PREFILED JAN 07 2016
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REFERENCE TITLE: schools; vision screening program |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-second Legislature Second Regular Session 2016
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HB 2065 |
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Introduced by Representative Lawrence
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AN ACT
AMENDING sections 36-899, 36-899.01, 36-899.02, 36-899.03 and 36-899.04, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to child hearing and vision services.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Heading change
A. The chapter heading of title 36, chapter 7.2, Arizona Revised Statutes, is changed from "CHILD HEARING PROGRAMS" to "CHILD HEARING AND VISION PROGRAMS".
B. The article heading of title 36, chapter 7.2, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is changed from "PROGRAM OF HEARING EVALUATION SERVICES" to "PROGRAM OF HEARING EVALUATION AND VISION SCREENING EVALUATION SERVICES".
Sec. 2. Section 36-899, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
36-899. Definitions
In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Department" means the department of health services.
2. "Director" means the director of the department of health services.
3. "Hearing evaluation services" means services which that include the identification, testing, and evaluation of a child's hearing and the initiation of follow-up services, as defined in the prescribed by rules and regulations of adopted by the department, as provided by pursuant to section 36-899.03.
4. "Hearing screening evaluation" means the evaluation of the ability to hear certain frequencies at a consistent loudness.
5. "Private education program" means all programs of private education offering courses of study for grades, children in kindergarten through the twelfth grade of high school programs and any of grades one through twelve.
6. "Public education program" means all kindergarten, primary and secondary programs of education within the public school system, including but not beyond the twelfth grade of common or high school.
7. "Vision screening evaluation services" means services that include the evaluation of the ability to see clearly without corrective lenses or surgery using a Snellen eye chart.
Sec. 3. Section 36-899.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
36-899.01. Program for all schoolchildren; administration
A. A program of hearing evaluation and vision screening evaluation services is established by the department. Such These services shall be administered to all children as early as possible, but in no event not later than the first year of attendance in any public or private education program, or residential facility for children with disabilities, and annually thereafter as circumstances permit allow until the child has attained the age of sixteen years of age or is no longer enrolled in a public or private education program.
B. The program of hearing evaluation and vision screening evaluation services for children in a public education program shall be administered by the department of health services with the aid of the department of education. The entity conducting the evaluation shall bear the cost of the vision screening evaluation services.
Sec. 4. Section 36-899.02, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
36-899.02. Powers of the department; limitations
A. The department may, in administering the program of hearing evaluation and vision screening evaluation services, may:
1. Provide consulting services, and establish or supplement hearing evaluation services and vision screening evaluation services in local health departments, public or private education programs or other community agencies.
2. Provide for the training of personnel to administer hearing screening evaluations and vision screening evaluations.
3. Delegate powers and duties to other state agencies, county and local health departments, county and local boards of education or boards of trustees of private education programs or other community agencies to develop and maintain periodic hearing evaluation services and vision screening evaluation services.
4. Provide services by contractual arrangement for the development and maintenance of periodic hearing evaluation services and vision screening evaluation services.
5. Accept reports of hearing evaluation and vision screening evaluation from qualified medical or other professional specialists who are employed by parents or guardians for hearing evaluation and vision screening evaluation when such these reports are submitted to the department.
B. The department shall not replace any qualified existing service.
Sec. 5. Section 36-899.03, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
36-899.03. Rules
The director shall develop adopt rules and regulations governing standards, procedures, techniques, data management and criteria for conducting and administering hearing evaluation services and vision screening evaluation services.
Sec. 6. Section 36-899.04, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
36-899.04. Right of parent or guardian to refuse test
No A child shall be is not required to submit to any test required by this chapter if a parent or guardian of the child objects and submits a statement of such objection to the agency administering such the hearing evaluation services or vision screening evaluation services.