(a.) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of public health, as established in section 5 of chapter 11 of the General Laws, shall collect data that will determine what services will benefit the visually impaired and increasing number of elders who are experiencing vision loss associated with aging and not receiving services that would allow them maintain their quality of life, and shall further survey the needs of children, adults and seniors who are visually impaired and residents of Commonwealth to be conducted and completed by June 30, 2006.

(b). For the purposes of this study an individual shall be considered visually impaired if they meet one or more of the following criteria; (a) have  an impairment of visual function which cannot be improved, by the use of corrective lenses, to a level that would normally be acceptable for reading without a special level or kind of light; (b) who is unable, through physical disability, to hold or manipulate a book; or (c) who is unable, through physical disability, to focus or move his eyes to the extent that would normally be acceptable for reading (d) is not legally blind

( c ). The content of the survey will be determined by a committee that is chaired by a representative of the Department of Public Health and will include but not be limited to representatives from the Rehabilitation Commission, the Commission for the Blind, the Office of Elder Affairs, the Department of Education, M.A.B. Community Services, the Silver Haired Legislature, Association of Parents of Visually Impaired Children.