BILL REQ. #:  H-2208.2 

READ FIRST TIME 03/07/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to vision exams for school-aged children; adding a new section to chapter 28A.210 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that:
     (1) Vision is one of the primary senses used in the early learning process;
     (2) Vision problems affecting preschool and school-age children can impact a child's ability to learn;
     (3) Economically disadvantaged children have less access to health care and therefore, may have a proportionally greater likelihood of having undiagnosed vision problems that may affect their ability to learn;
     (4) Vision problems in young children can be misinterpreted as neurodevelopmental delay or as learning disabilities; and
     (5) Current screening for visual acuity at distance is insufficient to detect all vision defects.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.210 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) For a child who is diagnosed with a learning disability after September 1, 2006, a parent or guardian shall provide to school health personnel proof that the child has received a comprehensive eye examination performed by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist chosen by the child's parent or guardian. Consideration should be given to testing binocular vision, accommodation, and convergence. Proof of a comprehensive eye examination having been performed within the previous twelve months of the diagnosis of a learning disability is sufficient under this section.
     (2) Schools and school districts shall inform parents of the eye examination required under this section and shall, to the extent practical, assist parents of children who do not have access to adequate insurance coverage by providing information regarding resources for eye examinations.
     (3) The superintendent of public instruction shall collect and disseminate to school districts information regarding resources for low-cost or no-cost comprehensive eye examinations, including contact information for the optometric physicians of Washington and the Washington academy of eye physicians and surgeons.