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History of the Blind in California
In 1919 the California legislature enacted a statute that empowered the counties to grant aid to needy blind persons in an amount not to exceed $150 per year (amended in 1921 to $180 a year). Since this act was permissive and did not provide for any state financial participation, it was inadequate both from the point of view of the number of blind persons afforded assistants and also the amount of the grant. In fact, as late as 1928, after nine years of operation of the statute, only 735 needy blind persons were receiving assistance in but eight counties of the state.
Realizing that only a small amount of financial assistance was being given two but a fraction of California’s needy population, the organized blind sponsored an initiative measure in 1928 which would, if approved by the electorate, amend the constitution by giving the legislature the power to grant aid to needy blind persons. On November 6, 1928, this amendment to the constitution was approved by the people of California by an overwhelming popular vote of almost five to one.
In 1929 the California legislature, clothed with this constitutional authority, so overwhelmingly voted by the people, enacted chapter 529, a comprehensive statute, drafted by the organized blind of the state, granting financial assistance to needy blind persons on a statewide basis with financial responsibility shared equally by the state and counties.
Since July 1936, the Federal Government has participated in the financing of the Aid to the Needy Blind program under the provisions of Title X of the Social Security Act. All of the provisions of the original act of 1929, and of the many liberalizing amendments subsequently made their two, were designed to effectuate the threefold purpose of relieving blind persons from the distress of poverty, enlarging the economic opportunity’s for the blind, and stimulating the blind to greater efforts in achieving self-care and/or self-support.
Thus, California antedated by 27 years the 1956 amendments to the purpose clauses of the Social Security Act.
To achieve the expensive rehabilitative objectives which they wish to see accomplished by means of the 1929 act, the legislature set up in the statute itself standards which defined what constituted ”need” and just who were “needy blind persons” so that a decent amount of financial assistance two every needy blind person could be provided. The act provided an initial zone of security in the form of exempt income and property and later, in 1937, a “floor” to relief.
The original act of 1929 provided for exempt income of $400 a year. The amount of the grant was determined by the budgetary deficiency method with a ceiling of $50.00 a month. In 1941 the aid to the needy blind law was amended to bring it into conformity with the recent amendments to the title X of the social security act which required the consideration of all income and resources in determining the amount of the grant, that is, the elimination of the exempt income provision. However, the amendments also provided that any income which the recipient might possess could be used to the extent necessary to meet any special needs he might have.
While the Aid to the Blind Act has been amended in almost every session of the legislature since its original passage in 1929, there are several major amendments that should be noted. In 1936 the residency requirement was reduced from 10 years to five out of the last nine years for those persons who became blind while not residents of California, and in 1963 duration of residence was repealed. In 1937 in an amendment to the law abolished the budgetary deficiency method of computing the amount of aid to be received by a blind person and instead, a flat grant of $50.00 a month was written into the law, thus making a maximum grant both the minimum and the maximum. Since that there the amount of the grants has gradually been increased to the present $146.50 with a maximum, as of December 1968, of $195.50. In 1950 provision was made for the establishment of a Bureau of the blind in the larger counties to raise the whole level of the administration of aid to the Blind, one of the most Vitally important provisions of statute. In 1957 the Public Assistance Medical Care program was enacted, with provisions extended to blind residents in need of medical care.
In 1961 four significant changes were made in laws-the so-called escalator provision was written into the statute whereby the amount of aid would be increased each year to reflect increases in the cost-of-living; the responsibility of relatives provisions were repealed outright; provision was made for the cost of special needs of $50 a month wen actual need exceeded the minimum; and the value of property used as a home was excluded in determining property holdings.
In 1963 further strides were made by the legislature in program development through shortening the application process, repeal of duration of residence, provision for hospital and nursing Home Care on a unique basis for all blind residents your respective of age, an additional grant for attendant services, elimination of the use and occupancy value of homes, and significant increases in property and exempt income allowances as further incentives for those seeking self-support.
Finally, in 1965 (effective March 1, 1966) the California Medical Assistance program
was established, providing private hospitalization and a wide range of Medical Care to all recipients of public assistance.