SB 1172, as amended, Steinberg. Pupil health: vision appraisals.
Existing law requires, upon first enrollment in a California school district of a child at an 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. Existing law requires this appraisal to include tests for visual acuity and color vision. Existing law requires gross external observation of the child’s eyes, visual performance, and perception to be done by the school nurse and the classroom teacher.
This bill would instead require a pupil’s vision to be appraised by the school nurse or other authorized person duringbegin delete kindergarten, first grade,end deletebegin insert
kindergartenend insert or upon first enrollment or entry in a California school district of a pupil at an elementary school, and in grades 2, 5, andbegin delete 8.end deletebegin insert
8, except as provided.end insert The bill would revise the functions to be performed by the school nurse and the classroom teacher in observing a pupil’s eyes, appearance, and other factors that may indicate vision difficulties. The bill would require the State Department of Education to adopt guidelines to implement those provisions, including training requirements and a method of testing for near vision. Because the bill would impose additional duties on public schools, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 49455 of the Education Code is amended
2to read:
(a) begin insert(1)end insertbegin insert end insert During the kindergartenbegin delete year, first grade,end deletebegin insert yearend insert
4 or upon first enrollment or entry in a California school district of
5a pupil at an elementary school, and in grades 2, 5, and 8, the
6pupil’s vision shall be appraised by the school nurse or other
7authorized person under Section 49452.begin delete Thisend delete
8(2) A pupil whose first enrollment or entry occurs in grade 4
9or 7 shall not be required to be appraised in the year immediately
10following the pupil’s first enrollment or entry.
11begin insert(b)end insertbegin insert end insertbegin insert Theend insert appraisal shall include tests for visual acuity, including
12near vision, and color vision; however, color vision shall be
13appraised once and only on male
pupils, and the results of the
14appraisal shall be entered in the health record of the pupil. Color
15vision appraisal need not begin until the male pupil has reached
16the first grade.begin delete Theend delete
17begin insert(c)end insertbegin insert end insertbegin insertTheend insert appraisal may be waived, if the pupil’s parents so desire,
18by their presenting of a certificate from a physician and surgeon,
19a physician assistant practicing in compliance with Chapter 7.7
20(commencing with Section 3500) of Division 2 of the Business
21and Professions Code, or an optometrist setting out the results of
22a determination of the pupil’s vision, including visual acuity and
23
color vision.
3 24(b)
end delete
P3 1begin insert(d)end insert Continual and regular observation of the pupil’s eyes,
2appearance, behavior, visual performance, and perception that may
3indicate vision difficulties shall be done by the school nurse and
4the classroom teacher.
8 5(c)
end delete
6begin insert(e)end insert This section shall not apply to a pupil whose parents
or
7guardian file with the principal of the school in which the pupil is
8enrolling, a statement in writing that they adhere to the faith or
9teachings of any well-recognized religious sect, denomination, or
10organization and in accordance with its creed, tenets, or principles
11depend for healing upon prayer in the practice of their religion.
15 12(d)
end delete
13begin insert(f)end insert The department shall adopt guidelines to implement this
14section, including training requirements and a method of testing
15for near vision.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that
17this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to
18local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
19pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
204 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
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