Child Vision and Hearing Test Act (410 ILCS 205/)

Chapter 410 — Public Health

Child Health

This text is maintained by the Legislative Reference Bureau for legislative drafting purposes and is NOT the official text of the Illinois Compiled Statutes; the only official copy is the printed copy maintained by the Secretary of State.

Sec. 1.

This Act shall be known as and may be cited as the "Child Vision and Hearing Test Act".

(Source: P.A. 81-174.)

Sec. 2.

As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and phrases mean:

"Department" is the Department of Public Health;

"Director" is the Director of the Department of Public Health;

"Vision and Hearing Screening Services" are the identification, testing, evaluation and initiation of follow-up services as defined in the rules and regulations of the Department and the State Board of Education, as required by Section 4.

(Source: P.A. 81-174.)

Sec. 3.

Vision and hearing screening services shall be administered to all children as early as possible, but no later than their first year in any public or private education program, licensed early care and education center, or residential facility for children with disabilities; and periodically thereafter, to identify those children with vision or hearing impairments or both so that such conditions can be managed or treated.

(Source: P.A. 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

Sec. 4.

In addition to the program of hearing screening services established by the Department under this Act, the Department shall establish a program of vision screening services by January 1, 1980. The Department and the State Board of Education shall jointly develop rules and regulations governing standards, procedures, techniques and criteria for conducting and administering vision and hearing screening services and shall set standards for the training and qualifications of personnel to provide such services.

(Source: P.A. 81-174.)

Sec. 4.5. Color discrimination tests

(This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)

Sec. 4.5. Color discrimination tests. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, color discrimination tests shall be performed as part of the vision screening services provided under this Act for children in kindergarten, second grade, and eighth grade.

The Department shall adopt rules with the Secretary of State to implement the requirements of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 104-761, eff. 1-1-27.)

Sec. 5.

In administering the program of vision and hearing screening services, the Department shall not replace any qualified existing service, and shall:

(a) Provide consulting services, to local health departments, school districts, or other community agencies who establish or supplement programs for vision and hearing screening services.

(b) Delegate responsibility to other State agencies, local health departments, school districts, or other community agencies, to develop and maintain periodic vision and hearing screening services.

(c) Provide direct services through contractual arrangement for the development and maintenance of periodic vision and hearing screening services.

(d) Accept reports of vision and hearing evaluations from qualified medical or other professional specialists employed by parents or guardians for vision and hearing evaluations when such reports are submitted to the Department.

(Source: P.A. 81-174.)

Sec. 6.

No child shall be required to submit to any test required by this Act if a parent or a guardian of the child objects on constitutional grounds, and submits a written statement of such objection to the agency administering such vision and hearing screening services.

(Source: P.A. 81-174.)

Sec. 7.

[Repealed]

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15. Repealed by P.A. 104-435, eff. 11-21-25.)