Floor Vote: Jun 2, 2014
aye (59)- Addabbo Jr.
- Avella
- Ball
- Bonacic
- Boyle
- Breslin
- Carlucci
- DeFrancisco
- Diaz
- Dilan
- Farley
- Felder
- Flanagan
- Gallivan
- Gianaris
- Gipson
- Golden
- Griffo
- Grisanti
- Hannon
- Hassell-Thompson
- Hoylman-Sigal
- Kennedy
- Klein
- Krueger
- LaValle
- Lanza
- Larkin
- Latimer
- Libous
- Little
- Marcellino
- Marchione
- Martins
- Maziarz
- Montgomery
- Nozzolio
- O'Brien
- O'Mara
- Parker
- Peralta
- Perkins
- Ranzenhofer
- Ritchie
- Rivera
- Robach
- Sampson
- Sanders Jr.
- Savino
- Serrano
- Seward
- Skelos
- Squadron
- Stavisky
- Stewart-Cousins
- Tkaczyk
- Valesky
- Young
- Zeldin
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Floor Vote: Jun 5, 2013
aye (63)- Adams
- Addabbo Jr.
- Avella
- Ball
- Bonacic
- Boyle
- Breslin
- Carlucci
- DeFrancisco
- Diaz
- Dilan
- Espaillat
- Farley
- Felder
- Flanagan
- Fuschillo
- Gallivan
- Gianaris
- Gipson
- Golden
- Griffo
- Grisanti
- Hannon
- Hassell-Thompson
- Hoylman-Sigal
- Kennedy
- Klein
- Krueger
- LaValle
- Lanza
- Larkin
- Latimer
- Libous
- Little
- Marcellino
- Marchione
- Martins
- Maziarz
- Montgomery
- Nozzolio
- O'Brien
- O'Mara
- Parker
- Peralta
- Perkins
- Ranzenhofer
- Ritchie
- Rivera
- Robach
- Sampson
- Sanders Jr.
- Savino
- Serrano
- Seward
- Skelos
- Smith
- Squadron
- Stavisky
- Stewart-Cousins
- Tkaczyk
- Valesky
- Young
- Zeldin
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Apr 29, 2014 - Higher Education Committee Vote
S3558D18Aye0Nay1Aye with Reservations0Absent0Excused0AbstainedApr 16, 2013 - Higher Education Committee Vote
S3558D18Aye0Nay1Aye with Reservations0Absent0Excused0AbstainedMay 20, 2014 - Finance Committee Vote
S3558D37Aye0Nay0Aye with Reservations0Absent0Excused0Abstained-
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Finance Committee Vote: May 20, 2014
aye (37)- Bonacic
- Breslin
- DeFrancisco
- Diaz
- Dilan
- Espaillat
- Farley
- Flanagan
- Gianaris
- Golden
- Griffo
- Grisanti
- Hannon
- Hassell-Thompson
- Kennedy
- Krueger
- LaValle
- Lanza
- Larkin
- Little
- Marcellino
- Martins
- Montgomery
- Nozzolio
- O'Mara
- Parker
- Peralta
- Perkins
- Ranzenhofer
- Rivera
- Robach
- Savino
- Seward
- Squadron
- Stavisky
- Valesky
- Young
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May 29, 2013 - Finance Committee Vote
S3558D35Aye0Nay0Aye with Reservations0Absent1Excused0Abstained-
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Finance Committee Vote: May 29, 2013
aye (35)excused (1)
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Bill Amendments
co-Sponsors
(D, WF) 46th Senate District
(R, C, IP) Senate District
(D, WF) 47th Senate District
(R, C) Senate District
(R, C) 7th Senate District
(R) Senate District
(D, WF) 21st Senate District
(R, C, IP) Senate District
(D, IP) Senate District
(D, IP) Senate District
2013-S3558 - Details
2013-S3558 - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER:S3558 TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the education law, in relation to the licensing of orientation and mobility specialists and rehabilitation therapists PURPOSE: This bill would ensure the safety of persons who are blind or partially sighted by licensing the trained vision rehabilitation profes- sionals who work with them to restore their independent functioning within the home, the school, the workplace and the wider community. SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Creates a new article 167. § 8801 Sets out the definition used in the article. § 8802 Outlines the use of the titles "licensed orientation and mobility specialists" and "vision rehabilitation therapists". § 8803 Outlines the State Board for vision rehabilitation services. § 8804 Spells out the requirements for a license. § 8805 Establishes limited permits. § 8806 Explains the exempt persons.
§ 8807 Outlines special provisions. § 8808 Separability provisions. JUSTIFICATION: Vision does does not have to be devastating. Full inde- pendence 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-suffi- cient and able to navigate through their lives independently due in part to the specialized 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 and doctors do not refer patients to unlicensed professions. Vision Rehabilitation Professionals were marginalized in the first half of the 20 century due in part because the numbers of people with a visu- al impairment were small, the workers for the blind were largely blind themselves and there was widespread discrimination of all people with disabilities. 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 professional. To be a Vision Rehabilitation Professional (VRP), professionals who are either blind of sighted themselves complete a degree from an accredited university, undergo a rigorous internship and pass an exam given by a nationally accredited certifying body. The number of New Yorkers with vision loss has gown due to many factors. The aging of the baby boomers and longer life expectancies 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 rehabilitation 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: 2012: S.3880c Passed Senate; A.8576 Higher Educa- tion Committee. FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None. EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect July 1, 2015, however, that the commissioner of education and the board of regents are authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations and take any other measures as may be necessary for the timely implementation of this act on or before its effective date, including but not limited to the appointment of the state board for vision rehabilitation services, the acceptance and proc- essing of applications for licensure, and the issuance of licenses.
2013-S3558 - Bill Text download pdf
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 3558 2013-2014 Regular Sessions I N S E N A T E February 5, 2013 ___________ Introduced by Sens. GRIFFO, DeFRANCISCO, LARKIN, MARTINS, MAZIARZ, SAVI- NO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the licensing of orientation and mobility specialists and rehabilitation therapists THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new article 167 to read as follows: ARTICLE 167 VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES SECTION 8800. INTRODUCTION. 8801. DEFINITIONS. 8802. USE OF THE TITLES "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS" AND "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS". 8803. STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES. 8804. REQUIREMENTS FOR A LICENSE. 8805. LIMITED PERMITS. 8806. EXEMPT PERSONS. 8807. SPECIAL PROVISIONS. 8808. SEPARABILITY. S 8800. INTRODUCTION. THIS ARTICLE APPLIES TO THE PROFESSION OF VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES, AND PROVIDES FOR THE LICENSING OF LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS AND VISION REHABILITATION THERA- PISTS. THE GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR ALL PROFESSIONS CONTAINED IN ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY OF THIS TITLE SHALL APPLY TO THIS ARTICLE. S 8801. DEFINITIONS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS: 1. THE PRACTICE OF "ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING" SHALL MEAN: (A) THE ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED FOR SKILLS TRAINING IN METHODS OF SAFE MOVEMENT AND IN STRATE- EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD06474-01-3
S. 3558 2 GIES TO GATHER REQUIRED ENVIRONMENTAL AND SPATIAL INFORMATION; (B) THE DEVELOPMENT OF APPROPRIATE INTEGRATED SERVICE PLANS TAILORED TO MEET SUCH INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AS IDENTIFIED IN SUCH ASSESSMENT PROCESS; (C) THE PROVISION OF TRAINING IN, AND UTILIZATION OF (I) EQUIPMENT AND ADAPTIVE DEVICES INTENDED AND DESIGNED FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, AND (II) SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES ADAPTED FOR PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ORIENTATION; SENSORY DEVELOPMENT; SYSTEMS OF SAFE MOVEMENT, INCLUDING LONG CANE TECHNIQUES; RESOURCE IDENTIFICATION AND, AS APPROPRIATE, PROFESSIONAL REFERRALS; AND, IN APPLIED SETTINGS, REINFORCING INSTRUCTION FOR THE USE OF OPTICAL DEVICES AS PRESCRIBED BY OPTOMETRISTS AND OPHTHALMOLOGISTS; AND (D) THE EVALUATION OF CLIENTS RECEIVING SUCH SPECIALIZED TRAINING. 2. THE PRACTICE OF "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY" SHALL MEAN: (A) THE ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED FOR SKILLS TRAINING IN INDEPENDENT LIVING AND COMMUNICATIONS; (B) THE DEVEL- OPMENT OF APPROPRIATE INTEGRATED SERVICE PLANS TAILORED TO MEET SUCH INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AS IDENTIFIED IN SUCH ASSESSMENT PROCESS; (C) THE PROVISION OF TRAINING IN, AND UTILIZATION OF (I) EQUIPMENT AND ADAPTIVE DEVICES INTENDED AND DESIGNED FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INCLUDING, IN APPLIED SETTINGS, REINFORCING INSTRUCTION FOR THE USE OF OPTICAL DEVICES AS PRESCRIBED BY OPTOMETRISTS OR OPHTHALMOLO- GISTS, AND (II) SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES ADAPTED FOR PERSONS WHO ARE VISU- ALLY IMPAIRED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BRAILLE AND OTHER COMMUNI- CATION SKILLS; ADAPTED COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY; PERSONAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS; HOME MANAGEMENT SKILLS; PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS; RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND, AS APPROPRIATE, PROFESSIONAL REFERRALS; AND (D) THE EVALUATION OF PERSONS RECEIVING SUCH SPECIALIZED TRAINING. 3. THE PRACTICE OF "VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES" SHALL MEAN PROVID- ING ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION OF, AND TRAINING FOR, PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED WHEN SUCH ASSESSMENT, EVALUATION AND TRAINING INCORPO- RATES THE FULL RANGE OF SPECIALIZED SKILLS AND TASKS SUBSUMED IN THE TWO PROFESSIONS DEFINED IN THIS SECTION AS: (A) ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING AND (B) VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY. SUCH SERVICES SHALL BE RENDERED ON THE PRESCRIPTION OR REFERRAL WHICH MAY BE DIRECTIVE AS TO TREATMENT BY A LICENSED PHYSICIAN OR OPTOMETRIST, PROVIDED HOWEVER THAT NO SUCH TREATMENT DIRECTIVE AND LOW VISION EXAMINATION SHALL BE REQUIRED WHEN THE PERSON BEING REFERRED HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITHIN THE PREVIOUS TWELVE MONTHS AS VISUALLY IMPAIRED, BLIND OR LEGALLY BLIND AS THOSE TERMS ARE DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS SECTION AND SUCH SERVICES ARE BEING RENDERED CONSISTENT WITH THAT DIAGNOSIS, PRESCRIPTION OR REFERRAL. VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS AND ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS MAY NOT PRESCRIBE OPTICAL LOW VISION DEVICES. 4. "APPLIED SETTINGS" MEANS THOSE LOCATIONS WHERE PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED ENGAGE IN DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES UTILIZING THE TOOLS SUPPLIED AND TECHNIQUES TAUGHT BY THE LICENSED PRACTITIONERS DEFINED IN THIS ARTICLE. 5. "VISUALLY IMPAIRED" MEANS A PERSON WHO IS TOTALLY BLIND, LEGALLY BLIND OR PARTIALLY SIGHTED. A PERSON WHO IS BLIND IS ONE WHO HAS NO USEABLE VISION. A PERSON WHO IS LEGALLY BLIND IS ONE WHO SATISFIES THE DEFINITION SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION B OF SECTION THREE OF CHAPTER FOUR HUNDRED FIFTEEN OF THE LAWS OF NINETEEN HUNDRED THIRTEEN. A PERSON WHO IS PARTIALLY SIGHTED IS ONE WHO HAS FUNCTIONAL VISION IMPAIRMENT THAT CONSTITUTES A SIGNIFICANT LIMITATION OF VISUAL CAPABILITY RESULTING FROM DISEASE, TRAUMA, OR CONGENITAL CONDITION, THAT CANNOT BE FULLY AMELIO- RATED BY STANDARD REFRACTIVE CORRECTION, MEDICATION, OR SURGERY, AND THAT IS MANIFESTED BY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: INSUFFICIENT VISUAL S. 3558 3 RESOLUTION, INADEQUATE FIELD OF VISION OR REDUCED PEAK CONTRAST SENSI- TIVITY. S 8802. USE OF THE TITLES "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIAL- ISTS" AND "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS". 1. PRACTICE OF ORIEN- TATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING AND USE OF THE TITLE "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS". ONLY A PERSON LICENSED OR OTHERWISE AUTHOR- IZED UNDER THIS ARTICLE SHALL PRACTICE ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR USE THE TITLE "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS" IN CONNECTION WITH HIS OR HER NAME OR WITH ANY TRADE NAME IN THE CONDUCT OF HIS OR HER PROFESSION. 2. PRACTICE OF VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY AND USE OF THE TITLE "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST". ONLY A PERSON LICENSED OR OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS ARTICLE SHALL PRACTICE VISION REHABILITATION THER- APY OR USE THE TITLE "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST" IN CONNECTION WITH HIS OR HER NAME OR WITH ANY TRADE NAME IN THE CONDUCT OF HIS OR HER PROFESSION. S 8803. STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES. A STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING THE BOARD OF REGENTS AND THE DEPARTMENT ON MATTERS OF PROFES- SIONAL LICENSING AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED EIGHT OF THIS TITLE. THE BOARD SHALL CONSIST OF NOT LESS THAN FOURTEEN INDIVIDUALS, FOUR OF WHOM SHALL BE LICENSED ORIEN- TATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS, FOUR OF WHOM SHALL BE LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS, ONE OPHTHALMOLOGIST SPECIALIZING IN LOW VISION TREATMENT, ONE OPTOMETRIST SPECIALIZING IN LOW VISION TREATMENT AND FOUR OF WHOM SHALL BE BLIND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WHOSE NAMES WILL BE PLACED IN NOMINATION FOR THE BOARD FROM ORGANIZA- TIONS OF THE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED. MEMBERS OF THE INITIAL BOARD NEED NOT BE LICENSED PRIOR TO THEIR APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD. OF THE MEMBERS FIRST APPOINTED, FOUR SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A THREE YEAR TERM, FIVE SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM, AND FIVE SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A FIVE YEAR TERM. THEREAFTER ALL MEMBERS SHALL SERVE FOR FIVE YEAR TERMS. IN THE EVENT THAT MORE THAN FOURTEEN MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED, A MAJORITY OF THE ADDITIONAL MEMBERS SHALL BE LICENSED ORIEN- TATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS AND LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THER- APISTS. THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHALL SELECT ONE OF THEMSELVES AS CHAIR TO SERVE FOR A ONE YEAR TERM. AN EXECUTIVE SECRETARY SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMISSIONER. S 8804. REQUIREMENTS FOR A LICENSE. 1. TO QUALIFY FOR A LICENSE AS AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST, AN APPLICANT SHALL FULFILL THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: (A) APPLICATION: FILE AN APPLICATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT; (B) EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: (I) HAVE SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED AN APPROVED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY CURRICULUM IN A BACCALAUREATE OR MASTERS PROGRAM, OR A CERTIFICATE PROGRAM SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; AND (II) HAVE A MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS OF SUPERVISED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY EXPERIENCE WHICH SUPERVISION AND EXPERIENCE SHALL BE SATISFAC- TORY TO THE STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; (C) EXAMINATION: PASS AN EXAMINATION SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS THAT MAY BE BASED ON AN EXAM UTILIZED BY ANY NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ACCREDITING OR CERTIFICATION BODY SUCH AS THE ACADEMY FOR CERTIFICATION OF VISION REHABILITATION AND S. 3558 4 EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS (ACVREP), NATIONAL ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY CERTIFICATE (NOMC) ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL BLINDNESS PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION BOARD (NBPCB) OR AN EQUIVALENT EXAM. (D) AGE: BE AT LEAST TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE; (E) CHARACTER: BE OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPART- MENT; (F) REGISTRATION: ALL LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS SHALL REGISTER TRIENNIALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATION; (G) MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY: (I)(A) EACH LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST REQUIRED UNDER THIS ARTICLE TO REGISTER TRIENNI- ALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO PRACTICE IN THE STATE SHALL COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSES (B) AND (C) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH. ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS WHO DO NOT SATISFY THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS SHALL NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE UNTIL THEY HAVE MET SUCH REQUIREMENTS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN ISSUED A REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE, EXCEPT THAT AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST MAY PRACTICE WITHOUT HAVING MET SUCH REQUIREMENTS IF HE OR SHE IS ISSUED A CONDITIONAL REGIS- TRATION PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. (B) ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRA- TION PERIOD DURING WHICH THEY ARE FIRST LICENSED. ADJUSTMENT TO THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS MAY BE GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR REASONS OF HEALTH OF THE LICENSEE WHERE CERTIFIED BY AN APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, FOR EXTENDED ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, OR FOR OTHER GOOD CAUSE ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT WHICH MAY PREVENT COMPLIANCE. (C) A LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST NOT ENGAGED IN PRACTICE, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT UPON THE FILING OF A STATE- MENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT DECLARING SUCH STATUS. ANY LICENSEE WHO RETURNS TO PRACTICE OF THE PROFESSION OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST DURING THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD SHALL NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO REENTERING THE PROFESSION AND SHALL MEET SUCH MANDATORY CONTIN- UING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS AS SHALL BE PRESCRIBED BY REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. (II) DURING EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD AN APPLICANT FOR REGIS- TRATION AS AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST SHALL COMPLETE A MINI- MUM OF TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF ACCEPTABLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO CONTINUING COMPETENCE, AS SPECIFIED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (IV) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, PROVIDED FURTHER THAT AT LEAST SIXTEEN HOURS SHALL BE IN RECOGNIZED AREAS OF STUDY PERTINENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SCOPE OF A LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST. ANY ORIENTATION AND MOBIL- ITY SPECIALIST WHOSE FIRST REGISTRATION DATE FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION OCCURS LESS THAN THREE YEARS FROM SUCH EFFECTIVE DATE, BUT ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN, SHALL COMPLETE CONTINUING COMPETENCY HOURS ON A PRORATED BASIS AT THE RATE OF ONE-HALF HOUR PER MONTH FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN UP TO THE FIRST REGISTRATION DATE. THEREAFTER, A LICEN- SEE WHO HAS NOT SATISFIED THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIRE- MENTS SHALL NOT BE ISSUED A TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE BY THE DEPARTMENT AND SHALL NOT PRACTICE UNLESS AND UNTIL A CONDITIONAL REGIS- TRATION CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED AS PROVIDED FOR IN SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF S. 3558 5 THIS PARAGRAPH. CONTINUING COMPETENCY HOURS TAKEN DURING ONE TRIENNIUM MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUBSEQUENT TRIENNIUM. (III) THE DEPARTMENT, IN ITS DISCRETION, MAY ISSUE A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION TO A LICENSEE WHO FAILS TO MEET THE CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, BUT WHO AGREES TO MAKE UP ANY DEFICIENCIES AND COMPLETE ANY ADDITIONAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIRE. THE FEE FOR SUCH A CONDI- TIONAL REGISTRATION SHALL BE THE SAME AS, AND IN ADDITION TO, THE FEE FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION. THE DURATION OF SUCH CONDITIONAL REGIS- TRATION SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT BUT SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE YEAR. ANY LICENSEE WHO IS NOTIFIED OF THE DENIAL OF REGISTRATION FOR FAILURE TO SUBMIT EVIDENCE, SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT, OF REQUIRED CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND WHO PRACTICES WITHOUT SUCH REGISTRATION, MAY BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. (IV) AS USED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, "ACCEPTABLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES" SHALL MEAN ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST AND WHICH MEET THE STANDARDS PRESCRIBED IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMIS- SIONER. SUCH LEARNING ACTIVITIES SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, COLLEGIATE LEVEL CREDIT AND NON-CREDIT COURSES, SELF-STUDY ACTIVITIES, INDEPENDENT STUDY, FORMAL MENTORING ACTIVITIES, PUBLICATIONS IN PROFES- SIONAL JOURNALS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND TECHNICAL SESSIONS; SUCH LEARNING ACTIVITIES MAY BE OFFERED AND SPONSORED BY NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZA- TIONS OR PARTIES ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT, AND ANY OTHER ORGANIZED EDUCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPART- MENT. RECOGNIZED AREAS OF STUDY SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TRAINING IN ORIENTATION, MOBILITY, NAVIGATION, INDEPENDENT LIVING, COMMUNICATIONS AND USE OF PRESCRIBED AND, ADAPTIVE OPTICAL DEVICES; UTILIZATION OF SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT INTENDED FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; THE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF VISION LOSS AND ITS FUNCTIONAL IMPACT ON PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; AND SUCH OTHER TECHNICAL SUBJECT MATTER AREAS APPRO- PRIATELY RELATED TO THE PRACTICE OF VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AS MAY BE SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSION- ER'S REGULATIONS. THE DEPARTMENT MAY, IN ITS DISCRETION AND AS NEEDED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC, REQUIRE THE COMPLETION OF CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES IN SPECIFIC SUBJECTS TO FULFILL THIS MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT. LEARNING ACTIVITIES MUST BE TAKEN FROM A SPONSOR APPROVED BY THE DEPART- MENT, PURSUANT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. (V) ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS SHALL MAINTAIN ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION OF COMPLETION OF ACCEPTABLE CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND SHALL PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT. FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION UPON THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE AN ACT OF MISCONDUCT SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. (VI) THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY FEE SHALL BE FIFTY DOLLARS, SHALL BE PAYABLE ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRA- TION PERIOD, AND SHALL BE PAID IN ADDITION TO THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION FEE REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (H) OF THIS SUBDIVISION. (H) FEES: PAY A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR AN INITIAL LICENSE AND A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD. S. 3558 6 2. TO QUALIFY FOR A LICENSE AS A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST AN APPLICANT SHALL FULFILL THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: (A) APPLICATION: FILE AN APPLICATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT; (B) EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: (I) HAVE SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED AN APPROVED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST CURRICULUM IN A BACCALAUREATE OR MASTERS PROGRAM, OR A CERTIFICATE PROGRAM SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPART- MENT WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; AND (II) HAVE A MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS OF SUPERVISED VISION REHABILI- TATION THERAPIST EXPERIENCE WHICH SUPERVISION AND EXPERIENCE SHALL BE SATISFACTORY TO THE STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; (C) EXAMINATION: PASS AN EXAMINATION SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS THAT MAY BE BASED ON AN EXAM UTILIZED BY ANY NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ACCREDITING OR CERTIFICATION BODY SUCH AS THE ACADEMY FOR CERTIFICATION OF VISION REHABILITATION AND EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS (ACVREP), NATIONAL ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY CERTIFICATE (NOMC) ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL BLINDNESS PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION BOARD (NBPCB) OR AN EQUIVALENT EXAM. (D) AGE: BE AT LEAST TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE; (E) CHARACTER: BE OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPART- MENT; (F) REGISTRATION: ALL LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS SHALL REGISTER TRIENNIALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMIS- SIONER'S REGULATIONS; (G) MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY: (I) (A) EACH LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST REQUIRED UNDER THIS ARTICLE TO REGISTER TRIEN- NIALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO PRACTICE IN THE STATE SHALL COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSES (B) AND (C) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS WHO DO NOT SATISFY THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS SHALL NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE UNTIL THEY HAVE MET SUCH REQUIRE- MENTS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN ISSUED A REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE, EXCEPT THAT A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST MAY PRACTICE WITHOUT HAVING MET SUCH REQUIREMENTS IF HE OR SHE IS ISSUED A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. (B) VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATO- RY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD DURING WHICH THEY ARE FIRST LICENSED. ADJUSTMENT TO THE MANDATO- RY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS MAY BE GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR REASONS OF HEALTH OF THE LICENSEE WHERE CERTIFIED BY AN APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, FOR EXTENDED ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, OR FOR OTHER GOOD CAUSE ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPART- MENT WHICH MAY PREVENT COMPLIANCE. (C) A LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST NOT ENGAGED IN PRAC- TICE, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATO- RY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT UPON THE FILING OF A STATEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT DECLARING SUCH STATUS. ANY LICENSEE WHO RETURNS TO PRAC- TICE OF VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY DURING THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD SHALL NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO REENTERING THE PROFESSION AND SHALL MEET SUCH MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS AS SHALL BE PRESCRIBED BY REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. (II) DURING EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD AN APPLICANT FOR REGIS- TRATION AS A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST SHALL COMPLETE A MINIMUM OF TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF ACCEPTABLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO S. 3558 7 CONTINUING COMPETENCE, AS SPECIFIED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (IV) OF THIS PARA- GRAPH, PROVIDED FURTHER THAT AT LEAST SIXTEEN HOURS SHALL BE IN RECOG- NIZED AREAS OF STUDY PERTINENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SCOPE OF A LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST. ANY VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST WHOSE FIRST REGISTRATION DATE FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION OCCURS LESS THAN THREE YEARS FROM SUCH EFFECTIVE DATE, BUT ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN, SHALL COMPLETE CONTINUING COMPETENCY HOURS ON A PRORATED BASIS AT THE RATE OF ONE-HALF HOUR PER MONTH FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN UP TO THE FIRST REGISTRATION DATE. THEREAFTER, A LICENSEE WHO HAS NOT SATIS- FIED THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS SHALL NOT BE ISSUED A TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE BY THE DEPARTMENT AND SHALL NOT PRACTICE UNLESS AND UNTIL A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED AS PROVIDED FOR IN SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. CONTIN- UING COMPETENCY HOURS TAKEN DURING ONE TRIENNIUM MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUBSEQUENT TRIENNIUM. (III) THE DEPARTMENT, IN ITS DISCRETION, MAY ISSUE A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION TO A LICENSEE WHO FAILS TO MEET THE CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, BUT WHO AGREES TO MAKE UP ANY DEFICIENCIES AND COMPLETE ANY ADDITIONAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIRE. THE FEE FOR SUCH A CONDI- TIONAL REGISTRATION SHALL BE THE SAME AS, AND IN ADDITION TO, THE FEE FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION. THE DURATION OF SUCH CONDITIONAL REGIS- TRATION SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT BUT SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE YEAR. ANY LICENSEE WHO IS NOTIFIED OF THE DENIAL OF REGISTRATION FOR FAILURE TO SUBMIT EVIDENCE, SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT, OF REQUIRED CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND WHO PRACTICES WITHOUT SUCH REGISTRATION, MAY BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. (IV) AS USED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, "ACCEPTABLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES" SHALL MEAN ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST AND WHICH MEET THE STANDARDS PRESCRIBED IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. SUCH LEARNING ACTIVITIES SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, COLLEGI- ATE LEVEL CREDIT AND NON-CREDIT COURSES, SELF-STUDY ACTIVITIES, INDE- PENDENT STUDY, FORMAL MENTORING ACTIVITIES, PUBLICATIONS IN PROFESSIONAL JOURNALS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND TECHNICAL SESSIONS; SUCH LEARNING ACTIVITIES MAY BE OFFERED AND SPONSORED BY NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OR PARTIES ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT, AND ANY OTHER ORGANIZED EDUCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT. RECOGNIZED AREAS OF STUDY SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TRAINING IN MOBILITY, NAVIGATION, INDEPENDENT LIVING, COMMUNICATIONS AND ORIENTATION, USE OF PRESCRIBED AND, ADAPTIVE OPTICAL DEVICES; UTILIZA- TION OF SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT INTENDED FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; THE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF VISION LOSS AND ITS FUNCTIONAL IMPACT ON PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; AND SUCH OTHER TECHNICAL SUBJECT MATTER AREAS APPROPRIATELY RELATED TO THE PRACTICE OF VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AS MAY BE SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS. THE DEPARTMENT MAY, IN ITS DISCRETION AND AS NEEDED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC, REQUIRE THE COMPLETION OF CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES IN SPECIFIC SUBJECTS TO FULFILL THIS MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT. LEARNING ACTIVITIES MUST BE TAKEN FROM A SPON- SOR APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT, PURSUANT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. S. 3558 8 (V) VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS SHALL MAINTAIN ADEQUATE DOCUMEN- TATION OF COMPLETION OF ACCEPTABLE CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIV- ITIES AND SHALL PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEPART- MENT. FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION UPON THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE AN ACT OF MISCONDUCT SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. (VI) THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY FEE SHALL BE FIFTY DOLLARS, SHALL BE PAYABLE ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRA- TION PERIOD, AND SHALL BE PAID IN ADDITION TO THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION FEE REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (H) OF THIS SUBDIVISION. (H) FEES: PAY A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR AN INITIAL LICENSE AND A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD. S 8805. LIMITED PERMITS. PERMITS LIMITED AS TO ELIGIBILITY, PRACTICE AND DURATION SHALL BE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS AS FOLLOWS: 1. ELIGIBILITY. A PERSON WHO FULFILLS ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ORIEN- TATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST, EXCEPT THAT RELATING TO THE EXAMINATION, SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A LIMITED PERMIT. 2. LIMIT OF PRACTICE. ALL PRACTICE UNDER A LIMITED PERMIT SHALL BE UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST OR A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST. 3. DURATION. A LIMITED PERMIT SHALL EXPIRE ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF ISSUANCE OR UPON NOTICE TO THE PERMITTEE BY THE DEPARTMENT THAT THE APPLICATION FOR LICENSURE HAS BEEN DENIED, OR UPON NOTICE TO THE PERMIT- TEE OF FAILURE ON THE PROFESSIONAL LICENSING EXAMINATION, WHICHEVER FIRST OCCURS. 4. FEES. THE FEE FOR EACH LIMITED PERMIT SHALL BE SEVENTY DOLLARS. S 8806. EXEMPT PERSONS. THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO AFFECT OR PREVENT THE FOLLOWING, PROVIDED THAT NO TITLE, SIGN, CARD OR DEVICE SHALL BE USED IN SUCH MANNER AS TO TEND TO CONVEY THE IMPRESSION THAT THE PERSON RENDERING SUCH SERVICE IS A LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST: 1. THE PRACTICE OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHA- BILITATION THERAPY AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF A PROGRAM OF STUDY BY STUDENTS ENROLLED IN APPROVED EDUCATIONAL OR TRAINING PROGRAMS IN (A) ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR (B) VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY. 2. THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OF THE DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING BY ANY OTHER DULY LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, PROVIDED THAT SUCH DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER PRACTICE AS DEFINED IN THE ARTICLE PURSUANT TO WHICH SUCH PERSON IS LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH PRACTITIONERS MAY NOT HOLD THEMSELVES OUT UNDER THE TITLE "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST" OR AS PERFORMING LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING. 3. THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OF THE DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY BY ANY OTHER DULY LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, PROVIDED THAT SUCH DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER PRACTICE AS DEFINED IN THE ARTICLE OR COMMISSIONER'S REGULATION PURSUANT TO WHICH SUCH PERSON IS LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH PRACTITIONERS MAY NOT HOLD THEMSELVES OUT UNDER THE TITLE "LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST" OR AS PERFORMING LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY. WITH THE EXCEPTION S. 3558 9 THAT OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MAY HOLD THEMSELVES OUT AS PROVIDING VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY OR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES. 4. THE PRACTICE, CONDUCT, ACTIVITIES, SERVICES OR USE OF ANY TITLE BY ANY PERSON LICENSED OR OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE MEDICINE WITHIN THE STATE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE OF THIS TITLE OR BY ANY PERSON REGISTERED TO PERFORM SERVICES AS A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE-B OF THIS TITLE. 5. THE PRACTICE OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHA- BILITATION THERAPY BY ANY LEGALLY QUALIFIED PRACTITIONER OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY OF ANY OTHER STATE OR TERRITORY WHO IS SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES OR THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES WHILE ENGAGED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS OR HER DUTIES. 6. THE INSTRUCTION IN THE USE OF A DOG GUIDE. S 8807. SPECIAL PROVISIONS. A PERSON SHALL BE LICENSED WITHOUT EXAM- INATION PROVIDED THAT, WITHIN THREE YEARS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ARTICLE, SUCH PERSON: 1. FILES AN APPLICATION AND PAYS THE APPROPRIATE FEES TO THE DEPART- MENT; 2. (A) HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER, OR EQUIVALENT AS DETER- MINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, WITH A SPECIALIZATION IN ORIENTATION AND MOBIL- ITY TRAINING; OR (B) HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER, OR EQUIVALENT AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, WITH A SPECIALIZATION IN VISION REHA- BILITATION THERAPY; OR (C) HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER, OR EQUIVALENT AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN A REHABILITATION FIELD OR IN SPECIAL EDUCATION AND (I) HAS COMPLETED ALL ADDITIONALLY REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF THE ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHABILI- TATION THERAPY CURRICULUM SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; OR (II) HAS BEEN CERTIFIED IN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY BY A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ACCREDITING BODY ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT; AND 3. SUBMITS EVIDENCE OF A MINIMUM OF THREE YEARS EXPERIENCE OR EMPLOY- MENT IN THE PRACTICE OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS, WHETHER SUCH EXPERIENCE OR EMPLOYMENT OCCURS WITHIN OR WITHOUT THIS STATE. S 8808. SEPARABILITY. IF ANY SECTION OF THIS ARTICLE, OR PART THEREOF, SHALL BE ADJUDGED BY ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO BE INVALID, SUCH JUDGMENT SHALL NOT AFFECT, IMPAIR OR INVALIDATE THE REMAINDER OF ANY OTHER SECTION OR PART THEREOF. S 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015. The commissioner of education and the board of regents are authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations and take any other measures as may be necessary for the timely implementation of this act on or before its effective date, including but not limited to the appointment of the state board for vision rehabilitation services, the acceptance and processing of applications for licensure, and the issuance of licenses.
co-Sponsors
(D, WF) 46th Senate District
(R, C, IP) Senate District
(D, WF) 47th Senate District
(R, C) Senate District
(R, C) 7th Senate District
(R) Senate District
(D, WF) 21st Senate District
(R, C, IP) Senate District
(D, IP) Senate District
(D, IP) Senate District
2013-S3558A - Details
2013-S3558A - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER:S3558A TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the education law, in relation to the licensing of orientation and mobility specialists and rehabilitation therapists 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 the wider community. SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Creates a new article 167. § 8801 Sets out the definition used in the article. § 8802 Outlines the use of the titles "licensed orientation and mobility specialists" and "vision rehabilitation therapists". § 8803 Outlines the State Board for vision rehabilitation services. § 8804 Spells out the requirements for a license. § 8805 Establishes limited permits. § 8806 Explains the exempt persons.
§ 8807 Outlines special provisions. § 8808 Separability provisions. JUSTIFICATION: Vision 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 specialized 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 and doctors do not refer patients to unlicensed professions. Vision Rehabilitation Professionals were marginalized in the first half of the 20 century due in part because the numbers of people with a visual impairment were small, the workers for the blind were largely blind themselves and there was widespread discrimination of all people with disabilities. 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 professional. To be a Vision Rehabilitation Professional (VRP), professionals who are either blind of sighted themselves complete a degree from an accredited university, undergo a rigorous internship and pass an exam given by a nationally accredited certifying body. The number of New Yorkers with vision loss has gown due to many factors. The aging of the baby boomers and longer life expectancies 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 rehabilitation 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 quality of life can be improved by granting these highly qualified professionals 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 techniques 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 technology. 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 experience. 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: 2013 - S. 3558 passed Senate/A. 3597 - Higher Education Committee. FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None. EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect July 1, 2015, however, that the commissioner of education and the board of regents are authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations and take any other measures as may be necessary for the timely implementation of this act on or before its effective date, including but not limited to the appointment of the state board for vision rehabilitation services, the acceptance and processing of applications for licensure, and the issuance of licenses.
2013-S3558A - Bill Text download pdf
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 3558--A 2013-2014 Regular Sessions I N S E N A T E February 5, 2013 ___________ Introduced by Sens. GRIFFO, BRESLIN, DeFRANCISCO, HOYLMAN, LARKIN, MARTINS, MAZIARZ, PARKER, RANZENHOFER, SAVINO, VALESKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education -- recommitted to the Committee on Higher Educa- tion in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the licensing of orientation and mobility specialists and rehabilitation therapists THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new article 167 to read as follows: ARTICLE 167 VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES SECTION 8800. INTRODUCTION. 8801. DEFINITIONS. 8802. USE OF THE TITLES "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS" AND "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS". 8803. STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES. 8804. REQUIREMENTS FOR A LICENSE. 8805. LIMITED PERMITS. 8806. EXEMPT PERSONS. 8807. SPECIAL PROVISIONS. 8808. SEPARABILITY. S 8800. INTRODUCTION. THIS ARTICLE APPLIES TO THE PROFESSION OF VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES, AND PROVIDES FOR THE LICENSING OF LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS AND VISION REHABILITATION THERA- PISTS. THE GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR ALL PROFESSIONS CONTAINED IN ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY OF THIS TITLE SHALL APPLY TO THIS ARTICLE. EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD06474-02-4
S. 3558--A 2 S 8801. DEFINITIONS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS: 1. THE PRACTICE OF "ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING" SHALL MEAN: (A) THE ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED FOR SKILLS TRAINING IN METHODS OF SAFE MOVEMENT AND IN STRATE- GIES TO GATHER REQUIRED ENVIRONMENTAL AND SPATIAL INFORMATION; (B) THE DEVELOPMENT OF APPROPRIATE INTEGRATED SERVICE PLANS TAILORED TO MEET SUCH INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AS IDENTIFIED IN SUCH ASSESSMENT PROCESS; (C) THE PROVISION OF TRAINING IN, AND UTILIZATION OF (I) EQUIPMENT AND ADAPTIVE DEVICES INTENDED AND DESIGNED FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, AND (II) SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES ADAPTED FOR PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ORIENTATION; SENSORY DEVELOPMENT; SYSTEMS OF SAFE MOVEMENT, INCLUDING LONG CANE TECHNIQUES; RESOURCE IDENTIFICATION AND, AS APPROPRIATE, PROFESSIONAL REFERRALS; AND, IN APPLIED SETTINGS, REINFORCING INSTRUCTION FOR THE USE OF OPTICAL DEVICES AS PRESCRIBED BY OPTOMETRISTS AND OPHTHALMOLOGISTS; AND (D) THE EVALUATION OF CLIENTS RECEIVING SUCH SPECIALIZED TRAINING. 2. THE PRACTICE OF "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY" SHALL MEAN: (A) THE ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED FOR SKILLS TRAINING IN INDEPENDENT LIVING AND COMMUNICATIONS; (B) THE DEVEL- OPMENT OF APPROPRIATE INTEGRATED SERVICE PLANS TAILORED TO MEET SUCH INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AS IDENTIFIED IN SUCH ASSESSMENT PROCESS; (C) THE PROVISION OF TRAINING IN, AND UTILIZATION OF (I) EQUIPMENT AND ADAPTIVE DEVICES INTENDED AND DESIGNED FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INCLUDING, IN APPLIED SETTINGS, REINFORCING INSTRUCTION FOR THE USE OF OPTICAL DEVICES AS PRESCRIBED BY OPTOMETRISTS OR OPHTHALMOLO- GISTS, AND (II) SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES ADAPTED FOR PERSONS WHO ARE VISU- ALLY IMPAIRED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BRAILLE AND OTHER COMMUNI- CATION SKILLS; ADAPTED COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY; PERSONAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS; HOME MANAGEMENT SKILLS; PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS; RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND, AS APPROPRIATE, PROFESSIONAL REFERRALS; AND (D) THE EVALUATION OF PERSONS RECEIVING SUCH SPECIALIZED TRAINING. 3. THE PRACTICE OF "VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES" SHALL MEAN PROVID- ING ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION OF, AND TRAINING FOR, PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED WHEN SUCH ASSESSMENT, EVALUATION AND TRAINING INCORPO- RATES THE FULL RANGE OF SPECIALIZED SKILLS AND TASKS SUBSUMED IN THE TWO PROFESSIONS DEFINED IN THIS SECTION AS: (A) ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING AND (B) VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY. SUCH SERVICES SHALL BE RENDERED ON THE PRESCRIPTION OR REFERRAL WHICH MAY BE DIRECTIVE AS TO TREATMENT BY A LICENSED PHYSICIAN OR OPTOMETRIST, PROVIDED HOWEVER THAT NO SUCH TREATMENT DIRECTIVE AND LOW VISION EXAMINATION SHALL BE REQUIRED WHEN THE PERSON BEING REFERRED HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITHIN THE PREVIOUS TWELVE MONTHS AS VISUALLY IMPAIRED, BLIND OR LEGALLY BLIND AS THOSE TERMS ARE DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS SECTION AND SUCH SERVICES ARE BEING RENDERED CONSISTENT WITH THAT DIAGNOSIS, PRESCRIPTION OR REFERRAL. VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS AND ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS MAY NOT PRESCRIBE OPTICAL LOW VISION DEVICES. 4. "APPLIED SETTINGS" MEANS THOSE LOCATIONS WHERE PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED ENGAGE IN DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES UTILIZING THE TOOLS SUPPLIED AND TECHNIQUES TAUGHT BY THE LICENSED PRACTITIONERS DEFINED IN THIS ARTICLE. 5. "VISUALLY IMPAIRED" MEANS A PERSON WHO IS TOTALLY BLIND, LEGALLY BLIND OR PARTIALLY SIGHTED. A PERSON WHO IS BLIND IS ONE WHO HAS NO USEABLE VISION. A PERSON WHO IS LEGALLY BLIND IS ONE WHO SATISFIES THE DEFINITION SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION B OF SECTION THREE OF CHAPTER FOUR HUNDRED FIFTEEN OF THE LAWS OF NINETEEN HUNDRED THIRTEEN. A PERSON WHO S. 3558--A 3 IS PARTIALLY SIGHTED IS ONE WHO HAS FUNCTIONAL VISION IMPAIRMENT THAT CONSTITUTES A SIGNIFICANT LIMITATION OF VISUAL CAPABILITY RESULTING FROM DISEASE, TRAUMA, OR CONGENITAL CONDITION, THAT CANNOT BE FULLY AMELIO- RATED BY STANDARD REFRACTIVE CORRECTION, MEDICATION, OR SURGERY, AND THAT IS MANIFESTED BY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: INSUFFICIENT VISUAL RESOLUTION, INADEQUATE FIELD OF VISION OR REDUCED PEAK CONTRAST SENSI- TIVITY. S 8802. USE OF THE TITLES "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIAL- ISTS" AND "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS". 1. PRACTICE OF ORIEN- TATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING AND USE OF THE TITLE "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS". ONLY A PERSON LICENSED OR OTHERWISE AUTHOR- IZED UNDER THIS ARTICLE SHALL PRACTICE ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR USE THE TITLE "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS" IN CONNECTION WITH HIS OR HER NAME OR WITH ANY TRADE NAME IN THE CONDUCT OF HIS OR HER PROFESSION. 2. PRACTICE OF VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY AND USE OF THE TITLE "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST". ONLY A PERSON LICENSED OR OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS ARTICLE SHALL PRACTICE VISION REHABILITATION THER- APY OR USE THE TITLE "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST" IN CONNECTION WITH HIS OR HER NAME OR WITH ANY TRADE NAME IN THE CONDUCT OF HIS OR HER PROFESSION. S 8803. STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES. A STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING THE BOARD OF REGENTS AND THE DEPARTMENT ON MATTERS OF PROFES- SIONAL LICENSING AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED EIGHT OF THIS TITLE. THE BOARD SHALL CONSIST OF NOT LESS THAN FOURTEEN INDIVIDUALS, FOUR OF WHOM SHALL BE LICENSED ORIEN- TATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS, FOUR OF WHOM SHALL BE LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS, ONE OPHTHALMOLOGIST SPECIALIZING IN LOW VISION TREATMENT, ONE OPTOMETRIST SPECIALIZING IN LOW VISION TREATMENT AND FOUR OF WHOM SHALL BE BLIND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WHOSE NAMES WILL BE PLACED IN NOMINATION FOR THE BOARD FROM ORGANIZA- TIONS OF THE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED. MEMBERS OF THE INITIAL BOARD NEED NOT BE LICENSED PRIOR TO THEIR APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD. OF THE MEMBERS FIRST APPOINTED, FOUR SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A THREE YEAR TERM, FIVE SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM, AND FIVE SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A FIVE YEAR TERM. THEREAFTER ALL MEMBERS SHALL SERVE FOR FIVE YEAR TERMS. IN THE EVENT THAT MORE THAN FOURTEEN MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED, A MAJORITY OF THE ADDITIONAL MEMBERS SHALL BE LICENSED ORIEN- TATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS AND LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THER- APISTS. THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHALL SELECT ONE OF THEMSELVES AS CHAIR TO SERVE FOR A ONE YEAR TERM. AN EXECUTIVE SECRETARY SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMISSIONER. S 8804. REQUIREMENTS FOR A LICENSE. 1. TO QUALIFY FOR A LICENSE AS AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST, AN APPLICANT SHALL FULFILL THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: (A) APPLICATION: FILE AN APPLICATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT; (B) EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: (I) HAVE SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED AN APPROVED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY CURRICULUM IN A BACCALAUREATE OR MASTERS PROGRAM, OR A CERTIFICATE PROGRAM SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; AND (II) HAVE A MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS OF SUPERVISED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY EXPERIENCE WHICH SUPERVISION AND EXPERIENCE SHALL BE SATISFAC- S. 3558--A 4 TORY TO THE STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; (C) PASS AN EXAMINATION SATISFACTORY TO THE STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGU- LATIONS. (D) AGE: BE AT LEAST TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE; (E) CHARACTER: BE OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPART- MENT; (F) REGISTRATION: ALL LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS SHALL REGISTER TRIENNIALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATION; (G) MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY: (I)(A) EACH LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST REQUIRED UNDER THIS ARTICLE TO REGISTER TRIENNI- ALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO PRACTICE IN THE STATE SHALL COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSES (B) AND (C) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH. ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS WHO DO NOT SATISFY THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS SHALL NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE UNTIL THEY HAVE MET SUCH REQUIREMENTS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN ISSUED A REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE, EXCEPT THAT AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST MAY PRACTICE WITHOUT HAVING MET SUCH REQUIREMENTS IF HE OR SHE IS ISSUED A CONDITIONAL REGIS- TRATION PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. (B) ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRA- TION PERIOD DURING WHICH THEY ARE FIRST LICENSED. ADJUSTMENT TO THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS MAY BE GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR REASONS OF HEALTH OF THE LICENSEE WHERE CERTIFIED BY AN APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, FOR EXTENDED ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, OR FOR OTHER GOOD CAUSE ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT WHICH MAY PREVENT COMPLIANCE. (C) A LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST NOT ENGAGED IN PRACTICE, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT UPON THE FILING OF A STATE- MENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT DECLARING SUCH STATUS. ANY LICENSEE WHO RETURNS TO PRACTICE OF THE PROFESSION OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST DURING THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD SHALL NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO REENTERING THE PROFESSION AND SHALL MEET SUCH MANDATORY CONTIN- UING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS AS SHALL BE PRESCRIBED BY REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. (II) DURING EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD AN APPLICANT FOR REGIS- TRATION AS AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST SHALL COMPLETE A MINI- MUM OF TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF ACCEPTABLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO CONTINUING COMPETENCE, AS SPECIFIED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (IV) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, PROVIDED FURTHER THAT AT LEAST SIXTEEN HOURS SHALL BE IN RECOGNIZED AREAS OF STUDY PERTINENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SCOPE OF A LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST. ANY ORIENTATION AND MOBIL- ITY SPECIALIST WHOSE FIRST REGISTRATION DATE FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION OCCURS LESS THAN THREE YEARS FROM SUCH EFFECTIVE DATE, BUT ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN, SHALL COMPLETE CONTINUING COMPETENCY HOURS ON A PRORATED BASIS AT THE RATE OF ONE-HALF HOUR PER MONTH FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN UP TO THE FIRST REGISTRATION DATE. THEREAFTER, A LICEN- SEE WHO HAS NOT SATISFIED THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIRE- MENTS SHALL NOT BE ISSUED A TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE BY THE DEPARTMENT AND SHALL NOT PRACTICE UNLESS AND UNTIL A CONDITIONAL REGIS- S. 3558--A 5 TRATION CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED AS PROVIDED FOR IN SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. CONTINUING COMPETENCY HOURS TAKEN DURING ONE TRIENNIUM MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUBSEQUENT TRIENNIUM. (III) THE DEPARTMENT, IN ITS DISCRETION, MAY ISSUE A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION TO A LICENSEE WHO FAILS TO MEET THE CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, BUT WHO AGREES TO MAKE UP ANY DEFICIENCIES AND COMPLETE ANY ADDITIONAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIRE. THE FEE FOR SUCH A CONDI- TIONAL REGISTRATION SHALL BE THE SAME AS, AND IN ADDITION TO, THE FEE FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION. THE DURATION OF SUCH CONDITIONAL REGIS- TRATION SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT BUT SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE YEAR. ANY LICENSEE WHO IS NOTIFIED OF THE DENIAL OF REGISTRATION FOR FAILURE TO SUBMIT EVIDENCE, SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT, OF REQUIRED CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND WHO PRACTICES WITHOUT SUCH REGISTRATION, MAY BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. (IV) AS USED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, "ACCEPTABLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES" SHALL MEAN ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST AND WHICH MEET THE STANDARDS PRESCRIBED IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMIS- SIONER. SUCH LEARNING ACTIVITIES SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, COLLEGIATE LEVEL CREDIT AND NON-CREDIT COURSES, SELF-STUDY ACTIVITIES, INDEPENDENT STUDY, FORMAL MENTORING ACTIVITIES, PUBLICATIONS IN PROFES- SIONAL JOURNALS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND TECHNICAL SESSIONS; SUCH LEARNING ACTIVITIES MAY BE OFFERED AND SPONSORED BY NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZA- TIONS OR PARTIES ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT, AND ANY OTHER ORGANIZED EDUCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPART- MENT. RECOGNIZED AREAS OF STUDY SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TRAINING IN ORIENTATION, MOBILITY, NAVIGATION, INDEPENDENT LIVING, COMMUNICATIONS AND USE OF PRESCRIBED AND, ADAPTIVE OPTICAL DEVICES; UTILIZATION OF SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT INTENDED FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; THE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF VISION LOSS AND ITS FUNCTIONAL IMPACT ON PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; AND SUCH OTHER TECHNICAL SUBJECT MATTER AREAS APPRO- PRIATELY RELATED TO THE PRACTICE OF VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AS MAY BE SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSION- ER'S REGULATIONS. THE DEPARTMENT MAY, IN ITS DISCRETION AND AS NEEDED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC, REQUIRE THE COMPLETION OF CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES IN SPECIFIC SUBJECTS TO FULFILL THIS MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT. LEARNING ACTIVITIES MUST BE TAKEN FROM A SPONSOR APPROVED BY THE DEPART- MENT, PURSUANT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. (V) ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS SHALL MAINTAIN ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION OF COMPLETION OF ACCEPTABLE CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND SHALL PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT. FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION UPON THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE AN ACT OF MISCONDUCT SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. (VI) THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY FEE SHALL BE FIFTY DOLLARS, SHALL BE PAYABLE ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRA- TION PERIOD, AND SHALL BE PAID IN ADDITION TO THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION FEE REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (H) OF THIS SUBDIVISION. (H) FEES: PAY A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR AN INITIAL LICENSE AND A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD. S. 3558--A 6 2. TO QUALIFY FOR A LICENSE AS A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST AN APPLICANT SHALL FULFILL THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: (A) APPLICATION: FILE AN APPLICATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT; (B) EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: (I) HAVE SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED AN APPROVED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST CURRICULUM IN A BACCALAUREATE OR MASTERS PROGRAM, OR A CERTIFICATE PROGRAM SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPART- MENT WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; AND (II) HAVE A MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS OF SUPERVISED VISION REHABILI- TATION THERAPIST EXPERIENCE WHICH SUPERVISION AND EXPERIENCE SHALL BE SATISFACTORY TO THE STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; (C) EXAMINATION: PASS AN EXAMINATION SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS THAT MAY BE BASED ON AN EXAM UTILIZED BY ANY NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ACCREDITING OR CERTIFICATION BODY SUCH AS THE ACADEMY FOR CERTIFICATION OF VISION REHABILITATION AND EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS (ACVREP), NATIONAL ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY CERTIFICATE (NOMC) ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL BLINDNESS PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION BOARD (NBPCB) OR AN EQUIVALENT EXAM. (D) AGE: BE AT LEAST TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE; (E) CHARACTER: BE OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPART- MENT; (F) REGISTRATION: ALL LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS SHALL REGISTER TRIENNIALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMIS- SIONER'S REGULATIONS; (G) MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY: (I) (A) EACH LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST REQUIRED UNDER THIS ARTICLE TO REGISTER TRIEN- NIALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO PRACTICE IN THE STATE SHALL COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSES (B) AND (C) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS WHO DO NOT SATISFY THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS SHALL NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE UNTIL THEY HAVE MET SUCH REQUIRE- MENTS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN ISSUED A REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE, EXCEPT THAT A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST MAY PRACTICE WITHOUT HAVING MET SUCH REQUIREMENTS IF HE OR SHE IS ISSUED A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. (B) VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATO- RY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD DURING WHICH THEY ARE FIRST LICENSED. ADJUSTMENT TO THE MANDATO- RY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS MAY BE GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR REASONS OF HEALTH OF THE LICENSEE WHERE CERTIFIED BY AN APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, FOR EXTENDED ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, OR FOR OTHER GOOD CAUSE ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPART- MENT WHICH MAY PREVENT COMPLIANCE. (C) A LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST NOT ENGAGED IN PRAC- TICE, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATO- RY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT UPON THE FILING OF A STATEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT DECLARING SUCH STATUS. ANY LICENSEE WHO RETURNS TO PRAC- TICE OF VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY DURING THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD SHALL NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO REENTERING THE PROFESSION AND SHALL MEET SUCH MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS AS SHALL BE PRESCRIBED BY REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. (II) DURING EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD AN APPLICANT FOR REGIS- TRATION AS A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST SHALL COMPLETE A MINIMUM OF TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF ACCEPTABLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO S. 3558--A 7 CONTINUING COMPETENCE, AS SPECIFIED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (IV) OF THIS PARA- GRAPH, PROVIDED FURTHER THAT AT LEAST SIXTEEN HOURS SHALL BE IN RECOG- NIZED AREAS OF STUDY PERTINENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SCOPE OF A LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST. ANY VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST WHOSE FIRST REGISTRATION DATE FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION OCCURS LESS THAN THREE YEARS FROM SUCH EFFECTIVE DATE, BUT ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN, SHALL COMPLETE CONTINUING COMPETENCY HOURS ON A PRORATED BASIS AT THE RATE OF ONE-HALF HOUR PER MONTH FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN UP TO THE FIRST REGISTRATION DATE. THEREAFTER, A LICENSEE WHO HAS NOT SATIS- FIED THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS SHALL NOT BE ISSUED A TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE BY THE DEPARTMENT AND SHALL NOT PRACTICE UNLESS AND UNTIL A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED AS PROVIDED FOR IN SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. CONTIN- UING COMPETENCY HOURS TAKEN DURING ONE TRIENNIUM MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUBSEQUENT TRIENNIUM. (III) THE DEPARTMENT, IN ITS DISCRETION, MAY ISSUE A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION TO A LICENSEE WHO FAILS TO MEET THE CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, BUT WHO AGREES TO MAKE UP ANY DEFICIENCIES AND COMPLETE ANY ADDITIONAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIRE. THE FEE FOR SUCH A CONDI- TIONAL REGISTRATION SHALL BE THE SAME AS, AND IN ADDITION TO, THE FEE FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION. THE DURATION OF SUCH CONDITIONAL REGIS- TRATION SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT BUT SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE YEAR. ANY LICENSEE WHO IS NOTIFIED OF THE DENIAL OF REGISTRATION FOR FAILURE TO SUBMIT EVIDENCE, SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT, OF REQUIRED CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND WHO PRACTICES WITHOUT SUCH REGISTRATION, MAY BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. (IV) AS USED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, "ACCEPTABLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES" SHALL MEAN ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST AND WHICH MEET THE STANDARDS PRESCRIBED IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. SUCH LEARNING ACTIVITIES SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, COLLEGI- ATE LEVEL CREDIT AND NON-CREDIT COURSES, SELF-STUDY ACTIVITIES, INDE- PENDENT STUDY, FORMAL MENTORING ACTIVITIES, PUBLICATIONS IN PROFESSIONAL JOURNALS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND TECHNICAL SESSIONS; SUCH LEARNING ACTIVITIES MAY BE OFFERED AND SPONSORED BY NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OR PARTIES ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT, AND ANY OTHER ORGANIZED EDUCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT. RECOGNIZED AREAS OF STUDY SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TRAINING IN MOBILITY, NAVIGATION, INDEPENDENT LIVING, COMMUNICATIONS AND ORIENTATION, USE OF PRESCRIBED AND, ADAPTIVE OPTICAL DEVICES; UTILIZA- TION OF SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT INTENDED FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; THE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF VISION LOSS AND ITS FUNCTIONAL IMPACT ON PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; AND SUCH OTHER TECHNICAL SUBJECT MATTER AREAS APPROPRIATELY RELATED TO THE PRACTICE OF VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AS MAY BE SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS. THE DEPARTMENT MAY, IN ITS DISCRETION AND AS NEEDED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC, REQUIRE THE COMPLETION OF CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES IN SPECIFIC SUBJECTS TO FULFILL THIS MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT. LEARNING ACTIVITIES MUST BE TAKEN FROM A SPON- SOR APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT, PURSUANT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. S. 3558--A 8 (V) VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS SHALL MAINTAIN ADEQUATE DOCUMEN- TATION OF COMPLETION OF ACCEPTABLE CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIV- ITIES AND SHALL PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEPART- MENT. FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION UPON THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE AN ACT OF MISCONDUCT SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. (VI) THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY FEE SHALL BE FIFTY DOLLARS, SHALL BE PAYABLE ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRA- TION PERIOD, AND SHALL BE PAID IN ADDITION TO THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION FEE REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (H) OF THIS SUBDIVISION. (H) FEES: PAY A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR AN INITIAL LICENSE AND A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD. S 8805. LIMITED PERMITS. PERMITS LIMITED AS TO ELIGIBILITY, PRACTICE AND DURATION SHALL BE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS AS FOLLOWS: 1. ELIGIBILITY. A PERSON WHO FULFILLS ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ORIEN- TATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST, EXCEPT THAT RELATING TO THE EXAMINATION, SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A LIMITED PERMIT. 2. LIMIT OF PRACTICE. ALL PRACTICE UNDER A LIMITED PERMIT SHALL BE UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST OR A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST. 3. DURATION. A LIMITED PERMIT SHALL EXPIRE ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF ISSUANCE OR UPON NOTICE TO THE PERMITTEE BY THE DEPARTMENT THAT THE APPLICATION FOR LICENSURE HAS BEEN DENIED, OR UPON NOTICE TO THE PERMIT- TEE OF FAILURE ON THE PROFESSIONAL LICENSING EXAMINATION, WHICHEVER FIRST OCCURS. 4. FEES. THE FEE FOR EACH LIMITED PERMIT SHALL BE SEVENTY DOLLARS. S 8806. EXEMPT PERSONS. THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO AFFECT OR PREVENT THE FOLLOWING, PROVIDED THAT NO TITLE, SIGN, CARD OR DEVICE SHALL BE USED IN SUCH MANNER AS TO TEND TO CONVEY THE IMPRESSION THAT THE PERSON RENDERING SUCH SERVICE IS A LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST: 1. THE PRACTICE OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHA- BILITATION THERAPY AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF A PROGRAM OF STUDY BY STUDENTS ENROLLED IN APPROVED EDUCATIONAL OR TRAINING PROGRAMS IN (A) ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR (B) VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY. 2. THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OF THE DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING BY ANY OTHER DULY LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, PROVIDED THAT SUCH DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER PRACTICE AS DEFINED IN THE ARTICLE PURSUANT TO WHICH SUCH PERSON IS LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH PRACTITIONERS MAY NOT HOLD THEMSELVES OUT UNDER THE TITLE "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST" OR AS PERFORMING LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING. 3. THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OF THE DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY BY ANY OTHER DULY LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, PROVIDED THAT SUCH DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER PRACTICE AS DEFINED IN THE ARTICLE OR COMMISSIONER'S REGULATION PURSUANT TO WHICH SUCH PERSON IS LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH PRACTITIONERS MAY NOT HOLD THEMSELVES OUT UNDER THE TITLE "LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST" OR AS PERFORMING LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY. S. 3558--A 9 4. THE PRACTICE, CONDUCT, ACTIVITIES, SERVICES OR USE OF ANY TITLE BY ANY PERSON LICENSED OR OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE MEDICINE WITHIN THE STATE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE OF THIS TITLE OR BY ANY PERSON REGISTERED TO PERFORM SERVICES AS A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE-B OF THIS TITLE. 5. THE PRACTICE OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHA- BILITATION THERAPY BY ANY LEGALLY QUALIFIED PRACTITIONER OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY OF ANY OTHER STATE OR TERRITORY WHO IS SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES OR THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES WHILE ENGAGED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS OR HER DUTIES. 6. THE INSTRUCTION IN THE USE OF A DOG GUIDE. S 8807. SPECIAL PROVISIONS. A PERSON SHALL BE LICENSED WITHOUT EXAM- INATION PROVIDED THAT, WITHIN THREE YEARS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ARTICLE, SUCH PERSON: 1. FILES AN APPLICATION AND PAYS THE APPROPRIATE FEES TO THE DEPART- MENT; 2. (A) HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER, OR EQUIVALENT AS DETER- MINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, WITH A SPECIALIZATION IN ORIENTATION AND MOBIL- ITY TRAINING; OR (B) HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER, OR EQUIVALENT AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, WITH A SPECIALIZATION IN VISION REHA- BILITATION THERAPY; OR (C) HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER, OR EQUIVALENT AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN A REHABILITATION FIELD OR IN SPECIAL EDUCATION AND (I) HAS COMPLETED ALL ADDITIONALLY REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF THE ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHABILI- TATION THERAPY CURRICULUM SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; OR (II) HAS BEEN CERTIFIED IN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY BY A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ACCREDITING BODY ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT; AND 3. SUBMITS EVIDENCE OF A MINIMUM OF THREE YEARS EXPERIENCE OR EMPLOY- MENT IN THE PRACTICE OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS, WHETHER SUCH EXPERIENCE OR EMPLOYMENT OCCURS WITHIN OR WITHOUT THIS STATE. S 8808. SEPARABILITY. IF ANY SECTION OF THIS ARTICLE, OR PART THEREOF, SHALL BE ADJUDGED BY ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO BE INVALID, SUCH JUDGMENT SHALL NOT AFFECT, IMPAIR OR INVALIDATE THE REMAINDER OF ANY OTHER SECTION OR PART THEREOF. S 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015. The commissioner of education and the board of regents are authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations and take any other measures as may be necessary for the timely implementation of this act on or before its effective date, including but not limited to the appointment of the state board for vision rehabilitation services, the acceptance and processing of applications for licensure, and the issuance of licenses.
co-Sponsors
(R, C, IP) Senate District
(D, WF) 46th Senate District
(R, C, IP) Senate District
(D, WF) 47th Senate District
(R, C) Senate District
(R, C) 7th Senate District
(R) Senate District
(D, WF) 21st Senate District
(R, C, IP) Senate District
(D, IP) Senate District
(D, IP) Senate District
2013-S3558B - Details
2013-S3558B - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER:S3558B TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the education law, in relation to the licensing of orientation and mobility specialists and rehabilitation therapists 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 the wider community. SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Creates a new article 168. § 8901 Sets out the definition used in the article. § 8902 Outlines the use of the titles "licensed orientation and mobility specialists" and "vision rehabilitation therapists". § 8903 Outlines the State Board for vision rehabilitation services. § 8904 Spells out the requirements for a license. § 8905 Establishes limited permits. § 8906 Explains the exempt persons.
§ 8907 Outlines special provisions. § 8908 Separability provisions. JUSTIFICATION: Vision 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 specialized 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 and doctors do not refer patients to unlicensed professions. Vision Rehabilitation Professionals were marginalized in the first half of the 20 century due in part because the numbers of people with a visual impairment were small, the workers for the blind were largely blind themselves and there was widespread discrimination of all people with disabilities. 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 professional. To be a Vision Rehabilitation Professional (VRP), professionals who are either blind of sighted themselves complete a degree from an accredited university, undergo a rigorous internship and pass an exam given by a nationally accredited certifying body. The number of New Yorkers with vision loss has gown due to many factors. The aging of the baby boomers and longer life expectancies 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 rehabilitation 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 quality of life can be improved by granting these highly qualified professionals 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 techniques 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 technology. 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 experience. 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: 2013 - S. 3558 passed Senate/A. 3597 - Higher Education Committee. FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None. EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect July 1, 2015, however, that the commissioner of education and the board of regents are authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations and take any other measures as may be necessary for the timely implementation of this act on or before its effective date, including but not limited to the appointment of the state board for vision rehabilitation services, the acceptance and processing of applications for licensure, and the issuance of licenses.
2013-S3558B - Bill Text download pdf
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 3558--B 2013-2014 Regular Sessions I N S E N A T E February 5, 2013 ___________ Introduced by Sens. GRIFFO, BRESLIN, DeFRANCISCO, HOYLMAN, LARKIN, MARTINS, MAZIARZ, PARKER, RANZENHOFER, SAVINO, VALESKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education -- recommitted to the Committee on Higher Educa- tion in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the licensing of orientation and mobility specialists and rehabilitation therapists THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new article 168 to read as follows: ARTICLE 168 VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES SECTION 8900. INTRODUCTION. 8901. DEFINITIONS. 8902. USE OF THE TITLES "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS" AND "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS". 8903. STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES. 8904. REQUIREMENTS FOR A LICENSE. 8905. LIMITED PERMITS. 8906. EXEMPT PERSONS. 8907. SPECIAL PROVISIONS. 8908. SEPARABILITY. S 8900. INTRODUCTION. THIS ARTICLE APPLIES TO THE PROFESSION OF VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES, AND PROVIDES FOR THE LICENSING OF LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS AND VISION REHABILITATION THERA- PISTS. THE GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR ALL PROFESSIONS CONTAINED IN ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY OF THIS TITLE SHALL APPLY TO THIS ARTICLE. EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD06474-05-4
S. 3558--B 2 S 8901. DEFINITIONS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS: 1. THE PRACTICE OF "ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING" SHALL MEAN: (A) THE ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED FOR SKILLS TRAINING IN METHODS OF SAFE MOVEMENT AND IN STRATE- GIES TO GATHER REQUIRED ENVIRONMENTAL AND SPATIAL INFORMATION; (B) THE DEVELOPMENT OF APPROPRIATE INTEGRATED SERVICE PLANS TAILORED TO MEET SUCH INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AS IDENTIFIED IN SUCH ASSESSMENT PROCESS; (C) THE PROVISION OF TRAINING IN, AND UTILIZATION OF (I) EQUIPMENT AND ADAPTIVE DEVICES INTENDED AND DESIGNED FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, AND (II) SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES ADAPTED FOR PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ORIENTATION; SENSORY DEVELOPMENT; SYSTEMS OF SAFE MOVEMENT, INCLUDING LONG CANE TECHNIQUES; RESOURCE IDENTIFICATION AND, AS APPROPRIATE, PROFESSIONAL REFERRALS; AND, IN APPLIED SETTINGS, REINFORCING INSTRUCTION FOR THE USE OF OPTICAL DEVICES AS PRESCRIBED BY OPTOMETRISTS AND OPHTHALMOLOGISTS; AND (D) THE EVALUATION OF CLIENTS RECEIVING SUCH SPECIALIZED TRAINING. 2. THE PRACTICE OF "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY" SHALL MEAN: (A) THE ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED FOR SKILLS TRAINING IN INDEPENDENT LIVING AND COMMUNICATIONS; (B) THE DEVEL- OPMENT OF APPROPRIATE INTEGRATED SERVICE PLANS TAILORED TO MEET SUCH INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AS IDENTIFIED IN SUCH ASSESSMENT PROCESS; (C) THE PROVISION OF TRAINING IN, AND UTILIZATION OF (I) EQUIPMENT AND ADAPTIVE DEVICES INTENDED AND DESIGNED FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INCLUDING, IN APPLIED SETTINGS, REINFORCING INSTRUCTION FOR THE USE OF OPTICAL DEVICES AS PRESCRIBED BY OPTOMETRISTS OR OPHTHALMOLO- GISTS, AND (II) SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES ADAPTED FOR PERSONS WHO ARE VISU- ALLY IMPAIRED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BRAILLE AND OTHER COMMUNI- CATION SKILLS; ADAPTED COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY; PERSONAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS; HOME MANAGEMENT SKILLS; PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS; RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND, AS APPROPRIATE, PROFESSIONAL REFERRALS; AND (D) THE EVALUATION OF PERSONS RECEIVING SUCH SPECIALIZED TRAINING. 3. THE PRACTICE OF "VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES" SHALL MEAN PROVID- ING ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION OF, AND TRAINING FOR, PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED WHEN SUCH ASSESSMENT, EVALUATION AND TRAINING INCORPO- RATES THE FULL RANGE OF SPECIALIZED SKILLS AND TASKS SUBSUMED IN THE TWO PROFESSIONS DEFINED IN THIS SECTION AS: (A) ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING AND (B) VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY. SUCH SERVICES SHALL BE RENDERED ON THE PRESCRIPTION OR REFERRAL WHICH MAY BE DIRECTIVE AS TO TREATMENT BY A LICENSED PHYSICIAN OR OPTOMETRIST, PROVIDED HOWEVER THAT NO SUCH TREATMENT DIRECTIVE AND LOW VISION EXAMINATION SHALL BE REQUIRED WHEN THE PERSON BEING REFERRED HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITHIN THE PREVIOUS TWELVE MONTHS AS VISUALLY IMPAIRED, BLIND OR LEGALLY BLIND AS THOSE TERMS ARE DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS SECTION AND SUCH SERVICES ARE BEING RENDERED CONSISTENT WITH THAT DIAGNOSIS, PRESCRIPTION OR REFERRAL. VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS AND ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS MAY NOT PRESCRIBE OPTICAL LOW VISION DEVICES. 4. "APPLIED SETTINGS" MEANS THOSE LOCATIONS WHERE PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED ENGAGE IN DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES UTILIZING THE TOOLS SUPPLIED AND TECHNIQUES TAUGHT BY THE LICENSED PRACTITIONERS DEFINED IN THIS ARTICLE. 5. "VISUALLY IMPAIRED" MEANS A PERSON WHO IS TOTALLY BLIND, LEGALLY BLIND OR PARTIALLY SIGHTED. A PERSON WHO IS BLIND IS ONE WHO HAS NO USEABLE VISION. A PERSON WHO IS LEGALLY BLIND IS ONE WHO SATISFIES THE DEFINITION SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION B OF SECTION THREE OF CHAPTER FOUR HUNDRED FIFTEEN OF THE LAWS OF NINETEEN HUNDRED THIRTEEN. A PERSON WHO S. 3558--B 3 IS PARTIALLY SIGHTED IS ONE WHO HAS FUNCTIONAL VISION IMPAIRMENT THAT CONSTITUTES A SIGNIFICANT LIMITATION OF VISUAL CAPABILITY RESULTING FROM DISEASE, TRAUMA, OR CONGENITAL CONDITION, THAT CANNOT BE FULLY AMELIO- RATED BY STANDARD REFRACTIVE CORRECTION, MEDICATION, OR SURGERY, AND THAT IS MANIFESTED BY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: INSUFFICIENT VISUAL RESOLUTION, INADEQUATE FIELD OF VISION OR REDUCED PEAK CONTRAST SENSI- TIVITY. S 8902. USE OF THE TITLES "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIAL- ISTS" AND "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS". 1. PRACTICE OF ORIEN- TATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING AND USE OF THE TITLE "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS". ONLY A PERSON LICENSED OR OTHERWISE AUTHOR- IZED UNDER THIS ARTICLE SHALL PRACTICE ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR USE THE TITLE "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS" IN CONNECTION WITH HIS OR HER NAME OR WITH ANY TRADE NAME IN THE CONDUCT OF HIS OR HER PROFESSION. 2. PRACTICE OF VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY AND USE OF THE TITLE "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST". ONLY A PERSON LICENSED OR OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS ARTICLE SHALL PRACTICE VISION REHABILITATION THER- APY OR USE THE TITLE "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST" IN CONNECTION WITH HIS OR HER NAME OR WITH ANY TRADE NAME IN THE CONDUCT OF HIS OR HER PROFESSION. S 8903. STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES. A STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING THE BOARD OF REGENTS AND THE DEPARTMENT ON MATTERS OF PROFES- SIONAL LICENSING AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED EIGHT OF THIS TITLE. THE BOARD SHALL CONSIST OF NOT LESS THAN FOURTEEN INDIVIDUALS, FOUR OF WHOM SHALL BE LICENSED ORIEN- TATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS, FOUR OF WHOM SHALL BE LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS, ONE OPHTHALMOLOGIST SPECIALIZING IN LOW VISION TREATMENT, ONE OPTOMETRIST SPECIALIZING IN LOW VISION TREATMENT AND FOUR OF WHOM SHALL BE BLIND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WHOSE NAMES WILL BE PLACED IN NOMINATION FOR THE BOARD FROM ORGANIZA- TIONS OF THE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED. MEMBERS OF THE INITIAL BOARD NEED NOT BE LICENSED PRIOR TO THEIR APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD. OF THE MEMBERS FIRST APPOINTED, FOUR SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A THREE YEAR TERM, FIVE SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM, AND FIVE SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A FIVE YEAR TERM. THEREAFTER ALL MEMBERS SHALL SERVE FOR FIVE YEAR TERMS. IN THE EVENT THAT MORE THAN FOURTEEN MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED, A MAJORITY OF THE ADDITIONAL MEMBERS SHALL BE LICENSED ORIEN- TATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS AND LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THER- APISTS. THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHALL SELECT ONE OF THEMSELVES AS CHAIR TO SERVE FOR A ONE YEAR TERM. AN EXECUTIVE SECRETARY SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMISSIONER. S 8904. REQUIREMENTS FOR A LICENSE. 1. TO QUALIFY FOR A LICENSE AS AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST, AN APPLICANT SHALL FULFILL THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: (A) APPLICATION: FILE AN APPLICATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT; (B) EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: (I) HAVE SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED AN APPROVED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY CURRICULUM IN A BACCALAUREATE OR MASTERS PROGRAM, OR A CERTIFICATE PROGRAM SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; AND (II) HAVE A MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS OF SUPERVISED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY EXPERIENCE WHICH SUPERVISION AND EXPERIENCE SHALL BE SATISFAC- S. 3558--B 4 TORY TO THE STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; (C) PASS AN EXAMINATION SATISFACTORY TO THE STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGU- LATIONS. (D) AGE: BE AT LEAST TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE; (E) CHARACTER: BE OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPART- MENT; (F) REGISTRATION: ALL LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS SHALL REGISTER TRIENNIALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATION; (G) MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY: (I)(A) EACH LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST REQUIRED UNDER THIS ARTICLE TO REGISTER TRIENNI- ALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO PRACTICE IN THE STATE SHALL COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSES (B) AND (C) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH. ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS WHO DO NOT SATISFY THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS SHALL NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE UNTIL THEY HAVE MET SUCH REQUIREMENTS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN ISSUED A REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE, EXCEPT THAT AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST MAY PRACTICE WITHOUT HAVING MET SUCH REQUIREMENTS IF HE OR SHE IS ISSUED A CONDITIONAL REGIS- TRATION PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. (B) ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRA- TION PERIOD DURING WHICH THEY ARE FIRST LICENSED. ADJUSTMENT TO THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS MAY BE GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR REASONS OF HEALTH OF THE LICENSEE WHERE CERTIFIED BY AN APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, FOR EXTENDED ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, OR FOR OTHER GOOD CAUSE ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT WHICH MAY PREVENT COMPLIANCE. (C) A LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST NOT ENGAGED IN PRACTICE, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT UPON THE FILING OF A STATE- MENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT DECLARING SUCH STATUS. ANY LICENSEE WHO RETURNS TO PRACTICE OF THE PROFESSION OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST DURING THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD SHALL NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO REENTERING THE PROFESSION AND SHALL MEET SUCH MANDATORY CONTIN- UING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS AS SHALL BE PRESCRIBED BY REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. (II) DURING EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD AN APPLICANT FOR REGIS- TRATION AS AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST SHALL COMPLETE A MINI- MUM OF TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF ACCEPTABLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO CONTINUING COMPETENCE, AS SPECIFIED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (IV) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, PROVIDED FURTHER THAT AT LEAST SIXTEEN HOURS SHALL BE IN RECOGNIZED AREAS OF STUDY PERTINENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SCOPE OF A LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST. ANY ORIENTATION AND MOBIL- ITY SPECIALIST WHOSE FIRST REGISTRATION DATE FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION OCCURS LESS THAN THREE YEARS FROM SUCH EFFECTIVE DATE, BUT ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN, SHALL COMPLETE CONTINUING COMPETENCY HOURS ON A PRORATED BASIS AT THE RATE OF ONE-HALF HOUR PER MONTH FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN UP TO THE FIRST REGISTRATION DATE. THEREAFTER, A LICEN- SEE WHO HAS NOT SATISFIED THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIRE- MENTS SHALL NOT BE ISSUED A TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE BY THE DEPARTMENT AND SHALL NOT PRACTICE UNLESS AND UNTIL A CONDITIONAL REGIS- S. 3558--B 5 TRATION CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED AS PROVIDED FOR IN SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. CONTINUING COMPETENCY HOURS TAKEN DURING ONE TRIENNIUM MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUBSEQUENT TRIENNIUM. (III) THE DEPARTMENT, IN ITS DISCRETION, MAY ISSUE A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION TO A LICENSEE WHO FAILS TO MEET THE CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, BUT WHO AGREES TO MAKE UP ANY DEFICIENCIES AND COMPLETE ANY ADDITIONAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIRE. THE FEE FOR SUCH A CONDI- TIONAL REGISTRATION SHALL BE THE SAME AS, AND IN ADDITION TO, THE FEE FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION. THE DURATION OF SUCH CONDITIONAL REGIS- TRATION SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT BUT SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE YEAR. ANY LICENSEE WHO IS NOTIFIED OF THE DENIAL OF REGISTRATION FOR FAILURE TO SUBMIT EVIDENCE, SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT, OF REQUIRED CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND WHO PRACTICES WITHOUT SUCH REGISTRATION, MAY BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. (IV) AS USED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, "ACCEPTABLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES" SHALL MEAN ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST AND WHICH MEET THE STANDARDS PRESCRIBED IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMIS- SIONER. SUCH LEARNING ACTIVITIES SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, COLLEGIATE LEVEL CREDIT AND NON-CREDIT COURSES, SELF-STUDY ACTIVITIES, INDEPENDENT STUDY, FORMAL MENTORING ACTIVITIES, PUBLICATIONS IN PROFES- SIONAL JOURNALS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND TECHNICAL SESSIONS; SUCH LEARNING ACTIVITIES MAY BE OFFERED AND SPONSORED BY NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZA- TIONS OR PARTIES ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT, AND ANY OTHER ORGANIZED EDUCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPART- MENT. RECOGNIZED AREAS OF STUDY SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TRAINING IN ORIENTATION, MOBILITY, NAVIGATION, INDEPENDENT LIVING, COMMUNICATIONS AND USE OF PRESCRIBED AND, ADAPTIVE OPTICAL DEVICES; UTILIZATION OF SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT INTENDED FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; THE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF VISION LOSS AND ITS FUNCTIONAL IMPACT ON PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; AND SUCH OTHER TECHNICAL SUBJECT MATTER AREAS APPRO- PRIATELY RELATED TO THE PRACTICE OF VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AS MAY BE SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSION- ER'S REGULATIONS. THE DEPARTMENT MAY, IN ITS DISCRETION AND AS NEEDED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC, REQUIRE THE COMPLETION OF CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES IN SPECIFIC SUBJECTS TO FULFILL THIS MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT. LEARNING ACTIVITIES MUST BE TAKEN FROM A SPONSOR APPROVED BY THE DEPART- MENT, PURSUANT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. (V) ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS SHALL MAINTAIN ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION OF COMPLETION OF ACCEPTABLE CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND SHALL PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT. FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION UPON THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE AN ACT OF MISCONDUCT SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. (VI) THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY FEE SHALL BE FIFTY DOLLARS, SHALL BE PAYABLE ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRA- TION PERIOD, AND SHALL BE PAID IN ADDITION TO THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION FEE REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (H) OF THIS SUBDIVISION. (H) FEES: PAY A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR AN INITIAL LICENSE AND A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD. S. 3558--B 6 2. TO QUALIFY FOR A LICENSE AS A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST AN APPLICANT SHALL FULFILL THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: (A) APPLICATION: FILE AN APPLICATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT; (B) EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: (I) HAVE SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED AN APPROVED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST CURRICULUM IN A BACCALAUREATE OR MASTERS PROGRAM, OR A CERTIFICATE PROGRAM SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPART- MENT WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; AND (II) HAVE A MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS OF SUPERVISED VISION REHABILI- TATION THERAPIST EXPERIENCE WHICH SUPERVISION AND EXPERIENCE SHALL BE SATISFACTORY TO THE STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; (C) EXAMINATION: PASS AN EXAMINATION SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS THAT MAY BE BASED ON AN EXAM UTILIZED BY ANY NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ACCREDITING OR CERTIFICATION BODY SUCH AS THE ACADEMY FOR CERTIFICATION OF VISION REHABILITATION AND EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS (ACVREP), NATIONAL ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY CERTIFICATE (NOMC) ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL BLINDNESS PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION BOARD (NBPCB) OR AN EQUIVALENT EXAM. (D) AGE: BE AT LEAST TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE; (E) CHARACTER: BE OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPART- MENT; (F) REGISTRATION: ALL LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS SHALL REGISTER TRIENNIALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMIS- SIONER'S REGULATIONS; (G) MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY: (I) (A) EACH LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST REQUIRED UNDER THIS ARTICLE TO REGISTER TRIEN- NIALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO PRACTICE IN THE STATE SHALL COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSES (B) AND (C) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS WHO DO NOT SATISFY THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS SHALL NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE UNTIL THEY HAVE MET SUCH REQUIRE- MENTS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN ISSUED A REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE, EXCEPT THAT A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST MAY PRACTICE WITHOUT HAVING MET SUCH REQUIREMENTS IF HE OR SHE IS ISSUED A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. (B) VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATO- RY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD DURING WHICH THEY ARE FIRST LICENSED. ADJUSTMENT TO THE MANDATO- RY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS MAY BE GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR REASONS OF HEALTH OF THE LICENSEE WHERE CERTIFIED BY AN APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, FOR EXTENDED ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, OR FOR OTHER GOOD CAUSE ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPART- MENT WHICH MAY PREVENT COMPLIANCE. (C) A LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST NOT ENGAGED IN PRAC- TICE, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATO- RY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT UPON THE FILING OF A STATEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT DECLARING SUCH STATUS. ANY LICENSEE WHO RETURNS TO PRAC- TICE OF VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY DURING THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD SHALL NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO REENTERING THE PROFESSION AND SHALL MEET SUCH MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS AS SHALL BE PRESCRIBED BY REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. (II) DURING EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD AN APPLICANT FOR REGIS- TRATION AS A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST SHALL COMPLETE A MINIMUM OF TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF ACCEPTABLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO S. 3558--B 7 CONTINUING COMPETENCE, AS SPECIFIED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (IV) OF THIS PARA- GRAPH, PROVIDED FURTHER THAT AT LEAST SIXTEEN HOURS SHALL BE IN RECOG- NIZED AREAS OF STUDY PERTINENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SCOPE OF A LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST. ANY VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST WHOSE FIRST REGISTRATION DATE FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION OCCURS LESS THAN THREE YEARS FROM SUCH EFFECTIVE DATE, BUT ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN, SHALL COMPLETE CONTINUING COMPETENCY HOURS ON A PRORATED BASIS AT THE RATE OF ONE-HALF HOUR PER MONTH FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN UP TO THE FIRST REGISTRATION DATE. THEREAFTER, A LICENSEE WHO HAS NOT SATIS- FIED THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS SHALL NOT BE ISSUED A TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE BY THE DEPARTMENT AND SHALL NOT PRACTICE UNLESS AND UNTIL A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED AS PROVIDED FOR IN SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. CONTIN- UING COMPETENCY HOURS TAKEN DURING ONE TRIENNIUM MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUBSEQUENT TRIENNIUM. (III) THE DEPARTMENT, IN ITS DISCRETION, MAY ISSUE A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION TO A LICENSEE WHO FAILS TO MEET THE CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, BUT WHO AGREES TO MAKE UP ANY DEFICIENCIES AND COMPLETE ANY ADDITIONAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIRE. THE FEE FOR SUCH A CONDI- TIONAL REGISTRATION SHALL BE THE SAME AS, AND IN ADDITION TO, THE FEE FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION. THE DURATION OF SUCH CONDITIONAL REGIS- TRATION SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT BUT SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE YEAR. ANY LICENSEE WHO IS NOTIFIED OF THE DENIAL OF REGISTRATION FOR FAILURE TO SUBMIT EVIDENCE, SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT, OF REQUIRED CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND WHO PRACTICES WITHOUT SUCH REGISTRATION, MAY BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. (IV) AS USED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, "ACCEPTABLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES" SHALL MEAN ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST AND WHICH MEET THE STANDARDS PRESCRIBED IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. SUCH LEARNING ACTIVITIES SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, COLLEGI- ATE LEVEL CREDIT AND NON-CREDIT COURSES, SELF-STUDY ACTIVITIES, INDE- PENDENT STUDY, FORMAL MENTORING ACTIVITIES, PUBLICATIONS IN PROFESSIONAL JOURNALS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND TECHNICAL SESSIONS; SUCH LEARNING ACTIVITIES MAY BE OFFERED AND SPONSORED BY NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OR PARTIES ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT, AND ANY OTHER ORGANIZED EDUCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT. RECOGNIZED AREAS OF STUDY SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TRAINING IN MOBILITY, NAVIGATION, INDEPENDENT LIVING, COMMUNICATIONS AND ORIENTATION, USE OF PRESCRIBED AND, ADAPTIVE OPTICAL DEVICES; UTILIZA- TION OF SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT INTENDED FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; THE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF VISION LOSS AND ITS FUNCTIONAL IMPACT ON PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; AND SUCH OTHER TECHNICAL SUBJECT MATTER AREAS APPROPRIATELY RELATED TO THE PRACTICE OF VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AS MAY BE SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS. THE DEPARTMENT MAY, IN ITS DISCRETION AND AS NEEDED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC, REQUIRE THE COMPLETION OF CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES IN SPECIFIC SUBJECTS TO FULFILL THIS MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT. LEARNING ACTIVITIES MUST BE TAKEN FROM A SPON- SOR APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT, PURSUANT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. S. 3558--B 8 (V) VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS SHALL MAINTAIN ADEQUATE DOCUMEN- TATION OF COMPLETION OF ACCEPTABLE CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIV- ITIES AND SHALL PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEPART- MENT. FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION UPON THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE AN ACT OF MISCONDUCT SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. (VI) THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY FEE SHALL BE FIFTY DOLLARS, SHALL BE PAYABLE ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRA- TION PERIOD, AND SHALL BE PAID IN ADDITION TO THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION FEE REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (H) OF THIS SUBDIVISION. (H) FEES: PAY A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR AN INITIAL LICENSE AND A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD. S 8905. LIMITED PERMITS. PERMITS LIMITED AS TO ELIGIBILITY, PRACTICE AND DURATION SHALL BE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS AS FOLLOWS: 1. ELIGIBILITY. A PERSON WHO FULFILLS ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ORIEN- TATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST, EXCEPT THAT RELATING TO THE EXAMINATION, SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A LIMITED PERMIT. 2. LIMIT OF PRACTICE. ALL PRACTICE UNDER A LIMITED PERMIT SHALL BE UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST OR A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST. 3. DURATION. A LIMITED PERMIT SHALL EXPIRE ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF ISSUANCE OR UPON NOTICE TO THE PERMITTEE BY THE DEPARTMENT THAT THE APPLICATION FOR LICENSURE HAS BEEN DENIED, OR UPON NOTICE TO THE PERMIT- TEE OF FAILURE ON THE PROFESSIONAL LICENSING EXAMINATION, WHICHEVER FIRST OCCURS. 4. FEES. THE FEE FOR EACH LIMITED PERMIT SHALL BE SEVENTY DOLLARS. S 8906. EXEMPT PERSONS. THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO AFFECT OR PREVENT THE FOLLOWING, PROVIDED THAT NO TITLE, SIGN, CARD OR DEVICE SHALL BE USED IN SUCH MANNER AS TO TEND TO CONVEY THE IMPRESSION THAT THE PERSON RENDERING SUCH SERVICE IS A LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST: 1. THE PRACTICE OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHA- BILITATION THERAPY AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF A PROGRAM OF STUDY BY STUDENTS ENROLLED IN APPROVED EDUCATIONAL OR TRAINING PROGRAMS IN (A) ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR (B) VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY. 2. THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OF THE DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING BY ANY OTHER DULY LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, PROVIDED THAT SUCH DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER PRACTICE AS DEFINED IN THE ARTICLE PURSUANT TO WHICH SUCH PERSON IS LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH PRACTITIONERS MAY NOT HOLD THEMSELVES OUT UNDER THE TITLE "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST" OR AS PERFORMING LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING. 3. THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OF THE DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY BY ANY OTHER DULY LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, PROVIDED THAT SUCH DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER PRACTICE AS DEFINED IN THE ARTICLE OR COMMISSIONER'S REGULATION PURSUANT TO WHICH SUCH PERSON IS LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH PRACTITIONERS MAY NOT HOLD THEMSELVES OUT UNDER THE TITLE "LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST" OR AS PERFORMING LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY. S. 3558--B 9 4. THE PRACTICE, CONDUCT, ACTIVITIES, SERVICES OR USE OF ANY TITLE BY ANY PERSON LICENSED OR OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE MEDICINE WITHIN THE STATE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE OF THIS TITLE OR BY ANY PERSON REGISTERED TO PERFORM SERVICES AS A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE-B OF THIS TITLE. 5. THE PRACTICE OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHA- BILITATION THERAPY BY ANY LEGALLY QUALIFIED PRACTITIONER OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY OF ANY OTHER STATE OR TERRITORY WHO IS SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES OR THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES WHILE ENGAGED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS OR HER DUTIES. 6. THE INSTRUCTION IN THE USE OF A DOG GUIDE. S 8907. SPECIAL PROVISIONS. A PERSON SHALL BE LICENSED WITHOUT EXAM- INATION PROVIDED THAT, WITHIN THREE YEARS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ARTICLE, SUCH PERSON: 1. FILES AN APPLICATION AND PAYS THE APPROPRIATE FEES TO THE DEPART- MENT; 2. (A) HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER, OR EQUIVALENT AS DETER- MINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, WITH A SPECIALIZATION IN ORIENTATION AND MOBIL- ITY TRAINING; OR (B) HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER, OR EQUIVALENT AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, WITH A SPECIALIZATION IN VISION REHA- BILITATION THERAPY; OR (C) HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER, OR EQUIVALENT AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN A REHABILITATION FIELD OR IN SPECIAL EDUCATION AND (I) HAS COMPLETED ALL ADDITIONALLY REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF THE ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHABILI- TATION THERAPY CURRICULUM SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; OR (II) HAS BEEN CERTIFIED IN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY BY A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ACCREDITING BODY ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT; AND 3. SUBMITS EVIDENCE OF A MINIMUM OF THREE YEARS EXPERIENCE OR EMPLOY- MENT IN THE PRACTICE OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS, WHETHER SUCH EXPERIENCE OR EMPLOYMENT OCCURS WITHIN OR WITHOUT THIS STATE. S 8908. SEPARABILITY. IF ANY SECTION OF THIS ARTICLE, OR PART THEREOF, SHALL BE ADJUDGED BY ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO BE INVALID, SUCH JUDGMENT SHALL NOT AFFECT, IMPAIR OR INVALIDATE THE REMAINDER OF ANY OTHER SECTION OR PART THEREOF. S 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015. The commissioner of education and the board of regents are authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations and take any other measures as may be necessary for the timely implementation of this act on or before its effective date, including but not limited to the appointment of the state board for vision rehabilitation services, the acceptance and processing of applications for licensure, and the issuance of licenses.
co-Sponsors
(R, C, IP) Senate District
(D, WF) 46th Senate District
(R, C, IP) Senate District
(D, WF) 47th Senate District
(R, C) Senate District
(R, C) 7th Senate District
(R) Senate District
(D, WF) 21st Senate District
(R, C, IP) Senate District
(D, IP) Senate District
(D, IP) Senate District
2013-S3558C - Details
2013-S3558C - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER:S3558C TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the education law, in relation to the licensing of orientation and mobility specialists and rehabilitation therapists 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 the wider community. SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Creates a new article 168. § 8901 Sets out the definition used in the article. § 8902 Outlines the use of the titles "licensed orientation and mobility specialists" and "vision rehabilitation therapists". § 8903 Outlines the State Board for vision rehabilitation services. § 8904 Spells out the requirements for a license.
§ 8905 Establishes limited permits. § 8906 Explains the exempt persons. § 8907 Outlines special provisions. § 8908 Separability provisions. JUSTIFICATION: Vision 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 specialized 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 and doctors do not refer patients to unlicensed professions. Vision Rehabilitation Professionals were marginalized in the first half of the 20 century due in part because the numbers of people with a visual impairment were small, the workers for the blind were largely blind themselves and there was widespread discrimination of all people with disabilities. 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 professional. To be a Vision Rehabilitation Professional (VRP), professionals who are either blind of sighted themselves complete a degree from an accredited university, undergo a rigorous internship and pass an exam given by a nationally accredited certifying body. The number of New Yorkers with vision loss has gown due to many factors. The aging of the baby boomers and longer life expectancies 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 rehabilitation 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 quality of life can be improved by granting these highly qualified professionals 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 techniques 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 technology. 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 experience. 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: 2013 - S. 3558 passed Senate/A. 3597 - Higher Education Committee. FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None. EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect July 1, 2015, however, that the commissioner of education and the board of regents are authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations and take any other measures as may be necessary for the timely implementation of this act on or before its effective date, including but not limited to the appointment of the state board for vision rehabilitation services, the acceptance and processing of applications for licensure, and the issuance of licenses.
2013-S3558C - Bill Text download pdf
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 3558--C 2013-2014 Regular Sessions I N S E N A T E February 5, 2013 ___________ Introduced by Sens. GRIFFO, BALL, BRESLIN, DeFRANCISCO, HOYLMAN, LARKIN, MARTINS, MAZIARZ, PARKER, RANZENHOFER, SAVINO, VALESKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education -- recommitted to the Committee on Higher Educa- tion in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- reported favorably from said committee and committed to the Committee on Finance -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the licensing of orientation and mobility specialists and rehabilitation therapists THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new article 168 to read as follows: ARTICLE 168 VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES SECTION 8900. INTRODUCTION. 8901. DEFINITIONS. 8902. USE OF THE TITLES "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS" AND "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS". 8903. STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES. 8904. REQUIREMENTS FOR A LICENSE. 8905. LIMITED PERMITS. 8906. EXEMPT PERSONS. 8907. SPECIAL PROVISIONS. 8908. SEPARABILITY. S 8900. INTRODUCTION. THIS ARTICLE APPLIES TO THE PROFESSION OF VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES, AND PROVIDES FOR THE LICENSING OF LICENSED EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD06474-07-4
S. 3558--C 2 ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS AND VISION REHABILITATION THERA- PISTS. THE GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR ALL PROFESSIONS CONTAINED IN ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY OF THIS TITLE SHALL APPLY TO THIS ARTICLE. S 8901. DEFINITIONS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS: 1. THE PRACTICE OF "ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING" SHALL MEAN: (A) THE ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED FOR SKILLS TRAINING IN METHODS OF SAFE MOVEMENT AND IN STRATE- GIES TO GATHER REQUIRED ENVIRONMENTAL AND SPATIAL INFORMATION; (B) THE DEVELOPMENT OF APPROPRIATE INTEGRATED SERVICE PLANS TAILORED TO MEET SUCH INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AS IDENTIFIED IN SUCH ASSESSMENT PROCESS; (C) THE PROVISION OF TRAINING IN, AND UTILIZATION OF (I) EQUIPMENT AND ADAPTIVE DEVICES INTENDED AND DESIGNED FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, AND (II) SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES ADAPTED FOR PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ORIENTATION; SENSORY DEVELOPMENT; SYSTEMS OF SAFE MOVEMENT, INCLUDING LONG CANE TECHNIQUES; RESOURCE IDENTIFICATION AND, AS APPROPRIATE, PROFESSIONAL REFERRALS; AND, IN APPLIED SETTINGS, REINFORCING INSTRUCTION FOR THE USE OF OPTICAL DEVICES AS PRESCRIBED BY OPTOMETRISTS AND OPHTHALMOLOGISTS; AND (D) THE EVALUATION OF CLIENTS RECEIVING SUCH SPECIALIZED TRAINING. 2. THE PRACTICE OF "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY" SHALL MEAN: (A) THE ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED FOR SKILLS TRAINING IN INDEPENDENT LIVING AND COMMUNICATIONS; (B) THE DEVEL- OPMENT OF APPROPRIATE INTEGRATED SERVICE PLANS TAILORED TO MEET SUCH INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AS IDENTIFIED IN SUCH ASSESSMENT PROCESS; (C) THE PROVISION OF TRAINING IN, AND UTILIZATION OF (I) EQUIPMENT AND ADAPTIVE DEVICES INTENDED AND DESIGNED FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INCLUDING, IN APPLIED SETTINGS, REINFORCING INSTRUCTION FOR THE USE OF OPTICAL DEVICES AS PRESCRIBED BY OPTOMETRISTS OR OPHTHALMOLO- GISTS, AND (II) SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES ADAPTED FOR PERSONS WHO ARE VISU- ALLY IMPAIRED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BRAILLE AND OTHER COMMUNI- CATION SKILLS; ADAPTED COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY; PERSONAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS; HOME MANAGEMENT SKILLS; PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS; RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND, AS APPROPRIATE, PROFESSIONAL REFERRALS; AND (D) THE EVALUATION OF PERSONS RECEIVING SUCH SPECIALIZED TRAINING. 3. THE PRACTICE OF "VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES" SHALL MEAN PROVID- ING ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION OF, AND TRAINING FOR, PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED WHEN SUCH ASSESSMENT, EVALUATION AND TRAINING INCORPO- RATES THE FULL RANGE OF SPECIALIZED SKILLS AND TASKS SUBSUMED IN THE TWO PROFESSIONS DEFINED IN THIS SECTION AS: (A) ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING AND (B) VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY. SUCH SERVICES SHALL BE RENDERED ON THE PRESCRIPTION OR REFERRAL WHICH MAY BE DIRECTIVE AS TO TREATMENT BY A LICENSED PHYSICIAN OR OPTOMETRIST, PROVIDED HOWEVER THAT NO SUCH TREATMENT DIRECTIVE AND LOW VISION EXAMINATION SHALL BE REQUIRED WHEN THE PERSON BEING REFERRED HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITHIN THE PREVIOUS TWELVE MONTHS AS VISUALLY IMPAIRED, BLIND OR LEGALLY BLIND AS THOSE TERMS ARE DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS SECTION AND SUCH SERVICES ARE BEING RENDERED CONSISTENT WITH THAT DIAGNOSIS, PRESCRIPTION OR REFERRAL. VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS AND ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS MAY NOT PRESCRIBE OPTICAL LOW VISION DEVICES. 4. "APPLIED SETTINGS" MEANS THOSE LOCATIONS WHERE PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED ENGAGE IN DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES UTILIZING THE TOOLS SUPPLIED AND TECHNIQUES TAUGHT BY THE LICENSED PRACTITIONERS DEFINED IN THIS ARTICLE. 5. "VISUALLY IMPAIRED" MEANS A PERSON WHO IS TOTALLY BLIND, LEGALLY BLIND OR PARTIALLY SIGHTED. A PERSON WHO IS BLIND IS ONE WHO HAS NO S. 3558--C 3 USEABLE VISION. A PERSON WHO IS LEGALLY BLIND IS ONE WHO SATISFIES THE DEFINITION SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION B OF SECTION THREE OF CHAPTER FOUR HUNDRED FIFTEEN OF THE LAWS OF NINETEEN HUNDRED THIRTEEN. A PERSON WHO IS PARTIALLY SIGHTED IS ONE WHO HAS FUNCTIONAL VISION IMPAIRMENT THAT CONSTITUTES A SIGNIFICANT LIMITATION OF VISUAL CAPABILITY RESULTING FROM DISEASE, TRAUMA, OR CONGENITAL CONDITION, THAT CANNOT BE FULLY AMELIO- RATED BY STANDARD REFRACTIVE CORRECTION, MEDICATION, OR SURGERY, AND THAT IS MANIFESTED BY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: INSUFFICIENT VISUAL RESOLUTION, INADEQUATE FIELD OF VISION OR REDUCED PEAK CONTRAST SENSI- TIVITY. S 8902. USE OF THE TITLES "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIAL- ISTS" AND "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS". 1. PRACTICE OF ORIEN- TATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING AND USE OF THE TITLE "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS". ONLY A PERSON LICENSED OR OTHERWISE AUTHOR- IZED UNDER THIS ARTICLE SHALL PRACTICE ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR USE THE TITLE "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS" IN CONNECTION WITH HIS OR HER NAME OR WITH ANY TRADE NAME IN THE CONDUCT OF HIS OR HER PROFESSION. 2. PRACTICE OF VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY AND USE OF THE TITLE "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST". ONLY A PERSON LICENSED OR OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS ARTICLE SHALL PRACTICE VISION REHABILITATION THER- APY OR USE THE TITLE "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST" IN CONNECTION WITH HIS OR HER NAME OR WITH ANY TRADE NAME IN THE CONDUCT OF HIS OR HER PROFESSION. S 8903. STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES. A STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING THE BOARD OF REGENTS AND THE DEPARTMENT ON MATTERS OF PROFES- SIONAL LICENSING AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED EIGHT OF THIS TITLE. THE BOARD SHALL CONSIST OF NOT LESS THAN FOURTEEN INDIVIDUALS, FOUR OF WHOM SHALL BE LICENSED ORIEN- TATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS, FOUR OF WHOM SHALL BE LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS, ONE OPHTHALMOLOGIST SPECIALIZING IN LOW VISION TREATMENT, ONE OPTOMETRIST SPECIALIZING IN LOW VISION TREATMENT AND FOUR OF WHOM SHALL BE BLIND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WHOSE NAMES WILL BE PLACED IN NOMINATION FOR THE BOARD FROM ORGANIZA- TIONS OF THE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED. MEMBERS OF THE INITIAL BOARD NEED NOT BE LICENSED PRIOR TO THEIR APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD. OF THE MEMBERS FIRST APPOINTED, FOUR SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A THREE YEAR TERM, FIVE SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM, AND FIVE SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A FIVE YEAR TERM. THEREAFTER ALL MEMBERS SHALL SERVE FOR FIVE YEAR TERMS. IN THE EVENT THAT MORE THAN FOURTEEN MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED, A MAJORITY OF THE ADDITIONAL MEMBERS SHALL BE LICENSED ORIEN- TATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS AND LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THER- APISTS. THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHALL SELECT ONE OF THEMSELVES AS CHAIR TO SERVE FOR A ONE YEAR TERM. AN EXECUTIVE SECRETARY SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMISSIONER. S 8904. REQUIREMENTS FOR A LICENSE. 1. TO QUALIFY FOR A LICENSE AS AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST, AN APPLICANT SHALL FULFILL THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: (A) APPLICATION: FILE AN APPLICATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT; (B) EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: (I) HAVE SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED AN APPROVED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY CURRICULUM IN A BACCALAUREATE OR MASTERS PROGRAM, OR A CERTIFICATE PROGRAM SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; AND S. 3558--C 4 (II) HAVE A MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS OF SUPERVISED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY EXPERIENCE WHICH SUPERVISION AND EXPERIENCE SHALL BE SATISFAC- TORY TO THE STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; (C) PASS AN EXAMINATION SATISFACTORY TO THE STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGU- LATIONS. (D) AGE: BE AT LEAST TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE; (E) CHARACTER: BE OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPART- MENT; (F) REGISTRATION: ALL LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS SHALL REGISTER TRIENNIALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATION; (G) MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY: (I)(A) EACH LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST REQUIRED UNDER THIS ARTICLE TO REGISTER TRIENNI- ALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO PRACTICE IN THE STATE SHALL COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSES (B) AND (C) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH. ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS WHO DO NOT SATISFY THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS SHALL NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE UNTIL THEY HAVE MET SUCH REQUIREMENTS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN ISSUED A REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE, EXCEPT THAT AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST MAY PRACTICE WITHOUT HAVING MET SUCH REQUIREMENTS IF HE OR SHE IS ISSUED A CONDITIONAL REGIS- TRATION PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. (B) ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRA- TION PERIOD DURING WHICH THEY ARE FIRST LICENSED. ADJUSTMENT TO THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS MAY BE GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR REASONS OF HEALTH OF THE LICENSEE WHERE CERTIFIED BY AN APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, FOR EXTENDED ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, OR FOR OTHER GOOD CAUSE ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT WHICH MAY PREVENT COMPLIANCE. (C) A LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST NOT ENGAGED IN PRACTICE, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT UPON THE FILING OF A STATE- MENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT DECLARING SUCH STATUS. ANY LICENSEE WHO RETURNS TO PRACTICE OF THE PROFESSION OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST DURING THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD SHALL NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO REENTERING THE PROFESSION AND SHALL MEET SUCH MANDATORY CONTIN- UING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS AS SHALL BE PRESCRIBED BY REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. (II) DURING EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD AN APPLICANT FOR REGIS- TRATION AS AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST SHALL COMPLETE A MINI- MUM OF TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF ACCEPTABLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO CONTINUING COMPETENCE, AS SPECIFIED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (IV) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, PROVIDED FURTHER THAT AT LEAST SIXTEEN HOURS SHALL BE IN RECOGNIZED AREAS OF STUDY PERTINENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SCOPE OF A LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST. ANY ORIENTATION AND MOBIL- ITY SPECIALIST WHOSE FIRST REGISTRATION DATE FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION OCCURS LESS THAN THREE YEARS FROM SUCH EFFECTIVE DATE, BUT ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN, SHALL COMPLETE CONTINUING COMPETENCY HOURS ON A PRORATED BASIS AT THE RATE OF ONE-HALF HOUR PER MONTH FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN UP TO THE FIRST REGISTRATION DATE. THEREAFTER, A LICEN- SEE WHO HAS NOT SATISFIED THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIRE- S. 3558--C 5 MENTS SHALL NOT BE ISSUED A TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE BY THE DEPARTMENT AND SHALL NOT PRACTICE UNLESS AND UNTIL A CONDITIONAL REGIS- TRATION CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED AS PROVIDED FOR IN SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. CONTINUING COMPETENCY HOURS TAKEN DURING ONE TRIENNIUM MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUBSEQUENT TRIENNIUM. (III) THE DEPARTMENT, IN ITS DISCRETION, MAY ISSUE A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION TO A LICENSEE WHO FAILS TO MEET THE CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, BUT WHO AGREES TO MAKE UP ANY DEFICIENCIES AND COMPLETE ANY ADDITIONAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIRE. THE FEE FOR SUCH A CONDI- TIONAL REGISTRATION SHALL BE THE SAME AS, AND IN ADDITION TO, THE FEE FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION. THE DURATION OF SUCH CONDITIONAL REGIS- TRATION SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT BUT SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE YEAR. ANY LICENSEE WHO IS NOTIFIED OF THE DENIAL OF REGISTRATION FOR FAILURE TO SUBMIT EVIDENCE, SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT, OF REQUIRED CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND WHO PRACTICES WITHOUT SUCH REGISTRATION, MAY BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. (IV) AS USED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, "ACCEPTABLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES" SHALL MEAN ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST AND WHICH MEET THE STANDARDS PRESCRIBED IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMIS- SIONER. SUCH LEARNING ACTIVITIES SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, COLLEGIATE LEVEL CREDIT AND NON-CREDIT COURSES, SELF-STUDY ACTIVITIES, INDEPENDENT STUDY, FORMAL MENTORING ACTIVITIES, PUBLICATIONS IN PROFES- SIONAL JOURNALS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND TECHNICAL SESSIONS; SUCH LEARNING ACTIVITIES MAY BE OFFERED AND SPONSORED BY NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZA- TIONS OR PARTIES ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT, AND ANY OTHER ORGANIZED EDUCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPART- MENT. RECOGNIZED AREAS OF STUDY SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TRAINING IN ORIENTATION, MOBILITY, NAVIGATION, INDEPENDENT LIVING, COMMUNICATIONS AND USE OF PRESCRIBED AND, ADAPTIVE OPTICAL DEVICES; UTILIZATION OF SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT INTENDED FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; THE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF VISION LOSS AND ITS FUNCTIONAL IMPACT ON PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; AND SUCH OTHER TECHNICAL SUBJECT MATTER AREAS APPRO- PRIATELY RELATED TO THE PRACTICE OF VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AS MAY BE SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSION- ER'S REGULATIONS. THE DEPARTMENT MAY, IN ITS DISCRETION AND AS NEEDED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC, REQUIRE THE COMPLETION OF CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES IN SPECIFIC SUBJECTS TO FULFILL THIS MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT. LEARNING ACTIVITIES MUST BE TAKEN FROM A SPONSOR APPROVED BY THE DEPART- MENT, PURSUANT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. (V) ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS SHALL MAINTAIN ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION OF COMPLETION OF ACCEPTABLE CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND SHALL PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT. FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION UPON THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE AN ACT OF MISCONDUCT SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. (VI) THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY FEE SHALL BE FIFTY DOLLARS, SHALL BE PAYABLE ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRA- TION PERIOD, AND SHALL BE PAID IN ADDITION TO THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION FEE REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (H) OF THIS SUBDIVISION. S. 3558--C 6 (H) FEES: PAY A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR AN INITIAL LICENSE AND A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD. 2. TO QUALIFY FOR A LICENSE AS A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST AN APPLICANT SHALL FULFILL THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: (A) APPLICATION: FILE AN APPLICATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT; (B) EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: (I) HAVE SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED AN APPROVED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST CURRICULUM IN A BACCALAUREATE OR MASTERS PROGRAM, OR A CERTIFICATE PROGRAM SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPART- MENT WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; AND (II) HAVE A MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS OF SUPERVISED VISION REHABILI- TATION THERAPIST EXPERIENCE WHICH SUPERVISION AND EXPERIENCE SHALL BE SATISFACTORY TO THE STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; (C) PASS AN EXAMINATION SATISFACTORY TO THE STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGU- LATIONS. (D) AGE: BE AT LEAST TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE; (E) CHARACTER: BE OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPART- MENT; (F) REGISTRATION: ALL LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS SHALL REGISTER TRIENNIALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMIS- SIONER'S REGULATIONS; (G) MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY: (I) (A) EACH LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST REQUIRED UNDER THIS ARTICLE TO REGISTER TRIEN- NIALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO PRACTICE IN THE STATE SHALL COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSES (B) AND (C) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS WHO DO NOT SATISFY THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS SHALL NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE UNTIL THEY HAVE MET SUCH REQUIRE- MENTS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN ISSUED A REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE, EXCEPT THAT A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST MAY PRACTICE WITHOUT HAVING MET SUCH REQUIREMENTS IF HE OR SHE IS ISSUED A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. (B) VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATO- RY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD DURING WHICH THEY ARE FIRST LICENSED. ADJUSTMENT TO THE MANDATO- RY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS MAY BE GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR REASONS OF HEALTH OF THE LICENSEE WHERE CERTIFIED BY AN APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, FOR EXTENDED ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, OR FOR OTHER GOOD CAUSE ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPART- MENT WHICH MAY PREVENT COMPLIANCE. (C) A LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST NOT ENGAGED IN PRAC- TICE, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATO- RY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT UPON THE FILING OF A STATEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT DECLARING SUCH STATUS. ANY LICENSEE WHO RETURNS TO PRAC- TICE OF VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY DURING THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD SHALL NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO REENTERING THE PROFESSION AND SHALL MEET SUCH MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS AS SHALL BE PRESCRIBED BY REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. (II) DURING EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD AN APPLICANT FOR REGIS- TRATION AS A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST SHALL COMPLETE A MINIMUM OF TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF ACCEPTABLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO CONTINUING COMPETENCE, AS SPECIFIED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (IV) OF THIS PARA- S. 3558--C 7 GRAPH, PROVIDED FURTHER THAT AT LEAST SIXTEEN HOURS SHALL BE IN RECOG- NIZED AREAS OF STUDY PERTINENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SCOPE OF A LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST. ANY VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST WHOSE FIRST REGISTRATION DATE FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION OCCURS LESS THAN THREE YEARS FROM SUCH EFFECTIVE DATE, BUT ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN, SHALL COMPLETE CONTINUING COMPETENCY HOURS ON A PRORATED BASIS AT THE RATE OF ONE-HALF HOUR PER MONTH FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN UP TO THE FIRST REGISTRATION DATE. THEREAFTER, A LICENSEE WHO HAS NOT SATIS- FIED THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS SHALL NOT BE ISSUED A TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE BY THE DEPARTMENT AND SHALL NOT PRACTICE UNLESS AND UNTIL A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED AS PROVIDED FOR IN SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. CONTIN- UING COMPETENCY HOURS TAKEN DURING ONE TRIENNIUM MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUBSEQUENT TRIENNIUM. (III) THE DEPARTMENT, IN ITS DISCRETION, MAY ISSUE A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION TO A LICENSEE WHO FAILS TO MEET THE CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, BUT WHO AGREES TO MAKE UP ANY DEFICIENCIES AND COMPLETE ANY ADDITIONAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIRE. THE FEE FOR SUCH A CONDI- TIONAL REGISTRATION SHALL BE THE SAME AS, AND IN ADDITION TO, THE FEE FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION. THE DURATION OF SUCH CONDITIONAL REGIS- TRATION SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT BUT SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE YEAR. ANY LICENSEE WHO IS NOTIFIED OF THE DENIAL OF REGISTRATION FOR FAILURE TO SUBMIT EVIDENCE, SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT, OF REQUIRED CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND WHO PRACTICES WITHOUT SUCH REGISTRATION, MAY BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. (IV) AS USED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, "ACCEPTABLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES" SHALL MEAN ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST AND WHICH MEET THE STANDARDS PRESCRIBED IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. SUCH LEARNING ACTIVITIES SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, COLLEGI- ATE LEVEL CREDIT AND NON-CREDIT COURSES, SELF-STUDY ACTIVITIES, INDE- PENDENT STUDY, FORMAL MENTORING ACTIVITIES, PUBLICATIONS IN PROFESSIONAL JOURNALS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND TECHNICAL SESSIONS; SUCH LEARNING ACTIVITIES MAY BE OFFERED AND SPONSORED BY NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OR PARTIES ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT, AND ANY OTHER ORGANIZED EDUCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT. RECOGNIZED AREAS OF STUDY SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TRAINING IN MOBILITY, NAVIGATION, INDEPENDENT LIVING, COMMUNICATIONS AND ORIENTATION, USE OF PRESCRIBED AND, ADAPTIVE OPTICAL DEVICES; UTILIZA- TION OF SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT INTENDED FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; THE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF VISION LOSS AND ITS FUNCTIONAL IMPACT ON PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; AND SUCH OTHER TECHNICAL SUBJECT MATTER AREAS APPROPRIATELY RELATED TO THE PRACTICE OF VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AS MAY BE SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS. THE DEPARTMENT MAY, IN ITS DISCRETION AND AS NEEDED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC, REQUIRE THE COMPLETION OF CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES IN SPECIFIC SUBJECTS TO FULFILL THIS MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT. LEARNING ACTIVITIES MUST BE TAKEN FROM A SPON- SOR APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT, PURSUANT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. S. 3558--C 8 (V) VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS SHALL MAINTAIN ADEQUATE DOCUMEN- TATION OF COMPLETION OF ACCEPTABLE CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIV- ITIES AND SHALL PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEPART- MENT. FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION UPON THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE AN ACT OF MISCONDUCT SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. (VI) THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY FEE SHALL BE FIFTY DOLLARS, SHALL BE PAYABLE ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRA- TION PERIOD, AND SHALL BE PAID IN ADDITION TO THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION FEE REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (H) OF THIS SUBDIVISION. (H) FEES: PAY A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR AN INITIAL LICENSE AND A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD. S 8905. LIMITED PERMITS. PERMITS LIMITED AS TO ELIGIBILITY, PRACTICE AND DURATION SHALL BE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS AS FOLLOWS: 1. ELIGIBILITY. A PERSON WHO FULFILLS ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ORIEN- TATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST, EXCEPT THAT RELATING TO THE EXAMINATION, SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A LIMITED PERMIT. 2. LIMIT OF PRACTICE. ALL PRACTICE UNDER A LIMITED PERMIT SHALL BE UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST OR A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST. 3. DURATION. A LIMITED PERMIT SHALL EXPIRE ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF ISSUANCE OR UPON NOTICE TO THE PERMITTEE BY THE DEPARTMENT THAT THE APPLICATION FOR LICENSURE HAS BEEN DENIED, OR UPON NOTICE TO THE PERMIT- TEE OF FAILURE ON THE PROFESSIONAL LICENSING EXAMINATION, WHICHEVER FIRST OCCURS. 4. FEES. THE FEE FOR EACH LIMITED PERMIT SHALL BE SEVENTY DOLLARS. S 8906. EXEMPT PERSONS. THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO AFFECT OR PREVENT THE FOLLOWING, PROVIDED THAT NO TITLE, SIGN, CARD OR DEVICE SHALL BE USED IN SUCH MANNER AS TO TEND TO CONVEY THE IMPRESSION THAT THE PERSON RENDERING SUCH SERVICE IS A LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST: 1. THE PRACTICE OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHA- BILITATION THERAPY AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF A PROGRAM OF STUDY BY STUDENTS ENROLLED IN APPROVED EDUCATIONAL OR TRAINING PROGRAMS IN (A) ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR (B) VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY. 2. THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OF THE DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING BY ANY OTHER DULY LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, PROVIDED THAT SUCH DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER PRACTICE AS DEFINED IN THIS ARTICLE PURSUANT TO WHICH SUCH PERSON IS LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED; PROVIDED, HOWEV- ER, THAT SUCH PRACTITIONERS MAY NOT HOLD THEMSELVES OUT UNDER THE TITLE "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST" OR AS PERFORMING LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING. 3. THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OF THE DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY BY ANY OTHER DULY LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, PROVIDED THAT SUCH DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER PRACTICE AS DEFINED IN THIS ARTICLE OR COMMISSIONER'S REGULATION PURSUANT TO WHICH SUCH PERSON IS LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH PRACTITIONERS MAY NOT HOLD THEMSELVES OUT UNDER THE TITLE "LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST" OR AS PERFORMING LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY. S. 3558--C 9 4. THE PRACTICE, CONDUCT, ACTIVITIES, SERVICES OR USE OF ANY TITLE BY ANY PERSON LICENSED OR OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE MEDICINE WITHIN THE STATE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE OF THIS TITLE OR BY ANY PERSON REGISTERED TO PERFORM SERVICES AS A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE-B OF THIS TITLE. 5. THE PRACTICE OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHA- BILITATION THERAPY BY ANY LEGALLY QUALIFIED PRACTITIONER OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY OF ANY OTHER STATE OR TERRITORY WHO IS SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES OR THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES WHILE ENGAGED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS OR HER DUTIES. 6. THE INSTRUCTION IN THE USE OF A DOG GUIDE. S 8907. SPECIAL PROVISIONS. A PERSON SHALL BE LICENSED WITHOUT EXAM- INATION PROVIDED THAT, WITHIN THREE YEARS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ARTICLE, SUCH PERSON: 1. FILES AN APPLICATION AND PAYS THE APPROPRIATE FEES TO THE DEPART- MENT; 2. (A) HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER, OR EQUIVALENT AS DETER- MINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, WITH A SPECIALIZATION IN ORIENTATION AND MOBIL- ITY TRAINING; OR (B) HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER, OR EQUIVALENT AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, WITH A SPECIALIZATION IN VISION REHA- BILITATION THERAPY; OR (C) HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER, OR EQUIVALENT AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN A REHABILITATION FIELD OR IN SPECIAL EDUCATION AND (I) HAS COMPLETED ALL ADDITIONALLY REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF THE ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHABILI- TATION THERAPY CURRICULUM SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; OR (II) HAS BEEN CERTIFIED IN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY BY A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ACCREDITING BODY ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT; AND 3. SUBMITS EVIDENCE OF A MINIMUM OF THREE YEARS EXPERIENCE OR EMPLOY- MENT IN THE PRACTICE OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS, WHETHER SUCH EXPERIENCE OR EMPLOYMENT OCCURS WITHIN OR WITHOUT THIS STATE. S 8908. SEPARABILITY. IF ANY SECTION OF THIS ARTICLE, OR PART THEREOF, SHALL BE ADJUDGED BY ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO BE INVALID, SUCH JUDGMENT SHALL NOT AFFECT, IMPAIR OR INVALIDATE THE REMAINDER OF ANY OTHER SECTION OR PART THEREOF. S 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015. The commissioner of education and the board of regents are authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations and take any other measures as may be necessary for the timely implementation of this act on or before its effective date, including but not limited to the appointment of the state board for vision rehabilitation services, the acceptance and processing of applications for licensure, and the issuance of licenses.
co-Sponsors
(R, C, IP) Senate District
(D, WF) 46th Senate District
(R, C, IP) Senate District
(D, WF) 47th Senate District
(R, C) Senate District
(R, C) 7th Senate District
(R) Senate District
(D, WF) 21st Senate District
(R, C, IP) Senate District
(R, C, IP) Senate District
(D, IP) Senate District
(D, IP) Senate District
2013-S3558D (ACTIVE) - Details
2013-S3558D (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER:S3558D TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the education law, in relation to the licensing of orientation and mobility specialists and rehabilitation therapists 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 the wider community. SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Creates a new article 168. § 8901 Sets out the definition used in the article. § 8902 Outlines the use of the titles "licensed orientation and mobility specialists" and "vision rehabilitation therapists". § 8903 Outlines the State Board for vision rehabilitation services. § 8904 Spells out the requirements for a license.
§ 8905 Establishes limited permits. § 8906 Explains the exempt persons. § 8907 Outlines special provisions. § 8908 Separability provisions. JUSTIFICATION: Vision 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 specialized 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 and doctors do not refer patients to unlicensed professions. Vision Rehabilitation Professionals were marginalized in the first half of the 20 century due in part because the numbers of people with a visual impairment were small, the workers for the blind were largely blind themselves and there was widespread discrimination of all people with disabilities. 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 professional. To be a Vision Rehabilitation Professional (VRP), professionals who are either blind of sighted themselves complete a degree from an accredited university, undergo a rigorous internship and pass an exam given by a nationally accredited certifying body. The number of New Yorkers with vision loss has gown due to many factors. The aging of the baby boomers and longer life expectancies 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 rehabilitation 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 quality of life can be improved by granting these highly qualified professionals 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 techniques 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 technology. 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 experience. 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: 2013 - S. 3558 passed Senate/A. 3597 - Higher Education Committee. FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None. EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect July 1, 2015, however, that the commissioner of education and the board of regents are authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations and take any other measures as may be necessary for the timely implementation of this act on or before its effective date, including but not limited to the appointment of the state board for vision rehabilitation services, the acceptance and processing of applications for licensure, and the issuance of licenses.
2013-S3558D (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 3558--D Cal. No. 839 2013-2014 Regular Sessions I N S E N A T E February 5, 2013 ___________ Introduced by Sens. GRIFFO, BALL, BRESLIN, DeFRANCISCO, HOYLMAN, LARKIN, MARTINS, MAZIARZ, PARKER, RANZENHOFER, SAVINO, VALESKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education -- recommitted to the Committee on Higher Educa- tion in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- reported favorably from said committee and committed to the Committee on Finance -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first report, amended on first report, ordered to a second report and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of second report AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the licensing of orientation and mobility specialists and rehabilitation therapists THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new article 168 to read as follows: ARTICLE 168 VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES SECTION 8900. INTRODUCTION. 8901. DEFINITIONS. 8902. USE OF THE TITLES "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS" AND "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS". 8903. STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES. 8904. REQUIREMENTS FOR A LICENSE. 8905. LIMITED PERMITS. 8906. EXEMPT PERSONS. 8907. SPECIAL PROVISIONS. EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06474-09-4 S. 3558--D 2 8908. SEPARABILITY. S 8900. INTRODUCTION. THIS ARTICLE APPLIES TO THE PROFESSION OF VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES, AND PROVIDES FOR THE LICENSING OF LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS AND VISION REHABILITATION THERA- PISTS. THE GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR ALL PROFESSIONS CONTAINED IN ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY OF THIS TITLE SHALL APPLY TO THIS ARTICLE. S 8901. DEFINITIONS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS: 1. THE PRACTICE OF "ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING" SHALL MEAN: (A) THE ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED FOR SKILLS TRAINING IN METHODS OF SAFE MOVEMENT AND IN STRATE- GIES TO GATHER REQUIRED ENVIRONMENTAL AND SPATIAL INFORMATION; (B) THE DEVELOPMENT OF APPROPRIATE INTEGRATED SERVICE PLANS TAILORED TO MEET SUCH INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AS IDENTIFIED IN SUCH ASSESSMENT PROCESS; (C) THE PROVISION OF TRAINING IN, AND UTILIZATION OF (I) EQUIPMENT AND ADAPTIVE DEVICES INTENDED AND DESIGNED FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, AND (II) SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES ADAPTED FOR PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ORIENTATION; SENSORY DEVELOPMENT; SYSTEMS OF SAFE MOVEMENT, INCLUDING LONG CANE TECHNIQUES; RESOURCE IDENTIFICATION AND, AS APPROPRIATE, PROFESSIONAL REFERRALS; AND, IN APPLIED SETTINGS, REINFORCING INSTRUCTION FOR THE USE OF OPTICAL DEVICES AS PRESCRIBED BY OPTOMETRISTS AND OPHTHALMOLOGISTS; AND (D) THE EVALUATION OF CLIENTS RECEIVING SUCH SPECIALIZED TRAINING. 2. THE PRACTICE OF "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY" SHALL MEAN: (A) THE ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED FOR SKILLS TRAINING IN INDEPENDENT LIVING AND COMMUNICATIONS; (B) THE DEVEL- OPMENT OF APPROPRIATE INTEGRATED SERVICE PLANS TAILORED TO MEET SUCH INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AS IDENTIFIED IN SUCH ASSESSMENT PROCESS; (C) THE PROVISION OF TRAINING IN, AND UTILIZATION OF (I) EQUIPMENT AND ADAPTIVE DEVICES INTENDED AND DESIGNED FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INCLUDING, IN APPLIED SETTINGS, REINFORCING INSTRUCTION FOR THE USE OF OPTICAL DEVICES AS PRESCRIBED BY OPTOMETRISTS OR OPHTHALMOLO- GISTS, AND (II) SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES ADAPTED FOR PERSONS WHO ARE VISU- ALLY IMPAIRED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BRAILLE AND OTHER COMMUNI- CATION SKILLS; ADAPTED COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY; PERSONAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS; HOME MANAGEMENT SKILLS; PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS; RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND, AS APPROPRIATE, PROFESSIONAL REFERRALS; AND (D) THE EVALUATION OF PERSONS RECEIVING SUCH SPECIALIZED TRAINING. 3. THE PRACTICE OF "VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES" SHALL MEAN PROVID- ING ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION OF, AND TRAINING FOR, PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED WHEN SUCH ASSESSMENT, EVALUATION AND TRAINING INCORPO- RATES THE FULL RANGE OF SPECIALIZED SKILLS AND TASKS SUBSUMED IN THE TWO PROFESSIONS DEFINED IN THIS SECTION AS: (A) ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING AND (B) VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY. SUCH SERVICES SHALL BE RENDERED ON THE PRESCRIPTION OR REFERRAL WHICH MAY BE DIRECTIVE AS TO TREATMENT BY A LICENSED PHYSICIAN OR OPTOMETRIST, PROVIDED HOWEVER THAT NO SUCH TREATMENT DIRECTIVE AND LOW VISION EXAMINATION SHALL BE REQUIRED WHEN THE PERSON BEING REFERRED HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITHIN THE PREVIOUS TWELVE MONTHS AS VISUALLY IMPAIRED, BLIND OR LEGALLY BLIND AS THOSE TERMS ARE DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS SECTION AND SUCH SERVICES ARE BEING RENDERED CONSISTENT WITH THAT DIAGNOSIS, PRESCRIPTION OR REFERRAL. VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS AND ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS MAY NOT PRESCRIBE OPTICAL LOW VISION DEVICES. 4. "APPLIED SETTINGS" MEANS THOSE LOCATIONS WHERE PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED ENGAGE IN DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES UTILIZING THE TOOLS S. 3558--D 3 SUPPLIED AND TECHNIQUES TAUGHT BY THE LICENSED PRACTITIONERS DEFINED IN THIS ARTICLE. 5. "VISUALLY IMPAIRED" MEANS A PERSON WHO IS TOTALLY BLIND, LEGALLY BLIND OR PARTIALLY SIGHTED. A PERSON WHO IS BLIND IS ONE WHO HAS NO USEABLE VISION. A PERSON WHO IS LEGALLY BLIND IS ONE WHO SATISFIES THE DEFINITION SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION B OF SECTION THREE OF CHAPTER FOUR HUNDRED FIFTEEN OF THE LAWS OF NINETEEN HUNDRED THIRTEEN. A PERSON WHO IS PARTIALLY SIGHTED IS ONE WHO HAS FUNCTIONAL VISION IMPAIRMENT THAT CONSTITUTES A SIGNIFICANT LIMITATION OF VISUAL CAPABILITY RESULTING FROM DISEASE, TRAUMA, OR CONGENITAL CONDITION, THAT CANNOT BE FULLY AMELIO- RATED BY STANDARD REFRACTIVE CORRECTION, MEDICATION, OR SURGERY, AND THAT IS MANIFESTED BY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: INSUFFICIENT VISUAL RESOLUTION, INADEQUATE FIELD OF VISION OR REDUCED PEAK CONTRAST SENSI- TIVITY. S 8902. USE OF THE TITLES "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIAL- ISTS" AND "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS". 1. PRACTICE OF ORIEN- TATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING AND USE OF THE TITLE "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS". ONLY A PERSON LICENSED OR OTHERWISE AUTHOR- IZED UNDER THIS ARTICLE SHALL PRACTICE ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR USE THE TITLE "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS" IN CONNECTION WITH HIS OR HER NAME OR WITH ANY TRADE NAME IN THE CONDUCT OF HIS OR HER PROFESSION. 2. PRACTICE OF VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY AND USE OF THE TITLE "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST". ONLY A PERSON LICENSED OR OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS ARTICLE SHALL PRACTICE VISION REHABILITATION THER- APY OR USE THE TITLE "VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST" IN CONNECTION WITH HIS OR HER NAME OR WITH ANY TRADE NAME IN THE CONDUCT OF HIS OR HER PROFESSION. S 8903. STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES. A STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING THE BOARD OF REGENTS AND THE DEPARTMENT ON MATTERS OF PROFES- SIONAL LICENSING AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED EIGHT OF THIS TITLE. THE BOARD SHALL CONSIST OF NOT LESS THAN FOURTEEN INDIVIDUALS, FOUR OF WHOM SHALL BE LICENSED ORIEN- TATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS, FOUR OF WHOM SHALL BE LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS, ONE OPHTHALMOLOGIST SPECIALIZING IN LOW VISION TREATMENT, ONE OPTOMETRIST SPECIALIZING IN LOW VISION TREATMENT AND FOUR OF WHOM SHALL BE BLIND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WHOSE NAMES WILL BE PLACED IN NOMINATION FOR THE BOARD FROM ORGANIZA- TIONS OF THE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED. MEMBERS OF THE INITIAL BOARD NEED NOT BE LICENSED PRIOR TO THEIR APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD. OF THE MEMBERS FIRST APPOINTED, FOUR SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A THREE YEAR TERM, FIVE SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM, AND FIVE SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A FIVE YEAR TERM. THEREAFTER ALL MEMBERS SHALL SERVE FOR FIVE YEAR TERMS. IN THE EVENT THAT MORE THAN FOURTEEN MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED, A MAJORITY OF THE ADDITIONAL MEMBERS SHALL BE LICENSED ORIEN- TATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS AND LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THER- APISTS. THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHALL SELECT ONE OF THEMSELVES AS CHAIR TO SERVE FOR A ONE YEAR TERM. AN EXECUTIVE SECRETARY SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMISSIONER. S 8904. REQUIREMENTS FOR A LICENSE. 1. TO QUALIFY FOR A LICENSE AS AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST, AN APPLICANT SHALL FULFILL THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: (A) APPLICATION: FILE AN APPLICATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT; S. 3558--D 4 (B) EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: (I) HAVE SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED AN APPROVED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY CURRICULUM IN A BACCALAUREATE OR MASTERS PROGRAM, OR A CERTIFICATE PROGRAM SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; AND (II) HAVE A MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS OF SUPERVISED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY EXPERIENCE WHICH SUPERVISION AND EXPERIENCE SHALL BE SATISFAC- TORY TO THE STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; (C) PASS AN EXAMINATION SATISFACTORY TO THE STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGU- LATIONS. (D) AGE: BE AT LEAST TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE; (E) CHARACTER: BE OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPART- MENT; (F) REGISTRATION: ALL LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS SHALL REGISTER TRIENNIALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATION; (G) MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY: (I)(A) EACH LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST REQUIRED UNDER THIS ARTICLE TO REGISTER TRIENNI- ALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO PRACTICE IN THE STATE SHALL COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSES (B) AND (C) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH. ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS WHO DO NOT SATISFY THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS SHALL NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE UNTIL THEY HAVE MET SUCH REQUIREMENTS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN ISSUED A REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE, EXCEPT THAT AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST MAY PRACTICE WITHOUT HAVING MET SUCH REQUIREMENTS IF HE OR SHE IS ISSUED A CONDITIONAL REGIS- TRATION PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. (B) ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRA- TION PERIOD DURING WHICH THEY ARE FIRST LICENSED. ADJUSTMENT TO THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS MAY BE GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR REASONS OF HEALTH OF THE LICENSEE WHERE CERTIFIED BY AN APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, FOR EXTENDED ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, OR FOR OTHER GOOD CAUSE ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT WHICH MAY PREVENT COMPLIANCE. (C) A LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST NOT ENGAGED IN PRACTICE, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT UPON THE FILING OF A STATE- MENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT DECLARING SUCH STATUS. ANY LICENSEE WHO RETURNS TO PRACTICE OF THE PROFESSION OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST DURING THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD SHALL NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO REENTERING THE PROFESSION AND SHALL MEET SUCH MANDATORY CONTIN- UING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS AS SHALL BE PRESCRIBED BY REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. (II) DURING EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD AN APPLICANT FOR REGIS- TRATION AS AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST SHALL COMPLETE A MINI- MUM OF TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF ACCEPTABLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO CONTINUING COMPETENCE, AS SPECIFIED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (IV) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, PROVIDED FURTHER THAT AT LEAST SIXTEEN HOURS SHALL BE IN RECOGNIZED AREAS OF STUDY PERTINENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SCOPE OF A LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST. ANY ORIENTATION AND MOBIL- ITY SPECIALIST WHOSE FIRST REGISTRATION DATE FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION OCCURS LESS THAN THREE YEARS FROM SUCH EFFECTIVE S. 3558--D 5 DATE, BUT ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN, SHALL COMPLETE CONTINUING COMPETENCY HOURS ON A PRORATED BASIS AT THE RATE OF ONE-HALF HOUR PER MONTH FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN UP TO THE FIRST REGISTRATION DATE. THEREAFTER, A LICEN- SEE WHO HAS NOT SATISFIED THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIRE- MENTS SHALL NOT BE ISSUED A TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE BY THE DEPARTMENT AND SHALL NOT PRACTICE UNLESS AND UNTIL A CONDITIONAL REGIS- TRATION CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED AS PROVIDED FOR IN SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. CONTINUING COMPETENCY HOURS TAKEN DURING ONE TRIENNIUM MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUBSEQUENT TRIENNIUM. (III) THE DEPARTMENT, IN ITS DISCRETION, MAY ISSUE A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION TO A LICENSEE WHO FAILS TO MEET THE CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, BUT WHO AGREES TO MAKE UP ANY DEFICIENCIES AND COMPLETE ANY ADDITIONAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIRE. THE FEE FOR SUCH A CONDI- TIONAL REGISTRATION SHALL BE THE SAME AS, AND IN ADDITION TO, THE FEE FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION. THE DURATION OF SUCH CONDITIONAL REGIS- TRATION SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT BUT SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE YEAR. ANY LICENSEE WHO IS NOTIFIED OF THE DENIAL OF REGISTRATION FOR FAILURE TO SUBMIT EVIDENCE, SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT, OF REQUIRED CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND WHO PRACTICES WITHOUT SUCH REGISTRATION, MAY BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. (IV) AS USED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, "ACCEPTABLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES" SHALL MEAN ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST AND WHICH MEET THE STANDARDS PRESCRIBED IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMIS- SIONER. SUCH LEARNING ACTIVITIES SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, COLLEGIATE LEVEL CREDIT AND NON-CREDIT COURSES, SELF-STUDY ACTIVITIES, INDEPENDENT STUDY, FORMAL MENTORING ACTIVITIES, PUBLICATIONS IN PROFES- SIONAL JOURNALS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND TECHNICAL SESSIONS; SUCH LEARNING ACTIVITIES MAY BE OFFERED AND SPONSORED BY NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZA- TIONS OR PARTIES ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT, AND ANY OTHER ORGANIZED EDUCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPART- MENT. RECOGNIZED AREAS OF STUDY SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TRAINING IN ORIENTATION, MOBILITY, NAVIGATION, INDEPENDENT LIVING, COMMUNICATIONS AND USE OF PRESCRIBED AND, ADAPTIVE OPTICAL DEVICES; UTILIZATION OF SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT INTENDED FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; THE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF VISION LOSS AND ITS FUNCTIONAL IMPACT ON PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; AND SUCH OTHER TECHNICAL SUBJECT MATTER AREAS APPRO- PRIATELY RELATED TO THE PRACTICE OF VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AS MAY BE SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSION- ER'S REGULATIONS. THE DEPARTMENT MAY, IN ITS DISCRETION AND AS NEEDED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC, REQUIRE THE COMPLETION OF CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES IN SPECIFIC SUBJECTS TO FULFILL THIS MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT. LEARNING ACTIVITIES MUST BE TAKEN FROM A SPONSOR APPROVED BY THE DEPART- MENT, PURSUANT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. (V) ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS SHALL MAINTAIN ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION OF COMPLETION OF ACCEPTABLE CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND SHALL PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT. FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION UPON THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE AN ACT OF MISCONDUCT SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. S. 3558--D 6 (VI) THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY FEE SHALL BE FIFTY DOLLARS, SHALL BE PAYABLE ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRA- TION PERIOD, AND SHALL BE PAID IN ADDITION TO THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION FEE REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (H) OF THIS SUBDIVISION. (H) FEES: PAY A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR AN INITIAL LICENSE AND A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD. 2. TO QUALIFY FOR A LICENSE AS A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST AN APPLICANT SHALL FULFILL THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: (A) APPLICATION: FILE AN APPLICATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT; (B) EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: (I) HAVE SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED AN APPROVED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST CURRICULUM IN A BACCALAUREATE OR MASTERS PROGRAM, OR A CERTIFICATE PROGRAM SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPART- MENT WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; AND (II) HAVE A MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS OF SUPERVISED VISION REHABILI- TATION THERAPIST EXPERIENCE WHICH SUPERVISION AND EXPERIENCE SHALL BE SATISFACTORY TO THE STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; (C) PASS AN EXAMINATION SATISFACTORY TO THE STATE BOARD FOR VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGU- LATIONS. (D) AGE: BE AT LEAST TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE; (E) CHARACTER: BE OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPART- MENT; (F) REGISTRATION: ALL LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS SHALL REGISTER TRIENNIALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMIS- SIONER'S REGULATIONS; (G) MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY: (I) (A) EACH LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST REQUIRED UNDER THIS ARTICLE TO REGISTER TRIEN- NIALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO PRACTICE IN THE STATE SHALL COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSES (B) AND (C) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS WHO DO NOT SATISFY THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS SHALL NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE UNTIL THEY HAVE MET SUCH REQUIRE- MENTS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN ISSUED A REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE, EXCEPT THAT A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST MAY PRACTICE WITHOUT HAVING MET SUCH REQUIREMENTS IF HE OR SHE IS ISSUED A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. (B) VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATO- RY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD DURING WHICH THEY ARE FIRST LICENSED. ADJUSTMENT TO THE MANDATO- RY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS MAY BE GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR REASONS OF HEALTH OF THE LICENSEE WHERE CERTIFIED BY AN APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, FOR EXTENDED ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, OR FOR OTHER GOOD CAUSE ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPART- MENT WHICH MAY PREVENT COMPLIANCE. (C) A LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST NOT ENGAGED IN PRAC- TICE, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATO- RY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT UPON THE FILING OF A STATEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT DECLARING SUCH STATUS. ANY LICENSEE WHO RETURNS TO PRAC- TICE OF VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY DURING THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD SHALL NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO REENTERING THE PROFESSION AND SHALL MEET SUCH MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS AS SHALL BE PRESCRIBED BY REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. S. 3558--D 7 (II) DURING EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD AN APPLICANT FOR REGIS- TRATION AS A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST SHALL COMPLETE A MINIMUM OF TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF ACCEPTABLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO CONTINUING COMPETENCE, AS SPECIFIED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (IV) OF THIS PARA- GRAPH, PROVIDED FURTHER THAT AT LEAST SIXTEEN HOURS SHALL BE IN RECOG- NIZED AREAS OF STUDY PERTINENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SCOPE OF A LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST. ANY VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST WHOSE FIRST REGISTRATION DATE FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION OCCURS LESS THAN THREE YEARS FROM SUCH EFFECTIVE DATE, BUT ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN, SHALL COMPLETE CONTINUING COMPETENCY HOURS ON A PRORATED BASIS AT THE RATE OF ONE-HALF HOUR PER MONTH FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN UP TO THE FIRST REGISTRATION DATE. THEREAFTER, A LICENSEE WHO HAS NOT SATIS- FIED THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS SHALL NOT BE ISSUED A TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE BY THE DEPARTMENT AND SHALL NOT PRACTICE UNLESS AND UNTIL A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED AS PROVIDED FOR IN SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. CONTIN- UING COMPETENCY HOURS TAKEN DURING ONE TRIENNIUM MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUBSEQUENT TRIENNIUM. (III) THE DEPARTMENT, IN ITS DISCRETION, MAY ISSUE A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION TO A LICENSEE WHO FAILS TO MEET THE CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, BUT WHO AGREES TO MAKE UP ANY DEFICIENCIES AND COMPLETE ANY ADDITIONAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIRE. THE FEE FOR SUCH A CONDI- TIONAL REGISTRATION SHALL BE THE SAME AS, AND IN ADDITION TO, THE FEE FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION. THE DURATION OF SUCH CONDITIONAL REGIS- TRATION SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT BUT SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE YEAR. ANY LICENSEE WHO IS NOTIFIED OF THE DENIAL OF REGISTRATION FOR FAILURE TO SUBMIT EVIDENCE, SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT, OF REQUIRED CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND WHO PRACTICES WITHOUT SUCH REGISTRATION, MAY BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. (IV) AS USED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, "ACCEPTABLE LEARNING ACTIVITIES" SHALL MEAN ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST AND WHICH MEET THE STANDARDS PRESCRIBED IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. SUCH LEARNING ACTIVITIES SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, COLLEGI- ATE LEVEL CREDIT AND NON-CREDIT COURSES, SELF-STUDY ACTIVITIES, INDE- PENDENT STUDY, FORMAL MENTORING ACTIVITIES, PUBLICATIONS IN PROFESSIONAL JOURNALS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND TECHNICAL SESSIONS; SUCH LEARNING ACTIVITIES MAY BE OFFERED AND SPONSORED BY NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OR PARTIES ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT, AND ANY OTHER ORGANIZED EDUCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT. RECOGNIZED AREAS OF STUDY SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TRAINING IN MOBILITY, NAVIGATION, INDEPENDENT LIVING, COMMUNICATIONS AND ORIENTATION, USE OF PRESCRIBED AND, ADAPTIVE OPTICAL DEVICES; UTILIZA- TION OF SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT INTENDED FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; THE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF VISION LOSS AND ITS FUNCTIONAL IMPACT ON PERSONS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED; AND SUCH OTHER TECHNICAL SUBJECT MATTER AREAS APPROPRIATELY RELATED TO THE PRACTICE OF VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AS MAY BE SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS. THE DEPARTMENT MAY, IN ITS DISCRETION AND AS NEEDED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC, REQUIRE THE COMPLETION OF CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIVITIES IN SPECIFIC SUBJECTS TO FULFILL THIS MANDATORY CONTINUING S. 3558--D 8 COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT. LEARNING ACTIVITIES MUST BE TAKEN FROM A SPON- SOR APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT, PURSUANT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. (V) VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS SHALL MAINTAIN ADEQUATE DOCUMEN- TATION OF COMPLETION OF ACCEPTABLE CONTINUING COMPETENCY LEARNING ACTIV- ITIES AND SHALL PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEPART- MENT. FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION UPON THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE AN ACT OF MISCONDUCT SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. (VI) THE MANDATORY CONTINUING COMPETENCY FEE SHALL BE FIFTY DOLLARS, SHALL BE PAYABLE ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRA- TION PERIOD, AND SHALL BE PAID IN ADDITION TO THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION FEE REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (H) OF THIS SUBDIVISION. (H) FEES: PAY A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR AN INITIAL LICENSE AND A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD. S 8905. LIMITED PERMITS. PERMITS LIMITED AS TO ELIGIBILITY, PRACTICE AND DURATION SHALL BE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS AS FOLLOWS: 1. ELIGIBILITY. A PERSON WHO FULFILLS ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ORIEN- TATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST, EXCEPT THAT RELATING TO THE EXAMINATION, SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A LIMITED PERMIT. 2. LIMIT OF PRACTICE. ALL PRACTICE UNDER A LIMITED PERMIT SHALL BE UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST OR A VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST. 3. DURATION. A LIMITED PERMIT SHALL EXPIRE ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF ISSUANCE OR UPON NOTICE TO THE PERMITTEE BY THE DEPARTMENT THAT THE APPLICATION FOR LICENSURE HAS BEEN DENIED, OR UPON NOTICE TO THE PERMIT- TEE OF FAILURE ON THE PROFESSIONAL LICENSING EXAMINATION, WHICHEVER FIRST OCCURS. 4. FEES. THE FEE FOR EACH LIMITED PERMIT SHALL BE SEVENTY DOLLARS. S 8906. EXEMPT PERSONS. THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO AFFECT OR PREVENT THE FOLLOWING, PROVIDED THAT NO TITLE, SIGN, CARD OR DEVICE SHALL BE USED IN SUCH MANNER AS TO TEND TO CONVEY THE IMPRESSION THAT THE PERSON RENDERING SUCH SERVICE IS A LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST: 1. THE PRACTICE OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHA- BILITATION THERAPY AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF A PROGRAM OF STUDY BY STUDENTS ENROLLED IN APPROVED EDUCATIONAL OR TRAINING PROGRAMS IN (A) ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR (B) VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY. 2. THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OF THE DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING BY ANY OTHER DULY LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, PROVIDED THAT SUCH DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER PRACTICE AS DEFINED IN THIS ARTICLE PURSUANT TO WHICH SUCH PERSON IS LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED; PROVIDED, HOWEV- ER, THAT SUCH PRACTITIONERS MAY NOT HOLD THEMSELVES OUT UNDER THE TITLE "LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST" OR AS PERFORMING LICENSED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING. 3. THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OF THE DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY BY ANY OTHER DULY LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, PROVIDED THAT SUCH DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER PRACTICE AS DEFINED IN THIS ARTICLE OR COMMISSIONER'S REGULATION PURSUANT TO WHICH SUCH PERSON IS LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED; S. 3558--D 9 PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH PRACTITIONERS MAY NOT HOLD THEMSELVES OUT UNDER THE TITLE "LICENSED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST". 4. THE PRACTICE, CONDUCT, ACTIVITIES, SERVICES OR USE OF ANY TITLE BY ANY PERSON LICENSED OR OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE MEDICINE WITHIN THE STATE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE OF THIS TITLE OR BY ANY PERSON REGISTERED TO PERFORM SERVICES AS A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE-B OF THIS TITLE. 5. THE PRACTICE OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHA- BILITATION THERAPY BY ANY LEGALLY QUALIFIED PRACTITIONER OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY OF ANY OTHER STATE OR TERRITORY WHO IS SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES OR THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES WHILE ENGAGED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS OR HER DUTIES. 6. THE INSTRUCTION IN THE USE OF A DOG GUIDE. S 8907. SPECIAL PROVISIONS. A PERSON SHALL BE LICENSED WITHOUT EXAM- INATION PROVIDED THAT, WITHIN THREE YEARS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ARTICLE, SUCH PERSON: 1. FILES AN APPLICATION AND PAYS THE APPROPRIATE FEES TO THE DEPART- MENT; 2. (A) HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER, OR EQUIVALENT AS DETER- MINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, WITH A SPECIALIZATION IN ORIENTATION AND MOBIL- ITY TRAINING; OR (B) HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER, OR EQUIVALENT AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, WITH A SPECIALIZATION IN VISION REHA- BILITATION THERAPY; OR (C) HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER, OR EQUIVALENT AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN A REHABILITATION FIELD OR IN SPECIAL EDUCATION AND (I) HAS COMPLETED ALL ADDITIONALLY REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF THE ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHABILI- TATION THERAPY CURRICULUM SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; OR (II) HAS BEEN CERTIFIED IN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY BY A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ACCREDITING BODY ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT; AND 3. SUBMITS EVIDENCE OF A MINIMUM OF THREE YEARS EXPERIENCE OR EMPLOY- MENT IN THE PRACTICE OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING OR VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS, WHETHER SUCH EXPERIENCE OR EMPLOYMENT OCCURS WITHIN OR WITHOUT THIS STATE. S 8908. SEPARABILITY. IF ANY SECTION OF THIS ARTICLE, OR PART THEREOF, SHALL BE ADJUDGED BY ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO BE INVALID, SUCH JUDGMENT SHALL NOT AFFECT, IMPAIR OR INVALIDATE THE REMAINDER OF ANY OTHER SECTION OR PART THEREOF. S 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015. The commissioner of education and the board of regents are authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations and take any other measures as may be necessary for the timely implementation of this act on or before its effective date, including but not limited to the appointment of the state board for vision rehabilitation services, the acceptance and processing of applications for licensure, and the issuance of licenses.
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