Section 167.195

Title XI EDUCATION AND LIBRARIES

Chapter 167

Effective - 28 Aug 2007, 2 histories, see footnote   (history) 

  167.195.  Eye screening required, when — recording of results — children's vision commission established, members, duties. — 1. Beginning July 1, 2008, and continuing through the 2010-11 school year unless extended by act of the general assembly, all public school districts shall conduct an eye screening for each student once before the completion of first grade and again before the completion of third grade. The eye screening method utilized shall be one approved by the children's vision commission and shall be performed by an appropriately trained school nurse or other trained and qualified employee of the school district.

  2. Results of each eye screening shall be recorded on a form provided by the department of health and senior services, developed and approved by the children's vision commission established under this section.

  (1) The screening results, with all individual identifying information removed, shall be sent to the state department of health and senior services via electronic form and shall compile the data contained in the reports for review and analysis by the commission or other interested parties;

  (2) When a student fails the eye screening, the school district shall send a notice developed by the commission to the parent or guardian notifying them of the results of the eye screening and propose that the student receive a complete eye examination from an optometrist or physician. Such notice shall have a place for the parent to acknowledge receipt along with an indication as to whether the student has received a complete eye examination and the results of the examination. Evidence of an examination provided by an optometrist or physician within the year preceding the school eye screening shall be sufficient for meeting the requirements of this section. The notice completed by the parent or guardian is to be returned to the school and shall be retained in the student's file and a copy shall be sent to the department of health and senior services;

  (3) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, nothing in this section shall violate any provisions of Public Law 104-191, 42 U.S.C. 201,* et seq, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.

  3. The "Children's Vision Commission" is hereby established which shall cease to exist on June 30, 2012, unless renewed by act of the general assembly.

  (1) The commission shall be composed of seven members appointed by the governor: two ophthalmologists to be determined from a list of recommended ophthalmologists by the Missouri Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons; two optometrists to be determined from a list of recommended optometrists by the Missouri Optometric Association; one school nurse; one representative from the department of elementary and secondary education; and one representative from the Missouri state school boards association. Each ophthalmologist and optometrist shall serve a one-year term as chair of the commission. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses associated with carrying out their duties.

  (2) Duties of the commission shall be as follows:

  (a) Analyze and adopt one or more standardized eye screening and eye examination tests to carry out the requirements of this section to be used in all schools beginning with the 2008-09 school year which, in the commission's estimation, have a reasonable expectation of identifying vision problems in children;

  (b) Develop, in conjunction with the department of health and senior services, a standardized reporting form which shall be used by all school districts in carrying out the requirements of this section;

  (c) Design and coordinate appropriate training programs for school district staff who conduct the screening exams. Such training programs may utilize the volunteer services of nonprofit professional organizations which, in the opinion of the commission, are qualified to carry out those responsibilities associated with providing the training required;

  (d) Conduct a pilot project to track the results of the eye screenings versus eye examinations conducted based on the reports submitted by school districts to the department of health and senior services;

  (e) Develop, in conjunction with the Missouri Optometric Association (MOA) and the Missouri Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (MOSEPS), guidelines outlining the benefits and ongoing eye care for children and summarizing the signs and symptoms of vision disorders in order for the guidelines to be made available on the MOA and MOSEPS website. The commission shall also consult with MOA and MOSEPS in the organizations' education and promotion of the guidelines;

  (f) By December 31, 2011, the commission shall submit a report to the general assembly detailing the results and findings of the study, including but not limited to the total number of eye screenings and eye examinations, the number of students who received a follow-up examination from an optometrist, opthalmologist, physician, or doctor of osteopathy and the results of those examinations to determine the effectiveness of eye examinations versus eye screenings.

  4. The department of health and senior services shall make a reasonable accommodation for public review and inspection of the data collected as part of the eye screening pilot project provided that no information is revealed that could identify any individual student who was screened or examined.

  5. In the event that a parent or legal guardian of a child objects to the child's participation in the eye screening program, the child shall be excused upon receipt by the appropriate school administrator of a written request.

  6. The department of health and senior services shall provide staff support to the commission.

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(L. 2007 S.B. 16)

*Figure "201" does not appear in original rolls.