California Assembly Bill AB2072 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2072INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Mendoza FEBRUARY 18, 2010 An act to amend Section 124119.5 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to public health. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2072, as introduced, Mendoza. Hearing screening: resources and services. Existing law, the Newborn and Infant Hearing Screening, Tracking, and Intervention Act, requires every general acute care hospital with licensed perinatal services to offer every newborn a hearing screening test for the identification of hearing loss, as specified, and provide written information on the availability of community resources and services for children with hearing loss to the parents of those who are diagnosed with a hearing loss. Existing law, the California Early Start Intervention Services Act, commonly known as the Early Start program, provides various early intervention services for infants and toddlers who have disabilities to enhance their development and to minimize the potential for developmental delays. This bill would, instead provide that the written information shall be on all communication, options for children with hearing loss, and that the information shall be provided to parents when their newborn or infant fails the hearing screening, at a followup appointment to diagnose a hearing loss, and at entry into the Early Start program. It would also specify additional items of information to be provided pursuant to these requirements. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 124119.5 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read: 124119.5.  (a)    Parents of all newborns and infants  diagnosed with a hearing loss  shall be provided written information on  the availability of community resources and services   all communication options  for children with hearing loss, including those provided in accordance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.), through the reporting and tracking system followup procedures  .   and   at each of the following events:   (1)     When a newborn or infant fails the hearing screening.   (2) At a followup appointment with an audiologist to diagnose a hearing loss.   (3) At entry into the Early Start program, provided for pursuant to Title 14 (commencing with Section 95000) of the Government Code.   (b)     Information provided pursuant to subdivision (a)  shall include  , but is not limited to,  listings of local and statewide nonprofit deaf and hard-of-hearing  consumer-based organizations,   organizations, agencies and early intervention centers, educational programs,  parent support organizations affiliated with deafness, and programs offered through the State Department of Social Services, Office of Deaf Access, State Department of Developmental Services, and the State Department of Education.