SB1889 - 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 matching grant program for visual devices for certain students.

  89R15002 MPF-F     By: Schwertner S.B. No. 1889       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 matching grant program   for visual devices for certain students.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is   amended by adding Sections 38.035 and 38.0351 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 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 was previously   identified as having a vision disorder or other vision problem.           (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.           Sec.   38.0351.     MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE VISUAL   DEVICES FOR CERTAIN STUDENTS.   (a)   In this section, "eligible   student" means a student who:                 (1)     has been identified as having a vision disorder or   other vision problem under the screening program described by   Section 36.004, Health and Safety Code;                 (2)  is educationally disadvantaged; and                 (3)     is not covered by a health benefit plan that   provides vision care benefits.           (b)     The agency shall establish and administer a matching   grant program to award to school districts grants to cover the costs   of providing to eligible students   visual devices, including glasses   or contact lenses, by directly paying for or reimbursing an   eligible student's parent for the cost of a visual device.           (c)     The agency shall develop eligibility and selection   criteria for grant applicants, including the amount of matching   money a grant applicant must provide for a grant award under this   section.   The matching money may not be from state money.           (d)     The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to   administer the matching grant program established under this   section.           (e)     The agency may award a grant under this section only in   accordance with a contract between the agency and grant recipient.     The contract must include provisions under which the agency is   granted sufficient control to ensure the public purpose of   providing visual devices to eligible students is accomplished and   this state receives the return benefit.          SECTION 2.  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 3.  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;                 (4)     information for a student's parent regarding   available resources for low-cost vision care; and                 (5)     information for a student's parent regarding the   student's potential eligibility to receive benefits under Medicaid   and the process for applying for those benefits.           (a-2)     The department shall biennially update the form   information required under Subsection (a-1)(4).          SECTION 4.  (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 38.0351, 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 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.