§8943.__Central registry

The department shall establish and maintain a central registry for cases of birth defects to accomplish the purposes of this chapter and facilitate research on birth defects.__The submission and distribution of information from the central registry are subject to the requirements of this chapter and other provisions of law.__Information that directly or indirectly identifies individual persons contained within the registry is confidential and must be distributed from the registry in accordance with rules adopted by the department.

§8944.__Rules

The department shall adopt rules to implement this chapter.__ Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined by Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

§8945.__Report

By January 1st of each year the department shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters regarding the operation of the program and the central registry.__The report must include information on any findings and activities of the department with regard to birth defects and a summary of statistical information from the program and the central registry.__The report may include recommendations from the department to improve the operation of the program and the central registry.

SUMMARY

This bill establishes a program within the Department of Human Services to identify and collect information on birth defects. The program will undertake research, is authorized to collect information, has access to health care records and information and may provide information to families on available services. The bill requires a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters by January 1st of each year on the operation of the program.