S.F. _____ Section 1. NEW SECTION . 135.39D Vision screening. 1 1. School districts and accredited nonpublic schools shall 2 provide vision screenings to all students in grades one and 3 three, all out-of-state transfer students, and any students 4 referred for a vision screening by a parent or the student’s 5 teacher. Documentation of a comprehensive eye examination 6 performed by a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist within 7 the previous twelve months shall waive the requirement of a 8 vision screening. 9 2. School personnel shall obtain or retain documentation 10 of screening results and provide parents with any follow-up 11 recommendations. The parent or guardian of a student who 12 demonstrates during the vision screening specific visual 13 problems, as identified by the department of public health, 14 shall cause the student to undergo a comprehensive eye 15 examination by a licensed ophthalmologist or licensed 16 optometrist. The parent or guardian of the student shall 17 provide the student’s school district or accredited nonpublic 18 school with documentation of the examination within three 19 months. The student’s school district or accredited nonpublic 20 school shall notify the student’s parent or guardian who fails 21 to furnish the required follow-up documentation in writing of 22 the current vision screening and examination requirements set 23 forth in this section and shall also notify the department. 24 3. A student shall not be prohibited from attending school 25 based upon the failure of a parent or guardian to furnish 26 a report of the student’s follow-up eye examination to the 27 student’s school district or accredited nonpublic school. 28 4. Vision screening pursuant to this section shall be 29 conducted by an individual trained in vision screening 30 techniques within the previous three years. The department 31 shall develop rules pursuant to chapter 17A regarding training 32 standards. A medical professional or certified vision 33 screener conducting vision screenings for purposes of school 34 certification shall use approved techniques. Such techniques 35 -1- LSB 1747XC (7) 84 je/nh 1/ 3

S.F. _____ shall follow vision screening protocols that show high degrees 1 of testability and reliability, as scientifically validated 2 through peer review literature, and shall include appropriate 3 follow-up procedures. 4 5. The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A 5 regarding the requirements of this section. The department 6 shall submit a report to the general assembly by January 1 7 each year regarding the results of vision screenings. The 8 first report shall be submitted by January 1, 2013, and shall 9 include an assessment by the department of whether a source of 10 financial assistance for parents would increase compliance with 11 referrals for eye examinations. 12 EXPLANATION 13 This bill requires school districts and accredited nonpublic 14 schools to provide vision screenings to students in grades 15 one and three, out-of-state transfer students, and parent or 16 teacher referrals. The bill provides for a waiver for students 17 who have had a previous eye examination. 18 The bill requires school districts and accredited nonpublic 19 schools to obtain or retain documentation of screening results 20 and provide parents with any follow-up recommendations. The 21 bill requires a student who does not pass the vision screening 22 to have a comprehensive eye examination performed by a licensed 23 ophthalmologist or optometrist. The bill requires the parent 24 or guardian of the student to provide documentation to the 25 student’s school district or accredited nonpublic school. 26 The bill requires school districts and accredited nonpublic 27 schools to notify a parent or guardian who fails to furnish 28 the required follow-up documentation of the current vision 29 screening and examination requirements and also to notify the 30 department of public health. 31 The bill provides that a student shall not be prohibited from 32 attending school based upon the failure of a parent or guardian 33 to furnish a report of the student’s screening or follow-up 34 eye examination to the student’s school district or accredited 35 -2- LSB 1747XC (7) 84 je/nh 2/ 3

S.F. _____ nonpublic school. 1 The bill provides that vision screenings shall be conducted 2 in accordance with certain requirements. The bill directs 3 the department of public health to develop rules pursuant to 4 Code chapter 17A regarding training standards for individuals 5 conducting such vision screenings. 6 The bill directs the department of public health to develop 7 rules pursuant to Code chapter 17A regarding the requirements 8 of the bill. The bill requires the department to submit annual 9 reports on vision screening beginning on January 1, 2013. The 10 bill provides that the first such report shall include an 11 assessment by the department of whether a source of financial 12 assistance for parents would increase compliance with referrals 13 for eye examinations. 14 The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code 15 section 25B.3. 16 -3- LSB 1747XC (7) 84 je/nh 3/ 3