(a) When a school district or a county superintendent of schools wishes to employ a person in a position requiring certification qualifications and that person has not previously been employed in a position requiring certification qualifications in this state, the district or county superintendent shall require a medical certificate in such form as shall be prescribed by the state board showing that the applicant is free from any disabling disease unfitting the applicant to instruct or associate with children. The medical certificate shall be submitted directly to the governing board or county superintendent by a physician and surgeon licensed under the Business and Professions Code, a physician assistant practicing in compliance with Chapter 7.7 (commencing with Section 3500) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, a licensed advanced practice registered nurse acting pursuant to standardized procedures and protocols in compliance with Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 2700) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, or a commissioned medical officer exempted from licensure pursuant to federal law. The medical examination shall have been conducted not more than six months before the submission of the certificate and shall be at the expense of the applicant. A governing board or county superintendent may offer a contract of employment to an applicant subject to the submission of the required medical certificate. Notwithstanding Section 44031, the medical certificate shall become a part of the personnel record of the employee and shall be open to the employee or his or her designee.

(b) The governing board of a school district or a county superintendent of schools may require certificated employees to undergo a periodic medical examination by a physician and surgeon licensed under the Business and Professions Code, a physician assistant practicing in compliance with Chapter 7.7 (commencing with Section 3500) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, a licensed advanced practice registered nurse acting pursuant to standardized procedures and protocols in compliance with Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 2700) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, or a commissioned medical officer exempted from licensure pursuant to federal law, to determine that the employee is free from any communicable disease unfitting the applicant to instruct or associate with children. The periodic medical examination shall be at the expense of the school district or county superintendent. The medical certificate shall become a part of the personnel record of the employee and shall be open to the employee or his or her designee.

(c) The state board shall adopt rules and regulations relating to the implementation and administration of this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 34, Sec. 1. (SB 171) Effective January 1, 2010.)