Senate Bill 2389 Summary

• Requires all public school districts and public charter schools to mandate school-entry health examinations for students in grades K-12, performed within one year prior to enrollment, effective with the 2019-2020 school year.

• Allows local school boards to establish policies granting students up to 30 school days to present the health examination certification, with temporary 30-day exemptions for homeless children and those in Department of Human Services custody.

• Permits exemption from the health examination requirement upon written parental request citing religious objections.

• Authorizes the State Board of Education, with State Board of Health concurrence, to adopt rules governing the medical examinations and immunizations, with all documents required to be HIPAA compliant.

• Requires health examination certifications to be completed on forms approved by the Mississippi Department of Health and maintained as part of each student's permanent record; schools may exclude non-compliant students from attendance.