HB 5297 Summary

• Requires school districts and public school academies to notify parents within 10 days when a pupil has a vision deficiency, is identified as a struggling reader, has an IEP or Section 504 plan, or failed the state English language arts assessment.

• Parents must ensure pupils receive a comprehensive eye and vision examination by an eye care professional within 60 days of notice, covering refractive, accommodative, binocular, and saccadic eye movement and convergence sufficiency.

• Eye care professionals must submit a signed certificate to the school within 30 days confirming the examination was conducted and stating any recommendations for vision correction, vision therapy, or other treatment.

• Schools must report noncompliance to the state Department of Education if certificates are not received within required timeframes and take steps to encourage parents to obtain the examination.

• Religious exemption available if parent or legal guardian submits a signed statement that the pupil cannot undergo examination due to religious convictions; effective 90 days after enactment.