Senate Study Bill 3098 SENATE FILE BY (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES BILL BY CHAIRPERSON RAGAN) Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act requiring certification of the performance of an eye 2 examination, and submission of the results of such 3 examination, when a child is enrolled in kindergarten. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 5776SC 82 6 ak/rj/24 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 135.39D EYE EXAMINATIONS. 1 2 1. Prior to the age of six, the parent or guardian of the 1 3 child shall present to school program personnel or school 1 4 health personnel certification that the child has undergone an 1 5 eye examination by a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist, 1 6 and the results of the examination. 1 7 2. Students enrolling in kindergarten shall be required to 1 8 undergo an eye examination, performed by a licensed 1 9 ophthalmologist or optometrist. The eye examination shall at 1 10 a minimum include measurement of visual acuity; ocular 1 11 alignment and motility; stereopsis; slit lamp; examination of 1 12 the anterior segment and pupils; refraction and fundus 1 13 components; and any other tests or observations that in the 1 14 professional judgment of the ophthalmologist or optometrist 1 15 are necessary. An ophthalmologist or optometrist conducting 1 16 an eye examination of a child shall provide written 1 17 certification and results of the examination to a parent or 1 18 guardian of the child. The report shall include but not be 1 19 limited to the following: 1 20 a. The date of the report. 1 21 b. The name, address, and date of birth of the child. 1 22 c. The name of the child's program or school. 1 23 d. A summary of significant findings, including diagnoses, 1 24 treatment plan, and whether a return visit is recommended, and 1 25 if so, when. 1 26 e. Recommended educational adjustments for the child, if 1 27 any, which may include preferential seating in the classroom, 1 28 eyeglasses for full=time or part=time use in school, and 1 29 additional recommendations. 1 30 3. A child shall not be prohibited from attending 1 31 kindergarten based upon the failure of a parent or guardian to 1 32 furnish a report of the child's eye examination to the school. 1 33 A parent or guardian who fails to furnish the required report 1 34 shall be notified in writing of the eye examination 1 35 requirements. 2 1 4. The department, in coordination with the director of 2 2 the department of education, shall adopt rules regarding the 2 3 requirements of this section. The department shall submit a 2 4 report to the general assembly by January 1, annually, 2 5 regarding the results of the eye examinations. The first such 2 6 report, to be submitted by January 1, 2009, shall include an 2 7 assessment by the department of whether a source of financial 2 8 assistance to assist parents and guardians would increase 2 9 compliance with the required examinations. 2 10 EXPLANATION 2 11 This bill provides for certification by a parent or 2 12 guardian of the performance of an eye examination before a 2 13 child turns six years old. 2 14 The bill provides that by January 1 after the start of the 2 15 school year for a child enrolling in kindergarten, the child's 2 16 parent or guardian shall present to school health personnel 2 17 program personnel certification that the child has undergone 2 18 an eye examination by a licensed ophthalmologist or 2 19 optometrist, and the results of the examination. 2 20 The eye examination must consist of specified examination 2 21 components. The bill requires that an ophthalmologist or 2 22 optometrist provide a written certification and the results of 2 23 the examination to a parent or guardian of the child. 2 24 Included in the report, in addition to identifying 2 25 information, shall be a summary of significant findings, 2 26 including diagnoses, treatment plan, whether a return visit is 2 27 recommended, and any recommended educational adjustments for 2 28 the child. 2 29 The bill provides that a child shall not be prohibited from 2 30 attending school because of the failure of a parent or 2 31 guardian to furnish a report of a child's eye examination, and 2 32 that a parent or guardian who fails to furnish the required 2 33 report shall be notified in writing of the eye examination 2 34 requirements. 2 35 The bill provides that the department, in coordination with 3 1 the director of the department of education, shall adopt rules 3 2 regarding the bill's provisions, and that the director of 3 3 public health shall submit a report to the general assembly by 3 4 January 1, annually, regarding the results of the eye 3 5 examinations. The first such report, to be submitted by 3 6 January 1, 2009, shall include an assessment by the department 3 7 of whether a source of financial assistance for parents and 3 8 guardians would increase compliance with the required eye 3 9 examinations. 3 10 LSB 5776SC 82 3 11 ak/rj/24