Chapter 1. Educational And Child Care Facility Immunization Requirements of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 105. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 1.

In enacting this chapter, but excluding Section 120380, and in enacting Sections 120400, 120405, 120410, and 120415, it is the intent of the Legislature to provide:
  (a) A means for the eventual achievement of total immunization of appropriate age groups against the following childhood diseases:
  (1) Diphtheria.
  (2) Hepatitis B.
  (3) Haemophilus influenzae type b.
  (4) Measles.
  (5) Mumps.
  (6) Pertussis (whooping cough).
  (7) Poliomyelitis.
  (8) Rubella.
  (9) Tetanus.
  (10) Varicella (chickenpox).
  (11) Any other disease deemed appropriate by the department, taking into consideration the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
  (b) That the persons required to be immunized be allowed to obtain immunizations from whatever medical source they so desire, subject only to the condition that the immunization be performed in accordance with the regulations of the department and that a record of the immunization is made in accordance with the regulations.
  (c) Exemptions from immunization for medical reasons.
  (d) For the keeping of adequate records of immunization so that health departments, schools, and other institutions, parents or guardians, and the persons immunized will be able to ascertain that a child is fully or only partially immunized, and so that appropriate public agencies will be able to ascertain the immunization needs of groups of children in schools or other institutions.
  (e) Incentives to public health authorities to design innovative and creative programs that will promote and achieve full and timely immunization of children.

The department, in consultation with the Department of Education, shall adopt and enforce all regulations necessary to carry out Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 120325, but excluding Section 120380) and to carry out Sections 120400, 120405, 120410, and 120415.

(a) As used in this chapter, "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.
  (b) The governing authority shall not unconditionally admit any person as a pupil of any private or public elementary or secondary school, child care center, day nursery, nursery school, family day care home, or development center, unless, prior to his or her first admission to that institution, he or she has been fully immunized. The following are the diseases for which immunizations shall be documented:
  (1) Diphtheria.
  (2) Haemophilus influenzae type b.
  (3) Measles.
  (4) Mumps.
  (5) Pertussis (whooping cough).
  (6) Poliomyelitis.
  (7) Rubella.
  (8) Tetanus.
  (9) Hepatitis B.
  (10) Varicella (chickenpox).
  (11) Any other disease deemed appropriate by the department, taking into consideration the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
  (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), full immunization against hepatitis B shall not be a condition by which the governing authority shall admit or advance any pupil to the 7th grade level of any private or public elementary or secondary school.
  (d) The governing authority shall not unconditionally admit or advance any pupil to the 7th grade level of any private or public elementary or secondary school unless the pupil has been fully immunized against pertussis, including all pertussis boosters appropriate for the pupil's age.
  (e) The department may specify the immunizing agents that may be utilized and the manner in which immunizations are administered.
  (f) This section does not apply to a pupil in a home-based private school or a pupil who is enrolled in an independent study program pursuant to Article 5.5 (commencing with Section 51745) of Chapter 5 of Part 28 of the Education Code and does not receive classroom-based instruction.
  (g) (1) A pupil who, prior to January 1, 2016, submitted a letter or affidavit on file at a private or public elementary or secondary school, child day care center, day nursery, nursery school, family day care home, or development center stating beliefs opposed to immunization shall be allowed enrollment to any private or public elementary or secondary school, child day care center, day nursery, nursery school, family day care home, or development center within the state until the pupil enrolls in the next grade span.
  (2) For purposes of this subdivision, "grade span" means each of the following:
  (A) Birth to preschool.
  (B) Kindergarten and grades 1 to 6, inclusive, including transitional kindergarten.
  (C) Grades 7 to 12, inclusive.
  (3) Except as provided in this subdivision, on and after July 1, 2016, the governing authority shall not unconditionally admit to any of those institutions specified in this subdivision for the first time, or admit or advance any pupil to 7th grade level, unless the pupil has been immunized for his or her age as required by this section.
  (h) This section does not prohibit a pupil who qualifies for an individualized education program, pursuant to federal law and Section 56026 of the Education Code, from accessing any special education and related services required by his or her individualized education program.

Notwithstanding Sections 120325 and 120335, any immunizations deemed appropriate by the department pursuant to paragraph (11) of subdivision (a) of Section 120325 or paragraph (11) of subdivision (b) of Section 120335, may be mandated before a pupil' s first admission to any private or public elementary or secondary school, child care center, day nursery, nursery school, family day care home, or development center, only if exemptions are allowed for both medical reasons and personal beliefs.

A person who has not been fully immunized against one or more of the diseases listed in Section 120335 may be admitted by the governing authority on condition that within time periods designated by regulation of the department he or she presents evidence that he or she has been fully immunized against all of these diseases.

(a) The governing authority shall admit a foster child, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 48853.5 of the Education Code, whose immunization records are not available or are missing.
  (b) This section shall not alter the obligation of the governing authority to obtain a foster child's immunization records pursuant to Section 48853.5 of the Education Code or to ensure the immunization of a foster child pursuant to this chapter.

The immunizations required by Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 120325, but excluding Section 120380) and required by Sections 120400, 120405, 120410, and 120415 may be obtained from any private or public source desired if the immunization is administered and records are made in accordance with regulations of the department.

The county health officer of each county shall organize and maintain a program to make immunizations available to all persons required by Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 120325, but excluding Section 120380) and required by Sections 120400, 120405, 120410, and 120415 to be immunized. The county health officer shall also determine how the cost of the program is to be recovered. To the extent that the cost to the county is in excess of that sum recovered from persons immunized, the cost shall be paid by the county in the same manner as other expenses of the county are paid.

Any person or organization administering immunizations shall furnish each person immunized, or his or her parent or guardian, with a written record of immunization given in a form prescribed by the department.

The requirements of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 120325, but excluding Section 120380) and of Sections 120400, 120405, 120410, and 120415 shall not apply to any person 18 years of age or older, or to any person seeking admission to a community college.

(a) If the parent or guardian files with the governing authority a written statement by a licensed physician to the effect that the physical condition of the child is such, or medical circumstances relating to the child are such, that immunization is not considered safe, indicating the specific nature and probable duration of the medical condition or circumstances, including, but not limited to, family medical history, for which the physician does not recommend immunization, that child shall be exempt from the requirements of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 120325, but excluding Section 120380) and Sections 120400, 120405, 120410, and 120415 to the extent indicated by the physician's statement.
  (b) If there is good cause to believe that a child has been exposed to a disease listed in subdivision (b) of Section 120335 and his or her documentary proof of immunization status does not show proof of immunization against that disease, that child may be temporarily excluded from the school or institution until the local health officer is satisfied that the child is no longer at risk of developing or transmitting the disease.

(a) The governing authority of each school or institution included in Section 120335 shall require documentary proof of each entrant's immunization status. The governing authority shall record the immunizations of each new entrant in the entrant's permanent enrollment and scholarship record on a form provided by the department. The immunization record of each new entrant admitted conditionally shall be reviewed periodically by the governing authority to ensure that within the time periods designated by regulation of the department he or she has been fully immunized against all of the diseases listed in Section 120335, and immunizations received subsequent to entry shall be added to the pupil's immunization record.
  (b) The governing authority of each school or institution included in Section 120335 shall prohibit from further attendance any pupil admitted conditionally who failed to obtain the required immunizations within the time limits allowed in the regulations of the department, unless the pupil is exempted under Section 120370, until that pupil has been fully immunized against all of the diseases listed in Section 120335.
  (c) The governing authority shall file a written report on the immunization status of new entrants to the school or institution under their jurisdiction with the department and the local health department at times and on forms prescribed by the department. As provided in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 49076 of the Education Code, the local health department shall have access to the complete health information as it relates to immunization of each student in the schools or other institutions listed in Section 120335 in order to determine immunization deficiencies.
  (d) The governing authority shall cooperate with the county health officer in carrying out programs for the immunization of persons applying for 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. The governing authority of any school or other institution may permit any licensed physician or any qualified registered nurse as provided in Section 2727.3 of the Business and Professions Code to administer immunizing agents to any person seeking admission to any school or institution under its jurisdiction.

It is the intent of the Legislature that the administration of immunizing agents by registered nurses in school immunization programs under the direction of a supervising physician and surgeon as provided in Sections 49403 and 49426 of the Education Code shall be in accordance with accepted medical procedure. To implement this intent, the department may adopt written regulations specifying the procedures and circumstances under which a registered nurse, acting under the direction of a supervising physician and surgeon, may administer an immunizing agent pursuant to Sections 49403 and 49426 of the Education Code. However, nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent any registered nurse from administering an immunizing agent in accordance with Sections 49403 and 49426 of the Education Code in the absence of written regulations as the department is authorized to adopt under this section.