An Act relating to schools; amending Section 1, Chapter 160, O.S.L. 2006 (70 O.S. Supp. 2008, Section 1210.284), which relates to vision screening; modifying duties of certain advisory committee; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

     SECTION 1.      AMENDATORY      Section 1, Chapter 160, O.S.L. 2006 (70 O.S. Supp. 2008, Section 1210.284), is amended to read as follows:

Section 1210.284   A. 1. Beginning in the 2007-08 school year, the parent or guardian of each student enrolled in kindergarten at a public school in this state shall provide certification to school personnel that the student passed a vision screening within the previous twelve (12) months or during the school year. Such screening shall be conducted by personnel listed on the statewide registry as maintained by the State Department of Health.

2. Beginning in the 2007-08 school year, the parent or guardian of each student enrolled in first or third grade at a public school in this state shall provide within thirty (30) days of the beginning of the school year certification to school personnel that the student passed a vision screening within the previous twelve (12) months. Such screening shall be conducted by personnel listed on the statewide registry as maintained by the State Department of Health.

3. The parent or guardian of each student who receives a vision screening as required by this section shall receive notification that a vision screening is not the equivalent of a comprehensive eye exam.

B. The State Department of Health shall form an advisory committee to make recommendations to the Board of Health for vision screening standards pursuant to this section. The advisory committee shall provide a list of qualified screeners to the State Department of Health. The advisory committee may also serve as a sports eye-safety resource for Oklahoma K-12 public school districts and nonprofit community sports organizations by developing and providing educational materials to the school districts and organizations which detail the risk of eye injuries associated with different types of sports and the availability of protective eyewear that reduces the risk of eye injuries due to sports. The advisory committee shall be comprised of: One licensed Oklahoma optometrist, one licensed Oklahoma ophthalmologist, one representative of the State Department of Health, one representative of the State Department of Education and one representative of a statewide organization for the prevention of blindness. The State Board of Health shall adopt rules to establish vision screening standards pursuant to this section and the State Department of Health shall establish and thereafter maintain a statewide registry, available via the Internet, which shall contain a list of qualified screeners.

C. 1. The parent or guardian of each student who fails the vision screening required in subsection A of this section shall receive a recommendation to undergo a comprehensive eye examination performed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.

2. The ophthalmologist or optometrist shall forward a written report of the results of the comprehensive eye examination to the student’s school, parent or guardian, and primary health care provider designated by the parent or guardian. The report shall include, but not be limited to:

a. date of report,

b. name, address and date of birth of the student,

c. name of the student’s school,

d. type of examination,

e. a summary of significant findings, including diagnoses, medication used, duration of action of medication, treatment, prognosis, whether or not a return visit is recommended and, if so when,

f. 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, and any other recommendations, and

g. name, address and signature of the examiner;

D. No student shall be prohibited from attending school for a parent’s or guardian’s failure to furnish a report of the student’s vision screening or an examiner’s failure to furnish the results of a student’s comprehensive eye examination required by this section.

E. School districts shall notify parents or guardians of students who enroll in kindergarten, first, or third grade for the 2007-08 school year and each year thereafter of the requirements of this section.

F. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for the implementation of this section except as provided in subsection B of this section. The State Department of Education shall issue a report annually on the impact and effectiveness of this section.

     SECTION 2.     This act shall become effective November 1, 2009.

     Passed the House of Representatives the 4th day of March, 2009.

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Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives

     Passed the Senate the 20th day of April, 2009.

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Presiding Officer of the Senate

     Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma on the 27th day of April, 2009, at 4:00 o’clock p.m.

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Governor of the State of Oklahoma