Iowa Code
Chapter 135 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Section 135.17 - Dental screening of children.

135.17 Dental screening of children.
1. a. Except as provided in paragraphs “c” and “d”, the parent or guardian of a child enrolled in elementary school shall provide evidence to the school district or accredited nonpublic elementary school in which the child is enrolled of the child having, no earlier than three years of age but no later than four months after enrollment, at a minimum, a dental screening performed by a licensed physician, a licensed nurse, a licensed physician assistant, or a licensed dental hygienist or dentist. Except as provided in paragraphs “c” and “d”, the parent or guardian of a child enrolled in high school shall provide evidence to the school district or accredited nonpublic high school in which the child is enrolled of the child having, at a minimum, a dental screening performed no earlier than one year prior to enrollment and not later than four months after enrollment by a licensed dental hygienist or dentist. A school district or accredited nonpublic school shall provide access to a process to complete the screenings described in this paragraph as appropriate.
b. A person authorized to perform a dental screening required by this section shall record that the screening was completed, and such additional information required by the department, on uniform forms developed by the department in cooperation with the department of education. The form shall include a space for the person to summarize any condition that may indicate a need for special services.
c. The department shall specify the procedures that constitute a dental screening and authorize a waiver signed by a licensed physician, nurse, physician assistant, dental hygienist, or dentist for a person who is unduly burdened by the screening requirement.
d. The dental screening requirement shall not apply to a person who submits an affidavit signed by the person or, if the person is a minor, the person’s parent or legal guardian, stating that the dental screening conflicts with a genuine and sincere religious belief.
2. Each public and nonpublic school shall, in collaboration with the department, do the following:
a. Ensure that the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school has complied with the requirements of subsection 1.
b. Provide, if a student has not had a dental screening performed in accordance with subsection 1, the parent or guardian of the student with community dental screening referral resources, including contact information for the i-smile coordinator, department, or dental society.
3. By May 31 annually, each local board shall furnish the department with evidence that each student enrolled in any public or nonpublic school within the local board’s jurisdiction has met the dental screening requirement in this section.
4. The department shall adopt rules to administer this section.
2007 Acts, ch 146, §1, 2; 2008 Acts, ch 1020, §1 – 3; 2009 Acts, ch 41, §39; 2009 Acts, ch 133, §31; 2010 Acts, ch 1088, §2, 3
Dental clinics, see §280.7

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