Regular Session 2019-2020 House Bill 1342 P.N. 4576

PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1605, 4465

PRINTER'S NO. 4576

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, DEASY, D. MILLER, STURLA AND

KORTZ, APRIL 29, 2019

AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

OCTOBER 20, 2020

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)] (1) a hearing test by a school nurse or medical

technician, [(3)] (2) 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)] (3) tests for

tuberculosis under medical supervision, and [(5)] (4) 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)

Prior to admission to school for the first time, a parent or

legal guardian shall present to the school entity or nonpublic

school certification from a primary care provider or vision

screener that the child has passed or failed 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 within the previous twelve

months .

(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 . AND AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR PEDIATRIC

OPHTHALMOLOGY AND STRABISMUS.

(b) (1) Every school year at a school entity or nonpublic

school , until a child completes the fifth grade and AT LEAST

every two years thereafter until the child graduates from the

twelfth grade, the child shall have a vision screening performed

by school health personnel or screeners with specific training

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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 . , AND A LIST OF VISION RESOURCES COMPILED

BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. Notification may 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 may 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 may be accompanied by an envelope

for return of the form to school health personnel so the

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completion status and result of the examination under subsection

(b)(2) may be recorded.

attending school for the reason that the parent or legal

guardian failed to furnish a report of the child's vision

screening or to have an examination completed upon failure of

the vision screening. A parent or legal guardian who fails to

present the required report within a year of a failed exam shall

be notified by the school entity or nonpublic school of, to the

extent available, vision resources.

(d) A school entity or nonpublic school shall not be

required to provide comprehensive eye examination or held

financially responsible for the treatment of a child who fails

the required vision screening.

(e) This section shall apply to school years beginning after

the regulations are promulgated by the Advisory Health Board

under subsection (a)(2).

(f) As used in this section, the following words and phrases

shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless

the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Nonpublic school." As defined in section 922.1-A.

"School entity." A school district, charter school, regional

charter school, cyber charter school, intermediate unit or area

career and technical school.

Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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