Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, House Committee On Public Health
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1471 by Laubenberg (Relating to newborn hearing screening.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code as it relates to newborn hearing screening. The bill would allow a birthing facility to provide a referral for newborn hearing screening to a program certified by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), and provide an exception to performing a hearing screening by the birthing facility if a newborn was discharged from the facility not more than 10 hours after birth and a referral is made. Based on the analysis provided by the DSHS, it is assumed that the provisions of the bill can be implemented within existing resources. The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house, otherwise the bill would take effect September 1, 2013.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.