H-4301.1          _______________________________________________

 

                                  HOUSE BILL 2866

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State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1992 Regular Session

 

By Representatives P. Johnson, Moyer, Prentice, Casada, Sheldon, Morris, Franklin, Nealey, Tate, May, Hochstatter, Ferguson, Fuhrman, Mitchell, D. Sommers, Paris, Miller, Brough, Bowman and Forner

 

Read first time 01/29/92.  Referred to Committee on Health Care.Requiring the testing of newborn infants for "Group B Streptococcus."


     AN ACT Relating to screening tests of newborn infants; and amending RCW 70.83.020.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

     Sec. 1.  RCW 70.83.020 and 1991 c 3 s 348 are each amended to read as follows:

     It shall be the duty of the department of health to require screening tests of all newborn infants before they are discharged from the hospital for the detection of phenylketonuria, group B streptococcus, and other heritable or metabolic disorders leading to mental retardation or physical defects as defined by the state board of health:  PROVIDED, That no such tests shall be given to any newborn infant whose parents or guardian object thereto on the grounds that such tests conflict with their religious tenets and practices.