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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to vision screenings for students in public or private |
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school. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 36.003, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows: |
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(1-a) "Electronic eye chart" means any computerized or |
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other electronic system, device, or method of displaying on an |
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electronic screen medically accepted and properly sized optotypes, |
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which may be letters, numbers, or symbols, a health care |
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practitioner or other person uses to assess an individual's visual |
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acuity. The term does not include an automated computer program |
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that assesses an individual's visual acuity through the |
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individual's interaction with the program by playing a game. |
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SECTION 2. Section 36.004(b-1), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b-1) The rules must allow an individual who attends a |
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public or private school to be screened: |
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(1) using photoscreening to detect vision disorders; |
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and |
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(2) using an electronic eye chart as a substitute for a |
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printed eye chart to assess visual acuity. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall adopt the rules necessary to implement |
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the changes in law made by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |