Volume 82 · 634
Public Law 90–458
To establish a register of blind persons in the District of Columbia, to provide for the mandatory reporting of information concerning such persons, and for other purposes.
Approved August 3, 1968
Statutory text
AN ACT
To establish a register of blind persons in the District of Columbia, to provide for the mandatory reporting of information concerning such persons, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That the Commissioner
D C. register of blind persons.
Establishment.
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 District of Columbia Council, 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.
Sec. 2.
Each—
Reporting of information.
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,
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
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 Commissioner 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 the first, section. Such register and reports shall not be open to public inspection. The Commissioner 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.
Sec. 3.
For the purpose of this Act—
Definitions.
the term “blind person” means, and the term “blind” refers to, a person who (A) is totally blind, (Bl 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 hi part to impairment of field vision or to other factors which affect the usefulness of vision to a like degree,
the term “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of the District of Columbia or his designated agent, and
3) the term “Council” means the District cf Columbia Council.
Sec. 4.
Any person who in good faith makes a report pursuant to this Act or pursuant to any regulation promulgated under the author- ity of this Act, shall not, by reason thereof, be personally liable in damages.
Sec. 5.
This Act shall take effect on the first day of the first month which begins on or after the thirtieth day after the date of its enactment.
Approved August 3, 1968.