Bill Text: NJ A1188 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Includes screening for toxoplasmosis in newborn screening program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Women and Children Committee [A1188 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A1188-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DAVID W. WOLFE
District 10 (Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Includes screening for toxoplasmosis in newborn screening program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning screening for disorders in newborn infants and amending P.L.1977, c.321.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1977, c.321 (C.26:2-110) is amended to read as follows:
1. It is hereby declared to be the public policy of this State that in the interests of public health every effort should be made to detect in newborn infants[, hypothyroidism, galactosemia, phenylketonuria, and other preventable biochemical] disorders which may cause mental retardation or other permanent disabilities and to treat affected individuals pursuant to P.L.1977, c.321 (C.26:2-110 et seq.).
(cf: P.L.1988, c.24, s.2)
2. Section 2 of P.L.1977, c.321 (C.26:2-111) is amended to read as follows:
2. All infants born in this State shall be tested for hypothyroidism, galactosemia [and], phenylketonuria[. The], toxoplasmosis, and such other disorders as determined necessary by the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services. The commissioner shall issue regulations to assure that newborns are so tested in a manner approved by the commissioner. The commissioner shall ensure that treatment services are available to all identified individuals.
The [State] Department of Health and Senior Services may charge a reasonable fee for the tests performed pursuant to this act. The amount of the fee and the procedures for collecting the fee shall be determined by the commissioner. The commissioner shall apply all revenues collected from the fees to the testing and treatment procedures performed pursuant to this act.
The commissioner may also require testing of newborn infants for other preventable [biochemical] disorders if reliable and efficient testing techniques are available. If the commissioner determines that an additional test shall be required, the commissioner, at least 90 days prior to requiring the test [he], shall so advise the President of the Senate, Speaker of the General Assembly, and chairmen of the following standing reference committees [on Revenue, Finance] : the Senate Budget and Appropriations [and Institutions,] Committee; the General Assembly Appropriations Committee; the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee; and the General Assembly Health [and Welfare of his determination] and Senior Services Committee; or their successors.
The commissioner shall provide a program of reviewing and following up on positive cases in order that measures may be taken to prevent mental retardation or other permanent disabilities.
Information on newborn infants and their families compiled pursuant to this section may be used by the department and agencies designated by the commissioner for the purposes of carrying out this act, but otherwise the information shall be confidential and not divulged or made public so as to disclose the identity of any person to which it relates, except as provided by law. The department shall conduct an intensive educational and training program among physicians, hospitals, public health nurses and the public concerning those [biochemical] disorders. This program shall include information concerning the nature of the disorders, testing for the detection of these disorders and treatment modalities for these disorders.
The provisions of this section shall not apply if the parents of a newborn infant object to the testing on the grounds that it would conflict with their religious tenets or practices.
(cf: P.L.1988, c.24, s.3)
3. This act shall take effect on the 180th day after enactment, except that the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services shall take such anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for its implementation.
STATEMENT
This bill expands the number of disorders for which newborn infants in this State are required to be tested to include toxoplasmosis.
At present, the State is required, through a combination of statute, regulation, and order of the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, to screen newborn infants for a total of 54 disorders.
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite sometimes found in cat feces, undercooked meat, raw eggs, and soil. If a pregnant woman is infected, there is a 40% chance that her fetus will also be infected. Often the disorder is undetectable in a newborn infant without a blood test. If not detected and treated early, the disorder can result in a child suffering from lifelong complications, including mental retardation, severely impaired eyesight, cerebral palsy, and seizures.
The bill also updates the names in N.J.S.A.26:2-111 of the standing legislative reference committees which the commissioner is required to advise upon the determination that a test for another disorder is required.
