Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford

Filed: 4/14/2016

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 565

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 565 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
527-8.1 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/27-8.1)  (from Ch. 122, par. 27-8.1)
7    Sec. 27-8.1. Health examinations and immunizations.
8    (1) In compliance with rules and regulations which the
9Department of Public Health shall promulgate, and except as
10hereinafter provided, all children in Illinois shall have a
11health examination as follows: within one year prior to
12entering kindergarten or the first grade of any public,
13private, or parochial elementary school; upon entering the
14sixth and ninth grades of any public, private, or parochial
15school; prior to entrance into any public, private, or
16parochial nursery school; and, irrespective of grade,

 

 

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1immediately prior to or upon entrance into any public, private,
2or parochial school or nursery school, each child shall present
3proof of having been examined in accordance with this Section
4and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder. Any child
5who received a health examination within one year prior to
6entering the fifth grade for the 2007-2008 school year is not
7required to receive an additional health examination in order
8to comply with the provisions of Public Act 95-422 when he or
9she attends school for the 2008-2009 school year, unless the
10child is attending school for the first time as provided in
11this paragraph.
12    A tuberculosis skin test screening shall be included as a
13required part of each health examination included under this
14Section if the child resides in an area designated by the
15Department of Public Health as having a high incidence of
16tuberculosis. Additional health examinations of pupils,
17including eye examinations, may be required when deemed
18necessary by school authorities. Parents are encouraged to have
19their children undergo eye examinations at the same points in
20time required for health examinations.
21    (1.5) In compliance with rules adopted by the Department of
22Public Health and except as otherwise provided in this Section,
23all children in kindergarten and the second and sixth grades of
24any public, private, or parochial school shall have a dental
25examination. Each of these children shall present proof of
26having been examined by a dentist in accordance with this

 

 

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1Section and rules adopted under this Section before May 15th of
2the school year. If a child in the second or sixth grade fails
3to present proof by May 15th, the school may hold the child's
4report card until one of the following occurs: (i) the child
5presents proof of a completed dental examination or (ii) the
6child presents proof that a dental examination will take place
7within 60 days after May 15th. The Department of Public Health
8shall establish, by rule, a waiver for children who show an
9undue burden or a lack of access to a dentist. Each public,
10private, and parochial school must give notice of this dental
11examination requirement to the parents and guardians of
12students at least 60 days before May 15th of each school year.
13    (1.10) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, all
14children enrolling in kindergarten in a public, private, or
15parochial school on or after the effective date of this
16amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly and any student
17enrolling for the first time in a public, private, or parochial
18school on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of
19the 95th General Assembly shall have an eye examination. Each
20of these children shall present proof of having been examined
21by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its
22branches or a licensed optometrist within the previous year, in
23accordance with this Section and rules adopted under this
24Section, before October 15th of the school year. If the child
25fails to present proof by October 15th, the school may hold the
26child's report card until one of the following occurs: (i) the

 

 

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1child presents proof of a completed eye examination or (ii) the
2child presents proof that an eye examination will take place
3within 60 days after October 15th. The Department of Public
4Health shall establish, by rule, a waiver for children who show
5an undue burden or a lack of access to a physician licensed to
6practice medicine in all of its branches who provides eye
7examinations or to a licensed optometrist. Each public,
8private, and parochial school must give notice of this eye
9examination requirement to the parents and guardians of
10students in compliance with rules of the Department of Public
11Health. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to allow a
12school to exclude a child from attending because of a parent's
13or guardian's failure to obtain an eye examination for the
14child.
15    (2) The Department of Public Health shall promulgate rules
16and regulations specifying the examinations and procedures
17that constitute a health examination, which shall include an
18age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate social and
19emotional screening and the collection of data relating to
20obesity (including at a minimum, date of birth, gender, height,
21weight, blood pressure, and date of exam), and a dental
22examination and may recommend by rule that certain additional
23examinations be performed. The rules and regulations of the
24Department of Public Health shall specify that a tuberculosis
25skin test screening shall be included as a required part of
26each health examination included under this Section if the

 

 

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1child resides in an area designated by the Department of Public
2Health as having a high incidence of tuberculosis. With respect
3to the social and emotional screening, the rules must be
4developed in conjunction with a statewide organization
5representing school boards, a statewide organization
6representing pediatricians, and a statewide organization
7representing children's mental health experts and, at a
8minimum, recommend the use of a validated screening tool. The
9rules shall provide that social and emotional screenings are
10not intended to replace or duplicate health care systems
11conducting screening and anticipatory guidance consistent with
12recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and must
13be consistent with the State Board of Education's social and
14emotional learning standards. The Department of Public Health
15shall specify that a diabetes screening as defined by rule
16shall be included as a required part of each health
17examination. Diabetes testing is not required.
18    Physicians licensed to practice medicine in all of its
19branches, licensed advanced practice nurses, or licensed
20physician assistants shall be responsible for the performance
21of the health examinations, other than dental examinations, eye
22examinations, and vision and hearing screening, and shall sign
23all report forms required by subsection (4) of this Section
24that pertain to those portions of the health examination for
25which the physician, advanced practice nurse, or physician
26assistant is responsible. If a registered nurse performs any

 

 

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1part of a health examination, then a physician licensed to
2practice medicine in all of its branches must review and sign
3all required report forms. Licensed dentists shall perform all
4dental examinations and shall sign all report forms required by
5subsection (4) of this Section that pertain to the dental
6examinations. Physicians licensed to practice medicine in all
7its branches or licensed optometrists shall perform all eye
8examinations required by this Section and shall sign all report
9forms required by subsection (4) of this Section that pertain
10to the eye examination. For purposes of this Section, an eye
11examination shall at a minimum include history, visual acuity,
12subjective refraction to best visual acuity near and far,
13internal and external examination, and a glaucoma evaluation,
14as well as any other tests or observations that in the
15professional judgment of the doctor are necessary. Vision and
16hearing screening tests, which shall not be considered
17examinations as that term is used in this Section, shall be
18conducted in accordance with rules and regulations of the
19Department of Public Health, and by individuals whom the
20Department of Public Health has certified. In these rules and
21regulations, the Department of Public Health shall require that
22individuals conducting vision screening tests give a child's
23parent or guardian written notification, before the vision
24screening is conducted, that states, "Vision screening is not a
25substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye
26doctor. Your child is not required to undergo this vision

 

 

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1screening if an optometrist or ophthalmologist has completed
2and signed a report form indicating that an examination has
3been administered within the previous 12 months."
4    (2.5) With respect to the social and emotional screening
5portion of the health examination, each child shall present
6proof of having been examined by a physician licensed to
7practice medicine in all of its branches within the previous
8year, in accordance with this Section and rules adopted under
9this Section, before October 15th of the school year. If the
10child fails to present proof of the social and emotional
11screening portion of the health examination by October 15th,
12the school may hold the child's report card until one of the
13following occurs: (i) the child presents proof of a completed
14social and emotional screening or (ii) the child presents proof
15that a social and emotional screening will take place within 60
16days after October 15th. The Department of Public Health shall
17establish, by rule, a waiver for children who show an undue
18burden or a lack of access to a physician licensed to practice
19medicine in all of its branches who provides social and
20emotional screenings. Each public, private, and parochial
21school must give notice of this social and emotional screening
22requirement to the parents and guardians of students in
23compliance with rules of the Department of Public Health.
24Nothing in this Section shall be construed to allow a school to
25exclude a child from attending because of a parent's or
26guardian's failure to obtain a social and emotional screening

 

 

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1for the child.
2    (3) Every child shall, at or about the same time as he or
3she receives a health examination required by subsection (1) of
4this Section, present to the local school proof of having
5received such immunizations against preventable communicable
6diseases as the Department of Public Health shall require by
7rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this Section and
8the Communicable Disease Prevention Act.
9    (4) The individuals conducting the health examination,
10dental examination, or eye examination shall record the fact of
11having conducted the examination, and such additional
12information as required, including for a health examination
13data relating to obesity (including at a minimum, date of
14birth, gender, height, weight, blood pressure, and date of
15exam), on uniform forms which the Department of Public Health
16and the State Board of Education shall prescribe for statewide
17use. The examiner shall summarize on the report form any
18condition that he or she suspects indicates a need for special
19services, including for a health examination factors relating
20to obesity. Regarding social and emotional functioning,
21information must be shared in a manner consistent with laws and
22policies governing health care confidentiality. The
23individuals confirming the administration of required
24immunizations shall record as indicated on the form that the
25immunizations were administered.
26    (5) If a child does not submit proof of having had either

 

 

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1the health examination or the immunization as required, then
2the child shall be examined or receive the immunization, as the
3case may be, and present proof by October 15 of the current
4school year, or by an earlier date of the current school year
5established by a school district. To establish a date before
6October 15 of the current school year for the health
7examination or immunization as required, a school district must
8give notice of the requirements of this Section 60 days prior
9to the earlier established date. If for medical reasons one or
10more of the required immunizations must be given after October
1115 of the current school year, or after an earlier established
12date of the current school year, then the child shall present,
13by October 15, or by the earlier established date, a schedule
14for the administration of the immunizations and a statement of
15the medical reasons causing the delay, both the schedule and
16the statement being issued by the physician, advanced practice
17nurse, physician assistant, registered nurse, or local health
18department that will be responsible for administration of the
19remaining required immunizations. If a child does not comply by
20October 15, or by the earlier established date of the current
21school year, with the requirements of this subsection, then the
22local school authority shall exclude that child from school
23until such time as the child presents proof of having had the
24health examination as required and presents proof of having
25received those required immunizations which are medically
26possible to receive immediately. During a child's exclusion

 

 

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1from school for noncompliance with this subsection, the child's
2parents or legal guardian shall be considered in violation of
3Section 26-1 and subject to any penalty imposed by Section
426-10. This subsection (5) does not apply to dental
5examinations, and eye examinations, or the social and emotional
6screening portion of the health examination. If the student is
7an out-of-state transfer student and does not have the proof
8required under this subsection (5) before October 15 of the
9current year or whatever date is set by the school district,
10then he or she may only attend classes (i) if he or she has
11proof that an appointment for the required vaccinations has
12been scheduled with a party authorized to submit proof of the
13required vaccinations. If the proof of vaccination required
14under this subsection (5) is not submitted within 30 days after
15the student is permitted to attend classes, then the student is
16not to be permitted to attend classes until proof of the
17vaccinations has been properly submitted. No school district or
18employee of a school district shall be held liable for any
19injury or illness to another person that results from admitting
20an out-of-state transfer student to class that has an
21appointment scheduled pursuant to this subsection (5).
22    (6) Every school shall report to the State Board of
23Education by November 15, in the manner which that agency shall
24require, the number of children who have received the necessary
25immunizations and the health examination (other than a dental
26examination or eye examination) as required, indicating, of

 

 

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1those who have not received the immunizations and examination
2as required, the number of children who are exempt from health
3examination and immunization requirements on religious or
4medical grounds as provided in subsection (8). On or before
5December 1 of each year, every public school district and
6registered nonpublic school shall make publicly available the
7immunization data they are required to submit to the State
8Board of Education by November 15. The immunization data made
9publicly available must be identical to the data the school
10district or school has reported to the State Board of
11Education.
12    Every school shall report to the State Board of Education
13by June 30, in the manner that the State Board requires, the
14number of children who have received the required dental
15examination, indicating, of those who have not received the
16required dental examination, the number of children who are
17exempt from the dental examination on religious grounds as
18provided in subsection (8) of this Section and the number of
19children who have received a waiver under subsection (1.5) of
20this Section.
21    Every school shall report to the State Board of Education
22by June 30, in the manner that the State Board requires, the
23number of children who have received the required eye
24examination, indicating, of those who have not received the
25required eye examination, the number of children who are exempt
26from the eye examination as provided in subsection (8) of this

 

 

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1Section, the number of children who have received a waiver
2under subsection (1.10) of this Section, and the total number
3of children in noncompliance with the eye examination
4requirement.
5    The reported information under this subsection (6) shall be
6provided to the Department of Public Health by the State Board
7of Education.
8    (7) Upon determining that the number of pupils who are
9required to be in compliance with subsection (5) of this
10Section is below 90% of the number of pupils enrolled in the
11school district, 10% of each State aid payment made pursuant to
12Section 18-8.05 to the school district for such year may be
13withheld by the State Board of Education until the number of
14students in compliance with subsection (5) is the applicable
15specified percentage or higher.
16    (8) Children of parents or legal guardians who object to
17health, dental, or eye examinations or any part thereof, to
18immunizations, or to vision and hearing screening tests on
19religious grounds shall not be required to undergo the
20examinations, tests, or immunizations to which they so object
21if such parents or legal guardians present to the appropriate
22local school authority a signed Certificate of Religious
23Exemption detailing the grounds for objection and the specific
24immunizations, tests, or examinations to which they object. The
25grounds for objection must set forth the specific religious
26belief that conflicts with the examination, test,

 

 

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1immunization, or other medical intervention. The signed
2certificate shall also reflect the parent's or legal guardian's
3understanding of the school's exclusion policies in the case of
4a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak or exposure. The
5certificate must also be signed by the authorized examining
6health care provider responsible for the performance of the
7child's health examination confirming that the provider
8provided education to the parent or legal guardian on the
9benefits of immunization and the health risks to the student
10and to the community of the communicable diseases for which
11immunization is required in this State. However, the health
12care provider's signature on the certificate reflects only that
13education was provided and does not allow a health care
14provider grounds to determine a religious exemption. Those
15receiving immunizations required under this Code shall be
16provided with the relevant vaccine information statements that
17are required to be disseminated by the federal National
18Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, which may contain
19information on circumstances when a vaccine should not be
20administered, prior to administering a vaccine. A healthcare
21provider may consider including without limitation the
22nationally accepted recommendations from federal agencies such
23as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the
24information outlined in the relevant vaccine information
25statement, and vaccine package inserts, along with the
26healthcare provider's clinical judgment, to determine whether

 

 

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1any child may be more susceptible to experiencing an adverse
2vaccine reaction than the general population, and, if so, the
3healthcare provider may exempt the child from an immunization
4or adopt an individualized immunization schedule. The
5Certificate of Religious Exemption shall be created by the
6Department of Public Health and shall be made available and
7used by parents and legal guardians by the beginning of the
82015-2016 school year. Parents or legal guardians must submit
9the Certificate of Religious Exemption to their local school
10authority prior to entering kindergarten, sixth grade, and
11ninth grade for each child for which they are requesting an
12exemption. The religious objection stated need not be directed
13by the tenets of an established religious organization.
14However, general philosophical or moral reluctance to allow
15physical examinations, eye examinations, immunizations, vision
16and hearing screenings, or dental examinations does not provide
17a sufficient basis for an exception to statutory requirements.
18The local school authority is responsible for determining if
19the content of the Certificate of Religious Exemption
20constitutes a valid religious objection. The local school
21authority shall inform the parent or legal guardian of
22exclusion procedures, in accordance with the Department's
23rules under Part 690 of Title 77 of the Illinois Administrative
24Code, at the time the objection is presented.
25    If the physical condition of the child is such that any one
26or more of the immunizing agents should not be administered,

 

 

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1the examining physician, advanced practice nurse, or physician
2assistant responsible for the performance of the health
3examination shall endorse that fact upon the health examination
4form.
5    Exempting a child from the health, dental, or eye
6examination does not exempt the child from participation in the
7program of physical education training provided in Sections
827-5 through 27-7 of this Code.
9    (9) For the purposes of this Section, "nursery schools"
10means those nursery schools operated by elementary school
11systems or secondary level school units or institutions of
12higher learning.
13(Source: P.A. 98-673, eff. 6-30-14; 99-173, eff. 7-29-15;
1499-249, eff. 8-3-15; revised 10-21-15.)".