The commission shall:

(1) Promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

(2) Apply for, receive and expend monies from all governmental agencies, both State and Federal; and accept gifts, grants, donations, devises and bequests made for providing aid to the visually handicapped, including expenses of administration. All such funds shall be paid into the State Treasury.

(3) Submit to the Governor and publish an annual report showing the total amount of money disbursed, the total number of blind and visually handicapped persons who received services, and such other information as may be deemed advisable.

(4) Maintain a complete register of persons whose vision, with correcting lenses, does not exceed 20/200 which shall also include the conditions, cause of loss of sight, capacity for educational and industrial training of each, and other pertinent facts.

(5) Maintain bureaus of information and industrial aid to assist the visually handicapped in finding employment and to teach them industries which may be followed in their homes, and to assist them in whatever manner may seem advisable to the commission in disposing of the products of their home industry.

(6) Make inquiries concerning the cause of loss of sight, learn what proportion of these cases are preventable and inaugurate and cooperate with the State in any measure as may seem wise.

(7) Cooperate with the State Department of Health and Environmental Control in the adoption and enforcement of proper preventive measures.

(8) Establish, equip and maintain a center for vocational, industrial and other training and employ qualified instructors. The center shall provide for orientation and adjustment for the visually handicapped. Training in such centers shall be limited to persons deemed eligible by the commission.

(9) Supervise and control all concession stands established and operated formerly by the State Department of Social Services and all concession stands established by the commission.

(10) Have the authority to enter into contracts with owners of private property for the purpose of installing concession stands which shall be under the control of the commission.

(11) Establish, supervise and render totally operative and effective prevention of loss of sight programs using such facilities in the State as the commission may deem necessary including a mobile ophthalmological laboratory and office.

(12) Assist in the furtherance of the purposes of Section 44-7-10.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 71-293; 1966 (54) 2325; 1972 (57) 2382; 2018 Act No. 239 (H.3440), Section 2, eff May 17, 2018.

Effect of Amendment

2018 Act No. 239, Section 2, in (12), substituted "Section 44-7-10" for "Sections 44-43-110 to 44-43-160 and 44-7-10".