HF 1819

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:55am

A bill for an act
relating to health; changing the fee for testing; requiring support services to
families with children who are deaf or have hearing loss; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2008, sections 144.125, subdivision 1; 144.966, by adding a subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144.125, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Duty to perform testing.

It is the duty of (1) the administrative
officer or other person in charge of each institution caring for infants 28 days or less of age,
(2) the person required in pursuance of the provisions of section 144.215, to register the
birth of a child, or (3) the nurse midwife or midwife in attendance at the birth, to arrange
to have administered to every infant or child in its care tests for heritable and congenital
disorders according to subdivision 2 and rules prescribed by the state commissioner of
health. Testing and the recording and reporting of test results shall be performed at the
times and in the manner prescribed by the commissioner of health. The commissioner shall
charge a fee so that the total of fees collected will approximate the costs of conducting the
tests and implementing and maintaining a system to follow-up infants with heritable or
congenital disorders, including hearing loss detected through the early hearing detection
and intervention program under section 144.966. The fee is deleted text begin $101 deleted text end new text begin $105 new text end per specimen.
Costs associated with capital expenditures and the development of new procedures may be
prorated over a three-year period when calculating the amount of the fees.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144.966, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 3a. new text end

new text begin Support services to families. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall contract with
a nonprofit organization to provide support and assistance to families with children
who are deaf or have a hearing loss. The family support provided must include direct
parent-to-parent assistance and information on communication, educational, and medical
options. The commissioner shall give preference to a nonprofit organization that has the
ability to provide these services throughout the state.
new text end