1. (a) Screeners at facilities must follow the rules for keeping records and reporting information.

   1. (1) A screener must document in each child's screening record the specific screening performed, the date the screening was performed, observations made during the screening, and results. The screener must document the child's name, age or birthdate, and if the child is wearing corrective lenses during the vision screening. The screener must sign and date this information.
   2. (2) A screener must provide facilities a copy of the screener's Department of State Health Services (DSHS) screener certificate.
   3. (3) Screeners at a facility must submit the required documentation referenced in paragraph (1) of this subsection to the facility by the specified deadline or no later than three business days after the screening.

2. (b) Facilities must follow the rules for keeping records and reporting information.

   1. (1) A facility must maintain vision and hearing screening records onsite for at least two years.
   2. (2) A facility must maintain records of screening exemptions found in this subchapter for at least two years.
   3. (3) A facility must maintain the records received from screeners for at least two years.
   4. (4) A child's screening records may be transferred between facilities without consent of the child's parent, managing conservator, or legal guardian, or the individual in the scenarios described in Texas Family Code §32.003, according to Texas Health and Safety Code §36.006(c).
   5. (5) Facilities must provide the required records to DSHS in a timely manner if requested. DSHS or its representatives may enter a facility and inspect vision and hearing screening records.

   6. (6) Facilities or school districts must submit a yearly report on the vision and hearing screening status of the aggregate population screened during the reporting year. The report must be submitted on or before June 30 of each year in the manner specified by DSHS at https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vision-hearing-screening. DSHS may require individual reports for each school or may accept a single report from the school district. DSHS will notify stakeholders of the reporting requirement on the program website. If individual reports are required, school districts will determine if either the district will submit individual facility reports or will have each facility submit a report.

      1. (A) Hearing screening--The total number of children screened, including the number who failed; the number screened by OAE testing; the number referred for professional examination; the number who left the facility before the facility received the professional examination results; professional examination results showing none of the screened disorders were present; professional examination results showing a disorder was present; and referrals for a professional examination where no professional examination was done.
      2. (B) Vision screening--The total number of children screened, including the number screened with glasses or contact lenses, the number screened with instrument-based vision screeners, and the number screened with a wall or electronic eye chart; the number who failed; the number referred for professional examination; the number who left the facility before the facility received the professional examination results; the number whose professional examination results indicated no issues; the number whose professional examination results indicated an issue; and the number referred for a professional examination where no examination was done.
3. (c) Additional recordkeeping requirements for screeners who own or use audiometers and audiometric screening equipment are in §37.28(g) of this subchapter (relating to Hearing Screening Equipment Standards and Requirements).
4. (d) Submit documents described in this subchapter as directed on the DSHS website.
5. (e) Facilities, school districts, and screeners must follow all recordkeeping instructions in the vision and hearing screening manuals.

Source Note:The provisions of this §37.26 adopted to be effective August 17, 2014, 39 TexReg 6055; amended to be effective February 9, 2026, 51 TexReg 732.