HSB 122 (LSB 2014HC (2) 85)

HOUSE FILE _____

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES BILL BY CHAIRPERSON MILLER)

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.  By January 1 after the start of the school year that a child enrolls in kindergarten and by January 1 after the start of the school year that a child enrolls in grade three, in a public or nonpublic school, the parent or guardian of the child shall present to school personnel certification that the child within the previous twelve months has undergone an eye examination, and the results of the examination. 
   2.  The requirement for an eye examination may be satisfied by any of the following:
   a.  A vision screening or comprehensive eye examination by a licensed ophthalmologist or licensed optometrist.
   b.  An eye chart screening conducted at a pediatrician’s or family practice physician’s office, a free clinic, or the child’s school.
   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.
   3.  A child shall not be prohibited from attending school based upon the failure of a parent or guardian to present to school personnel the documentation required by subsection 1.
   4.  The department shall establish procedures to contact parents or guardians of children in need of vision correction based on the results of an eye examination required under subsection 1 in order to provide information on obtaining necessary vision correction. The department shall consider use of the statewide immunization registry or a private contractor as a means of identifying and contacting the parents or guardians of such children.
   5.  The department shall adopt rules to administer this section.
EXPLANATION
   This bill requires the parent or guardian of a child in a public or nonpublic school to present certification that the child within the previous 12 months has undergone an eye examination, and the results of the examination, to school personnel by January 1 after the start of the school year that the child enrolls in kindergarten and by January 1 after the start of the school year that the child enrolls in grade three.
   The eye examination requirement may be satisfied by a vision screening or comprehensive eye examination by a licensed ophthalmologist or licensed optometrist; an eye chart screening conducted at a pediatrician’s or family practice physician’s office, a free clinic, or the child’s school; or an online vision screening through a program approved by the director of the department of public health, which may be conducted by a child’s parent or guardian.
   The bill specifies that a child cannot be prohibited from attending school based upon the failure of a parent or guardian to present the required documentation to school personnel.
   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 an eye examination required by the bill in order to provide information on obtaining necessary vision correction. The bill directs the department to consider use of the statewide immunization registry or a private contractor as a means of identifying and contacting the parents or guardians of such children.