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§ 7-403. Blood tests for lead poisoning and immunization of students

West's Annotated Code of MarylandEducationEffective: April 13, 2021

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Education (Refs & Annos)
Division II. Elementary and Secondary Education [Titles 2-9.5] (Refs & Annos)
Title 7. Public Schools (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 4. Health and Safety of Students (Refs & Annos)
Effective: April 13, 2021
MD Code, Education, § 7-403
§ 7-403. Blood tests for lead poisoning and immunization of students
Blood tests for lead poisoning
(a)(1) In cooperation with the State Board and the Maryland State Medical Society, the Maryland Department of Health shall adopt rules and regulations regarding blood tests for lead poisoning required of children entering schools.
(2) In cooperation with the State Board and the Statewide Advisory Commission on Immunizations, the Maryland Department of Health shall adopt rules and regulations regarding immunizations required of children entering schools.
(3) These rules and regulations shall:
(i) Be adopted in compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act;1
(ii) Provide that any child may have the immunization administered by his personal physician; and
(iii) 1. By September 2003, in areas designated as at risk for lead poisoning, as determined under § 18-106 of the Health--General Article, when a child enters a public prekindergarten program, kindergarten program, or first grade, require the parent or legal guardian of the child to provide documentation from a health care provider, on a form developed by the Maryland Department of Health, certifying that the child has undergone blood testing for lead poisoning administered in accordance with the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the screening of young children for lead poisoning: Guidance for State and Local Public Health Officials (November 1997) and any subsequent guidelines; and
2. By September 2003, require a program or school to report the name, last known address, and telephone number of each child for whom certified documentation of a lead test is not provided under item 1 of this item, as determined by regulation, to the local health department in the jurisdiction where the child resides.
(4) Any requirement for the administration of pertussis vaccine shall be consistent with § 18-332(b) of the Health--General Article.
Exemptions to immunization requirements
(b)(1) Unless the Secretary of Health declares an emergency or an epidemic of disease, a child whose parent or guardian objects to immunization on the ground that it conflicts with the parent's or guardian's bona fide religious beliefs and practices may not be required to present a physician's certification of immunization in order to be admitted to school.
(2) The Secretary of Health shall adopt rules and regulations for religious exemptions under this subsection.

Credits

Added as Education § 7-402 by Acts 1978, c. 22, § 2, eff. July 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1983, c. 188; Acts 1984, c. 578; Acts 1984, c. 785; Acts 1985, c. 253; Acts 1987, c. 54. Renumbered as Education § 7-403 by Acts 1996, c. 10, § 16, eff. April 9, 1996. Amended by Acts 2000, c. 677, § 1, eff. July 1, 2000; Acts 2001, c. 29, § 6, eff. April 10, 2001; Acts 2002, c. 337, § 1, eff. June 1, 2002; Acts 2003, c. 178, § 1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2004, c. 25, § 1, eff. April 13, 2004; Acts 2017, c. 62, § 6; Acts 2021, c. 109, § 1, eff. April 13, 2021.
Formerly Art. 77, § 84.

Footnotes

State Government § 10-101 et seq.
MD Code, Education, § 7-403, MD EDUC § 7-403
Current through legislation effective through April 9, 2023, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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