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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the screening of newborns for sickle cell trait by the |
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Department of State Health Services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 33, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 33. PHENYLKETONURIA, OTHER HERITABLE DISEASES, |
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HYPOTHYROIDISM, AND CERTAIN OTHER DISORDERS OR TRAITS |
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SECTION 2. Subsections (a) and (c), Section 33.002, Health |
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and Safety Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The department shall carry out a program to combat |
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morbidity, including mental retardation, and mortality in persons |
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who have phenylketonuria, other heritable diseases, other |
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disorders for which screening is required by the department, sickle |
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cell trait, or hypothyroidism. |
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(c) The department shall establish and maintain a |
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laboratory to: |
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(1) conduct experiments, projects, and other |
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activities necessary to develop screening or diagnostic tests for |
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the early detection of phenylketonuria, other heritable diseases, |
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other disorders for which screening is required by the department, |
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sickle cell trait, and hypothyroidism; |
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(2) develop ways and means or discover methods to be |
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used to prevent or treat phenylketonuria, other heritable diseases, |
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other disorders for which screening is required by the department, |
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sickle cell trait, and hypothyroidism; and |
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(3) serve other purposes considered necessary by the |
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department to carry out the program. |
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SECTION 3. Subsection (a), Section 33.011, Health and |
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Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The physician attending a newborn child or the person |
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attending the delivery of a newborn child that is not attended by a |
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physician shall subject the child to screening tests approved by |
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the department for phenylketonuria, other heritable diseases, |
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hypothyroidism, sickle cell trait, and other disorders for which |
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screening is required by the department. |
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SECTION 4. Subsection (a), Section 33.014, Health and |
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Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) If, because of an analysis of a specimen submitted under |
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Section 33.011, the department reasonably suspects that a newborn |
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child may have phenylketonuria, another heritable disease, |
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hypothyroidism, sickle cell trait, or another disorder for which |
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the screening tests are required, the department shall notify the |
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person who submits the specimen that the results are abnormal and |
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provide the test results to that person. The department may notify |
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one or more of the following that the results of the analysis are |
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abnormal and recommend further testing when necessary: |
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(1) the physician attending the newborn child or the |
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physician's designee; |
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(2) the person attending the delivery of the newborn |
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child that was not attended by a physician; |
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(3) the parents of the newborn child; |
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(4) the health authority of the jurisdiction in which |
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the newborn child was born or in which the child resides, if known; |
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or |
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(5) physicians who are cooperating pediatric |
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specialists for the program. |
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SECTION 5. Subsection (a), Section 33.031, Health and |
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Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) All newborn children and other individuals under 21 |
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years of age who have been screened, have been found to be |
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presumptively positive through the newborn screening program for |
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phenylketonuria, other heritable diseases, hypothyroidism, sickle |
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cell trait, or another disorder for which the screening tests are |
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required, and may be financially eligible may be referred to the |
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department's services program for children with special health care |
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needs. |
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SECTION 6. Subsection (a), Section 33.032, Health and |
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Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Within the limits of funds available for this purpose |
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and in cooperation with the individual's physician, the department |
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may provide services directly or through approved providers to |
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individuals of any age who meet the eligibility criteria specified |
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by board rules on the confirmation of a positive test for |
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phenylketonuria, other heritable diseases, hypothyroidism, sickle |
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cell trait, or another disorder for which the screening tests are |
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required. |
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SECTION 7. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Department of State Health Services shall |
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implement the changes in law made by this Act to the newborn |
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screening program under Chapter 33, Health and Safety Code. |
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SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |