Sponsored by:
Senator ANTHONY R. BUCCO
District 25 (Morris and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Requires DOH to provide information regarding spina bifida to certain parents and families of newborns; "Levi's Law."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning spina bifida and designated as Levi's Law, and amending P.L.2015, c.173.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.2015, c.173 (C.26:2-194) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. The Department of Health shall make available on the department's Internet website, to any person who renders prenatal care, postnatal care, or genetic counseling of parents who receive a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome and spina bifida, the following: (1) up-to-date, evidence-based, written information about Down syndrome and spina bifida that has been reviewed by medical experts and national Down syndrome or spina bifida organizations, as applicable, including, but not limited to, the Centers for Disease Control, the Spina Bifida Resource Network, and the March of Dimes, which information shall include physical, developmental, educational, and psychosocial outcomes; (2) life expectancy, clinical course, and intellectual and functional development and treatment options; and (3) contact information regarding telephone and support services, including information hotlines specific to Down syndrome or spina bifida, resource centers, and other education and support programs. The department may also make such information available to any other person who has received a positive test result from a test for Down syndrome or spina bifida blood test. This information may be revised by the department as new information about Down syndrome and spina bifida becomes available.
b. Information provided under this section shall be in English and Spanish, and in a manner that is easily understandable for women receiving a positive prenatal diagnosis or for the family of a child receiving a postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome or spina bifida.
(cf: PL.2015, c.173, s.1)
2. Section 2 of P.L.2015, c.173 (C.26:2-195) is amended to read as follows:
2. Any physician, health care provider, nurse midwife, or genetic counselor who renders prenatal care, postnatal care, or genetic counseling shall, upon receipt of a positive test result from a test for Down syndrome or a spina bifida blood test, provide the expectant or new parent with the information that is provided by the Department of Health under section 1 of this act.
(cf: P.L.2015, c.173, s.2)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
Current law requires DOH to make information on Down syndrome available on its website to any person who renders prenatal care, postnatal care, or genetic counseling of parents who receive a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. This bill, which would be known as "Levi's Law," amends P.L.2015, c.173 (C.26:2-194 et seq.) to expand the information that DOH is required to make available on its website to include spina bifida, and to make the information available to any person who renders prenatal care, postnatal care, or genetic counseling of parents who receive a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of spina bifida.
Under current law, DOH: may make information on Down syndrome available to any other person who has received a positive test result for Down syndrome; is authorized to revise the information as new information on Down Syndrome becomes available; and is required to provide the information in English and Spanish, and in a manner that is easily understandable for a woman or the family of a child receiving a postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome.
Under the provisions of the bill, DOH would be: allowed to make information on spina bifida to any other person who has received a positive test result from a spina bifida blood test; authorized to revise this information as new information about spina bifida becomes available; and required to provide the information in English and Spanish, and in a manner that is easily understandable for a woman or the family of a child receiving a postnatal diagnosis of spina bifida.