That the Mayor of the District of Columbia shall establish and maintain a register of blind persons residing in the District of Columbia. Such register shall, under regulations prescribed by the Council of the District of Columbia, provide information of such nature as will or may be of assistance in the planning of improved facilities and services for blind persons and in the restoration and conservation of sight.
(Aug. 3, 1968, 82 Stat. 633, Pub. L. 90-458, § 1.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-1601.
1973 Ed., § 6-1401.
Change in Government
This section originated at a time when local government powers were delegated to the District of Columbia Council and to a Commissioner of the District of Columbia. The District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act, 87 Stat. 818, § 711 (D.C. Code, § 1-207.11), abolished the District of Columbia Council and the Office of Commissioner of the District of Columbia. These branches of government were replaced by the Council of the District of Columbia and the Office of Mayor of the District of Columbia, respectively. Accordingly, and also pursuant to § 714(a) of such Act (D.C. Code, § 1-207.14(a)), appropriate changes in terminology were made in this section.
Transfer of Functions
Organization Order No. 104 provided for the establishment, maintenance, and administration of a register of blind persons by the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. All functions stated in such Order were transferred to the Director of the Department of Human Resources by Commissioner's Order No. 69- 96, dated March 7, 1969, as amended by Commissioner's Order No. 70-83, dated March 6, 1970. The Department of Human Resources was replaced by the Department of Human Services, by Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1979, dated February 21, 1980.
Each: (1) health, educational, and social service agency or institution operating in the District of Columbia and having in its care or custody (either full or part time), or rendering service to, any blind person; (2) physician and osteopath licensed or registered by the District of Columbia who has in his professional care for diagnosis or treatment such a person; and (3) optometrist licensed by the District of Columbia who, in the course of his practice of optometry, ascertains that a person is blind, shall report in writing to the Mayor the name, age, and residence of such person and such additional information as the Council may, by regulation, require for incorporation in the register referred to in § 7-901. Such register and reports shall not be open to public inspection. The Mayor may make available in the form of statistical abstracts or digests information contained in such register and reports if the identity of persons referred to in such register or reports is not disclosed in such abstracts or digests.
(Aug. 3, 1968, 82 Stat. 633, Pub. L. 90-458, § 2.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-1602.
1973 Ed., § 6-1402.
Change in Government
This section originated at a time when local government powers were delegated to the District of Columbia Council and to a Commissioner of the District of Columbia. The District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act, 87 Stat. 818, § 711 (D.C. Code, § 1-207.11), abolished the District of Columbia Council and the Office of Commissioner of the District of Columbia. These branches of government were replaced by the Council of the District of Columbia and the Office of Mayor of the District of Columbia, respectively. Accordingly, and also pursuant to § 714(a) of such Act (D.C. Code, § 1-207.14(a)), appropriate changes in terminology were made in this section.
For the purpose of this chapter:
(1) The term "blind person" means, and the term "blind" refers to, a person who:
(A) Is totally blind;
(B) Has impaired vision of not more than 20/200 visual acuity in the better eye and for whom vision cannot be improved to better than 20/200; or
(C) Who has loss of vision due wholly or in part to impairment of field vision or to other factors which affect the usefulness of vision to a like degree.
(2) The term "Mayor" means the Mayor of the District of Columbia or his designated agent.
(3) The term "Council" means the Council of the District of Columbia.
(Aug. 3, 1968, 82 Stat. 633, Pub. L. 90-458, § 3.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-1603.
1973 Ed., § 6-1403.
Change in Government
This section originated at a time when local government powers were delegated to the District of Columbia Council and to a Commissioner of the District of Columbia. The District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act, 87 Stat. 818, § 711 (D.C. Code, § 1-207.11), abolished the District of Columbia Council and the Office of Commissioner of the District of Columbia. These branches of government were replaced by the Council of the District of Columbia and the Office of Mayor of the District of Columbia, respectively. Accordingly, and also pursuant to § 714(a) of such Act (D.C. Code, § 1-207.14(a)), appropriate changes in terminology were made in this section.
Any person who in good faith makes a report pursuant to this chapter or pursuant to any regulation promulgated under the authority of this chapter, shall not, by reason thereof, be personally liable in damages.
(Aug. 3, 1968, 82 Stat. 633, Pub. L. 90-458, § 4.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-1604.
1973 Ed., § 6-1404.
