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2017 SESSION

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HB 1408 Student vision screenings; requirements for certain students.

Introduced by: R. Lee Ware | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Student vision screenings. Requires (i) the principal of each public elementary school to cause the vision of students in kindergarten and grade two or grade three to be screened unless certain exceptions apply and (ii) the principal of each public middle school and high school to cause the vision of students in grade seven and grade 10 to be screened unless certain exceptions apply and permits any such screening to be conducted by a qualified nonprofit vision health organization that uses a digital photoscreening method pursuant to a comprehensive vision program or other methods that comply with Department of Education requirements. The bill defines "qualified nonprofit vision health organization" and "comprehensive vision program." Under current law, the frequency of such vision screenings is determined by the Board of Education pursuant to regulations. Current law is silent on the method and provider of such vision screenings.

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Student vision screenings. Requires (i) the principal of each public elementary school to cause the vision of students in kindergarten and grade two or grade three to be screened unless certain exceptions apply and (ii) the principal of each public middle school and high school to cause the vision of students in grade seven and grade 10 to be screened unless certain exceptions apply and permits any such screening to be conducted by a qualified nonprofit vision health organization that uses a digital photoscreening method pursuant to a comprehensive vision program. The bill defines "qualified nonprofit vision health organization" and "comprehensive vision program." Under current law, the frequency of such vision screenings is determined by the Board of Education pursuant to regulations. Current law is silent on the method and provider of such vision screenings.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Student vision screenings. Requires (i) the principal of each public elementary school to cause the vision of students in kindergarten and grade two or grade three to be screened by a qualified nonprofit vision health organization that uses a digital photoscreening method pursuant to a comprehensive vision program, unless such students are admitted for the first time to a public elementary school and have been so tested as part of the comprehensive physical examination required by law or the parents or guardians of such students object on religious grounds and the students show no obvious evidence of any defect or disease of the eyes, and (ii) the principal of each public middle school and high school to cause the vision of students in grade seven and grade 10 to be screened by a qualified nonprofit vision health organization that uses a digital photoscreening method pursuant to a comprehensive vision program, unless the parents or guardians of such students object on religious grounds and the students show no obvious evidence of any defect or disease of the eyes. The bill requires the scheduling of such vision screenings to be completed no later than the sixtieth administrative working day of the school year. The bill defines "qualified nonprofit vision health organization" and "comprehensive vision program." Under current law, the timing and frequency of such vision screenings is determined by the Board of Education pursuant to regulations, and the method and provider of such vision screenings is determined by the local school board.