The department of health shall promulgate rules for award of money from the save our children's sight fund. When the vision screen of a student indicates the need for further evaluation, the student's school shall notify the student's parent of that need and provide information on the availability of funds from the save our children's sight fund. The notice shall state that the parent, if the student is not already covered by health insurance for a comprehensive eye examination, may apply to the fund for the following expenses as a result of the screening:

A. a comprehensive eye examination by an optometrist or ophthalmologist whose services are used to follow up the school vision screen;

B. the cost of contact lenses or polycarbonate lenses and frames for eyeglasses; and

C. replacement insurance for lost or broken lenses.

History: Laws 2007, ch. 353, § 3 and Laws 2007, ch. 357, § 3.

Compiler's notes. Laws 2007, ch. 353, § 3 and Laws 2007, ch. 357, § 3, enacted identical new sections, both effective January 1, 2008.

Temporary provisions. — Laws 2007, ch. 353, § 5 and Laws 2007, ch. 357, § 5, provided that the secretary of health shall appoint an advisory committee to establish the standard for an appropriate vision screening. The committee shall consist of a practicing nurse, a representative of a statewide organization for the prevention of blindness, a licensed New Mexico optometrist, a licensed New Mexico ophthalmologist and a licensed New Mexico pediatrician. The department of health shall promulgate rules to establish vision screening test standards.