(a) (1) (A) Except as provided in subdivision (j), a person shall not be initially employed by a school district, or employed under contract, in a certificated or classified position unless the person has submitted to a tuberculosis risk assessment within the past 60 days, and, if tuberculosis risk factors are identified, has been examined to determine that the person is free of infectious tuberculosis by a physician and surgeon licensed under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, a physician assistant practicing in compliance with Chapter 7.7 (commencing with Section 3500) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, or a nurse practitioner practicing in compliance with Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 2700) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code. If no risk factors are identified, an examination is not required. A person who is subject to the requirements of this subdivision may submit to an examination that complies with subparagraph (B) instead of submitting to a tuberculosis risk assessment.

(B) The examination required by this subdivision shall consist of either an approved intradermal tuberculin test or any other test for tuberculosis infection that is recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and licensed by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If the test is positive, the test shall be followed by an X-ray of the lungs in accordance with subdivision (f) of § 120115 of the Health and Safety Code.

(2) The X-ray may be taken by a competent and qualified X-ray technician if the X-ray is subsequently interpreted by a physician and surgeon licensed under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code.

(3) The district superintendent of schools or their designee may exempt, for a period not to exceed 60 days following termination of the pregnancy, a pregnant employee from the requirement that a positive test for tuberculosis infection be followed by an X-ray of the lungs.

(b) Thereafter, an employee who has no identified risk factors or who tests negative for the tuberculosis infection shall be required to undergo the tuberculosis risk assessment and, if risk factors are identified, the examination, at least once every four years or more often if directed by the governing board of the school district upon recommendation of the local health officer. Once an employee has a documented positive test for tuberculosis infection conducted pursuant to this subdivision that has been followed by an X-ray, the tuberculosis risk assessment is no longer required. A referral shall be made within 30 days of completion of the examination to the local health officer to determine the need for followup care.

(c) After the tuberculosis risk assessment and, if indicated, the examination, the employee shall file with the district superintendent of schools a certificate from the examining physician and surgeon, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner showing the employee was examined and found free from infectious tuberculosis. The county board of education may require, by rule, that the certificates be filed in the office of the county superintendent of schools or maintained in the office of the county superintendent of schools if a majority of the governing boards of the school districts within the county petition the county board of education. A school district, or school districts with a common governing board, having an average daily attendance of 60,000 or more may elect to maintain the files for its employees in that school district.

(d) As used in this section, “certificate” means a certificate signed by the examining physician and surgeon licensed under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, a physician assistant practicing in compliance with Chapter 7.7 (commencing with Section 3500) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, or a nurse practitioner practicing in compliance with Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 2700) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, or a notice from a public health agency that indicates freedom from infectious tuberculosis. The latter, regardless of form, shall constitute evidence of compliance with this section.

(e) Nothing in this section shall prevent the governing board of a school district, upon recommendation of the local health officer, from establishing a rule requiring a more extensive or more frequent physical examination than required by this section. The rule shall provide for reimbursement on the same basis as required in this section.

(f) The tuberculosis risk assessment and, if indicated, the examination is a condition of initial employment and the expense shall be borne by the applicant unless otherwise provided by rules of the governing board of the school district. However, the governing board of a school district may, if an applicant is accepted for employment, reimburse that person in a like manner prescribed in this section for employees.

(g) The governing board of a school district shall reimburse the employee for the cost, if any, of the tuberculosis risk assessment and the examination. The governing board of a school district may provide for the tuberculosis risk assessment and examination required by this section or may establish a reasonable fee for the examination that is reimbursable to employees of the school district complying with this section.

(h) At the discretion of the governing board of a school district, this section shall not apply to those employees not requiring certification qualifications who are employed for any period of time less than a school year whose functions do not require frequent or prolonged contact with pupils.

(i) If the governing board of a school district determines by resolution, after hearing, that the health of pupils in the school district would not be jeopardized, this section shall not apply to an employee of the school district who files an affidavit stating that the employee adheres to the faith or teachings of a well-recognized religious sect, denomination, or organization and, in accordance with its creed, tenets, or principles, depends for healing upon prayer in the practice of religion, and that to the best of the employee’s knowledge and belief, the employee is free from infectious tuberculosis. If at any time there is probable cause to believe that the affiant is afflicted with infectious tuberculosis, the employee may be excluded from service until the governing board of the school district is satisfied that the employee is not afflicted.

(j) A person who transfers employment from one school or school district to another school or school district shall be deemed to meet the requirements of subdivision (a) if that person can produce a certificate that shows the person was found to be free of infectious tuberculosis within 60 days of initial hire, or the school previously employing the person verifies that the person has a certificate on file showing that the person is free from infectious tuberculosis.

(k) A person who transfers their employment from a private or parochial elementary school, secondary school, or nursery school to a school or school district subject to this section shall be deemed to meet the requirements of subdivision (a) if that person can produce a certificate as provided for in § 121525 of the Health and Safety Code that shows that they were found to be free of infectious tuberculosis within 60 days of initial hire, or if the school previously employing the person verifies that the person has a certificate on file showing that the person is free from infectious tuberculosis.

(l) (1) A governing board, county superintendent of schools, or governing body of a charter school providing for the transportation of pupils under contract authorized by Section 39800, 39801, or any other provision of law shall require as a condition of the contract the tuberculosis risk assessment and, if indicated, the examination for infectious tuberculosis within 60 days of initial hire, as provided by subdivision (a), of all drivers transporting pupils for compensation.

(2) At the discretion of the governing board, county superintendent of schools, or governing body of a charter school, paragraph (1) shall not apply to a private contracted driver who transports pupils infrequently and without prolonged contact with the pupils before July 1, 2025.

(m) A volunteer in a school shall also be required to have on file with the school a certificate showing that, upon initial volunteer assignment, the person submitted to a tuberculosis risk assessment and, if tuberculosis risk factors were identified, was examined and found to be free of infectious tuberculosis. If no risk factors are identified, an examination is not required. At the discretion of the governing board of a school district, this section shall not apply to a volunteer whose functions do not require frequent or prolonged contact with pupils.

(n) The State Department of Public Health, in consultation with the California Tuberculosis Controllers Association, shall develop a risk assessment questionnaire, to be used to conduct tuberculosis risk assessments pursuant to this section. The risk assessment questionnaire shall be administered by a health care provider, which shall be specified on the questionnaire. This risk assessment questionnaire shall be exempt from the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 380, Sec. 3. (SB 88) Effective January 1, 2024.)