H.F. 548 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 135.39D Vision screening. 1 1. The parent or guardian of a child to be enrolled in a 2 public or accredited nonpublic elementary school shall ensure 3 that the child is screened for vision impairment at least once 4 before enrollment in kindergarten and again before enrollment 5 in grade three. The parent or guardian of the child shall 6 ensure that evidence of the vision screening is provided to the 7 school district or accredited nonpublic school in which the 8 child is enrolled. Evidence of the vision screening may be 9 provided either directly from the parent or guardian or from a 10 vision screening provider referred to in subsection 2, and may 11 be provided in either written or electronic form. 12 2. The requirement for vision screening may be satisfied by 13 any of the following: 14 a. A vision screening or comprehensive eye examination by a 15 licensed ophthalmologist or licensed optometrist. 16 b. A vision screening conducted at a pediatrician’s or 17 family practice physician’s office, a free clinic, a licensed 18 child care center, a local public health department, a 19 public or accredited nonpublic school, or a community-based 20 organization identified by the director, or by an advanced 21 registered nurse practitioner or physician assistant. 22 c. An online vision screening through a program approved by 23 the director. An online vision screening may be conducted by 24 a child’s parent or guardian. 25 d. A photoscreening vision screening through Iowa kidsight 26 or another program approved by the director. 27 3. A person who performs a vision screening required 28 pursuant to this section shall report the results of the vision 29 screening to the department. The department may collect and 30 maintain such reports through the statewide immunization 31 registry or a private contractor. 32 4. Each public and accredited nonpublic elementary school 33 shall, in collaboration with the department, do the following: 34 a. Ensure the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in 35 -1- LSB 2014HV (3) 85 je/nh 1/ 4

H.F. 548 kindergarten or grade three has complied with this section. 1 b. If a student enrolled in kindergarten or grade three 2 is found not to have had their vision screened as required 3 pursuant to this section, provide the parent or guardian of the 4 student with vision screening referral resources. 5 c. Provide the department with evidence that each student 6 enrolled in kindergarten and grade three has had their vision 7 screened as required pursuant to this section. 8 5. A child shall not be prohibited from attending school 9 based upon the failure of a parent or guardian to ensure that 10 the child has received the vision screening required by this 11 section. 12 6. If a vision screening required pursuant to this section 13 identifies potential vision impairment in a child, the person 14 who performed the vision screening shall, if the person is not 15 a licensed ophthalmologist or licensed optometrist, refer the 16 child to a licensed ophthalmologist or licensed optometrist for 17 a comprehensive eye examination. 18 7. The department shall establish procedures to contact 19 parents or guardians of children identified as having potential 20 vision impairment based on the results of a vision screening 21 required pursuant to subsection 1 or a comprehensive eye 22 examination required pursuant to subsection 6 in order to 23 provide information on obtaining necessary vision correction. 24 8. The department may share information with licensed 25 health care providers, agencies, and other persons involved 26 with vision screenings, eye examinations, follow-up services, 27 and intervention services as necessary to administer this 28 section. The department shall adopt rules to protect the 29 confidentiality of the individuals involved. 30 9. The vision screening requirement shall not apply if 31 the vision screening conflicts with a parent’s or guardian’s 32 genuine and sincere religious belief. 33 10. A person who acts in good faith in complying with this 34 section shall not be civilly or criminally liable for reporting 35 -2- LSB 2014HV (3) 85 je/nh 2/ 4

H.F. 548 the information required to be reported by this section. 1 11. The department shall adopt rules necessary to 2 administer this section. 3 EXPLANATION 4 This bill requires the parent or guardian of a child to be 5 enrolled in a public or accredited nonpublic elementary school 6 to ensure that the child is screened for vision impairment 7 at least once before enrollment in kindergarten and again 8 before enrollment in grade three. The bill requires the parent 9 or guardian to ensure that evidence of the vision screening 10 is provided to the child’s school and sets out methods for 11 providing such evidence. The bill lists various ways the 12 vision screening requirement may be satisfied. 13 The bill requires a person who performs a required vision 14 screening to report the results of the vision screening to 15 the department of public health. The bill provides that the 16 department may collect and maintain such reports through the 17 statewide immunization registry or a private contractor. 18 The bill establishes various duties for each public and 19 accredited nonpublic elementary school, in collaboration with 20 the department of public health, to implement the bill. 21 The bill specifies that a child cannot be prohibited from 22 attending school based upon the failure of a parent or guardian 23 to ensure that the child has received the required vision 24 screening. 25 The bill requires a person performing a required vision 26 screening, if the person is not a licensed ophthalmologist or 27 licensed optometrist, to refer children identified as having 28 potential vision impairment to a licensed ophthalmologist or 29 licensed optometrist for a comprehensive eye examination. 30 The bill requires the department of public health to 31 establish procedures to contact parents or guardians of 32 children in need of vision correction based on the results of a 33 required vision screening in order to provide information on 34 obtaining necessary vision correction. 35 -3- LSB 2014HV (3) 85 je/nh 3/ 4

H.F. 548 The bill permits the department of public health to share 1 information with various entities as necessary to administer 2 the bill. The bill requires the department to adopt rules to 3 protect the confidentiality of the individuals involved. 4 The vision screening requirement does not apply if the 5 vision screening conflicts with a parent’s or guardian’s 6 genuine and sincere religious belief. 7 A person who acts in good faith in complying with the bill 8 shall not be civilly or criminally liable for reporting the 9 information required by the bill. 10 -4- LSB 2014HV (3) 85 je/nh 4/ 4