Amended in Assembly May 8, 2014

Amended in Assembly April 10, 2014

Amended in Assembly March 28, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 1840


Introduced by Assembly Member Campos

February 18, 2014


An act to amend Section 49455 of the Education Code, relating to pupil health.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1840, as amended, Campos. Pupil health: vision appraisal.

Existing law requires, upon first enrollment in a California school district of a child at a California elementary school, and at least every 3rd year thereafter until the child has completed the 8th grade, the child’s vision to be appraised by the school nurse or other authorized person, as specified.begin insert Existing law also requires gross external observation of the child’s eyes, visual performance, and perception to be done by the school nurse and the classroom teacher.end insert

This bill would authorize a child’s vision to be appraised by using an eye chart or any other scientificallybegin delete valid technology, as provided.end deletebegin insert validated screening test. The bill would instead require gross external observation of the child’s eyes, visual performance, and perception to be done by the school nurse, the classroom teacher, or a trained individual who meets requirements established by the State Department of Education.end insert

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: begin deleteno end deletebegin insertyesend insert. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P2    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 49455 of the Education Code is amended
2to read:

3

49455.  

(a) Upon first enrollment in a California school district
4of a child at a California elementary school, and at least every third
5year thereafter until the child has completed the eighth grade, the
6child’s vision shall be appraised by the school nurse or other
7authorized person under Section 49452. This appraisal shall include
8tests for visual acuity and color vision; however, color vision shall
9be appraised once and only on male children, and the results of
10the appraisal shall be entered in the health record of the pupil.
11Color vision appraisal need not begin until the male pupil has
12reached the first grade. Gross external observation of the child’s
13eyes, visual performance, and perception shall be done by the
14schoolbegin delete nurse and the classroom teacher.end deletebegin insert nurse, the classroom
15teacher, or a trained individual who meets requirements
16established by the department.end insert
The appraisal may be waived, if
17the child’s parents so desire, by their presenting of a certificate
18from a physician and surgeon, a physician assistant practicing in
19compliance with Chapter 7.7 (commencing with Section 3500) of
20Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, or an optometrist
21setting out the results of a determination of the child’s vision,
22including visual acuity and color vision.

23(b) A child’s vision may be appraised by using an eye chart or
24any other scientificallybegin delete valid technology. For purposes of this
25subdivision, a scientifically valid technology is a technology that
26has been published in a peer reviewed journal.end delete
begin insert validated screening
27test.end insert

28(c) This section shall not apply to a child whose parents or
29guardian file with the principal of the school in which the child is
30enrolling, a statement in writing that they adhere to the faith or
31teachings of any well-recognized religious sect, denomination, or
32organization and in accordance with its creed, tenets, or principles
33depend for healing upon prayer in the practice of their religion.



O

    96