72-6266. Certification of health; form and contents; expense of obtaining; alternative certification. (a) Every board of education shall require all employees of the school district, who come in regular contact with the pupils of the school district, to submit a certification of health on a form prescribed by the secretary of health and environment and signed by a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery under the laws of any state, or by a person who is licensed as a physician assistant under the laws of this state when such person is working at the direction of or in collaboration with a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery, or by a person holding a license to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse under the laws of this state when such person is working at the direction of or in collaboration with a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery. The certification shall include a statement that there is no evidence of [a] physical condition that would conflict with the health, safety, or welfare of the pupils; and that freedom from tuberculosis has been established by chest x-ray or negative tuberculin skin test. If at any time there is reasonable cause to believe that any such employee of the school district is suffering from an illness detrimental to the health of the pupils, the school board may require a new certification of health.

(b) Upon presentation of a signed statement by the employee of a school district, to whom the provisions of subsection (a) apply, that the employee is an adherent of a religious denomination whose religious teachings are opposed to physical examinations, the employee shall be permitted to submit, as an alternative to the certification of health required under subsection (a), certification signed by a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery under the laws of any state, or by a person who is licensed as a physician assistant under the laws of this state when such person is working at the direction of or in collaboration with a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery, or by a person holding a license to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse under the laws of this state when such person is working at the direction of or in collaboration with a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery that freedom of the employee from tuberculosis has been established.

(c) Every board of education may require persons, other than employees of the school district, to submit to the same certification of health requirements as are imposed upon employees of the school district under the provisions of subsection (a) if such persons perform or provide services to or for a school district which require such persons to come in regular contact with the pupils of the school district. No such person shall be required to submit a certification of health if the person presents a signed statement that the person is an adherent of a religious denomination whose religious teachings are opposed to physical examinations. Such persons shall be permitted to submit, as an alternative to a certification of health, certification signed by a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery under the laws of any state, or by a person who is licensed as a physician assistant under the laws of this state when such person is working at the direction of or in collaboration with a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery, or by a person holding a license to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse under the laws of this state when such person is working at the direction of or in collaboration with a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery that freedom of such persons from tuberculosis has been established.

(d) The expense of obtaining certifications of health and certifications of freedom from tuberculosis may be borne by the board of education.

History: L. 1963, ch. 358, § 2; L. 1974, ch. 300, § 1; L. 1975, ch. 370, § 1; L. 1980, ch. 219, § 1; L. 1999, ch. 116, § 50; L. 2000, ch. 13, § 1; L. 2004, ch. 117, § 14; L. 2011, ch. 114, § 68; January 1, 2012.