ARTICLE 5. Municipal and County Laboratories [101150 - 101165]
( Article 5 added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1023, Sec. 302.1. )
For the purpose of protecting the community and the public health, the local health department of a city or county shall have available the services of a public health laboratory for the examination of specimens from suspected cases of infectious and environmental diseases, that may include, but need not be limited to, the examination of specimens from milk, milk products, waters, food products, vectors, and the environment. The public health laboratory shall also provide the analyses required to assist in community disease surveillance and to meet the responsibilities and support the programs of the local health department.
(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1023, Sec. 302.1. Effective September 29, 1996.)
The cost of establishment and maintenance of the public health laboratory is a legal expenditure from any city or county funds that are for disbursement under the direction of the city or county health officer to protect public health.
(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1023, Sec. 302.1. Effective September 29, 1996.)
(a)
Any city or county public health laboratory established for the purposes set forth in this chapter and its personnel shall be approved by the State Department of Health Services and shall comply with the requirements of CLIA.
(b)
For purposes of this section, “CLIA” means the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 263a; P.L. 100-578) and the regulations adopted thereunder by the federal Health Care Financing Administration and effective on January 1, 1994, or any later date, when adopted in California pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1208 of the Business and Professions Code.
(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 768, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1999.)
(a) A person may perform an analysis of samples to test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in any city or county public health laboratory if they meet the requirements under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments in Section 493.1489 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations for high complexity testing.
(b) This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 276, Sec. 4. (AB 1341) Effective September 30, 2023. Repealed as of July 1, 2028, by its own provisions.)
Nothing in this article, or any other provision of law, shall be construed to restrict, limit, or prevent individuals certified under authority of this part or Article 1 (commencing with Section 106600) of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of Division 104 from performing their duties for the protection of the public health.
(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1023, Sec. 302.1. Effective September 29, 1996.)