23158
. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, only a
licensed physician and surgeon, registered nurse, licensed vocational
nurse, duly licensed clinical laboratory scientist or clinical
laboratory bioanalyst, a person who has been issued a "certified
phlebotomy technician" certificate pursuant to Section 1246 of the
Business and Professions Code, unlicensed laboratory personnel
regulated pursuant to Sections 1242, 1242.5, and 1246 of the Business
and Professions Code, or certified paramedic acting at the request
of a peace officer may withdraw blood for the purpose of determining
the alcoholic content therein. This limitation does not apply to the
taking of breath specimens. An emergency call for paramedic services
takes precedence over a peace officer's request for a paramedic to
withdraw blood for determining its alcoholic content. A certified
paramedic shall not withdraw blood for this purpose unless authorized
by his or her employer to do so.
(b) The person tested may, at his or her own expense, have a
licensed physician and surgeon, registered nurse, licensed vocational
nurse, duly licensed clinical laboratory scientist or clinical
laboratory bioanalyst, person who has been issued a "certified
phlebotomy technician" certificate pursuant to Section 1246 of the
Business and Professions Code, unlicensed laboratory personnel
regulated pursuant to Sections 1242, 1242.5, and 1246 of the Business
and Professions Code, or any other person of his or her own choosing
administer a test in addition to any test administered at the
direction of a peace officer for the purpose of determining the
amount of alcohol in the person's blood at the time alleged as shown
by chemical analysis of his or her blood, breath, or urine. The
failure or inability to obtain an additional test by a person does
not preclude the admissibility in evidence of the test taken at the
direction of a peace officer.
(c) Upon the request of the person tested, full information
concerning the test taken at the direction of the peace officer shall
be made available to the person or the person's attorney.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no licensed
physician and surgeon, registered nurse, licensed vocational nurse,
duly licensed clinical laboratory scientist or clinical laboratory
bioanalyst, person who has been issued a "certified phlebotomy
technician" certificate pursuant to Section 1246 of the Business and
Professions Code, unlicensed laboratory personnel regulated pursuant
to Sections 1242, 1242.5, and 1246 of the Business and Professions
Code, or certified paramedic, or hospital, laboratory, or clinic
employing or utilizing the services of the licensed physician and
surgeon, registered nurse, licensed vocational nurse, duly licensed
clinical laboratory scientist or clinical laboratory bioanalyst,
person who has been issued a "certified phlebotomy technician"
certificate pursuant to Section 1246 of the Business and Professions
Code, unlicensed laboratory personnel regulated pursuant to Sections
1242, 1242.5, and 1246 of the Business and Professions Code, or
certified paramedic, owning or leasing the premises on which tests
are performed, shall incur any civil or criminal liability as a
result of the administering of a blood test in a reasonable manner in
a hospital, clinical laboratory, medical clinic environment, jail,
or law enforcement facility, according to accepted venipuncture
practices, without violence by the person administering the test, and
when requested in writing by a peace officer to administer the test.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person who has
been issued a "certified phlebotomy technician" certificate pursuant
to Section 1246 of the Business and Professions Code and who is
authorized by this section to draw blood at the request and in the
presence of a peace officer for purposes of determining its alcoholic
content, may do so in a jail, law enforcement facility, or medical
facility, with general supervision. The "certified phlebotomy
technician" shall draw blood following the policies and procedures
approved by a physician and surgeon licensed under Chapter 5
(commencing with Section 2000) of Division 2 of the Business and
Professions Code, appropriate to the location where the blood is
being drawn and in accordance with state regulations.
(f) The Certified Phlebotomy Technician I or II shall carry a
current, valid identification card issued by the State Department of
Health Services, attesting to the technician's name, certificate
type, and effective dates of certification, when performing blood
withdrawals.
(g) As used in this section, "general supervision" means that the
supervisor of the technician is licensed under the Business and
Professions Code as a physician and surgeon, physician assistant,
clinical laboratory bioanalyst, registered nurse, or clinical
laboratory scientist, and reviews the competency of the technician
before the technician may perform blood withdrawals without direct
supervision, and on an annual basis thereafter. The supervisor is
also required to review the work of the technician at least once a
month to ensure compliance with venipuncture policies, procedures,
and regulations. The supervisor, or another person licensed as a
physician and surgeon, physician assistant, clinical laboratory
bioanalyst, registered nurse, or clinical laboratory scientist, shall
be accessible to the location where the technician is working to
provide onsite, telephone, or electronic consultation, within 30
minutes when needed.
(h) Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring the
certified phlebotomy technician who is authorized to withdraw blood
by this section at the request and in the presence of a peace officer
for purposes of determining alcoholic content to be associated with
a clinical laboratory or to be directly supervised after competency
has been established.
(i) If the test given under Section 23612 is a chemical test of
urine, the person tested shall be given such privacy in the taking of
the urine specimen as will ensure the accuracy of the specimen and,
at the same time, maintain the dignity of the individual involved.
(j) The department, in cooperation with the State Department of
Health Services or any other appropriate agency, shall adopt uniform
standards for the withdrawal, handling, and preservation of blood
samples prior to analysis.
(k) As used in this section, "certified paramedic" does not
include any employee of a fire department.
(l) Consent, waiver of liability, or the offering to, acceptance
by, or refusal of consent or waiver of liability by the person on
whom a test is administered, is not an issue or relevant to the
immunity from liability for medical or law enforcement personnel or
other facilities designated under subdivision (d).