HB 1376: Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired Act; enact

Georgia currently has no dedicated advisory body focused on blind and visually impaired residents within the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency. This bill would add a new article to state law creating the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, housed within that agency (part of the Department of Labor system). The commission would include representatives from consumer nonprofits, the deaf-blind community, a blind or visually impaired consumer, a parent or guardian of a blind or visually impaired child, and officials from the agency and the Department of Education. It would meet quarterly, elect its own chair, and hire an executive director who ideally is blind or visually impaired. The commission's job is advisory: weighing in on the state vocational rehabilitation plan, independent living services, Braille teacher certification, library services, technology accessibility, and business enterprise programs for the blind. It must publish an annual report, and the agency must consult it before changing related programs. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it or it becomes law without his signature.

• Creates a new Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired within the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, made up of consumer, parent, deaf-blind, and government representatives.
• Requires the commission to elect a chairperson and meet quarterly, with a majority of members needed to conduct business.
• Directs the commission to hire an executive director experienced in blind rehabilitation services, with hiring preference for a blind or visually impaired candidate.
• Gives the commission advisory authority over state plans, independent living services, Braille certification, library services, and technology accessibility for blind or visually impaired Georgians.
• Requires the commission to publish an annual report evaluating how well state programs serve blind or visually impaired people.
• Requires the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency to consult the commission before establishing, revising, or discontinuing programs affecting blind or visually impaired persons.

Blind and visually impaired Georgians and their families, nonprofit consumer organizations serving them, the deaf-blind community, the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, the Department of Education, and any state employees or citizens appointed to serve on the new commission.

The commission would give blind and visually impaired Georgians and advocacy groups a formal, ongoing voice in shaping state vocational rehabilitation, independent living, education, and technology accessibility programs, and would require the state agency to check in with them before changing related services.

• New Code Section 49-9-50 defines 'blind or visually impaired' using visual acuity and field-of-vision thresholds or documented legal blindness.
• New Code Section 49-9-51 sets the commission's seven-member composition and requires quarterly meetings, an elected chairperson, and expense reimbursement rules for members.
• New Code Section 49-9-52 requires the commission to appoint an executive director experienced in blind rehabilitation services, with hiring preference for blind or visually impaired candidates.
• New Code Section 49-9-53 lists the commission's advisory topics, including the state vocational rehabilitation plan, Braille teacher certification, library services, and technology accessibility, and lets it apply for grants and gifts.
• New Code Section 49-9-54 requires an annual public report evaluating state programs serving blind or visually impaired individuals.
• New Code Section 49-9-55 requires the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency to consult the commission before changing programs affecting blind or visually impaired persons, including vending facility licensing and deaf-blind services.
• Section 3 makes the law effective immediately upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without his signature.

1. 2026-02-20House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-19House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-18House Hopper (House)

• Robert Flournoy (D, HD-074)Primary sponsor
• Karen Lupton (D, HD-083)
• Akbar Ali (D, HD-106)
• Sylvia Baker (D, HD-064)
• Arlene Beckles (D, HD-096)

• disability services
• blind and visually impaired
• vocational rehabilitation
• state commissions
• accessibility