PETITION OF:

SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the General Laws as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 17H the following section: —

Section 17I. The commission shall provide to any active or retired employee of the commonwealth who is insured under the group insurance commission coverage for the cost of a vision screening for children conducted within 12 months prior to entering kindergarten, pursuant to the first paragraph of section 57 of Chapter 71, as most recently amended by Chapter 181 of the Acts of 2004. The vision screening shall be conducted by personnel

approved by the department of public health and trained in vision screening techniques developed by the department of public health in consultation with the department of education.

For children who fail to pass the vision screening and for children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental delay, the commission shall provide coverage of a comprehensive eye examination performed by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist chosen by the child’s parent or guardian indicating any pertinent diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, recommendation and evidence of follow-up treatment, if necessary.

SECTION 2. Chapter 118E of the General Laws as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 10F the following section: —

Section 10G. The division shall provide coverage for the cost of a vision screening for children conducted within 12 months prior to entering kindergarten, pursuant to the first paragraph of section 57 of Chapter 71, as most recently amended by Chapter 181 of the Acts of 2004. The vision screening shall be conducted by personnel approved by the department of public health and trained in vision screening techniques developed by the department of public health in consultation with the department of education.

For children who fail to pass the vision screening and for children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental delay, the division shall provide coverage of a comprehensive eye examination performed by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist chosen by the child’s parent or guardian indicating any pertinent diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, recommendation and evidence of follow-up treatment, if necessary.

SECTION 3. Chapter 175 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 110L the following section: —

Section 110M. Any blanket or general policy of insurance which is delivered or issued for delivery within or without the commonwealth and which covers residents of the commonwealth and any employees health and welfare fund which is promulgated or renewed to any person or group of persons in the commonwealth shall provide coverage for a vision screening for children conducted within 12 months prior to entering kindergarten, pursuant to the first paragraph of section 57 of Chapter 71, as most recently amended by Chapter 181 of the Acts of 2004. The vision screening shall be conducted by personnel approved by the department of public health and trained in vision screening techniques developed by the department of public health in consultation with the department of education.

For children who fail to pass the vision screening and for children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental delay, coverage shall be provided for a comprehensive eye examination performed by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist chosen by the child’s parent or guardian indicating any pertinent diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, recommendation and evidence of follow-up treatment, if necessary.

SECTION 4. Chapter 176A of the General Laws as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 8Y the following section:—

Section 8Z. Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan that provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance, delivered, issued, or renewed by agreement between the insurer and the policyholder; within or without the commonwealth, shall provide coverage for a vision screening for children conducted within 12 months prior to entering kindergarten, pursuant to the first paragraph of section 57 of Chapter 71, as most recently amended by Chapter 181 of the Acts of 2004. The vision screening shall be conducted by personnel approved by the department of public health and trained in vision screening techniques developed by the department of public health in consultation with the department of education.

SECTION 5. Chapter 176B of the General Laws as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 4Y the following section:—

Section 4Z. Any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement which provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance, delivered, issued, or renewed by agreement between the insurer and the policyholder, within or without the commonwealth, shall provide coverage for a vision screening for children conducted within 12 months prior to entering kindergarten, pursuant to the first paragraph of section 57 of Chapter 71, as most recently amended by Chapter 181 of the Acts of 2004. The vision screening shall be conducted by personnel approved by the department of public health and trained in vision screening techniques developed by the department of public health in consultation with the department of education.

SECTION 6. Chapter 176G of the General Laws as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 4Q the following section:—

Section 4R. Any group health maintenance contract, except contracts providing supplemental coverage to Medicare or to other government programs, delivered, issued or renewed by agreement within or without the commonwealth shall provide to a member or enrollee coverage for a vision screening for children conducted within 12 months prior to entering kindergarten, pursuant to the first paragraph of section 57 of Chapter 71, as most recently amended by Chapter 181 of the Acts of 2004. The vision screening shall be conducted by personnel approved by the department of public health and trained in vision screening techniques developed by the department of public health in consultation with the department of education.