S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4003
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 28, 2015
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Introduced by M. of A. WRIGHT, ROSENTHAL, JAFFEE -- Multi-Sponsored by
-- M. of A. COLTON, LAVINE -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, the vehicle and traffic law and
the state finance law, in relation to establishing the save our sight
program and the save our sight fund
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 25
to read as follows:
S 25. SAVE OUR SIGHT PROGRAM. THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH
THE COMMISSIONER OF MOTOR VEHICLES, IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO
ESTABLISH WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, A SAVE OUR SIGHT PROGRAM. SUCH PROGRAM
SHALL:
1. PROVIDE SUPPORT TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT OFFER VISION
SCREENING AND EDUCATION SERVICES;
2. IMPLEMENT A VOLUNTARY CHILDREN'S VISION SCREENING TRAINING AND
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR VOLUNTEERS, CHILD DAY-CARE PROVIDERS, NURSES,
TEACHERS, HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS PRACTICING IN PRIMARY CARE SETTINGS
AND FOR OTHER PERSONS SERVING CHILDREN;
3. DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A REGISTRY AND TARGETED VOLUNTARY CASE
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO DETERMINE WHETHER CHILDREN WITH AMBLYOPIA ARE
RECEIVING PROFESSIONAL EYE CARE AND TO PROVIDE PARENTS AND LEGAL GUARDI-
ANS OF CHILDREN WITH AMBLYOPIA WITH INFORMATION AND SUPPORT REGARDING
SUCH CHILDREN'S VISION;
4. ESTABLISH A MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE PURCHASE AND DISTRIB-
UTION OF PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR TO CHILDREN;
5. PROVIDE VISION HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAMS AND MATERIALS TO CLASS-
ROOMS; AND
6. FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION FOUR HUNDRED ONE-C OF THE VEHICLE AND
TRAFFIC LAW, TO DEVELOP MATERIALS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EYE CARE AND
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05188-01-5
A. 4003 2
SAFETY AND TO DELIVER SUCH MATERIALS TO THE COMMISSIONER OF MOTOR VEHI-
CLES FOR DISTRIBUTION PURSUANT TO SECTION FOUR HUNDRED ONE-C OF THE
VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW.
S 2. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section
401-c to read as follows:
S 401-C. SAVE OUR SIGHT PROGRAM; VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION. IN ADDITION
TO THE FEES COLLECTED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE, EVERY APPLICATION FOR
REGISTRATION OR RENEWAL REGISTRATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND EVERY APPLI-
CATION FOR AN OPERATOR'S LICENSE OR FOR RENEWAL THEREOF SHALL PROVIDE AN
OPTION TO THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE BEING REGISTERED OR APPLICANT TO MAKE
A ONE-DOLLAR VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO THE SAVE OUR SIGHT FUND ESTAB-
LISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION EIGHTY-ONE OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW. THE
COMMISSIONER SHALL COLLECT SUCH ADDITIONAL ONE DOLLAR FROM ANY PERSON
WHO OPTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO SUCH FUND. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ALSO MAKE
AVAILABLE TO EVERY PERSON APPLYING FOR REGISTRATION OR RENEWAL REGISTRA-
TION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND EVERY APPLICATION FOR AN OPERATOR'S LICENSE
OR FOR RENEWAL THEREOF MATERIALS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EYE CARE AND SAFE-
TY PROVIDED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH PURSUANT TO SECTION
TWENTY-THREE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL FORWARD
ALL MONEYS RECEIVED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION TO THE
COMPTROLLER FOR DEPOSIT INTO THE SAVE OUR SIGHT FUND ESTABLISHED PURSU-
ANT TO SECTION EIGHTY-ONE OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW.
S 3. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 81 to
read as follows:
S 81. SAVE OUR SIGHT FUND. 1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN THE
CUSTODY OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER, A FUND TO BE KNOWN AS THE SAVE OUR
SIGHT FUND.
2. SUCH FUND SHALL CONSIST OF ALL MONEYS APPROPRIATED FOR THE PURPOSE
OF SUCH FUND, ALL MONEYS TRANSFERRED TO SUCH FUND PURSUANT TO LAW AND
ALL MONEYS REQUIRED TO BE PAID TO THE CREDIT OF SUCH FUND PURSUANT TO
SECTION FOUR HUNDRED ONE-C OF THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW.
3. MONEYS OF THE FUND SHALL BE AVAILABLE FOR APPROPRIATION AND ALLO-
CATION ONLY TO THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH FOR THE PURPOSES OF CARRYING
OUT THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION TWENTY-THREE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW AND
SECTION FOUR HUNDRED ONE-C OF THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW.
4. MONEYS OF THE FUND, WHEN AVAILABLE, SHALL BE PAID OUT ON THE AUDIT
AND WARRANT OF THE COMPTROLLER ON VOUCHERS CERTIFIED OR APPROVED BY THE
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH OR BY AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH DESIGNATED BY SUCH COMMISSIONER.
S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.