HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1372

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                         Health Care

Title:  An act relating to birth defects surveillance.

Brief Description:  Repealing the requirement to maintain a registry for handicapped children.

Sponsors:  Representatives Schual‑Berke, Esser, Boldt and Keiser; by request of Department of Health.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Health Care:  2/5/99, 2/9/99 [DP].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Repeals obsolete and redundant language regarding birth defect data collection, which will improve collection process.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Cody, Democratic Co-Chair; Parlette, Republican Co-Chair; Pflug, Republican Vice Chair; Schual-Berke, Democratic Vice Chair; Alexander; Boldt; Campbell; Conway; Edmonds; Edwards; Mulliken and Ruderman.

Staff:  Bill Hagens (786-7131).

Background:

In Washington state, birth defects occur in about 2.6 percent of live births.  These conditions account for 20 to 30 percent of all infant deaths, and numerous cases of disability.  While advances in science have contributed to the prevention of birth defects and its related disabilities, the Department of Health (DOH) continues to need accurate data to plan and provide services for these children.

Birth defects currently are reported to the DOH under the Registry for Handicapped Children statutes which were first enacted in 1959.  However, the state's "notifiable conditions" requirement, as expressed in rule, has changed substantially over the years, rendering current law redundant.

Presently, the following "notifiable conditions" are reported:

AnencephalySpina bifidaCleft lip with/without cleft palate

Cleft palateLimb reduction defectshypospadias (2nd and 3rd

GastroschisisOmphaloceledegree)

Cerebral palsy Fetal alcohol syndrome  Down syndrome

Summary of Bill:

The bill repeals redundant statutes relying upon existing rules for authority to collect birth defect data.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The bill removes unnecessary statutory language that improves the efficiency of  birth defect data collection.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Dr. Maxine Hayes, Department of Health.