SECTIONS 125025-125035 - California Statutes

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE

SECTION 125025-125035

125025. It is the policy of the State of California to make every
effort to detect, as early as possible, sickle cell anemia, a
heritable disorder that leads to physical defects.
The department shall have the responsibility of designating tests
and regulations to be used in executing this policy. These tests
shall be in accordance with accepted medical practices.
Testing for sickle cell anemia may be conducted at the following
times:
(a) Upon first enrollment of a child at an elementary school in
this state, the child may be tested.
(b) For any child not tested pursuant to subdivision (a), upon
first enrollment at a junior high school or senior high school in
this state, as the case may be, the child may be tested.
(c) Upon application of any person for a license to marry, the
parties seeking to be married may be tested.
(d) At any other times that the department may designate.
This section shall not apply if a parent or guardian of a minor
child sought to be tested or any adult sought to be tested objects to
the test on the ground that the test conflicts with his or her
religious beliefs or practices.

125030. The department may require that a test be given for sickle
cell anemia pursuant to Section 125025 to any identifiable segment of
the population that the department determines is susceptible to
sickle cell anemia at a disproportionately higher ratio than is the
balance of the population.

125035. The department is authorized to make grants or contracts
for demonstration projects to determine the feasibility of alternate
methods of testing for sickle cell anemia, to provide counseling
services, to evaluate the social consequences of the identification
of sickle cell trait carriers, to provide training in genetic
counseling, and to conduct research on the prevention of sickle cell
anemia.