BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1840
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Date of Hearing: May 21, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 1840 (Campos) - As Amended: May 8, 2014
Policy Committee: HealthVote:15-4
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill authorizes the use of an eye chart or any other
scientifically validated screening when appraising a child's
vision in school. Adds a trained individual who meets
requirements established by the California Department of
Education (CDE) to the list of people authorized to provide
gross external observation of a child's eyes, visual performance
and perception.
FISCAL EFFECT
Minor absorbable costs to the CDE to develop or update
guidelines. Workload could be absorbed by the School Health
Education Consultant in CDE.
COMMENTS :
1)Purpose . According to the author, while eye charts are a
long-standing and proven method, technology has advanced and
portable camera-like equipment has been invented that can
provide comprehensive and reliable analysis in seconds. These
types of technologies can be used by any trained individual
and can provide a quick, mobile and accurate screening.
2)Background . Existing law requires, upon first enrollment in an
elementary school, and at least every third year thereafter
until the child has completed grade 8, the vision of students
to be appraised by the school nurse or other authorized
person. Gross external observation of the child's eyes, visual
performance, and perception are to be done by the school nurse
and the classroom teacher. This bill also authorizes a trained
individual who meets requirements established by the
AB 1840
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California Department of Education (CDE) to provide the gross
external observation.
The Healthier Kids Foundation of Santa Clara County
(Foundation) supports this bill and writes that one of the
most important visual skills for reading is the ability to
coordinate the two eyes together and that an eye chart helps
to test vision for distance but not how the eyes team
together. Alabama, Florida, and parts of New York, for
example, have replaced eye charts with photo optic scan
cameras in school settings, which the Foundation state are
quick, efficient, reliable, and do not require medical
professionals to complete screenings.
3)Opposition . The California School Nurses Organization (CSNO)
expressed opposition to the previous version of the bill that
specifically allowed for screenings done by "scientifically
valid technology." According to the American Academy of
Ophthalmology Instrument-Based Pediatric Vision Screening
Policy, evidence-based practice does not support the use of
instrument based screening in children older than five years
of age. CSNO further states that photoscreening has not been
shown to be superior or inferior to visual acuity testing with
the use of vision charts. CSNO further states that existing
law permits the use of alternative tests with children who,
because of age or special needs, are not able to be tested
with an optotype test.
Analysis Prepared by : Misty Feusahrens / APPR. / (916)
319-2081