Senate File 602 - Introduced
SENATE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1358)
Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act requiring children enrolling in elementary or high school
2 to have a dental screening and providing an effective date.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 1211SV 82
5 nh/es/88
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 135.17 DENTAL SCREENING OF
1 2 CHILDREN.
1 3 1. a. Except as provided in paragraphs "c" and "d", the
1 4 parent or guardian of a child enrolled in elementary school
1 5 shall provide evidence to the school district or accredited
1 6 nonpublic elementary school in which the child is enrolled of
1 7 the child having, no earlier than three years of age but prior
1 8 to reaching six years of age, at a minimum, a dental screening
1 9 performed by a licensed physician as defined in chapter 148 or
1 10 150, a nurse licensed under chapter 152, a licensed physician
1 11 assistant as defined in section 148C.1, or a licensed dental
1 12 hygienist or dentist as defined in chapter 153. Except as
1 13 provided in paragraphs "c" and "d", the parent or guardian of
1 14 a child enrolled in high school shall provide evidence to the
1 15 school district or accredited nonpublic high school in which
1 16 the child is enrolled of the child having, at a minimum, a
1 17 dental screening performed within the prior year by a licensed
1 18 dental hygienist or dentist as defined in chapter 153. A
1 19 school district or accredited nonpublic school shall provide
1 20 access to a process to complete the screenings described in
1 21 this paragraph as appropriate.
1 22 b. A person performing a dental screening required by this
1 23 section shall record the fact of having conducted the
1 24 screening, and such additional information required by the
1 25 department, on uniform forms developed by the department in
1 26 cooperation with the department of education. The form shall
1 27 include a space for the person performing the screening to
1 28 summarize any condition that may indicate a need for special
1 29 services.
1 30 c. The department shall specify the procedures that
1 31 constitute a dental screening and authorize a waiver signed by
1 32 a licensed physician, nurse, physician assistant, dental
1 33 hygienist, or dentist for a person who is unduly burdened by
1 34 the screening requirement.
1 35 d. The dental screening requirement shall not apply to a
2 1 person who submits an affidavit signed by the person or, if
2 2 the person is a minor, the person's parent or legal guardian,
2 3 stating that the dental screening conflicts with a genuine and
2 4 sincere religious belief.
2 5 2. Each public and nonpublic school shall give notice of
2 6 the dental screening requirement to parents of students
2 7 enrolled or to be enrolled in the school at least ninety days
2 8 before the start of the school year in the manner prescribed
2 9 by the department.
2 10 3. A person may be provisionally enrolled in a public or
2 11 nonpublic elementary or high school if the person is in the
2 12 process of obtaining the required dental screening.
2 13 4. Each local board shall furnish the department, within
2 14 sixty days after the start of the school year, evidence that
2 15 each person enrolled in any public or nonpublic school within
2 16 the local board's jurisdiction has met the dental screening
2 17 requirement in this section.
2 18 5. The department shall adopt rules to administer this
2 19 section.
2 20 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect July 1,
2 21 2008.
2 22 EXPLANATION
2 23 This bill requires all children enrolled in a public or
2 24 nonpublic elementary or high school, to obtain a dental
2 25 screening. The bill requires the person performing the
2 26 screening to complete a uniform form regarding the screening
2 27 and requires the department of public health to specify the
2 28 procedures constituting a screening and to authorize a waiver
2 29 for persons who are unduly burdened by the requirement. The
2 30 screen requirement does not apply to a person who submits an
2 31 affidavit stating that the screening conflicts with a genuine
2 32 and sincere religious belief.
2 33 The bill requires schools to give notice to parents of the
2 34 screening requirement. The bill also provides for provisional
2 35 enrollment if a child is in the process of obtaining a
3 1 screening. Each local board of health is required to furnish
3 2 the department with evidence that all children enrolled in the
3 3 schools within the board's jurisdiction have met the screening
3 4 requirement.
3 5 The bill takes effect July 1, 2008.
3 6 LSB 1211SV 82
3 7 nh:rj/es/88