Pupil health: eye examinations: schoolsites.

Existing law requires the governing board of a school district to provide for the adequate testing of the sight and hearing of each pupil enrolled in the schools of the school district, and requires the tests to be given only by specified persons. Existing law requires a school nurse or other authorized person to appraise the vision of a pupil during kindergarten, or upon first enrollment or entry of that pupil in a California school district at an elementary school, and in grades 2, 5, and 8, as specified. Existing law authorizes a parent or guardian having control or charge of any child enrolled in the public schools to file annually with the principal of the school in which the child is enrolled a statement in writing, signed by the parent or guardian, stating that they will not consent to a physical examination of the child. Existing law requires that child to be exempt from any physical examination, as provided. This bill would authorize a local educational agency, as defined, to enter into a memorandum of understanding with a nonprofit eye examination provider, including, but not limited to, a nonprofit mobile eye examination provider, as defined, to provide noninvasive eye examinations consisting of providing eyeglasses to pupils at any schoolsite within the local educational agency. The bill would require eye examinations provided pursuant to the bill's provisions to be supplemental to, and to not replace, the above-referenced vision appraisals or screenings provided pursuant to existing law. The bill would require a school to provide parents and guardians with an opportunity to opt out their child from receiving these eye care services, as provided. The bill would require the State Department of Education to develop and post on appropriate department internet websites a model opt-out form for these purposes. The bill would provide that participating licensed health care professionals shall have immunity from civil and criminal liability and immunity from any disciplinary actions from a professional licensing board for, and participating local educational agencies shall have immunity from civil and criminal liability for, providing authorized services without parent or guardian consent, except as provided.