BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1795

By: Pierson

Public Health

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law requires the screening of all babies born in Texas for newborn diseases.

C.S.H.B. 1795 expands the newborn screening programs to include testing for an additional 20 disorders. The bill creates the Newborn Screening Advisory Committee to develop recommendations and research concerning mandatory expanded newborn screening in the state of Texas.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1795 provides for its citation as "Greyson's Law." The bill amends the Health and Safety Code to authorize the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), to the extent funding is available for the screening, to require newborn screening tests for disorders listed in the secondary targets in addition to those listed in the core panel recommended in the American College of Medical Genetics' 2005 report. The bill authorizes DSHS, with the advice of the Newborn Screening Advisory Committee, to require additional newborn screening tests to screen for other disorders or conditions. The bill authorizes DSHS to exclude screenings for galactose epimerase and galactokinase from the required newborn screening tests for the disorders listed in the core panel and in the secondary targets. The bill makes technical corrections to conform to the 2005 report by the American College of Medical Genetics entitled "Newborn Screening: Toward a Uniform Screening Panel and System."

C.S.H.B. 1795 requires DSHS to establish the Newborn Screening Advisory Committee, consisting of members appointed by the commissioner of state health services and including health care providers, a hospital representative, persons who have family members affected by a condition for which newborn screening is or may be required, and persons who are involved in the delivery of newborn screening services, follow-up, or treatment in Texas. The bill requires the advisory committee to advise DSHS regarding strategic planning, policy, rules, and services related to newborn screening and additional newborn screening tests. The bill requires the advisory committee to adopt bylaws governing the committee's operations. The bill authorizes the advisory committee to appoint subcommittees and requires the advisory committee to meet at least three times each year and at other times at the call of the commissioner.

C.S.H.B. 1795 provides that a member of the advisory committee is not entitled to compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for travel or other expenses incurred while conducting the business of the advisory committee, as provided by the General Appropriations Act. The bill provides that the advisory committee is not subject to provisions relating to state agency advisory committees. The bill requires the commissioner of state health services to appoint members to the Newborn Screening Advisory Committee as soon as practicable after September 1, 2009. The bill provides that a physician or person attending to the delivery of a newborn child is not required to subject the child to the additional required newborn screening tests until January 1, 2010.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 1795 differs from the original by specifying that the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is required to require newborn screening tests to the extent funding is available for the screening, whereas the original removed that clause from the existing provision.  The substitute removes a provision in the original authorizing DSHS to exclude screenings for cystic fibrosis from the required newborn screening tests.  The substitute differs from the original by requiring the Newborn Screening Advisory Committee to include a hospital representative.  The substitute differs from the original by establishing that the advisory committee is not subject to provisions relating to state agency advisory committees, rather than provisions relating to administrative procedure as in the original.