BILL REQ. #:  H-1625.1 

Read first time 02/05/2007.   Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

     AN ACT Relating to newborn screening fees; amending RCW 70.83.040; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 70.83.040 and 2005 c 518 s 938 are each amended to read as follows:
     When notified of positive screening tests, the state department of health shall offer the use of its services and facilities, designed to prevent mental retardation or physical defects in such children, to the attending physician, or the parents of the newborn child if no attending physician can be identified.
     The services and facilities of the department, and other state and local agencies cooperating with the department in carrying out programs of detection and prevention of mental retardation and physical defects shall be made available to the family and physician to the extent required in order to carry out the intent of this chapter and within the availability of funds. The department has the authority to collect a ((reasonable)) fee of sixty-seven dollars and fifty cents, from the parents or other responsible party of each infant screened to fund specialty clinics that provide treatment services for hemoglobin diseases, phenylketonuria, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia((, congenital hypothyroidism, and, during the 2005-07 fiscal biennium, other disorders defined by the board of health under RCW 70.83.020)). The fee may be collected through the facility where the screening specimen is obtained.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2007.