State Codes and Statutes

118.25

118.25 Health examinations.

118.25(1)

(1) In this section "school employee" means a person employed by a school board who comes in contact with children or who handles or prepares food for children while they are under the supervision of school authorities.

118.25(2)

(2)

118.25(2)(a)

(a) As a condition of employment, the school board, except in 1st class cities, shall require a physical examination, including a chest X-ray or tuberculin test, of every school employee of the school district. Freedom from tuberculosis in a communicable form is a condition of employment. In the case of a new school employee, the school board may permit the school employee to submit proof of an examination, chest X-ray or tuberculin test complying with this section which was taken within the past 90 days in lieu of requiring such examination, X-ray or test. If the reaction to the tuberculin test is positive, a chest X-ray shall be required. Additional physical examinations shall be required thereafter at intervals determined by the school board. The school employee shall be examined by a physician in the employ of or under contract with the school district, but if a physician is not employed or under contract, the examination shall be made by a physician selected by the school employee.

118.25(2)(b)

(b) Such physical examinations, chest X-rays or tuberculin tests shall not be required of any school employee who files with the school board an affidavit setting forth that the employee depends exclusively upon prayer or spiritual means for healing in accordance with the teachings of a bona fide religious sect, denomination or organization and that the employee is to the best of the employee's knowledge and belief in good health and that the employee claims exemption from health examination on these grounds. Notwithstanding the filing of such affidavit, if there is reasonable cause to believe that such employee is suffering from an illness detrimental to the health of the pupils, the school board may require a health examination of such school employee sufficient to indicate whether or not such school employee is suffering from such an illness. No school employee may be discriminated against by reason of the employee's filing such affidavit.

118.25(2)(c)

(c) The physician making a physical examination shall prepare a report of the examination upon a standard form prepared by the department of health services and the department. Such report shall be retained in the physician's files and the physician shall make confidential recommendations therefrom to the school board and to the school employee on a form prepared by the department of health services and the department. The recommendation form shall contain space for a certificate that the person is free from tuberculosis in a communicable form. The cost of such examinations, including X-rays and tuberculin tests, shall be paid out of school district funds.

118.25(3)

(3) In counties having a population of less than 500,000, the school board may require periodic health examinations of pupils by physicians, under the supervision of local health departments and the department of health services, and may pay the cost of the examinations out of school district funds.

118.25(4)

(4) If a health or physical examination made under this section includes the testing of vision, such test may be made by an optometrist. Forms used for reporting such vision tests shall so indicate.

118.25(5)

(5) As a condition of employment, special teachers, school psychologists, school social workers, cooperative educational service agency personnel and other personnel working in public schools shall have physical examinations under sub. (2). The employing school district or agency shall pay the cost of such examinations.

118.25(6)

(6) As a condition of employment, employees of the state superintendent whose work brings them into contact with school children or with school employees shall have physical examinations under sub. (2).

118.25 - ANNOT.

History: 1979 c. 221, 301; 1993 a. 27, 492; 1995 a. 27 ss. 9126 (19), 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a).