See the Board Act

This bill mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a grant program within 180 days of its enactment. This program aims to support access to free eye care services for students attending public elementary and secondary schools. Grants will be awarded to eligible nonprofit organizations to acquire portable or mobile eye care equipment and cover essential operational costs, including direct health care delivery expenses. A qualifying eye care services program must furnish these services free of charge, typically utilizing mobile clinics or portable equipment to bring screenings, exams, and an optical shop directly to students at their schools. These programs may involve various healthcare professionals, such as ophthalmic technicians for screenings, optometrists or ophthalmologists for follow-up examinations, and opticians for dispensing glasses. Congress also expresses a sense that grantees should inform students and parents about the importance of adhering to recommended vision screening schedules, with funding authorized for fiscal years 2026 through 2031.