2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-2216/1
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2025 ASSEMBLY BILL 206
April 23, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives DITTRICH, DUCHOW, ANDRACA, J.
JACOBSON, KNODL, MURPHY, MURSAU, SINICKI, STUBBS and SUBECK,
cosponsored by Senators JAGLER, FEYEN, DASSLER-ALFHEIM, JAMES, L.
JOHNSON, SPREITZER, TESTIN and WALL. Referred to Committee on Health,
Aging and Long-Term Care.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
AN ACT to create 253.13 (6) of the statutes; relating to: the procedure for
adding federal newborn screening recommendations to the state-required
newborn screenings, granting rule-making authority, and providing an
exemption from emergency rule procedures.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
In general, under current law, newborns must be tested for certain congenital
and metabolic disorders as specified in rules promulgated by the Department of
Health Services. The federal Department of Health and Human Services
maintains a list of disorders for which it recommends testing in newborns, known
as the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP).
Under this bill, DHS must evaluate each disorder that is included in the RUSP
as of January 1, 2025, to determine whether newborns in this state should be tested
for that disorder. This requirement does not apply to any disorder in the RUSP if,
as of January 1, 2025, the disorder is already included in the list of disorders for
which newborns must be tested in this state. In addition, the bill requires DHS to
evaluate any disorder added to the RUSP after January 1, 2025, to determine
whether newborns in this state should be tested for that newly added disorder. If
DHS determines newborns should not be tested for the disorder, DHS must
annually review medical literature and the department[s capacity and resources to
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test for the disorder in order to determine whether to reevaluate the inclusion of the
disorder in newborn testing in this state. If, in any of these evaluations or
reevaluations, DHS determines that a disorder in the RUSP should be added to the
list of disorders for which newborns must be tested in this state, the bill requires
DHS to promulgate rules to add that disorder.
The requirements for evaluations, reviews, and reevaluations under the bill do
not apply to a disorder in the RUSP if DHS is in the process of adding, by rule, the
disorder to the list of disorders for which newborns must be tested in this state.
However, if the rule-making procedure for that disorder does not result in
promulgation of a rule, then DHS must consider the disorder under the review and
reevaluation procedures under the bill.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 253.13 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
253.13 (6) FEDERAL RECOMMENDATIONS ; EVALUATION PROCEDURE. (a) Initial
evaluation. 1. Subject to subd. 2., for any disorder that is added to the federal
recommended uniform screening panel approved by the federal department of
health and human services after January 1, 2025, and that is not included in the
list of disorders under s. DHS 115.04, Wis. Adm. Code, the department shall do all
of the following within 18 months after the addition of the disorder:
a. Conduct an initial evaluation to determine whether the disorder should be
included in the testing required under this section.
b. If the department determines that the disorder should be included in the
testing required under this section, commence rule making to add the disorder to
the list under s. DHS 115.04, Wis. Adm. Code.
2. This paragraph does not apply to any disorder included in the federal
recommended uniform screening panel that will be added to the list of disorders
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under s. DHS 115.04, Wis. Adm. Code, pending promulgation of a rule for which the
department has commenced rule-making procedures as of the effective date of this
subdivision .... [LRB inserts date].
(b) Annual review. 1. Subject to subd. 2., the department shall do all of the
following on an annual basis for any disorder the department determines in an
initial evaluation under par. (a) or a reevaluation under par. (c) should not be
included in the testing required under this section and for any disorder that was the
subject of rule making under par. (a) 2. or 2025 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), section
2 (2), that did not result in the promulgation of a rule:
a. Review the medical literature published on the disorder since the initial
evaluation or the commencement of rule making under par. (a) 2. or 2025 Wisconsin
Act .... (this act), section 2 (2), to determine whether new information has been
identified that would merit a reevaluation of whether testing for the disorder
should be included in the testing required under this section.
b. Determine whether the department has the capacity and resources needed
to include testing for the disorder in the testing required under this section.
2. This paragraph does not apply to any disorder that is removed from the
federal recommended uniform screening panel.
(c) Reevaluation. If the department finds in an annual review under par. (b)
that new information has been identified that would merit a reevaluation of
whether testing for a disorder should be included in the testing required under this
section or that the department has the capacity and resources needed to include
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testing for the disorder in the testing required under this section, the department
shall do all of the following within 18 months of completing the annual review:
1. Conduct a reevaluation to determine whether testing for the disorder
should be included in the testing required under this section.
2. If the department determines in the reevaluation that testing for a disorder
should be included in the testing required under this section, commence rule
making to add the disorder to the list under s. DHS 115.04, Wis. Adm. Code.
(d) Emergency rule making. The department may use the procedure under s.
227.24 to promulgate a rule under this subsection or 2025 Wisconsin Act .... (this
act), section 2 (1) (b). Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department is
not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this paragraph as
an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health,
safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule
promulgated under this paragraph. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), if the
department submits in proposed form a permanent rule to the legislative council
staff under s. 227.15 (1) within 15 months of the date the statement of scope of the
emergency rule promulgated under this paragraph is published in the register
under s. 227.135 (3), the emergency rule remains in effect until the date on which
the permanent rule takes effect or the date on which the statement of scope expires
under s. 227.135 (5), whichever occurs first.
(e) Implementation. The department shall ensure that testing for any
disorder added by rule to the list under s. DHS 115.04, Wis. Adm. Code, in
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accordance with this subsection begins within 6 months after the date of
publication, as defined in s. 227.22 (1), of the rule.
SECTION 2. Nonstatutory provisions.
(1) For any disorder included in the federal recommended uniform screening
panel approved by the federal department of health and human services as of
January 1, 2025, that is not included in the list of disorders under s. DHS 115.04,
Wis. Adm. Code, on the effective date of this subsection, the department of health
services shall do all of the following within 18 months of the effective date of this
subsection:
(a) Evaluate whether the disorder should be included in the testing required
under s. 253.13 (1).
(b) If, in its evaluation, the department of health services determines that the
disorder should be included in the testing required under s. 253.13 (1), commence
rule making to add the disorder to the list under s. DHS 115.04, Wis. Adm. Code.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any disorder included in the federal
recommended uniform screening panel that will be added to the list of disorders
under s. DHS 115.04, Wis. Adm. Code, pending promulgation of a rule for which the
department of health services has commenced the rule-making procedure as of the
effective date of this subsection.
(3) The department of health services shall ensure that testing for any
disorder added by rule to the list under s. DHS 115.04, Wis. Adm. Code, in
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accordance with sub. (1) begins within 6 months after the date of publication, as
defined in s. 227.22 (1), of the rule.
(END)
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