Committee approves follow‑up requirement after failed school vision screens and narrows nonprofit outreach language

Representative (sponsor) Wins told the committee childhood vision screening is already required by statute and that the bill only requires LEAs to make a follow‑up contact within 30 days after a failed vision screen to confirm families received notice and to offer assistance if needed. Wins said school nurses cannot always complete all screenings and LEAs often contract with nonprofits that provide free, supplementary services to children.

The bill also allows a nonprofit that has an LEA contract to send a single supplemental notice offering no‑cost follow‑up care to families who indicate financial hardship. Committee members asked whether that could open the door to commercial solicitations; the sponsor clarified the provision is limited to nonprofits that contract with the LEA and not to for‑profit vendors.

Representative McPherson offered a friendly amendment to clarify contracting language; the committee adopted the amendment and unanimously recommended the bill favorably. The sponsor and staff said the follow‑up contact may be by phone, email or an approved electronic communication tool (for example, ParentSquare) and offered to further refine language about confirmation of receipt for hard‑to‑reach families.

What happens next: HB 351 was recommended favorably and will move forward; sponsors indicated willingness to refine technical language on acceptable communication methods.