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House passes bill to expand vision screening to pre‑K amid parental‑consent debate
Summary
HB1193 would require vision screening for pre‑kindergarten children to catch undiagnosed vision problems earlier; lawmakers debated parental consent and possible unfunded costs for some rural districts before passing the bill on second reading.
Representative Brett Martinez sponsored House Bill 11‑93, telling the chamber that one in 17 young children — and larger proportions with learning delays — can have vision disorders that interfere with development and learning. He said only about 40 percent of children ages 0‑5 in Colorado currently receive vision screening and that expanding screening into pre‑kindergarten aims to close that gap.
Supporters argued earlier screening helps identify problems that can be treated — glasses or interventions — so children do not fall behind. Representative Lindsay offered a personal example about her son receiving glasses early and urged members to vote in favor to catch problems sooner.
Opponents focused on the fiscal and parental‑consent implications. Representative Garcia Sander (who voted 'no' in committee) said many rural districts could face costs if they are not already conducting preschool screenings, calling the change an unfunded mandate in some areas. Other members pushed for express written parental consent or opt‑in language. Representative de Graaf and other backers proposed amendments to require written consent at registration; proponents called this a simple way to ensure parental involvement and reduce surprise medical interventions at school. Sponsor Martinez and other supporters said existing statute allows parents or guardians to object on religious or personal grounds and that districts already provide opt‑out or notice mechanisms; they argued requiring explicit written consent would defeat the bill’s purpose of increasing access.
Multiple amendment efforts on parental consent and opt‑in/opt‑out frameworks were offered and defeated on the floor. After extended debate, the body voted and 'the ayes have it' — House Bill 11‑93 passed its committee report on second reading and was placed on the calendar for third reading.
Next steps: The bill advances to final passage consideration; sponsors signaled continued attention to implementation and school‑district notification procedures.
