New York S 247: Provides for the licensing of vision impairment specialists

Bill Text

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S00247 Summary:

BILL NOS00247 

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SAME ASSAME AS A02190

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SPONSORPERSAUD

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COSPNSRGRIFFO, GALLIVAN, HELMING, JACKSON, SCARCELLA-SPANTON, WEBB

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MLTSPNSR

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Add Art 169 §§8900 - 8909, amd §§6503-a, 6507 & 6505-b, Ed L; amd §413, Soc Serv L; amd §§1203, 1207 & 1301,
Lim Lil L; amd §§121-1500 & 121-1502, Partn L

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Provides for the licensing of vision impairment specialists.

Go to top S00247 Actions:

BILL NOS00247 

&nbsp

01/08/2025REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

05/29/2025COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES

05/29/2025ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1459

06/04/2025PASSED SENATE

06/04/2025DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

06/04/2025referred to higher education

01/07/2026died in assembly

01/07/2026returned to senate

01/07/2026REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

05/28/2026COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES

05/28/2026ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1335

06/03/2026PASSED SENATE

06/03/2026DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

06/03/2026referred to higher education

Go to topS00247 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS00247 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS00247 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 247

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 (Prefiled)

 January 8, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sens. PERSAUD, GRIFFO, GALLIVAN, HELMING, JACKSON, WEBB --
 read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to
 the Committee on Higher Education

 AN ACT to amend the education law, the social services law, the limited
 liability company law and the partnership law, in relation to the
 licensing of vision impairment specialists; and providing for the
 repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new article 169 to
 2 read as follows:
 3 ARTICLE 169
 4 VISION IMPAIRMENT SPECIALISTS
 5 Section 8900. Introduction.
 6 8901. Definitions.
 7 8902. Use of titles.
 8 8903. State board for vision impairment specialists.
 9 8904. Requirements for a license with a specialization as an
 10 orientation and mobility specialist.
 11 8905. Requirements for a license with a specialization as a
 12 vision rehabilitation therapist.
 13 8906. Limited permits.
 14 8907. Exempt persons.
 15 8908. Special provisions.
 16 8909. Separability.
 17 § 8900. Introduction. This article applies to the profession of vision
 18 impairment specialists, and provides for the licensing of orientation
 19 and mobility specialists and vision rehabilitation therapists. The
 20 general provisions for all professions contained in article one hundred
 21 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.
 LBD00914-01-5

 S. 247 2

 1 § 8901. Definitions. For purposes of this article, the following terms
 2 shall have the following meanings:
 3 1. The practice of "vision impairment specialist" shall mean providing
 4 assessment and evaluation of, and training for, persons who are visually
 5 impaired when such assessment, evaluation and training incorporates the
 6 full range of specialized skills and tasks subsumed in the specializa-
 7 tions of the profession defined in this section as: (a) orientation and
 8 mobility training, and (b) vision rehabilitation therapy. Such services
 9 shall be rendered on the prescription or referral which may be directive
 10 as to treatment by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, ophthalmol-
 11 ogist or optometrist, provided however that no such treatment directive
 12 and low vision examination shall be required when the person being
 13 referred has been diagnosed within the previous twelve months as visual-
 14 ly impaired, blind or legally blind as those terms are defined in subdi-
 15 vision six of this section and such services are being rendered consist-
 16 ent with that diagnosis, prescription or referral. Vision rehabilitation
 17 therapists, and orientation and mobility specialists may not prescribe
 18 optical low vision devices.
 19 2. The practice of "vision impairment specialist" shall mean one who