H-3351.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2582

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2002 Regular Session

By Representatives Talcott, Cody, Carrell, Cox, Quall, Nixon, Anderson, Schmidt and Haigh

Read first time 01/22/2002.  Referred to Committee on Health Care.

Clarifying "visual screening" for public school students.

    AN ACT Relating to visual screening of children in public schools; and amending RCW 28A.210.020.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 28A.210.020 and 1971 c 32 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    Every board of school directors shall have the power, and it shall be its duty to provide for and require screening for the visual and auditory acuity of all children attending schools in their districts to ascertain which if any of such children have defects sufficient to retard them in their studies.  Visual screening shall include, but need not be limited to, screening for distance and near vision acuity.  Auditory and visual screening shall be made in accordance with procedures and standards adopted by rule or regulation of the state board of health.  Prior to the adoption or revision of such rules or regulations the state board of health shall seek the recommendations of the superintendent of public instruction regarding the administration of visual and auditory screening and the qualifications of persons competent to administer such screening.

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