2010 Tennessee Code
Title 49 - Education
Chapter 10 - Special Education
Part 8 - Services for Blind Persons
49-10-804 - Registration of blind persons.

49-10-804. Registration of blind persons.

(a)  The commissioner of human services shall prepare and maintain a register of blind persons in this state, which shall describe their condition, cause of blindness and capacity for education and industrial training.

(b)  Whenever, upon examination at a clinic, hospital or other institution or elsewhere within the state, by a physician or optometrist, the visual acuity of a person is found to be with correction 20/200 or less in the better eye, or the widest diameter of the person's field of vision is found to subtend an angle no greater than twenty degrees (20°), the superintendent of the institution or the physician, optometrist or other person who conducted or was in charge of the examination if it took place elsewhere than in such an institution shall within thirty (30) days report to the register of the blind the result of the examination and that blindness of the person examined has been established.

(c)  (1)  The department of human services has the power to establish and to enforce reasonable rules and regulations governing the custody, use and preservation of the records, papers, files and communications of the department concerning blind persons.

     (2)  No other department, bureau or agency of the state or of any political subdivision thereof that, under any provision of law, is furnished with the names of registered blind shall permit the publication of lists of the names or make use of the lists of names for purposes not directly connected with the administration of services or aid to blind persons.

[Acts 1917, ch. 34, § 2; Shan., § 2659a362 (p. 6568); impl. am. Acts 1923, ch. 7, § 42; Shan. Supp., § 2659a4; Code 1932, § 4550; impl. am. Acts 1943, ch. 154, § 1; Acts 1973, ch. 72, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 49-3020.]