bill adding student vision reports and a $75 allotment

The text as introduced · 634 words

89R4247 MPF/AMF-F

By: Dutton
H.B. No. 2967

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to vision screenings for students in public or private

school, including vision screening information reporting for

public school students and the creation of a vision care allotment

under the Foundation School Program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 38.035 to read as follows:

Sec. 38.035. VISION SCREENING REPORTING. (a) Not later

than May 31 of each year, the agency shall post on the agency's

Internet website a report regarding the number of students in each

school district identified as having a vision disorder or other

vision problem requiring vision care under the screening program

described by Section 36.004, Health and Safety Code, disaggregated

by:

(1) grade level;

(2) campus;

(3) gender;

(4) race;

(5) ethnicity;

(6) whether the student is educationally

disadvantaged; and

(7) the number of times the student has previously

been identified as having a vision disorder or other vision problem

requiring vision care.

(b) The commissioner by rule shall require each school

district to report through the Public Education Information

Management System (PEIMS) information necessary for the agency to

prepare the report required by this section.

SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 48, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 48.1035 to read as follows:

Sec. 48.1035. ALLOTMENT FOR VISION CARE FOR CERTAIN

STUDENTS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Eligible student" means a student who:

(A) has been identified as having a vision

disorder or other vision problem requiring vision care under the

screening program described by Section 36.004, Health and Safety

Code; and

(B) is educationally disadvantaged.

(2) "Vision care" includes eye exams and assistive or

corrective visual devices, including glasses or contact lenses.

(b) A school district is entitled to an annual allotment

equal to $75 or a greater amount provided by appropriation for each

eligible student in average daily attendance.

(c) Funds allocated under this section must be used to pay

for costs associated with providing vision care to eligible

students, which may include reimbursing the parent of an eligible

student for vision care provided to that student.

(d) Funds allocated under this section may not be used to

supplant any other funds provided for the same purpose.

SECTION 3. Section 36.004(b-1), Health and Safety Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(b-1) The rules must allow an individual who attends a

public or private school to be screened:

(1) using photoscreening to detect vision disorders;

[ and ]

(2) using an electronic eye chart as a substitute for a

printed eye chart to assess visual acuity ; and

(3) using visual screening techniques to detect depth

perception issues and color blindness .

SECTION 4. Section 36.006, Health and Safety Code, is

amended by adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to read as follows:

(a-1) The form prescribed by the department under

Subsection (a) must include:

(1) separate spaces for the student's first and last

name;

(2) a space for the preschool's or school's name;

(3) a space for the student's grade level; and

(4) information for a student's parents regarding

available resources for low-cost vision care.

(a-2) The department shall biennially update the form

information required under Subsection (a-1)(4).

SECTION 5. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective

date of this Act, the commissioner of education shall adopt rules

necessary to implement Sections 38.035 and 48.1035, Education Code,

as added by this Act.

(b) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human

Services Commission shall, as soon as practicable after the

effective date of this Act, adopt rules necessary to implement the

changes in law made by this Act to Chapter 36, Health and Safety

Code.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.