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House Bill 1795 |
House Author: Pierson et al. |
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Effective: See below |
Senate Sponsor: Uresti et al. |
House Bill 1795 amends the Health and Safety Code to create the Newborn Screening Advisory Committee to advise the Department of State Health Services regarding strategic planning, policy, rules, and services related to newborn screening and additional newborn screening tests. The bill clarifies that tests required under the newborn screening program are also to include screening for disorders in the secondary targets of the uniform newborn screening panel recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics. The bill authorizes the department, with the advice of the advisory committee, to require additional tests for other disorders or conditions but permits the department to exclude screening for galactose epimerase and galactokinase.
House Bill 1795 clarifies provisions relating to the blood sample required to be taken from a woman during gestation or at the delivery of an infant to be tested for syphilis, HIV infection, and hepatitis B infection and requires a similar sample or other appropriate specimen to be taken at an examination in the third trimester of pregnancy to be submitted for an additional test for HIV infection. The bill requires the results of the test to be retained in the woman's medical records and requires another sample or specimen to be taken at delivery or within two hours of the birth if the results of the third trimester test are not found by the physician or person attending at delivery. The bill prohibits a test for HIV infection from being performed after the birth of a child on objection by a parent, guardian, or managing conservator. Provisions of the bill relating to additional testing for HIV infection apply after January 1, 2010.
House Bill 1795 takes effect June 19, 2009, but only if a specific appropriation for the implementation of the bill is provided in a general appropriations act of the 81st Legislature.