SECTION 37.143. Spinal Screening Procedures

(a) Spinal screening is required, for all children who attend public and private schools, to detect abnormal spinal curvature. Spinal screening, conducted under this subchapter by a person who is not a licensed professional, as the term is defined in this subchapter, must be conducted following the most recent, nationally accepted and peer-reviewed standards for spinal screening. The spinal screening requirements are established in policy located on the department's website at http://www.dshs.texas.gov/spinal.

(b) A person who is not a licensed professional, as that term is defined in this subchapter, who conducts spinal screening must be trained and certified as described in §37.146(a) of this title (relating to Standards and Requirements for Screening Certification and Instructor Training).

(c) The requirements of this section do not apply when the individual is already actively under medical care by an appropriate licensed professional for one or more of the spinal problems for which screening is performed under this section. In order to claim this exception, the individual under the scenarios described in Texas Family Code, §32.003 or, if the individual is a minor, the individual's parent, managing conservator or legal guardian, must submit documentation from the licensed professional to the school. The documentation must be signed and dated by the licensed professional, and must affirmatively state that the individual is under active, ongoing medical care from the licensed professional for specific spinal problems as referenced in this subsection.

Source Note: The provisions of this §37.143 adopted to be effective January 12, 2015, 40 TexReg 238; amended to be effective January 1, 2018, 42 TexReg 6928