Pupil health: vision examination: binocular function.

Existing law requires, upon first enrollment in a California school district of a child at a California elementary school, and at least every 3rd year thereafter until the child has completed the 8th grade, the child's vision to be appraised by the school nurse or other authorized person, as specified. Existing law requires this appraisal to include tests for visual acuity and color vision. This bill would instead, before first enrollment of a pupil at a California private or public elementary school, including a charter school, and at least every 3rd year thereafter until the pupil has completed the 8th grade, require the pupil's vision to be examined by a physician, optometrist, or ophthalmologist, consistent with the most current standard, policy, or guideline adopted by certain entities, except as specified, and require the examination to also include a test for binocular function and refraction and eye health evaluations. The bill would provide that the binocular function examination need not begin until the pupil has reached the 3rd grade and would require the parent or guardian of the pupil to provide results of the examination to the school. The bill would prohibit a school from denying admission to a pupil or taking any other adverse action against a pupil because of his or her parent's or guardian's failure to obtain a vision examination for the pupil. The bill would, if the results of the vision examination are not provided to the school, require the pupil's vision to be appraised at certain times by the school nurse or other authorized person, as specified, require the appraisal to include tests for visual acuity and color vision, and provide that a school district is not prohibited from requiring or authorizing a school nurse or other authorized person, as specified, to evaluate a pupil's vision for visual acuity, color vision, or binocular function. The bill would make these provisions operative on July 1, 2014.