Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2255 by Darby (Relating to newborn and infant hearing screening results and the provision of information following a screening.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to require programs that conduct follow-up hearing screenings to obtain prior written consent from the newborn's or infant's parents before providing the newborn hearing screening results to the primary statewide resource center (center) established under the Texas Education Code, Section 30.051 at the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD). The bill also would require these programs refer the newborn or infant to early childhood intervention services and the center.
The bill would direct the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to make educational and informational materials on follow-up care, public resources on early childhood intervention services and the center, as well as contact information for Texas Early Hearing Detection and Intervention available to the public by request. The bill would also direct birthing facilities to simultaneous distribute screening results and informational materials regarding available public resources.
The bill would require the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop guidelines to protect the confidentiality of patients and written consent from parents before identifying information is provided to DSHS or the center. DSHS and the center would be required to allow the parent to withdraw information at any time.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2019.
Based on the Legislative Budget Board's analysis of information provided by DSHS, HHSC, and TSD, any activities undertaken relating to the provisions of the bill can be implemented within existing resources. If the bill resulted in a significant increase in inquiries to TSD and HHSC from parents of newborns who do not pass a follow-up hearing screening, there could be additional costs to the respective agencies to provide information and resources to parents.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
529 Health and Human Services Commission, 537 State Health Services, Department of, 772 School for the Deaf