135.39D Vision screening.

1. The parent or guardian of a child to be enrolled in a public or accredited nonpublic elementary school shall ensure that the child is screened for vision impairment at least once before enrollment in kindergarten and again before enrollment in grade three. The parent or guardian of the child shall ensure that evidence of the vision screening is provided to the school district or accredited nonpublic school in which the child is enrolled. Evidence of the vision screening may be provided either directly from the parent or guardian or from a vision screening provider referred to in subsection 2, and may be provided in either written or electronic form.

2. The requirement for vision screening may be satisfied by any of the following:

a. A vision screening or comprehensive eye examination by a licensed ophthalmologist or licensed optometrist.

b. A vision screening conducted at a pediatrician’s or family practice physician’s office, a free clinic, a child care center, a local public health department, a public or accredited nonpublic school, or a community-based organization, or by an advanced registered nurse practitioner or physician assistant.

c. An online vision screening, which may be conducted by a child’s parent or guardian.

d. A photoscreening vision screening, including a vision screening by Iowa kidsight.

3. All vision screening methods pursuant to subsection 2, including emerging vision screening technologies, shall be age-appropriate and shall be approved by the department in consultation with leading vision organizations in the state, licensed ophthalmologists, and licensed optometrists.

4. A person who performs a vision screening required pursuant to this section shall report the results of the vision screening to the department. The department may collect and maintain such reports through the statewide immunization registry or a private contractor.

5. Each public and accredited nonpublic elementary school shall, in collaboration with the department, do the following:

a. Provide the parents or guardians of students with vision screening referral resources.

b. Arrange for evidence of vision screenings provided pursuant to subsection 1 to be forwarded to the department.

6. A child shall not be prohibited from attending school based upon the failure of a parent or guardian to ensure that the child has received the vision screening required by this section.

7. If a vision screening required pursuant to this section identifies potential vision impairment in a child, the person who performed the vision screening shall, if the person is not a licensed ophthalmologist or licensed optometrist, refer the child to a licensed ophthalmologist or licensed optometrist for a comprehensive eye examination.

8. The department shall establish procedures to contact parents or guardians of children identified as having potential vision impairment based on the results of a vision screening required pursuant to subsection 1 or a comprehensive eye examination required pursuant to subsection 7 in order to provide information on obtaining necessary vision correction.

9. The department may share information with licensed health care providers, agencies, and other persons involved with vision screenings, eye examinations, follow-up services, and intervention services as necessary to administer this section. The department shall adopt rules to protect the confidentiality of the individuals involved.

10. The vision screening requirement shall not apply if the vision screening conflicts with a parent’s or guardian’s genuine and sincere religious belief.

11. A person who acts in good faith in complying with this section shall not be civilly or criminally liable for reporting the information required to be reported by this section.

12. The department shall adopt rules necessary to administer this section.

2013 Acts, ch 76, §1

See also §280.7A