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