By: Crownover, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Nelson) H.B. No. 1671

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 1, 2009; April 7, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human Services; May 4, 2009, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 4, 2009, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to mutual aid agreements for newborn screening laboratory services.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 12, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 12.01221 to read as follows:

Sec. 12.01221. MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT FOR NEWBORN SCREENING LABORATORY SERVICES. (a) In this section, "newborn screening laboratory services" means the performance of tests to analyze specimens collected as part of the newborn screenings performed under Subchapter B, Chapter 33.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 12.0122 or other law, the department may enter into a mutual aid agreement to provide newborn screening laboratory services to another state and to receive newborn screening laboratory services from another state in the event of an unexpected interruption of service, including an interruption caused by a disaster.

(c) Each mutual aid agreement under Subsection (b) shall include provisions:

(1) to address the confidentiality of the identity of the newborn child and the newborn child's family; and

(2) to ensure the return of blood specimens and related records to the state that received the newborn screening laboratory services.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

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