HF 548 (LSB 2014HV (3) 85)

HOUSE FILE 548

BY  COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES

(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 122)

A BILL FOR

An Act providing for vision screening for school children.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  135.39D  Vision screening.
   1.  The parent or guardian of a child to be enrolled in a public or accredited nonpublic elementary school shall ensure that the child is screened for vision impairment at least once before enrollment in kindergarten and again before enrollment in grade three. The parent or guardian of the child shall ensure that evidence of the vision screening is provided to the school district or accredited nonpublic school in which the child is enrolled. Evidence of the vision screening may be provided either directly from the parent or guardian or from a vision screening provider referred to in subsection 2, and may be provided in either written or electronic form.
   2.  The requirement for vision screening may be satisfied by any of the following:
   a.  A vision screening or comprehensive eye examination by a licensed ophthalmologist or licensed optometrist.
   b.  A vision screening conducted at a pediatrician’s or family practice physician’s office, a free clinic, a licensed child care center, a local public health department, a public or accredited nonpublic school, or a community-based organization identified by the director, or by an advanced registered nurse practitioner or physician assistant.
   c.  An online vision screening through a program approved by the director. An online vision screening may be conducted by a child’s parent or guardian.
   d.  A photoscreening vision screening through Iowa kidsight or another program approved by the director.
   3.  A person who performs a vision screening required pursuant to this section shall report the results of the vision screening to the department. The department may collect and maintain such reports through the statewide immunization registry or a private contractor.
   4.  Each public and accredited nonpublic elementary school shall, in collaboration with the department, do the following:
   a.  Ensure the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in kindergarten or grade three has complied with this section.
   b.  If a student enrolled in kindergarten or grade three is found not to have had their vision screened as required pursuant to this section, provide the parent or guardian of the student with vision screening referral resources.
   c.  Provide the department with evidence that each student enrolled in kindergarten and grade three has had their vision screened as required pursuant to this section.
   5.  A child shall not be prohibited from attending school based upon the failure of a parent or guardian to ensure that the child has received the vision screening required by this section.
   6.  If a vision screening required pursuant to this section identifies potential vision impairment in a child, the person who performed the vision screening shall, if the person is not a licensed ophthalmologist or licensed optometrist, refer the child to a licensed ophthalmologist or licensed optometrist for a comprehensive eye examination.
   7.  The department shall establish procedures to contact parents or guardians of children identified as having potential vision impairment based on the results of a vision screening required pursuant to subsection 1 or a comprehensive eye examination required pursuant to subsection 6 in order to provide information on obtaining necessary vision correction.
   8.  The department may share information with licensed health care providers, agencies, and other persons involved with vision screenings, eye examinations, follow-up services, and intervention services as necessary to administer this section. The department shall adopt rules to protect the confidentiality of the individuals involved.
   9.  The vision screening requirement shall not apply if the vision screening conflicts with a parent’s or guardian’s genuine and sincere religious belief.
   10.  A person who acts in good faith in complying with this section shall not be civilly or criminally liable for reporting the information required to be reported by this section.
   11.  The department shall adopt rules necessary to administer this section.
EXPLANATION
   This bill requires the parent or guardian of a child to be enrolled in a public or accredited nonpublic elementary school to ensure that the child is screened for vision impairment at least once before enrollment in kindergarten and again before enrollment in grade three. The bill requires the parent or guardian to ensure that evidence of the vision screening is provided to the child’s school and sets out methods for providing such evidence. The bill lists various ways the vision screening requirement may be satisfied.
   The bill requires a person who performs a required vision screening to report the results of the vision screening to the department of public health. The bill provides that the department may collect and maintain such reports through the statewide immunization registry or a private contractor.
   The bill establishes various duties for each public and accredited nonpublic elementary school, in collaboration with the department of public health, to implement the bill.
   The bill specifies that a child cannot be prohibited from attending school based upon the failure of a parent or guardian to ensure that the child has received the required vision screening.
   The bill requires a person performing a required vision screening, if the person is not a licensed ophthalmologist or licensed optometrist, to refer children identified as having potential vision impairment to a licensed ophthalmologist or licensed optometrist for a comprehensive eye examination.
   The bill requires the department of public health to establish procedures to contact parents or guardians of children in need of vision correction based on the results of a required vision screening in order to provide information on obtaining necessary vision correction.
   The bill permits the department of public health to share information with various entities as necessary to administer the bill. The bill requires the department to adopt rules to protect the confidentiality of the individuals involved.
   The vision screening requirement does not apply if the vision screening conflicts with a parent’s or guardian’s genuine and sincere religious belief.
   A person who acts in good faith in complying with the bill shall not be civilly or criminally liable for reporting the information required by the bill.