_______________________________________________
HOUSE
BILL 3103
_______________________________________________
Passed
Legislature - 1998 Regular Session
State
of Washington 55th Legislature 1998 Regular Session
By
Read
first time 02/02/98. Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.
Requiring newborn screening for exposure to harmful drugs.
AN
ACT Relating to prenatal newborn screening for exposure to harmful drugs;
adding a new chapter to Title 70 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. The
policy of the state of Washington is to make every effort to detect as early as
feasible and to prevent where possible preventable disorders resulting from
parental use of alcohol and drugs.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. The
department of health, in consultation with appropriate medical professionals,
shall develop screening criteria for use in identifying pregnant or lactating
women addicted to drugs or alcohol who are at risk of producing a drug-affected
baby. The department shall also develop training protocols for medical
professionals related to the identification and screening of women at risk of
producing a drug-affected baby.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 3. The
department of health shall investigate the feasibility of medical protocols for
laboratory testing or other screening of newborn infants for exposure to
alcohol or drugs. The department of health shall consider how to improve the
current system with respect to testing, considering such variables as whether
such testing is available, its cost, which entity is currently responsible for
ordering testing, and whether testing should be mandatory or targeted.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 4. The
department of health shall report to the appropriate legislative committees on
its findings under sections 2 and 3 of this act by December 1, 1998.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 5.
Sections 1 through 3 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 70 RCW.
Passed the House February 12, 1998.
Passed the Senate March 3, 1998.
Approved by the Governor
March 20, 1998.
Filed
in Office of Secretary of State March 20, 1998.
