MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2018 Regular Session
To: Education; Appropriations
By: Senator(s) Caughman
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-3-87, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO RECOMMEND A COMPREHENSIVE EYE EXAMINATION FOR ALL STUDENTS PRIOR TO ENTERING OR ENROLLING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A PUBLIC, PRIVATE OR PAROCHIAL SCHOOL; TO PROVIDE STANDARDS FOR REQUIRED EYE EXAMINATIONS FOR THIS ACT; TO DIRECT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WITH INPUT FROM THE MISSISSIPPI VISION FOUNDATION TO DEVELOP AND ISSUE REGULATIONS ESTABLISHING THE PROCESS OF PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. Section 37-3-87, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-3-87. (1) This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Mississippi Vision for Better Learning Program."
(2) Beginning July 1, 2018, prior to a student entering or enrolling for the first time in a Mississippi public, private or parochial school approved and accredited by the State Board of Education, should have a comprehensive eye examination performed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Before the end of the first semester of the start of the school year, the parent or guardian of each student shall present to the appropriate school personnel evidence that the student passed an eye examination within the previous six (6) months or a waiver by the parent or guardian of each student opting out of the eye examination. The State Department of Education, with the advice of the Mississippi Vision Foundation, on or before July 1, 2018, shall promulgate rules establishing the criteria for meeting the requirements of this comprehensive eye examination program which shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) A comprehensive eye examination shall include measurement of visual acuity; ocular alignment and motility; depth perception-stereopsis; fusion; slit lamp; examination of the anterior and posteriorsegment and pupils; and cycloplegic refraction and dilated fundus examination when deemed appropriate by the examiner.
(b) Any eye doctor who conducts a comprehensive eye examination of a student given in accordance with the provisions of this section shall forward a written report of the results of the examination to the parent or guardian of such student and the student's primary health care provider. It shall be the responsibility of the parent or guardian to forward a copy of the report to school health personnel. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(i) Date of report;
(ii) Name, address and date of birth of the student;
(iii) Name of the student's school;
(iv) Type of examination;
(v) A summary of significant findings, including diagnoses, medication used, duration of action of medication, treatment, prognosis, whether or not a return visit is recommended and if so, when;
(vi) Recommended educational adjustments for the child, if any, which may include: preferential seating in the classroom, eyeglasses for full-time use in school, eyeglasses for part-time use in school, sight-saving eyeglasses or any other recommendations;
(vii) Name, address and signature of the examiner.
(c) Enforcement of the provisions of this subsection (2) shall be performed by the local school superintendent or his designee, the headmaster of the private or parochial school, or his designee, or the director of the kindergarten program, as appropriate.
( * * *3) In addition to the comprehensive
eye examination required under subsection (2), the State Department of
Education is hereby authorized and empowered to establish a student vision-screening
program to make eye-screening services available to students in Grades K-12
in the public schools in order to detect vision problems which can lead to
academic problems. Such eye-screening service shall be based on a
process that is screening in nature, and not diagnostic, which is intended to
identify with a reasonably high probability, students with a wide range of eye
problems who should seek the services of an eye care professional for
examination, diagnosis and corrective recommendation. Each school shall be
provided with a list of the students screened, and their results. Statistical
summaries of the screening results shall be provided to each school, and
composite statistics by school system, county or district shall be provided to
the State Department of Education. The State Department of Education may
contract with any legal entity to administer the student vision-screening
program on the school district level, and such contract shall be let on a
competitive basis. State funding for said program shall only be available
subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
( * * *4) The school board of any local
school district shall cooperate with the State Department of Education and any
entity under contract with the departments to implement the student eye
examination or vision-screening programs established under this
section.
* * *
(5) Any additional costs for student eye examinations that are not covered by existing insurance or public assistance programs shall be managed by the Mississippi Vision Foundation.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.