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History of the Blind in California
Chapter 144 of the California statutes of 1919 constituted just nine short sections. As previously indicated, the statute permitted the counties to levy a special tax to provide funds to grant assistance to needy blind residents. It did not provide for any state financial participation or supervision. The chief significance of the law was that it represented the beginning of a statewide concern for the economic plight of blind persons and was the initial attempt of the organized blind to solve the problem.
Governor William D. Stephens approved the statute on May 2, 1919. The text of the statute is as follows:
CHAPTER 144.
An act to provide a relief fund in the several counties or any city and county of the state for the needy blind, providing for and prescribing the powers and duties of boards of supervisors in every county or city and county.
[Approved May 2, 1919, in effect July 22, 1919.]
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. The boards of supervisors of the several counties and cities and counties in this state are hereby authorized and permitted to levy, in addition to the taxes now levied by law for other purposes than those herein provided, a tax not exceeding two-tenths of one mill per dollar on the assessed value of the property of their respective counties and cities and counties to be levied and collected as now provided by law for the assessment and collection of taxes, for the purpose of creating a fund for the relief of the needy blind of their respective counties and cities and counties.
SEC. 2. A needy blind person shall be construed to mean any person who, by reason of loss of eyesight, is unable to provide himself with the necessities of life, and who has not sufficient means of his own to enable him to maintain himself.
SEC. 3. A needy blind person, in order to receive relief under this act, must be a resident of this state at the time this act takes effect, or become blind while a resident of this state, and shall be a resident of the county for one year next preceding the date of the application provided for heroin.
SEC. 4. All persons claiming relief under this act shall file, at least ten days prior to action on said claims, with the board of supervisors a duly verified statement of the facts bringing him within the provisions of this act. The list of claims shall be filed in the order of filing in a book furnished for that purpose by the board of supervisors, and which record shall be open to the public. No certificate of qualification for drawing money under this act shall ever be granted until the board of supervisors shall be satisfied, from the evidence of at least two reputable residents of said county and city and county, one of whom shall be a duly and regularly licensed and practicing physician, that they know the applicant to be blind, and that he has the residential qualifications to entitle him to the relief asked for, which evidence shall be in writing, subscribed to by such witnesses, subject to the right of cross-examination by the board of supervisors or other persons. If the board of supervisors is satisfied upon such testimony that the applicant is entitled to relief here under, they shall issue an order therefor, in such sum as they find needed, not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars per annum, to be paid quarterly out of the fund herein provided for on the warrant of the county auditor, or auditor of the city and county, in effect July 2nd 1919, and such relief shall be in lieu of any other relief of a public nature.
SEC. 5. The board of supervisors shall annually examine as to the qualifications of anyone on the blind list and increase or decrease the allowance within the statutory limits, or if said board is not satisfied that the person so on the list is qualified to draw any money said board shall entirely remove him from the list and shall forthwith notify the auditor of such action.
SEC. 6. The board of supervisors of every county and city and county shall meet within thirty days after this act takes effect and thereafter annually on such days as the board shall select and at such times as may be necessary and examine carefully the list of applications filed here under.
SEC. 7. The board of supervisors of every county or city and county are hereby authorized and directed to transfer from any money in the poor fund of any county to the blind fund, herein provided, for the year 1919, sufficient money to carry out the purposes of this act.
SEC. 8. Any person who shall make a false statement in order to secure for himself or another, the benefit herein provided, shall be guilty of perjury.
SEC. 9. It is hereby declared to be the duty of the board of supervisors in each county and city and county to adopt such rules, regulations and ordinances necessary to carry into effect the purposes, aims and objects of this act. It shall be competent for the board of supervisors mentioned herein appoint such person or persons to act for such board in carrying out the object or objects and purposes of this act.