LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Lawmakers in the Michigan House Health Policy Committee introduced two pieces of legislation that would improve safety and legal protections for blind people and their service animals.

What’s in the bills?

Chair of the Committee Rep. Curt VanderWall (R-Ludington) and Rep. Mark Tisdel (R-Rochester) introduced House Bills 4527 and 4528 on Tuesday. For VanderWall, these bills are deeply personal because his son is blind and relies on a leader dog, fondly called ‘Doc.’

MORE NEWS: More Money Hasn’t Triggered Increase In Student Achievement

What’s in House Bill 4527?

• Clarifies protections for blind pedestrians.
• Increases penalties for drivers who fail to properly use precautions, especially in cases of negligence that cause injury or death to the person who is blind or the service animal.

What’s in House Bill 4528?

• Enacts sentencing guidelines for a driver causing the death of a blind person or guide dog in a crosswalk.
• When a driver causes death to a blind person in a grossly negligent way, the driver could face a felony up to 15 years in prison. 
• Similarly, killing a leader dog in a grossly negligent manner, they will face a felony up to 5 years.

“These changes aren’t just about punishment, they’re about awareness, accountability, safety,” VanderWall said. “They send a clear message: The lives and dignity of blind individuals matter, and the tools they use for independence must be respected under the law. Blind pedestrians should not have to fear that their rights and their safeties are optional. This bill affirms that their presence on our streets, sidewalks deserve full legal protection.”

Updating the law.

Tisdel said he is very proud to be representing this legislation that is essentially just updating the law, and increasing the severity of punishment for people who consciously disregard the safety of blind people. 

“Gross negligence resulting in the death of a blind person and/or their service animal by a driver is at least worth the top penalty of arson or child pornography or some of those other Class C’s,” Tisdel said.

Rep. Kathy Schmaltz (R-Jackson) said she appreciated VanderWall and Tisdel for bringing the bills forward.

MORE NEWS: The Ice Storm is Over, But the Cleanup Isn’t and Northern Michigan is Looking for Volunteers

The Committee also heard testimony from VanderWall’s son, Nick VanderWall. Nick is a youth transition specialist for the disability advocates of Kent County and an outspoken advocate for the blind community as he is blind himself. He uses a cane as well as a lead dog.

“When I got my first dog, Toby, it totally changed my outlook, and I was out there every day, rain or shine. I had to be picked up a few times by my dad when a thunderstorm was rolling through. But it certainly changed my life for the better.”

Nick explained that lead dogs cost over $60,000 to be trained properly. According to Nick, his dog allowed him to lead a more active lifestyle by giving him the ability to go on solo walks outside.

“They [service dogs] don’t want to get hit as much as I don’t want to get hit,” Nick said. “And, if it weren’t for that, I’m sure there would have been many more instances where I potentially would have been injured if I didn’t have my dog.”

Service dogs stand in the gap.

But there are still many things that endanger Nick’s safety on the road, such as electric cars. Since electric vehicles are so quiet, he must rely on his dog to alert him.

“Electric vehicles — obviously, I cannot hear,” Nick said. “And, if I did not have a service animal, I would have probably been injured if the car could not have stopped in time.”

Automatic engine shut-offs is another problem that people who are blind must navigate, according to Nick.

“Electric vehicles or the automatic stop portion of the vehicles, that are also common now, are two very bad things for people who are blind or vision-impaired because you can’t hear them,” Nick said. “But I’ve also had many different things when I’ve been just walking on my normal route now and I’ve had people zipping out of their driveways and I’ve had them instantly get out and say, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there!’ Luckily, leader dogs are supposed to stop.”

After Rep. Nancy DeBoer (R-Holland) heard Nick’s testimony, she said she never thought of the challenges electric vehicles would present to the blind community.

“When it’s not your experience, you just don’t even think of it. That is horrible,” DeBoer said.

She also brought up the case of a blind student, Jennifer Kasunick, at Hope College in Holland, who was hit by a train and subsequently died.

VanderWall and Tisdel are expected to move forward with this legislation in the House.