S-3794.1  _______________________________________________

 

                         SENATE BILL 6463

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

 

By Senators McAuliffe, Kohl‑Welles, Fairley, Goings, Eide, Patterson, Kline and Rasmussen

 

Read first time 01/17/2000.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Providing for early vision and hearing screening.


    AN ACT Relating to health screening in schools; amending RCW 28A.210.020; and creating a new section.

 

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

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that early detection of vision and hearing problems can help the problems be corrected or prevent further problems.  The legislature finds that school districts are currently required to screen for visual and auditory acuity of children attending school in their districts and intends to permit school districts to extend the benefits of early screening to preschool-age children.

 

    Sec. 2.  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.  School boards may choose to offer the visual screening or auditory screening, or both, to preschool-age children living within the school district.  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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