"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   (1) The department of health shall convene a work group to reevaluate visual screening of children in public schools and make any recommendations regarding changes to the rules. In developing its recommendations, the work group shall, at a minimum:
     (a) Consider the benefits of complete eye exams on public school children;
     (b) Consider when visual screening, complete eye exams, or both should take place in preschool or kindergarten through high school in order to ensure children are best prepared for the learning environment; and
     (c) Consider what screening techniques would be appropriate in a school setting.
     (2) In developing the recommendations, the department of health shall consult with the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the state board of health, the optometric physicians of Washington, and the Washington academy of eye physicians and surgeons.
     (3) The work group shall make its recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2005.
     (4) The department of health shall use existing resources to accomplish the goals of this section."