Bill > H1955

This bill requires parents or guardians of public school students to provide proof that their child has received an oral health examination by a licensed dentist within the 12 months prior to entering kindergarten or within 30 days of the start of the school year, though exemptions are allowed for undue financial burden, lack of access to a dentist, or parental non-consent. Public schools will be required to notify parents about this examination requirement, explaining its importance for overall health and learning, and providing contact information for public health departments. The Department of Public Health will offer information on accessing affordable dental care and will develop a standardized notification form for schools to use, which will include details about the examination and reasons for non-completion. School districts must then report data on these examinations to the Department of Public Health annually, which will maintain this information for analysis and public requests, while also allowing for the sharing of aggregate data and research use in compliance with privacy laws like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996).