HB 1754 -- Blindness Education, Screening and Treatment Program

Sponsor:  Froelker

This bill establishes the Blindness Education, Screening and
Treatment Program Fund in the state treasury.

The fund is financed from a voluntary $1 contribution from
applicants who renew their motor vehicle registration and from a
voluntary $1 contribution from driver's license applicants.
Moneys in the fund can be used for the purpose of financing a
Blindness Education, Screening and Treatment Program.
Unexpended balances in the fund will not revert to the credit of
general revenue or any other fund at the end of any fiscal year.

Subject to the availability of funding, the Department of Health
is required to develop a Blindness Education, Screening and
Treatment Program for the purposes of providing blindness
prevention education, screening, and treatment for persons who
do not have adequate coverage under their health benefit plan.
The bill requires the department to develop regulations
governing eligibility requirements for the program and specifies
the operation and features of the program.

The effective date of the bill is January 1, 2001.