Bill Text: OR SB274 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to student vision examinations; appropriating money; declaring an emergency.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Failed) 2013-07-08 - In committee upon adjournment. [SB274 Detail]

Download: Oregon-2013-SB274-Introduced.html

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     77th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2013 Regular Session

NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .

LC 2160

                         Senate Bill 274

Printed pursuant to Senate Interim Rule 213.28 by order of the
  President of the Senate in conformance with presession filing
  rules, indicating neither advocacy nor opposition on the part
  of the President (at the request of Senate Interim Committee on
  Education and Workforce Development for Oregon Optometric
  Physicians Association)

                             SUMMARY

The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.

  Requires student seven years of age or younger who is beginning
education program to have comprehensive eye examination.
Provides exceptions.
  Establishes Comprehensive Eye Examination Account for purpose
of funding comprehensive eye examinations for students for whom
cost of examination is financial hardship.
  Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Department of
Education for deposit into Comprehensive Eye Examination Account.
  Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2013.

                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to student vision examinations; appropriating money; and
  declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + (1) As used in this section:
  (a) 'Comprehensive eye examination' means an eye examination
that:
  (A) Is conducted by an optometrist licensed by the Oregon Board
of Optometry or an ophthalmologist licensed by the Oregon Medical
Board.
  (B) Involves any diagnosis of the eye and any measurement or
assistance of the powers or range of vision of the eye.
  (b) 'Education provider' means:
  (A) An entity that offers a program that is recognized as an
Oregon prekindergarten program under ORS 329.170 to 329.200.
  (B) A school district board.
  (C) A private school.
  (D) A parent, legal guardian or private teacher providing
education as provided by ORS 339.030.
  (2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, each
education provider shall require a student who is seven years of
age or younger and who is beginning an educational program with
the education provider for the first time to submit certification
that the student has received a comprehensive eye examination.
The certification must be provided no later than 120 days after
the student began the educational program.
  (3) A student is not required to submit certification as
required under subsection (2) of this section if the student
provides a statement from the parent or guardian of the student
that:
  (a) The student submitted certification to a prior education
provider;
  (b) The payment for a comprehensive eye examination is a
financial hardship; or
  (c) The comprehensive eye examination is contrary to the
religious beliefs of the student or the parent or guardian of the
student.
  (4) For each education provider, a designated person shall:
  (a) Ensure that the requirements of this section are met.
Failure by a student to meet the requirements of this section may
not result in a program or school prohibiting the student from
attending the program or school, but may result in withholding
report cards or similar actions.
  (b) Provide the parent or guardian of each student with
information about comprehensive eye examinations, including
information described in subsection (5) of this section.
  (5) The Department of Education, in consultation with the
Oregon Board of Optometry, shall make available to each education
provider a form that may be provided to parents and guardians to
give parents and guardians information about financial assistance
for comprehensive eye examinations and information about
resources that are available for providing comprehensive eye
examinations.
  (6) Nothing in this section is intended to supersede any
requirements related to the regular provision of vision
screenings in the schools of this state. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + (1) Section 1 of this 2013 Act becomes
operative July 1, 2014.
  (2) Section 1 of this 2013 Act first applies to the 2014-2015
school year. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + The Comprehensive Eye Examination Account is
established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the
General Fund. Interest earned by the Comprehensive Eye
Examination Account shall be credited to the account. Moneys in
the Comprehensive Eye Examination Account are continuously
appropriated to the Department of Education for the purpose of
paying for comprehensive eye examinations, as required under
section 1 of this 2013 Act, for students for whom the examination
is a financial hardship. + }
  SECTION 4. { +  In addition to and not in lieu of any other
appropriation, there is appropriated to the Department of
Education, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2013, out of the
General Fund, the amount of $50,000, which shall be deposited in
the Comprehensive Eye Examination Account established by section
3 of this 2013 Act. + }
  SECTION 5.  { + This 2013 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2013 Act takes effect July 1,
2013. + }
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