State SealARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

SB 1456: vision screening; schools; appropriation

PRIME SPONSOR: Senator Allen S, LD 6

BILL STATUS: House Engrossed

                                                               

 

Overview

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteDirects each school to provide the screening services to students as outlined.

History

The Child Hearing Programs was created in 1971 to provide hearing evaluation services to all children by the DHS  With the aid of the Department of Education (ADE), DHS provides the hearing evaluation services no later than the first year of attendance in a public or private education program, or residential facility for children with disabilities, and are conducted thereafter as circumstances permit for all children until they reach the age of 16 or are no longer enrolled in the education program (A.R.S. § 36-899.01).

DHS is able to delegate powers and duties to other state agencies, county and local boards of education or other community agencies to develop and maintain periodic hearing evaluation services (A.R.S. § 36-899.02). If a parent or guardian of a child objects and submits a statement of objection to the agency administering the hearing services, the child is not required to submit to testing (A.R.S. § 36-899.04).

Provisions

1.       Directs each school to provide vision screening services to students:

a.       Upon initial entry to school and not more than two additional grade levels;

i.         Allows the school at their discretion to provide vision screening services to students who are in grade levels that are not prescribed;

b.       Who receive, or being considered for, special education services and who have not been screened in the last year;

c.        Whom a teacher has requested a screening and who have not been screened in the last year; and

d.       Who are not reading at grade level by the third grade pursuant to the state assessment requirement, if the rules adopted by DHS do not require screening in the third grade. (Sec. 2)

2.       Requires a school nurse, volunteer or other school personnel who have undergone training approved or developed by DHS, to administer the vision screenings. (Sec. 2)

3.       Exempts those individuals who are trained to administer vision screenings before the effective date of this act from retraining requirements. (Sec. 2)

4.       Prohibits a vision screening from satisfying the requirement of a medical professional to complete a vision screening of a child for pediatric care. (Sec. 2)

5.       Directs the school district governing board or charter school governing body to provide the vision screening results to the parent or guardian of each student who did not pass the screening within 45 days in compliance with all applicable privacy laws. (Sec. 2)

6.       Stipulates that the vision screening results of each student who has not passed the screening must:

a.       Identify that the student did not pass the vision screening and the need for a comprehensive eye and vision examination; and

b.       State that a vision screening is not equivalent to a comprehensive eye and vision examination. (Sec. 2)

7.       Directs the school district governing board or charter school governing body providing vision screening services to provide annual data submissions to DHS that comply with student privacy laws. (Sec. 2)

8.       Specifies that a student is not required to submit to any vision screening if the parent or guardian objects and submits a statement of the objection to the school for any reason, including:

a.       That the student received a comprehensive eye and vision examination in the last year; or

b.       If the student has a current diagnosis of permanent vision loss. (Sec. 2)

9.       Subject to available monies, DHS for the purpose of assisting and implementing the vision screening requirements, to:

a.       Develop and provide vision screening training to a school nurse, volunteer or other school personnel;

b.       Subject to available monies, provide schools with materials DHS determines to be necessary for conducting vision screening; and

c.        Compile any school vision screening data, with all individual identifying information removed, for review and analysis by researchers, public agencies or any foundation, nonprofit organization or other organization that provides:

i.         Free approved vision screening services or training;

ii.       Grants for vision screening services;

iii.     Eyeglasses; or

iv.     Examinations. (Sec. 2)

10.   Requires DHS to adopt rules to carry out vision screening for children and states that the rules:

a.       Are prohibited from requiring materials and equipment specific to any one provider;

b.       Must include feedback from the public education programs required to implement the vision screenings; and

c.        Must be done in consultation with ADE. (Sec. 2)

11.   Defines terms. (Sec. 2)

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15.   Fifty-fourth Legislature                       SB 1456

16.   First Regular Session                            Version 2: Caucus & COW

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