S.B. 144 Enrolled

1

VISION SCREENING AMENDMENTS
2 2010 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Wayne L. Niederhauser
5 House Sponsor: Todd E. Kiser
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends provisions related to vision screening in schools.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . provides conditions when a licensed health care professional may participate in a
13 school district's free vision screening program; and
14 . makes technical changes.
15 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
16 None
17 Other Special Clauses:
18 None
19 Utah Code Sections Affected:
20 AMENDS:
21 53A-11-203, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2001, Chapter 73
22
23 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24 Section 1. Section 53A-11-203 is amended to read:
25 53A-11-203. Vision screening.
26 (1) A child under seven years of age entering school for the first time in this state must
27 present the following to the school:
28 (a) a certificate signed by a licensed physician, optometrist, or other licensed health
29 professional approved by the division, stating that the child has received vision screening to

30 determine the presence of amblyopia or other visual defects. As used in this section,
31 "division" means the Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, State Office of
32 Education; or
33 (b) a written statement signed by at least one parent or legal guardian of the child that
34 the screening violates the personal beliefs of the parent or legal guardian.
35 (2) The division shall provide vision screening report forms to [persons] a person
36 approved by the division to conduct [the] a free vision screening for children aged 3-1/2 to
37 seven.
38 (3) [Each] A school district may conduct free vision screening clinics for children
39 aged 3-1/2 to seven.
40 (4) (a) The division shall maintain a central register of children, aged 3-1/2 to seven,
41 who fail vision screening and who are referred for follow-up treatment.
42 (b) The register described in Subsection (4)(a) shall include the name of the child, age
43 or birthdate, address, cause for referral, and follow-up results. [Each]
44 (c) A school district shall report referral follow-up results for children aged 3-1/2 to
45 seven to the division.
46 (5) The division shall coordinate and supervise the training of [persons who serve as
47 vision screeners] a person who serves as a vision screener for a free vision screening clinic for
48 children aged 3-1/2 to seven.
49 (6) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (6)(b), a [A] licensed health professional
50 providing vision care to private patients may not participate as a screener in a free vision
51 screening [programs] program provided by a school [districts] district.
52 (b) A school district may:
53 (i) allow a licensed health professional who provides vision care to private patients to
54 participate as a screener in a free vision screening program for a child eight years of age or
55 older;
56 (ii) establish guidelines to administer a free vision screening program described in
57 Subsection (6)(b)(i); and

58 (iii) establish penalties for a violation of the requirements of Subsection (6)(c).
59 (c) A licensed health professional or other person who participates as a screener in a
60 free vision screening program described in Subsection (6)(b):
61 (i) may not market, advertise, or promote the licensed health professional's business in
62 connection with providing the free screening at the school; and
63 (ii) shall provide the child's results of the free vision screening on a form produced by
64 the school or school district, which may not include contact information other than the name
65 of the licensed health professional.
66 (d) A school district may provide information to a parent or guardian of the
67 availability of follow up vision services for a student.
68 (7) The Department of Health shall, by rule, set standards and procedures for vision
69 screening required by this chapter, and shall provide the division with copies of rules,
70 standards, instructions, and test charts necessary for conducting vision screening.
71 (8) The division shall supervise screening, referral, and follow-up required by this
72 chapter.