MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2019 Regular Session
To: Education; Public Health and Human Services
By: Representatives Roberson, Dortch, Aguirre, Corley, Evans (91st), Scoggin, Hopkins, Dixon, Sykes, White, Willis, Hines
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-3-87, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO RECOMMEND CHILDREN ENTERING FIRST GRADE TO HAVE A FACE-TO-FACE COMPREHENSIVE EYE EXAMINATION IF THE CHILD'S INITIAL EYE SCREENING INDICATES THE NEED; 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 Better Sight for Better Learning Program."
(2) The State Board of Education shall recommend a child entering first grade, whose eye screening indicates a need to have a face-to-face comprehensive eye examination, to be completed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist by January 1 of the child's first grade year. A principal, director or other person in charge of a public school shall collect from the child's parent or legal guardian, evidence of the child's face-to-face comprehensive eye examination, as provided by regulation of the State Board of Education, or a signed request by the parent or legal guardian of each student opting out of the face-to-face comprehensive eye examination. A face-to-face comprehensive eye examination that was performed before a child's initial enrollment in a public school shall be deemed to satisfy the requirement of this section. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations under the authority provided in this section to implement the provisions of this section.
( * * *3) 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. Such eye screening service shall provide each
student screened with a report of the student's screening results to be taken
home. 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 the 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 department to implement the student face-to-face
comprehensive eye examination or vision screening programs
established under this section.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2019.