Pennsylvania SB 720: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school health services, further providing for health services and for vision screening and examinations, providing for eye health and vision examinations and further providing for examinations by examiners of own choice.

Bill Text

CORRECTIVE REPRINT
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 733, 1802 PRINTER'S NO. 1806
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 720
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY GEBHARD, PENNYCUICK, LAUGHLIN, SCHWANK, HAYWOOD
AND LANGERHOLC, MAY 2, 2025
SENATOR CULVER, EDUCATION, AS AMENDED, JUNE 9, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in school health services, further
providing for health services and for vision screening and
examinations, providing for eye health and vision
examinations and further providing for examinations by
examiners of own choice. PROVIDING FOR INITIAL VISION
EXAMINATION.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1402(a) of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
amended to read:
Section 1402. Health Services.--(a) Each child of school
age shall be given by methods established by the Advisory Health
Board, (1) a hearing test by a school nurse or medical
technician, (1.1) a vision screening by school health personnel
or a vision screener or an eye health and vision examination by
an ophthalmologist or optometrist, and (2) a measurement of
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height and weight by a school nurse or teacher, who shall use
the measurement to compute a child's weight-for-height ratio[,
(3) tests for tuberculosis under medical supervision, and (4)
such other tests as the Advisory Health Board may deem advisable
to protect the health of the child]. A vision screening or an
eye health and vision examination shall be performed on an
annual basis.
* * *
Section 2. Section 1403.1(a)(1) and (2), (b)(1) and (2) and
(d) of the act, amended July 11, 2024 (P.L.618, No.55), are
amended to read:
Section 1403.1. Vision Screening and Examinations.--(a) (1)
Prior to admission to school for the first time, a parent or
legal guardian shall present to the school entity or nonpublic
school certification from [a primary care provider or vision
screener that the child has passed or failed a vision screening
performed by a primary care provider or a vision screening
conducted by screeners with specific training in vision
screening techniques and protocols approved by the Department of
Health or has completed] an ophthalmologist or optometrist that
the child has passed or failed a comprehensive eye health and
vision exam conducted by an ophthalmologist or optometrist
within the previous twelve months.
(2) The Department of Health shall promulgate regulations to
establish vision screening standards based on instrument-based
vision screening technologies or visual acuity testing, taking
into consideration national guidelines from the American Academy
of Pediatrics, American Optometric Association and American
Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.
* * *
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(b) (1) [Every] Except as provided under section 1403.2,
every school year at a school entity or nonpublic school, until
a child completes the fifth grade and at least every two years
thereafter until the child graduates from the twelfth grade, the
child shall have a vision screening performed by school health
personnel or screeners with specific training in vision
screening techniques and protocols approved by the Department of
Health. The results of the vision screening shall be supplied to
the parent or legal guardian of the child.
(2) For a child who fails a required vision screening, a
comprehensive eye health and vision examination, performed by an
ophthalmologist or optometrist, shall also be required.
Notification of the parent or legal guardian of the failed
screening shall be accompanied by notification of requirement
for a comprehensive eye health and vision examination that must
be completed within one hundred twenty (120) days or before the
start of the next school year, whichever comes first, and a list
of vision resources compiled by the Department of Health.
Notification may also include a form, to be completed by the
examining ophthalmologist or optometrist, to be used for
reporting the results of the examination. The report may
include, but not be limited to, the following:
(i) Date of report.
(ii) Name, address and date of birth of the child.
(iii) Name of the child's school.
(iv) A summary of significant findings, including best
corrected visual acuity, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and
whether or not a return visit is recommended and, if so, when.
(v) Recommended educational adjustments for the child, if
any, which may include preferential seating in the classroom,
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