Committee advances bill requiring vision and hearing screenings for Georgia students in pre‑K through grade 3

Representative Hagan, the bill sponsor, told the committee the substitute (LC492711S) would require vision and hearing screenings for all public school students in pre‑K through third grade to be performed at their school, with parents able to opt out. "Parents could opt out. Otherwise, the students will be screened," Hagan said during her presentation.

The substitute assigns the Department of Public Health (DPH) the duty to supply parents with notification language if a child fails a screening and to receive specified data listed in the bill. Hagan said that data—submitted to DPH—will be reported annually to the General Assembly so lawmakers can track outcomes such as how many students received glasses or hearing aids and whether test scores changed after treatment.

To help schools implement screenings, the bill creates a one‑time grant administered by the Department of Education: $15,000 per school system to purchase screening equipment. The substitute also allows schools to contract with outside organizations (Hagan cited the Lions Club as a common local partner) to conduct screenings provided those groups meet DPH protocols.

Committee members framed the bill as a relatively low‑cost intervention with potential literacy benefits. Chair Erwin and other members shared personal examples of students whose reading improved after vision correction. After brief member remarks and a second, the committee approved the substitute by voice vote.

HB1402 now moves from the education committee to the next step in the legislative process.