Code Section

121365.  

Each local health officer is hereby directed to use every available means to ascertain the existence of, and immediately investigate all reported or suspected cases of active tuberculosis disease in the jurisdiction, and to ascertain the sources of those infections. In carrying out the investigations, each local health officer shall follow applicable local rules and regulations and all general and special rules, regulations, and orders of the state department. If the local health officer determines that the public health in general or the health of a particular person is endangered by exposure to a person who is known to have active tuberculosis disease, or to a person for whom there are reasonable grounds to believe has active tuberculosis disease, the local health officer may issue any orders he or she deems necessary to protect the public health or the health of any other person, and may make application to a court for enforcement of the orders. Upon the receipt of information that any order has been violated, the health officer shall advise the district attorney of the county in which the violation has occurred, in writing, and shall submit to the district attorney the information in his or her possession relating to the subject matter of the order, and of the violation or violations thereof.

The orders may include, but shall not be limited to, any of the following:

(a)  An order authorizing the removal to, detention in, or admission into, a health facility or other treatment facility for appropriate examination for active tuberculosis disease of a person who is known to have active tuberculosis disease, or a person for whom there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person has active tuberculosis disease and who is unable or unwilling voluntarily to submit to the examination by a physician or by the local health officer. Any person whom the health officer determines should have an examination for tuberculosis disease may have the examination made by a physician and surgeon of his or her own choice who is licensed to practice medicine under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code under terms and conditions as the local health officer shall determine on reasonable grounds to be necessary to protect the public health. This section does not authorize the local health officer to mandate involuntary anergy testing.

(b)  An order requiring a person who has active tuberculosis disease to complete an appropriate prescribed course of medication for tuberculosis disease and, if necessary, to follow required infection control precautions for tuberculosis disease. This subdivision does not allow the forceable or involuntary administration of medication.

(c)  An order requiring a person who has active tuberculosis disease and who is unable or unwilling otherwise to complete an appropriate prescribed course of medication for tuberculosis disease to follow a course of directly observed therapy. This subdivision does not allow forceable or involuntary administration of medication.

(d)  An order for the removal to, detention in, or admission into, a health facility or other treatment facility of a person if both of the following occur:

(1)  The person has infectious tuberculosis disease, or who presents a substantial likelihood of having infectious tuberculosis disease, based upon proven epidemiologic evidence, clinical evidence, X-ray readings, or tuberculosis laboratory test results.

(2)  The local health officer finds, based on recognized infection control principles, that there is a substantial likelihood the person may transmit tuberculosis to others because of his or her inadequate separation from others.

(e)  An order for the removal to, detention in, or admission into, a health facility or other treatment facility of a person if both of the following occur:

(1)  The person has active tuberculosis disease, or has been reported to the health officer as having active tuberculosis disease with no subsequent report to the health officer of the completion of an appropriate prescribed course of medication for tuberculosis disease.

(2)  There is a substantial likelihood, based on the person’s past or present behavior, that he or she cannot be relied upon to participate in or complete an appropriate prescribed course of medication for tuberculosis disease and, if necessary, follow required infection control precautions for tuberculosis disease. The behavior may include, but is not limited to, refusal or failure to take medication for tuberculosis disease, refusal or failure to keep appointments or treatment for tuberculosis disease, refusal or failure to complete the treatment for tuberculosis disease, or disregard for infection control precautions for active tuberculosis disease.

(f)  An order for exclusion from attendance at the workplace for persons with infectious tuberculosis disease. The order may, also, exclude the person from any place when the local health officer determines that the place cannot be maintained in a manner adequate to protect others against the spread of tuberculosis disease.

(g)  An order for isolation of persons with infectious tuberculosis disease to their place of residence until the local health officer has determined that they no longer have infectious tuberculosis disease.

(h)  This section shall apply to all persons except those incarcerated in a state correctional institution.

(i)  This section shall not be construed to require a private hospital or other private treatment facility to accept any patient without a payment source, including county responsibilities under Section 17000 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, except as required by Sections 1317 et seq. or by federal law.