HF 3599

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to early childhood education; expanding screening to
include socioemotional developmental screening; amending Minnesota Statutes
2004, section 121A.17, subdivision 3.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 121A.17, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:

Subd. 3.

Screening program.

(a) A screening program must include at least the
following components: developmental assessments, new text begin a socioemotional development
screening, new text end hearing and vision screening or referral, immunization review and referral,
the child's height and weight, identification of risk factors that may influence learning,
new text begin screening for autism spectrum disorders, new text end an interview with the parent about the child, and
referral for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment when potential needs are identified. new text begin For
purposes of this section, socioemotional screening means assessing a child's ability, in the
context of family, community, and cultural expectations, to (1) experience, control, and
express emotions; (2) form close and secure interpersonal relationships; and (3) explore
and experience surroundings and learn from them.
new text end

The district and the person performing or supervising the screening must provide
a parent or guardian with clear written notice that the parent or guardian may decline to
answer questions or provide information about family circumstances that might affect
development and identification of risk factors that may influence learning new text begin and that
the socioemotional development part of the early childhood screening is voluntary as
described in paragraph (b) new text end . The notice must clearly state that declining to answer questions
or provide information does not prevent the child from being enrolled in kindergarten or
first grade if all other screening components are met. If a parent or guardian is not able
to read and comprehend the written notice, the district and the person performing or
supervising the screening must convey the information in another manner. The notice must
also inform the parent or guardian that a child need not submit to the district screening
program if the child's health records indicate to the school that the child has received
comparable developmental screening performed within the preceding 365 days by a public
or private health care organization or individual health care provider. The notice must be
given to a parent or guardian at the time the district initially provides information to the
parent or guardian about screening and must be given again at the screening location.

(b) new text begin The socioemotional component of the developmental assessment may be
included in the early childhood developmental screening if the parent or guardian has been
provided with a clear written notice that this component of the screening is voluntary,
and the parent or guardian has signed a document developed and approved by the
commissioner either allowing or declining the socioemotional development component of
the early childhood developmental screening. The socioemotional development screening
component of the early childhood developmental screening shall be conducted with a
screening instrument approved by the commissioner of human services, as the designated
state mental health authority, according to criteria that are updated and issued annually to
ensure that approved screening instruments are valid and useful for this population.
new text end

new text begin (c) new text end All new text begin other new text end screening components shall be consistent with the standards of the state
commissioner of health for early developmental screening programs. A developmental
screening program must not provide laboratory tests or a physical examination to any
child. The district must request from the public or private health care organization or the
individual health care provider the results of any laboratory test or physical examination
within the 12 months preceding a child's scheduled screening.

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end If a child is without health coverage, the school district must refer the child to
an appropriate health care provider.

deleted text begin (d) deleted text end new text begin (e) new text end A board may offer additional components such as nutritional, physical and
dental assessments, review of family circumstances that might affect development, blood
pressure, laboratory tests, and health history.

deleted text begin (e) deleted text end new text begin (f) new text end If a statement signed by the child's parent or guardian is submitted to the
administrator or other person having general control and supervision of the school that
the child has not been screened because of conscientiously held beliefs of the parent
or guardian, the screening is not required.