2025 -- S 0796
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LC001422
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
Introduced By: Senators Murray, Valverde, Gu, Lawson, Sosnowski, Urso, and Vargas
Date Introduced: March 14, 2025
Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services
(Dept. of Health)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 23-11-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-11 entitled "Sexually 1
Transmitted Diseases" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
23-11-8. Blood test of pregnant women. 3
It shall be the duty of every physician, midwife, physician assistant and nurse practitioner 4
engaged in prenatal attendance upon a pregnant woman to obtain a blood specimen of that pregnant 5
woman within thirty (30) days after the first professional visit and again obtain a blood specimen 6
during the third trimester. That blood specimen These blood specimens shall be submitted to the 7
laboratory of the state department of health, or to a laboratory approved by the department, for the 8
performance of a Wassermann or other standard laboratory blood test for syphilis. Any violation 9
of the provisions of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor and that physician shall be fined 10
not less than ten dollars ($10.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100) for each offense. 11
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 12
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LC001422
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LC001422 - Page 2 of 2
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
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This act would provide a duty upon midwives, physician assistants and nurse practitioners 1
to obtain a blood specimen of pregnant women within thirty (30) days after the first professional 2
visit and during the third trimester. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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LC001422
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