2013 Mississippi Code
Title 37 - EDUCATION
Chapter 11 - GENERAL PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO EDUCATION
§ 37-11-17 - Physical examinations of employees for infectious or communicable diseases; spinal curvature screening program for students

(1) The State Board of Education, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges, the boards of trustees of the several junior colleges, the county boards of education, the governing authorities of any county, municipal or other public school districts, such other boards set up by law for any educational institution, school, college or university, or their authorized representative, or the State Health Officer or his authorized representative, may require any teacher, supervisor, janitor or other employee of the school to submit to a thorough physical examination, deemed advisable to determine whether he has any infectious or communicable disease.

(2) The State Board of Education may develop a program to accomplish the identification of public school students with abnormal spinal curvature. No state funds shall be expended for the purposes of implementing this subsection. Such program shall:

(a) Provide that an adequate number of school personnel in each district be instructed by qualified medical experts in the proper examination of students for abnormal spinal curvatures;

(b) Provide that all public school students who are at least ten (10) years old be screened at least every two (2) years but at least in the fourth, sixth, eighth and tenth grades or at such other times as may be recommended by medical experts on a per case basis;

(c) Provide that students identified as having abnormal spinal curvatures or potential for abnormal spinal curvatures be referred to the county health officer or to the student's personal physician or chiropractor with notice of the evaluation; and

(d) Provide for notification of the parent or guardian of any student identified under this program and for the supplying to such parent or guardian information on the condition and resources available for the correction or treatment of such condition. However, the requirement for screening shall not apply to a child whose parent or guardian objects thereto on grounds that the requirement conflicts with his conscientiously held religious beliefs.