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BILL # SB 1319 |
TITLE: NOW: vision screening; program |
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SPONSOR: Kerr |
STATUS: Senate Engrossed |
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PREPARED BY: Morgan Dorcheus |
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The bill would require the Department of Health Services (DHS) to consult with recognized nonprofit organizations that provide free vision services, ophthalmologists, optometrists, school nurses, pediatricians, and school administrators when adopting rules for school vision screenings.
Estimated Impact
To the extent that DHS' consultation with additional entities results in new vision screening requirements, costs to school districts and charter schools could change for staff trainings, screening equipment purchases, or obtaining contract services. In the absence of a designated state funding stream for vision screenings, school districts and charter schools would pay any new costs using existing distributions. Because the fiscal impact would depend on future consultations, we cannot determine the impact in advance.
Current statute requires schools to provide vision screening services to students upon initial entry to school, when being considered for special education services, when a teacher requests the screening, and when students are not reading at grade level by third grade. DHS is currently required to adopt rules for school vision screenings in consultation with the Department of Education. The bill states that DHS must also consult with recognized nonprofit organizations that provide free vision services, ophthalmologists, optometrists, school nurses, pediatricians, and school administrators.
3/9/22