By: Deuell S.B. No. 793
(Laubenberg)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to newborn hearing screening.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subsection (a), Section 47.003, Health and
Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) A birthing facility, through a program certified by the
department under Section 47.004, shall perform, either directly or
through a referral to another program certified under that section
[transfer agreement], a hearing screening for the identification of
hearing loss on each newborn or infant born at the facility before
the newborn or infant is discharged from the facility unless:
(1) the parent declines the screening;
(2) the newborn or infant is transferred to another
facility before the screening is performed; [or]
(3) the screening has previously been completed; or
(4) the newborn was discharged from the birthing
facility not more than 10 hours after birth and a referral for the
newborn was made to a program certified under Section 47.004 at
another birthing facility or operated by a physician or other
health care provider.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2013.