Skip to main content
Back To Top Top Back To Top
The Legislative Service Commission staff updates the Revised Code on an ongoing basis, as it completes its act review of enacted legislation. Updates may be slower during some times of the year, depending on the volume of enacted legislation.

Chapter 5109 | Blind-made Products

 
 
 
Section
Section 5109.15 | Blind defined.
 

As used in sections 5109.15 to 5109.18, inclusive, of the Revised Code, "blind" means having either of the following limitations:

(A) Vision twenty/two hundred or less in the better eye with proper correction;

(B) Field defect in the better eye with proper correction which contracts the peripheral field so that the diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than twenty degrees.

Section 5109.16 | Authorization to identify blind-made goods.
 

To facilitate prompt and authoritative identification of goods and articles made by blind persons, any person, public or private institution or agency, firm, association, or corporation engaged in the manufacture or distribution of goods or articles made by blind persons may apply to the bureau of services for the visually impaired for registration and authorization to use an official imprint, stamp, symbol, or label designed or approved by the bureau to identify blind-made products and containing the words, "made by a blind worker" or "made by the blind," or "blind-made" and to which shall be added the name of the manufacturer, the place of manufacture, and such other information as the bureau prescribes.

The bureau shall adopt rules with respect to procedures to be followed in determining whether an applicant is engaged in the manufacture or distribution of blind-made goods or articles. Any applicant who complies with such rules and regulations and sections 5109.15 to 5109.18 of the Revised Code, shall be provided with a certificate of registration and authorization to use the official mark of identification for blind-made products, valid for one year from the date of issue.

The bureau may register, without investigation, nonresident individuals and out-of-state agencies, firms, associations, or corporations upon proof that they are recognized and approved by the state of residence or organized pursuant to a law of such state imposing requirements substantially similar to those prescribed by sections 5109.15 to 5109.18 of the Revised Code.

Last updated February 7, 2023 at 9:23 AM

Section 5109.17 | Conditions for identifying blind-made products.
 

Goods or articles may be identifield as blind-made products only if the following conditions are met:

(A) At least seventy-five per cent of the total hours required to prepare, process, assemble, package, and pack the product are contributed by blind persons, but such total hours do not include time spent in supervision, administration, inspection, and shipping, or time required to produce component materials which are not produced as part of a program to employ blind persons;

(B) The labor performed by blind persons is not restricted to packaging or packing the goods or articles as distinguished from preparing, processing, or assembling.

A package which does not contain goods which are blind-made shall not carry the label "packaged by the blind" or words of similar import.

Section 5109.18 | Prohibiting sale without approval label.
 

No person, public or private institution or agency, firm, association, or corporation shall manufacture, distribute, display, advertise, offer for sale, or sell goods or articles represented as made by blind persons unless such goods or articles bear an official imprint, stamp, symbol, or label designed or approved pursuant to section 5109.16 of the Revised Code by the bureau of services for the visually impaired which was attached by a person, institution, agency, firm, association, or corporation holding a valid certificate of registration issued by the bureau. A blind person offering for sale or selling a product made by the blind person is not required to apply for registration or to label such product.

Last updated February 7, 2023 at 9:23 AM

Section 5109.99 | Penalty.
 

Whoever violates section 5109.18 of the Revised Code shall be fined not less than one hundred nor more than five hundred dollars for a first offense; for each subsequent offense such person shall be fined not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand dollars.