Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §1532, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 848, §2, is amended to read:

§1532. Detection of mental retardation; newborn screening

The department may shall require hospitals, maternity homes and other maternity services to test newborn infants, or to cause them to be tested, for the presence of genetic or biochemical disorders and metabolic abnormalities which that may be expected to result in subsequent mental deficiencies. The department shall promulgate adopt rules to define this requirement, the metabolic abnormalities and the genetic or biochemical disorders for which testing must be done and the approved testing methods, materials, procedure and testing sequences. Reports and records of those making these tests may be required to be submitted to the department in accordance with departmental rules. The department may, on request, offer consultation, training and evaluation services to those testing facilities. The provisions of this section shall do not apply if the parents of a child object to them on the grounds that the test conflicts with their religious tenets and practices.

Sec. 2. Department of Human Services rules. Before January 1, 2002, the Department of Human Services shall amend its rules relating to the testing of newborns for detection of causes of mental retardation and selected genetic conditions to expand the type of metabolic abnormalities and genetic or biochemical disorders for which newborns are screened. In adopting the rules, the department shall consider the types of metabolic and genetic or biochemical conditions that are potentially detectable through testing of newborn blood specimens. The department shall include those tests that are accepted medical practice. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

SUMMARY

This bill requires that screening be conducted of all newborn infants by hospitals, maternity homes and other maternity services. The bill requires the Department of Human Services to amend its rules relating to newborn screening for metabolic, genetic and biochemical conditions to expand the types of conditions for which newborns are screened.