Relating to vision screenings for public and private school students, including vision screening information reporting for public school students, and to the creation of a vision care grant program for certain students.

89(R) HB 2967 - Engrossed version - Bill Text

By: Dutton, Simmons

H.B. No. 2967

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to vision screenings for public and private school

students, including vision screening information reporting for

public school students, and to the creation of a vision care grant

program 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, 38.0351, and 38.0352 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;

(7)

the number of times the student was previously

identified as having a vision disorder or other vision problem;

(8) the identified vision disorder or problem; and

(9)

the type of screening equipment used for the

screening.

(b)

The commissioner by rule shall require each school

district to report to the agency information necessary for the

agency to prepare the report required by this section.

(c)

The agency shall store and maintain information

reported to the agency under this section using the data management

system described by Section 38.0352.

Sec.

38.0351.

VISION CARE GRANT PROGRAM 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 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, such as glasses or contact lenses

dispensed under a prescription.

(b)

From money appropriated or otherwise available for that

purpose, the agency shall establish and administer a grant program

for the purpose of awarding grants to cover the costs of:

(1)

screening eligible students

for vision disorders

or other vision problems; and

(2)

providing vision care to eligible students

identified as having a vision disorder or other vision problem.

(c)

The agency shall develop eligibility and selection

criteria for grant applicants.

(d)

The commissioner shall adopt the rules necessary to

administer the 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 vision care to eligible students is accomplished and this

state receives the return benefit.

(f) Money allocated under this section:

(1)

may only be used to cover the costs associated with

providing vision care to eligible students; and

(2)

may not be used to supplant any other money

provided for the same purpose.

(g)

The agency may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and

donations for the purpose of implementing the grant program

established under this section.

Sec.

38.0352.

ACQUISITION OF DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. (a)

The agency shall acquire and maintain a third-party data management

system to facilitate the reporting of information to the agency

under Section 38.035 and to maintain any information under Section

38.0351 as the agency determines necessary.

(b)

The data management system the agency acquires and

maintains under Subsection (a) must comply with any applicable

federal and state privacy laws.

(c)

The agency may enter into a memorandum of understanding

with the Health and Human Services Commission for the commission to

utilize the data management system the agency acquires and

maintains under Subsection (a) in conducting the screening program

for vision disorders under Section 36.004, Health and Safety Code.

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 the child

health plan program, as defined by Section 521.0001, Government

Code.

(a-2)

The department shall biennially update the form

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

SECTION 4. (a) Not later than December 1, 2025, the

commissioner of education shall adopt rules necessary to implement

Sections 38.035, 38.0351, and 38.0352, Education Code, as added by

this Act.

(b) Not later than December 1, 2025, the executive

commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall

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.