Bill Text: CA AB612 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 612 (Prior Session Legislation)

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: Newborns and infants: hearing screening.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-07-11 - In committee: Set, second hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. [AB612 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB612-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 612

Introduced by Assembly Member Rubio

February 14, 2017

An act to amend Section 124119 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to newborn and infant hearing screening.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 612, as introduced, Rubio. Newborns and infants: hearing screening.

Existing law requires the State Department of Health Care Services to implement a newborn and infant hearing screening program and to develop and implement a reporting and tracking system for newborns and infants tested for hearing loss. Existing law requires certain medical providers to report specified information to the department or the department’s designee to be included in the department’s reporting and tracking system.

This bill would require those providers to report that information electronically.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 124119 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

124119.

(a) The department shall develop and implement a reporting and tracking system for newborns and infants tested for hearing loss.

(b) The system shall provide the department with information and data to effectively plan, establish, monitor, and evaluate the Newborn and Infant Hearing Screening, Tracking and Intervention Program, including the screening and followup components, as well as the comprehensive system of services for newborns and infants who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and their families.

(c) Every general acute care hospital with licensed perinatal services, or NICU in this state shall report electronically to the department or the department’s designee information as specified by the department to be included in the department’s reporting and tracking system.

(d) All providers of audiological followup and diagnostic services provided under this article shall report electronically to the department or the department’s designee information as specified by the department to be included in the department’s reporting and tracking system.

(e) The information compiled and maintained in the tracking system shall be kept confidential in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 10850) of Part 1 2 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the Information Practices Act of 1977 (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1798) of Title 1.8 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code), and the applicable requirements and provisions of Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. ~~1475~~ 1400 et seq.).

(f) Data collected by the tracking system obtained directly from the medical records of the newborn or infant shall be for the confidential use of the department and for the persons or public or private entities that the department determines are necessary to carry out the intent of the reporting and tracking system.

(g) A health facility, clinical laboratory, audiologist, physician, registered nurse, or any other officer or employee of a health facility or laboratory or employee of an audiologist or physician, shall not be criminally or civilly liable for furnishing information to the department or its designee pursuant to the requirements of this section.