Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance

committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).

Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and

attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Begaye

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/2/06

2/11/06 HB HJM 30/aHEC

SHORT TITLE Study School Vision, Hearing & Dental Screens

SB

ANALYST Lewis

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

FY06

FY07

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

NFI*

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

*See narrative.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HEC Amendment

The House Education Committee amendment to HJM 30 adds the request that:

the departments seek the input of the New Mexico Optometric Association, the New Mexico

Dental Association, the New Mexico Speech-Language Hearing Association and the New

Mexico Pediatric Society in formulating their recommendations for the study.

The amendment also amends a number of the “whereas” clauses regarding vision screening, not-

ing that (as amended):

vision screening is not performed in many New Mexico schools, and is not standardized or

required for school-age children entering school at a beginning grade; and

the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Optometric Association have rec-

ommended guidelines for vision screenings that should be studied by the Department of

Health and the Public Education Department when formulating their recommendation.

Synopsis of Original Bill

House Joint Memorial 30 requests that the Department of Health, in cooperation with the Public

Education Department, study the feasibility of requiring vision, hearing and dental screening in

schools.

House Joint Memorial 30/aHEC – Page

2

The memorial further requests that:

the study identify opportunities to expand and standardize routine early vision, hearing

and dental screening for infants and young children in New Mexico;

the study determine how to standardize and implement training on vision, hearing and

dental screening for all school nurses;

the study recommend a process for referral of all children who fail any of the three

screenings at any age to the appropriate professional and develop a standardized referral

form to be used by school nurses for this purpose;

the findings of this study be presented to the Legislative Health and Human Services

Committee at its November 2006 meeting; and that

copies of this memorial be sent to the Secretary of Health and the Secretary of Public

Education.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

None, except for the cost of DOH and PED staff time.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

According to the Department of Health (DOH), New Mexico children are at-risk for undetected

vision, hearing, and dental impairments. National studies indicate that undiagnosed impairments

are highest in children who live in poverty and who are members of minority groups. In New

Mexico, 67% of children are racial or ethnic minorities and 87% of New Mexico’s poor children

are minorities. Poor children are more likely to lack access to adequate healthcare and therefore

do not get appropriate screening for vision, hearing, and dental conditions. Sixteen percent of the

state’s children do not have health insurance, as opposed to 12% nationally.

If vision impairment is not detected early in young children, the impairment can be permanent.

For many children, vision impairment is detected when they enter school. However, this is late in

terms of effective diagnosis and treatment. Hearing loss in children affects the development of

their speech and communication, which, in turn, affects their educational, vocational, and social

outcomes. Early childhood decay is one of the most common diseases in childhood. Poor oral

health in children negatively affects their school performance and overall social well-being.

Timely detection and treatment for childhood eye, hearing, and oral impairments, is cost effec-

tive.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

PED estimates that

it would take approximately 80 hours of time by an Education Administrator

A ($25.495 x 80 + 30% benefits = $2,651) to collaborate with the DOH on the findings of this

study and prepare the findings for the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee. PED

has a health services consultant who can participate in this study.

ML/nt:mt