BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 1840|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 1840
Author: Campos (D)
Amended: 8/5/14 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE : 7-1, 6/18/14
AYES: Hernandez, Beall, DeSaulnier, Evans, Monning, Nielsen,
Wolk
NOES: Morrell
NO VOTE RECORDED: De Le�n
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 6-0, 6/25/14
AYES: Liu, Wyland, Correa, Hancock, Huff, Monning
NO VOTE RECORDED: Block
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 56-15, 5/23/14 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Pupil health: vision appraisal
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill clarifies that a childs vision is permitted
to be appraised by using an eye chart or any scientifically
validated photoscreening test. This bill requires
photoscreening tests to be performed, under an agreement with,
or the supervision of, an optometrist or ophthalmologist, by the
school nurse or a trained individual who meets requirements
established by the Department of Education (CDE).
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ANALYSIS :
Existing law:
1.Requires, upon first enrollment in a California school
district of a child at an elementary school, and at least
every third year thereafter until the child has completed the
eighth grade, a child's vision to be appraised by the school
nurse or other authorized person, as specified. Requires
results of the appraisal to be entered in the health record of
the pupil. Requires the vision appraisal to include tests for
visual acuity and color vision. Requires color vision to be
appraised once and only on male children, beginning in the
first grade.
2.Permits the vision appraisal to be waived, at the parent's
request, by presenting a certificate from a physician, a
physician assistant, or an optometrist providing the results
of a determination of the child's vision, including visual
acuity and color vision. Provides an exemption to the
appraisal requirement to a child whose parents or guardian
file a written statement based on the faith or teachings of
any well-recognized religion.
This bill:
1.Permits a child's vision may be appraised by using an eye
chart or any scientifically validated photoscreening test.
2.Requires photoscreening tests to be performed, under an
agreement with, or the supervision of, an optometrist or
ophthalmologist, by the school nurse or a trained individual
who meets requirements established by the CDE.
3.Makes other technical, clarifying changes.
Comments
According to the author's office, childhood vision disorders are
a prevalent and significant public health problem. Yet there is
a significant lack of public awareness about the importance of
eye care in children and the inability of children to recognize
their own vision problems. These problems are heightened in
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families from economically disadvantaged backgrounds by
financial hardship and lack of access to appropriate medical
care. Furthermore, it is well recognized that vision screenings
are most effective when early identification and treatment of
many conditions can prevent irreversible vision damage or loss.
Early identification and correction of a vision disorder is an
essential part of a child's overall health and their ability to
learn. While vision screening is a valuable public health
procedure, it is not a substitute for professional eye care.
Screening is the first step. Currently, only eye charts are
used in preventive vision screenings. Allowing students to get
vision screenings that use digital technology, alongside eye
charts, will help detect potential problems. While eye charts
are a long-standing and proven method, technology has advanced
to the point that 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.
Vision problems in children . According to the National
Association of School Nurses (NASN), vision problems are the
fourth most prevalent class of disability in the United States
and one of the most prevalent conditions in childhood. NASN
maintains that this is an extremely important statistic
considering that 80% of what children learn comes through their
visual processing of information. According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), impaired vision can affect
a child's cognitive, emotional, neurologic and physical
development by potentially limiting the range of experiences and
kinds of information to which the child is exposed. Despite the
importance of appropriate vision testing, the CDC reports that
nearly two in three children enter school without ever having
had a vision screening.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/5/14)
California Coverage & Health Initiatives
Healthier Kids Foundation, Santa Clara County
Prevent Blindness Northern California
See Well to Learn
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OPPOSITION : (Verified 8/5/14)
American Academy of Pediatrics
California Child Development Administrators
California School Nurses Organization
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 56-15, 5/23/14
AYES: Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Bloom, Bocanegra, Bonta, Bradford,
Brown, Buchanan, Ian Calderon, Campos, Chau, Chesbro, Cooley,
Dababneh, Daly, Dickinson, Eggman, Fong, Fox, Frazier, Garcia,
Gatto, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Hall, Holden,
Jones-Sawyer, Levine, Linder, Lowenthal, Maienschein, Medina,
Mullin, Nazarian, Nestande, Pan, Perea, John A. P�rez, Quirk,
Quirk-Silva, Rendon, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Skinner,
Stone, Ting, Waldron, Weber, Wieckowski, Williams, Yamada,
Atkins
NOES: Bigelow, Ch�vez, Conway, Dahle, Donnelly, Beth Gaines,
Grove, Hagman, Jones, Logue, Mansoor, Muratsuchi, Olsen,
Patterson, Wagner
NO VOTE RECORDED: Achadjian, Bonilla, Gorell, Harkey, Roger
Hern�ndez, Melendez, V. Manuel P�rez, Wilk, Vacancy
JL:k 8/5/14 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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