Who needs to know that a student or employee has HIV infection?
There is no need for anyone at school to know the HIV status of a student or employee. What everyone does need to understand is that the blood of any student or employee could potentially be infected with a bloodborne pathogen such as HIV or Hepatitis B, and that under normal conditions in regular educational programs, use of “Universal Precautions” is sufficient to protect against transmission of bloodborne diseases. Instruction of both staff and students in universal precautions and first aid procedures assists in implementing this policy. Students, their parents or guardians are not obligated to inform school personnel regarding their HIV status and cannot be required to do so under N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.2(c). School staff with knowledge of the HIV status of a student are not at liberty to share that information without specific written consent from the parent/guardian or from the student, if age 12 or greater. New Jersey law against employment discrimination at N.J.S.A. 10:5-5(g) and N.
