HB 5241 Summary

• Expands Part 93 of the Public Health Code to include dental screening alongside existing hearing and vision testing programs for children.

• Requires local health departments to conduct free periodic dental testing and screening programs for children, with screenings performed by a dentist or dental hygienist to identify oral or systemic disease, malformation, injury, or referral needs.

• Requires parents or guardians to ensure children receive dental testing and screening at ages and frequencies specified by the department, with option to provide written statement of prior dental screening.

• Requires school officials to collect hearing, dental, and vision screening certificates or exemption statements from parents at kindergarten and first-grade registration.

• Amends language throughout to change "shall" to "must" and replaces "person" with "individual" for grammatical consistency.