H.B. No. 1671
AN ACT
relating to mutual aid agreements for newborn screening laboratory
services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 12, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 12.01221 to read as follows:
Sec. 12.01221. MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT FOR NEWBORN SCREENING
LABORATORY SERVICES. (a) In this section, "newborn screening
laboratory services" means the performance of tests to analyze
specimens collected as part of the newborn screenings performed
under Subchapter B, Chapter 33.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 12.0122 or other law, the
department may enter into a mutual aid agreement to provide newborn
screening laboratory services to another state and to receive
newborn screening laboratory services from another state in the
event of an unexpected interruption of service, including an
interruption caused by a disaster.
(c) Each mutual aid agreement under Subsection (b) shall
include provisions:
(1) to address the confidentiality of the identity of
the newborn child and the newborn child's family; and
(2) to ensure the return of blood specimens and
related records to the state that received the newborn screening
laboratory services.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1671 was passed by the House on March
31, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1671 was passed by the Senate on May
12, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor