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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1323 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 220
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to studying best practices for ensuring the safety of blind persons.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida7th Plymouth1/18/2023Michael J. Soter8th Worcester1/26/2023Angelo L. D'Emilia8th Plymouth1/31/2023David F. DeCoste5th Plymouth2/9/2023Marcus S. Vaughn9th Norfolk2/14/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1323 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 220
By Representative Sullivan-Almeida of Abington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
220) of Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida and others for legislation to establish a special commission
to study and determine best practices to ensure the safety of blind persons. Children, Families
and Persons with Disabilities.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 271 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to studying best practices for ensuring the safety of blind persons.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall
2be a special commission established to study and determine best practices to ensure the safety of
3blind persons in public walkways and intersections. The commission, in conjunction with the
4Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, shall be tasked with, but not be limited to, reviewing
5the following: existing roadway and traffic policies aimed at ensuring the safety of the blind and
6visually impaired; current use of accessible pedestrian signals; and new technology available to
7improve upon the safety of blind and visually impaired persons, particularly in cities and highly
8congested areas. 2 of 2
9 (b) The commission shall consist of 9 members: the commissioner of the Massachusetts
10commission for the blind, or a designee; the chief executive officer of the Massachusetts
11department of transportation, or a designee; the commissioner of the department of conservation
12and recreation, or a designee; the executive director of the disability law center, or a designee;
13the secretary of the executive office of public safety and security, or a designee, and four people
14to be appointed by the governor, two of whom must be advocates for the blind and visually 3 of
153 impaired community, and two of whom must be experts in roadway safety and accessibility
16technology.
17 (c) The commission shall file its report and findings, along with any recommendations for
18legislation or executive action, with the secretary of administration and finance, and the chairs of
19committees as appropriate in light of the recommendations, which may include but shall not be
20limited to the joint committee on children, families, and persons with disabilities, the joint
21committee on transportation, the joint committee on public safety and homeland security, the
22chair of the senate and house committees on bonding, capital expenditures and state assets, and
23the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives within 1 year of the passage of this act.