CALIFORNIA LAW

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTION 121475-121520

121475.
In enacting this chapter, it is the intent of the Legislature to provide:

1. A means for the eventual elimination of tuberculosis.
2. Persons required to be tested for tuberculosis under this chapter may obtain testing from whatever medical source they desire, subject only to the condition that the testing be performed in accordance with the regulations of the department and that a record of the testing is made in accordance with the regulations.
3. Exemptions from tuberculosis tests because of personal beliefs.
4. For the keeping of adequate records of tuberculosis tests so that health departments, schools, and other institutions, parents or guardians, and the persons tested will be able to ascertain that a child is free from active tuberculosis, and so that appropriate public agencies will be able to ascertain the testing needs of groups of children in schools or other institutions.

121480.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

1. "Governing authority" means the governing board of each school district or the authority of each other private or public institution responsible for the operation and control of the institution or the principal or administrator of each school or institution.
2. "Certificate" means a document signed by the examining physician and surgeon who is licensed under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, or a notice from a public health agency, a unit of the American Lung Association, or any other private or public source, any of which indicates examination for, and freedom from, active tuberculosis.
3. "Department" means State Department of Health Services.

121485.

1. If the local health officer determines that persons seeking first admission to any private or public elementary or secondary school or institution are reasonably suspected of having tuberculosis and further determines that the examination of the persons for tuberculosis is necessary for the preservation and protection of the public health, he or she may issue an order requiring the persons to undergo a tuberculosis examination.
2. If an order has been issued pursuant to subdivision (a), the governing authority shall not unconditionally admit any person subject to the order as a pupil of any private or public elementary or secondary school, or institution, unless prior to his or her first admission to that institution, he or she provides evidence to the institution of a certificate showing that he or she is free of communicable tuberculosis.
3. Thereafter, any such pupil may be required to undergo the tuberculosis examinations and provide another certificate showing that he or she is free of communicable tuberculosis, if the local health officer orders the examination.

121490.
The examination shall consist of an approved intradermal tuberculin skin test, that, if positive, is followed by an X-ray of the lungs.

121495.

1. A person subject to an order made pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 121485 who does not have on file the certificate required by this chapter may be admitted by the governing authority on condition that within time periods designated by regulations of the department, he or she will provide the certificate.
2. The governing authority shall prohibit from further attendance any person admitted conditionally who fails to obtain and provide the required certificate within the time limits allowed in the regulations of the department, unless the person is exempted under Section 121505, until the person has provided the certificate to the governing authority.

121500.
The examinations required by this chapter may be administered by any private or public source desired.

121505.
The certificate shall not be required for a person who is subject to an order made pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 121485, if the parent, guardian, or other adult who has assumed responsibility for his or her care and custody in case of a minor, or the person seeking admission, if an emancipated minor, provides to the governing authority an affidavit stating that the examination required to obtain the certificate is contrary to his or her beliefs. If at any time there should be probable cause to believe that the person is afflicted with active tuberculosis, he or she may be excluded from the school or other institution listed in Section 121485 until the governing board is satisfied that he or she is not so afflicted.

121510.
Any person or organization administering tuberculosis examinations shall furnish each person examined, or his or her parent or guardian, as appropriate, with a certificate of the examination results given in a form prescribed by the department.

121515.
The governing authority shall cooperate with the local health officer in carrying out any programs ordered by the local health officer for the tuberculosis examinations of persons applying for first admission to any school or institution under its jurisdiction. The governing board of any school district may use funds, property, and personnel of the district for that purpose.

121520.
The department, in consultation with the Department of Education, shall adopt and enforce all and regulations necessary to carry out this chapter.