See other bills
under the
same topic
PRINTER'S NO. 1605
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1342
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY BROWN, PICKETT, READSHAW, KAUFFMAN, SCHLOSSBERG,
MURT, SCHLEGEL CULVER, BARRAR, MILLARD, STRUZZI, DeLUCA,
TOOHIL, MEHAFFIE, SCHWEYER, KINSEY, RADER, T. DAVIS, BOBACK,
MACKENZIE, CIRESI, YOUNGBLOOD AND DEASY, APRIL 29, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 29, 2019
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in school health services, further
providing for health services and providing for vision
screening and examinations.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1402(a) of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
amended to read:
Section 1402. Health Services.--(a) Each child of school
age shall be given by methods established by the Advisory Health
Board, [(1) a vision test by a school nurse, medical technician
or teacher,] (2) a hearing test by a school nurse or medical
technician, (3) a measurement of height and weight by a school
nurse or teacher, who shall use the measurement to compute a
child's weight-for-height ratio, (4) tests for tuberculosis
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
under medical supervision, and (5) such other tests as the
Advisory Health Board may deem advisable to protect the health
of the child. [Vision tests shall be given at least annually and
other tests at intervals established by the Advisory Health
Board.]
* * *
Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 1403.1. Vision Screening and Examinations.--(a) (1)
Within thirty (30) days of the start of the school year at a
public, private, parochial or nonpublic school in this
Commonwealth, including special education and home education
programs and cyber and charter schools or upon entry into the
school district, the parent or legal guardian of a child
entering kindergarten shall present to school health personnel
certification that the child within the previous twelve months
passed a vision screening performed by a primary care provider
or a vision screening conducted by screeners with specific
training in vision screening techniques and protocols approved
by the Department of Health or has completed a comprehensive eye
exam conducted by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.
(2) The Advisory Health Board shall promulgate regulations
to establish vision screening standards based on instrument-
based vision screening technologies or visual acuity testing,
taking into consideration national guidelines from the American
Academy of Pediatrics.
(b) (1) Every school year at a public, private, parochial
or nonpublic school in this Commonwealth, including special
education and home education programs and cyber and charter
schools, until a child completes the fifth grade and every two
years thereafter until the child graduates from the twelfth
20190HB1342PN1605 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
grade, the child shall have a vision screening performed by
school health personnel or screeners with specific training in
vision screening techniques and protocols approved by the
Advisory Health Board. The results of the vision screening shall
be supplied to the parent or legal guardian of the child.
(2) For a child who fails a required vision screening, a
comprehensive eye examination, performed by an ophthalmologist
or optometrist, shall also be required. Notification of the
parent or legal guardian of the failed screening shall be
accompanied by notification of requirement for a comprehensive
examination that must be completed within one hundred twenty
(120) days or before the start of the next school year,
whichever comes first. Notification should also include a form,
to be completed by the examining ophthalmologist or optometrist,
to be used for reporting the results of the examination. The
report shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(i) Date of report.
(ii) Name, address and date of birth of the child.
(iii) Name of the child's school.
(iv) A summary of significant findings, including best
corrected visual acuity, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis,
whether or not a return visit is recommended and, if so, when.
(v) Recommended educational adjustments for the child, if
any, which may include preferential seating in the classroom,
eyeglasses for full-time use in school, eyeglasses for part-time
use in school, sight-saving eyeglasses or any other
recommendations.
(vi) Name, address and signature of the examiner.
(3) The examination report shall be accompanied by an
envelope for return of the form to school health personnel so
20190HB1342PN1605 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
the completion status and result of the examination may be
recorded.
(c) No child shall be excluded from attending school for the
reason that the parent or guardian failed to furnish a report of
the child's vision screening or to have an examination completed
upon failure of the vision screening. Parents and guardians that
fail to present the required report shall be notified in writing
of the required vision examination every three months until the
examination completion has been verified.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20190HB1342PN1605 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10