HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 6223

BYSenate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Rinehart, Bailey, Bender, Gaspard, Metcalf, Lee, Murray, Talmadge and Craswell;by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction)

Changing the frequency of scoliosis screening in public schools.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (9)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Brooks, Ranking Republican Member; Cantwell, Morris, Prentice, D. Sommers, Vekich and Wolfe.

House Staff:John Welsh (786-7133)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE FEBRUARY 22, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Scoliosis is a lateral curvature of the spine, commonly appearing in adolescence, which can develop into a permanent, crippling disability if left untreated.

Current law directs the Superintendent of Public Instruction to provide for and require yearly scoliosis examination of all public school students in grades five through 10, in accordance with procedures and standards adopted by the Board of Health.

SUMMARY:

The frequency of required scoliosis screening in the public schools is reduced from yearly screening of all students in grades five through 10, to yearly screening of all students in grades five, seven and nine, and of transfer students in grades six and eight from school districts not providing scoliosis screening.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    No one.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    None.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.