Presented by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) are background information and a policy statement on responsibility laws pertaining to relatives of applicants for public assistance. The laws are said to date to the Elizabethan Poor Laws, to vary state to state, and to mandate eligibility for public assistance on requirements of residence, family inability to support the applicant, and proven unemployability of the applicant. Given are seven arguments proponents use such as public care is not the sole responsibility of the state. Seven arguments of proponents are given such as the government has primary responsibility for the relief of poverty. The stated AFB policy recognizes the responsibility of government to alleviate poverty, opposes any form of discrimination in the distribution of federal funds, and, thus, proposes elimination of laws invoking relatives' responsibility as a prerequisite to receipt of public assistance by all persons including the blind and otherwise visually impaired. (MC)