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
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-3-87, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO REQUIRE CHILDREN SIX YEARS OF AGE AND YOUNGER TO HAVE A FACE-TO-FACE COMPREHENSIVE EYE EXAMINATION BEFORE ENTERING A PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME AS AN ENROLLED STUDENT; 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) The State Board of Education shall require every child age six (6) years and younger who is entering a public school for the first time to have a face-to-face comprehensive eye examination, completed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist by January 1 of the child's initial year of enrollment in the school. 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 board, 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 board 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 its passage.