§ 72-6267 — Health assessments; definitions; requirements, alternatives; duties of school boards

(a) As used in this section:
(1) "School board" means the board of education of a school district and the governing authority of any nonpublic school;
(2) "school" means all elementary schools within the state;
(3) "local health department" means any county or joint board of health having jurisdiction over the place where any pupil affected by this section may reside;
(4) "secretary" means the secretary of health and environment;
(5) "physician" means a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery;
(6) "nurse" means a person licensed to practice professional nursing;
(7) "health assessment" means a health history, physical examination and such screening tests as are medically indicated to determine hearing ability, vision ability, nutrition adequacy and appropriate growth and development;
(8) "clinic" means an indigent health care clinic as defined by K.S.A. 75-6102 and amendments thereto.
(b) Subject to the provisions of subsection (d) and subsection (g), on and after July 1, 1994, every pupil up to the age of nine years who has not previously enrolled in any school in this state, prior to admission to and attendance in school, shall present to the appropriate school board the results of a health assessment, pursuant to subsection (g), which assessment shall have been conducted within 12 months of school entry by a nurse who has completed the department of health and environment training and certification, by a physician or by a person acting under the direction of a physician. Information contained in the health assessment shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed or made public beyond that necessary under this section except that: (1) Information contained in the health assessment may be disclosed to school board personnel but only to the extent necessary to administer this section and protect the health of the pupil; (2) if a medical emergency exists, the information contained in the health assessment may be disclosed to medical personnel to the extent necessary to protect the health of the pupil; (3) if the parent or guardian of a pupil under 18 years of age consents to the disclosure of the information contained in the health assessment or, if the pupil is 18 years of age or older, if the pupil consents to the disclosure of the information; and (4) if no person can be identified in the information to be disclosed and the disclosure is for statistical purposes.
(c) As an alternative to the health assessment required under subsection (b), a pupil shall present:
(1) A written statement signed by one parent or guardian that the child is an adherent of a religious denomination whose religious teachings are opposed to such assessments; or
(2) a written statement signed by one parent or guardian that such assessment will be scheduled and completed within 90 days after admission to school.
(d) Prior to the commencement of each school year, the school board of every school affected by this section shall give to all known pupils who will be enrolling in the school and who are subject to the requirements of subsection (b) or (c)(1) and (2), a copy of any policy regarding the implementation of the provisions of this section adopted by the school board.
(e) If a pupil transfers from one school to another, the school board of the school from which the pupil transfers shall forward with the pupil's transcript, upon request of the parent or guardian of the pupil therefor, the results of the health assessment showing evidence of compliance with the requirements of this section to the school board of the school to which the pupil transfers.
(f) Local health departments and clinics may charge a sliding fee for providing such health assessments based on ability to pay and no pupil shall be denied the health assessment due to inability to pay. The local health officer shall counsel and advise local school boards on the administration of this section. The secretary may adopt rules and regulations to award grants to assist local health departments and clinics in providing such health assessments, consistent with state appropriations.
(g) The secretary may adopt rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this section, but shall not prescribe a form on which the results of health assessments are reported.
(h) The school board of every school affected by this section may exclude from school attendance, or by policy adopted by any such school board authorize any certificated employee or committee of certificated employees to exclude from school attendance, any pupil who is subject to and who has not complied with the requirements of subsection (b) or (c). A pupil shall be subject to exclusion from school attendance under this section until such time as the pupil shall have complied with the requirements of subsection (b) or (c). The policy shall include provisions for written notice to be given to the parent or guardian of the involved pupil. The notice shall indicate the reason for the exclusion from school attendance, state that the pupil shall continue to be excluded until the pupil has complied with the requirements of subsection (b) or (c) and inform the parent or guardian that a hearing thereon shall be afforded the parent or guardian upon request for a hearing.
(i) The provisions of K.S.A. 72-3120, and amendments thereto, do not apply to any pupil while excluded from school attendance under the provisions of subsection (h).

Legislative History

L. 1992, ch. 173, § 1; L. 1993, ch. 226, § 1; L. 1994, ch. 272, § 1; L. 1999, ch. 99, § 1; April 22.