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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
vision screening; schools; appropriation
Purpose
Appropriates $100,000 from the state General Fund (GF) to the Department of Health Services (DHS) for child vision screening.
Background
Currently, DHS administers child hearing programs with the aid of the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to provide hearing evaluation services to all children as early as possible. Hearing evaluation services are required to be provided no later than the first year of attendance in a public or private education program or a residential facility for children with disabilities and are conducted thereafter until the child is 16 years of age or no longer enrolled in the program (A.R.S. § 39-899.01). Children are not required to submit to any hearing evaluation test if the child’s parent or guardian objects and submits a statement of objection to the agency administering the service (A.R.S. § 36-899.04).
S.B. 1465 appropriates $100,000 from the state GF in FY 2020 to DHS to provide vision screening services to specified students.
Provisions
1. Requires schools to provide vision screening services to:
a) students in grades prescribed by DHS rules;
b) students who have not been screened in the last year and are receiving or being considered for special education services;
c) students who have not been screened in the last year and whose teacher has made a request for the student to be screened; and
d) students who are not reading at grade level by the third grade, if screening is not required in third grade under DHS rules.
2. Requires a school nurse, volunteer or other school personnel who has undergone training to administer the vision screenings.
3. Prohibits a vision screening from satisfying a requirement for a medical professional to complete a vision screening of a child according to established guidelines for pediatric care.
4. Requires the school governing body to:
a) provide the vision screening results to the parent or guardian of a student who has not passed a vision screening within 45 days; and
b) comply with all applicable privacy laws.
5. Requires the vision screening results of a student who has not passed a vision screening to:
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.
6. Requires the school governing body providing vision screening services to provide annual data submissions that comply with student privacy laws to DHS.
7. Stipulates that a student is not required to submit to any vision screening if:
a) the student's parent or guardian objects and submits a statement of the objection to the school; or
b) the student has a current diagnosis of permanent vision loss.
8. Allows DHS to:
a) develop and provide vision screening training to school nurses, volunteers or other school personnel;
b) provide schools with materials necessary for conducting vision screenings; and
c) compile the school vision screening data, excluding all individual identifying information, for review and analysis by other interested parties.
9. Requires DHS to adopt rules to carry out the vision screening for children.
10. Prohibits DHS rules from requiring materials or equipment specific to any one provider.
11. Requires DHS rules to include feedback from any public education programs required to implement the vision screenings.
12. Requires DHS to consult with ADE to adopt rules relating to vision screening services in schools.
13. Appropriates $100,000 from the state GF in FY 2020 to DHS for child vision screening and services, including to purchase vision screening kits if monies are available.
14. Defines comprehensive eye and vision examination, department, school, vision screening and vision screening services.
15. Makes technical and conforming changes.
16. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 18, 2019
CRS/AB/kja