Amended in Assembly April 10, 2014

Amended in Assembly March 28, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 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.

This begin delete bill would also require a child’s vision to be appraised upon first enrollment in a state or federally funded child care and development program, and at least every 3rd year thereafter until the child has completed the 8th grade, as specified. The end delete bill would authorize a child’s vision to be appraised by using an eye chart or any other scientifically valid technology begin insert , as provided end insert .

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  begin delete yes end delete begin insert no end insert . State-mandated local program: no.

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

SECTION 1.  

Section 49455 of the Education Code is amended
to read:

49455.  

(a) Upon first enrollment in a California school district
of a child at a California elementary begin delete school or a state or federally
funded child care and development program, as defined by Section
8208, end delete begin insert school, end insert and at least every third year thereafter until the child
has completed the eighth grade, the child’s vision shall be appraised
by the school nurse or other authorized person under Section
49452. This appraisal shall include tests for visual acuity and color
vision; however, color vision shall be appraised once and only on
male children, and the results of the appraisal shall be entered in
the health record of the pupil. Color vision appraisal need not begin
until the male pupil has reached the first grade. Gross external
observation of the child’s eyes, visual performance, and perception
shall be done by the school nurse and the classroom begin delete teacher, or
the caregiver, as applicable. end delete begin insert teacher. end insert The appraisal may be waived,
if the child’s parents so desire, by their presenting of a certificate
from a physician and surgeon, a physician assistant practicing in
compliance with Chapter 7.7 (commencing with Section 3500) of
Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, or an optometrist
setting out the results of a determination of the child’s vision,
including visual acuity and color vision.

(b) A child’s vision may be appraised by using an eye chart or
any other scientifically valid technology. For purposes of this
subdivision, a scientifically valid technology is a technology that
has been published in a peer reviewed journal.

(c) This section shall not apply to a child whose parents or
guardian file with the principal of the school begin delete or the caregiver of
the child care and development program, as applicable, end delete in which
the child is enrolling, a statement in writing that they adhere to the
faith or teachings of any well-recognized religious sect,
denomination, or organization and in accordance with its creed,
tenets, or principles depend for healing upon prayer in the practice
of their religion.