SB 720 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school health services, providing for initial vision examination.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

733 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.

1802720 THE2025 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFGEBHARD, PENNSYLVANIAPENNYCUICK SENATEAND BILLLAUGHLIN, SessionMAY 2, 2025 REFERRED TO EDUCATION, MAY 2, 2025 AN ACT Amending the act of No.March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An provisions applicable as well to private and parochialrtain schools;

720amending, 2025revising, INTRODUCEDconsolidating BYand GEBHARD,changing PENNYCUICK,the LAUGHLIN,laws SCHWANK,relating HAYWOODthereto," ANDin LANGERHOLC,school MAYhealth 2,services, 2025further SENATORproviding CULVER,for EDUCATION,health ASservices AMENDED,and JUNEfor 9,vision 2026screening ANand ACTexaminations, Amendingproviding thefor acteye ofhealth Marchand 10,vision 1949examinations (P.L.30,and No.14),further entitledproviding "Anfor actexaminations relatingby toexaminers theof publicown schoolchoice. system, including certain provisions applicable as well to private and parochial schools;

amending, revising, consolidating and changing the providing for health services and for vision screening and <-- examinations, providing for eye health and vision examinations and further providing for examinations by examiners of own choice.

PROVIDING FOR INITIAL VISION <-- EXAMINATION.

Section 1402(a) of the act of March 10, 1949 <-- (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended to read:

* * * (b) (1) [Every] Except as provided under section 1403.2, 20250SB0720PN1802 - 2 - every school year at a school entity or nonpublic school, until 20250SB0720PN0733 - 2 - a child completes the fifth grade and at least every two years thereafter until the child graduates from the twelfth grade, the child shall have a vision screening performed by school health personnel or screeners with specific training in vision screening techniques and protocols approved by the Department of Health.

(v) Recommended educational adjustments for the child, if any, which may include preferential seating in the classroom, eyeglasses for full-time use in school, eyeglasses for part-time 20250SB0720PN1802 - 3 - use in school, sight-saving eyeglasses or any other 20250SB0720PN0733 - 3 - recommendations.

(c) A school district or joint school board may institute an eye health and vision examination program for children of school 20250SB0720PN1802 - 4 - age.

Before a school district or joint school board institutes 20250SB0720PN0733 - 4 - an eye health and vision examination program under this subsection, the program shall be approved by the Secretary of Health.

20250SB0720PN180220250SB0720PN0733 - 5 - SECTION 1.

THE ACT OF MARCH 10, 1949 (P.L.30, NO.14), KNOWN <-- AS THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF 1949, IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SECTION TO READ:

SECTION 1403.2.

INITIAL VISION EXAMINATION.--(A) A CHILD ENTERING SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS COMMONWEALTH MUST HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE EYE EXAMINATION PERFORMED BY AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST OR OPTOMETRIST WITHIN ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE START OF SCHOOL OR WITHIN ONE HUNDRED TWENTY (120) DAYS AFTER THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

(B) A CHILD WHO IS IDENTIFIED WITH DISABILITIES AND BEGINS RECEIVING INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE FIRST TIME UNDER AN INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM UNDER 22 PA.

CODE CH.

14 (RELATING TO SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES AND PROGRAMS) OR A 504 SERVICE AGREEMENT UNDER SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973 (PUBLIC LAW 93-112, 29 U.S.C.

§ 794) AND 22 PA.

CODE CH.

15 (RELATING TO PROTECTED HANDICAPPED STUDENTS) MUST HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE EYE EXAMINATION PERFORMED BY AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST OR OPTOMETRIST.

(C) NOTIFICATION TO THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF A CHILD UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OR (B) SHALL INCLUDE THE REQUIREMENT FOR A COMPREHENSIVE EYE EXAMINATION TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN ONE HUNDRED TWENTY (120) DAYS OR BEFORE THE START OF THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST, AND A LIST OF VISION RESOURCES COMPILED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

NOTIFICATION MAY INCLUDE A FORM, TO BE COMPLETED BY THE EXAMINING OPHTHALMOLOGIST OR OPTOMETRIST, TO BE USED FOR REPORTING THE RESULTS OF THE EXAMINATION.

THE REPORT MAY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

(1) DATE OF REPORT.

(2) NAME, ADDRESS AND DATE OF BIRTH OF THE CHILD.

(3) NAME OF THE CHILD'S SCHOOL.

20250SB0720PN1802 - 6 - (4) A SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS, INCLUDING BEST CORRECTED VISUAL ACUITY, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, PROGNOSIS AND WHETHER OR NOT A RETURN VISIT IS RECOMMENDED AND, IF SO, WHEN.

(5) RECOMMENDED EDUCATIONAL ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE CHILD, IF ANY, WHICH MAY INCLUDE PREFERENTIAL SEATING IN THE CLASSROOM, EYEGLASSES FOR FULL-TIME USE IN SCHOOL, EYEGLASSES FOR PART-TIME USE IN SCHOOL, SIGHT-SAVING EYEGLASSES OR ANY OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS.

(6) NAME, ADDRESS AND SIGNATURE OF THE EXAMINER.

(D) THE EXAMINATION REPORT MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ENVELOPE FOR RETURN OF THE FORM TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL SO THE COMPLETION STATUS AND RESULT OF THE EXAMINATION UNDER SUBSECTION (A) MAY BE RECORDED AND CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT PLANNING PROCESS FOR THE STUDENT.

(E) A CHILD MAY NOT BE PROHIBITED FROM ATTENDING SCHOOL OR INITIATING, RECEIVING OR CONTINUING TO RECEIVE SERVICES PRESCRIBED IN THE STUDENT'S INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR THE REASON THAT THE PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN FAILED TO FURNISH A REPORT OF THE CHILD'S VISION EXAMINATION OR TO HAVE AN EXAMINATION COMPLETED.

(F) A SCHOOL ENTITY OR NONPUBLIC SCHOOL MAY NOT BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE EYE EXAMINATIONS OR BE HELD FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR AN EYE EXAMINATION REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION.

(G) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SUBSECTION UNLESS THE CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:

"NONPUBLIC SCHOOL." A SCHOOL, OTHER THAN A PUBLIC SCHOOL WITHIN THIS COMMONWEALTH, IN WHICH A RESIDENT OF THIS COMMONWEALTH MAY LEGALLY FULFILL THE COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ACT AND WHICH MEETS THE 20250SB0720PN1802 - 7 - REQUIREMENTS OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 (PUBLIC LAW 88-352, 78 STAT.

241 ????).

"SCHOOL ENTITY." A SCHOOL DISTRICT, CHARTER SCHOOL, REGIONAL CHARTER SCHOOL, CYBER CHARTER SCHOOL, INTERMEDIATE UNIT OR AREA CAREER AND TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

SECTION 2.

THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 60 DAYS.

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