STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9374
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
December 19, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. RIVERA -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing best
practice protocols to screen children four years of age and younger
for vision problems
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section
2 2500-n to read as follows:
3 § 2500-n. Vision screening. 1. The commissioner shall establish, for
4 use by pediatric primary care providers, best practice protocols to
5 screen children four years of age and younger for vision problems. Such
6 protocols shall incorporate standards and guidelines established by the
7 American Academy of Pediatrics, and shall be updated at least biennial-
8 ly, and shall include, but not be limited to:
9 (a) the routine employment of objective screening tools at regular
10 intervals during critical childhood developmental stages; and
11 (b) an appropriate referral mechanism for children who, based upon
12 results of the aforementioned screening process, require further evalu-
13 ation.
14 2. The commissioner shall promulgate any rules and regulations neces-
15 sary to implement the provisions of this section.
16 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
17 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
18 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
19 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
20 completed on or before such date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14232-01-5
