An Act
ENROLLED HOUSE
BILL NO. 1598 By: Provenzano, Lepak and
Waldron of the House
and
Quinn and Hicks of the
Senate
An Act relating to students; amending 70 O.S. 2011,
Section 1210.284, as last amended by Section 79,
Chapter 229, O.S.L. 2013 (70 O. S. Supp. 2020, Section
1210.284), which relates to vision screening of
students; authorizing the State Department of
Education to approve vision screeners to conduct
certain screenings; updating references; providing an
effective date; and declaring an eme rgency.
SUBJECT: Students
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2011, Section 1210.284, as
last amended by Section 79, Chapter 229, O.S.L. 2013 (70 O.S. Supp.
2020, Section 1210.284), is amended to read as follows:
Section 1210.284 A. 1. The parent or legal guardian of each
student enrolled in kindergarten at a public school in this state
shall provide certification to school personnel that the student
passed a vision screenin g within the previous twelve (12) months or
during the school year. Such screening shall be conducted by
personnel listed on the statewide registry as maintained by the
State Department of Health.
2. The parent or legal guardian of each student enrolled in
first or third grade at a public school in this state shall provide
within thirty (30) days of the beginning of the school year ENR. H. B. NO. 1598 Page 2
certification to school personnel that the student passed a vision
screening within the previous twelve (12) months. Such s creening
shall be conducted by personnel listed on the statewide registry as
maintained by the State Department of Health or by personnel
approved by the State Department of Education as provided in
subsection C of this section .
3. The parent or legal guardian of each student who receives a
vision screening as required by this section shall receive
notification that a vision screening is not the equivalent of a
comprehensive eye exam.
B. 1. The Infant and Children's Health Advisory Council
created in Section 44 of this act Section 1-103a.1 of Title 63 of
the Oklahoma Statutes shall make recommendations to the State Board
of Health on:
a. standards for vision screening and referral,
b. qualifications for initial recognition and renewal of
recognition of vision screeners,
c. qualifications for initial recognition and renewal of
recognition of vision screener trainers,
d. qualifications for initial recognition and renewal of
recognition of trainers of vision screener trainers,
and
e. grounds for denial, refusal, suspension or revocation
of recognition of vision screeners, vision screener
trainers and trainers of vision screener trainers.
2. The Department shall:
a. establish and thereafter maintain a statewide
registry, available via the Internet, wh ich shall
contain a list of approved vision screeners,
b. maintain a list of approved vision screener trainers
and trainers of vision screener trainers, and
c. maintain the standards for vision screening and
referral.
ENR. H. B. NO. 1598 Page 3
3. After notice and hearing, the D epartment may deny, refuse,
suspend or revoke approval to an applicant which has a history of:
a. noncompliance or incomplete or partial compliance with
the provisions of this section or the rules adopted by
the Board to implement the provisions of this s ection,
b. referring persons to a business in which the applicant
has a financial interest or a business which is owned
or operated by someone within the third degree of
consanguinity or affinity of the applicant, or
c. conduct which demonstrates that th e applicant is
providing services in a manner which does not warrant
public trust.
4. The Board, giving consideration to the recommendations of
the Infant and Children's Health Advisory Council created in Section
44 of this act Section 1-103a.1 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma
Statutes, shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this
section.
C. In addition to the statewide registry maintained by the
State Department of Health, the State Department of Education shall
be authorized to approve visio n screeners to conduct vision
screenings pursuant to this section.
D. 1. The parent or legal guardian of each student who fails
the vision screening required in subsection A of this section shall
receive a recommendation to undergo a comprehensive eye e xamination
performed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.
2. The ophthalmologist or optometrist shall forward a written
report of the results of the comprehensive eye examination to the
student's school, parent or legal guardian, and primary health care
provider designated by the parent or legal guardian. The report
shall include, but not be limited to:
a. date of report,
b. name, address and date of birth of the student,
c. name of the student's school,
d. type of examination, ENR. H. B. NO. 1598 Page 4
e. 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,
f. 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, and any other recommendations, and
g. name, address and signature of the examiner.
D. E. No student shall be prohibited from attending school for
a parent's or legal guardian's failure to furnish a report of the
student's vision screening or an examiner's failure to furnish the
results of a student's comprehensive eye examination required by
this section.
E. F. School districts shall notify parents or legal guardians
of students who enroll in kindergarten, first , or third grade for
the 2007-08 school year and each year thereafter of the requirements
of this section.
F. G. The State Board of Education shall ad opt rules for the
implementation of this section except as provided in subsection B of
this section. The State Department of Education shall issue a
report annually on the impact and effectiveness of this section.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2021.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
ENR. H. B. NO. 1598 Page 5
Passed the House of Representatives the 3rd day of March, 2021.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the 14th day of April, 2021.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this __ _______
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
_________________________________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________