Chapter 958 Oregon Laws 1999
Session Law
AN ACT
HB 3246
Relating to newborn hearing
screening tests.
Whereas the State of Oregon finds that newborn hearing
screening tests can provide important early detection of newborn hearing loss;
and
Whereas the Legislative Assembly declares that it is the policy
of the State of Oregon that all newborn infants receive a newborn hearing
screening test prior to discharge from the hospital or birthing center; now,
therefore,
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. (1) In all Oregon hospitals and birthing
centers with more than 200 live births per year, each newborn child shall
receive a newborn hearing screening test within one month of the date of birth.
A hospital or birthing center shall attempt to conduct the test required under
this subsection prior to the discharge of the child from the facility.
(2) All Oregon hospitals and
birthing centers with less than 200 live births per year shall provide the
parent or guardian of a newborn child with the appropriate information
furnished by the Health Division concerning the importance of newborn hearing screening
tests.
(3) All Oregon hospitals and
birthing centers conducting newborn hearing screening tests shall:
(a) Within 10 days of the
test, notify the parent or guardian and the health care provider for the
newborn child of the test results;
(b) With the results of the
test, provide names and contact information for diagnostic facilities in the
community; and
(c) On an annual basis,
report to the division the number of children tested and the number of children
with abnormal results.
(4) Each public and private
educational institution that provides early intervention services as defined in
ORS 343.035 shall, on an annual basis, inform the division of the number of
children enrolled in the institution who have diagnosed hearing loss and who
are receiving early intervention services.
(5) The division, in
collaboration with the Child Development and Rehabilitation Center and Oregon
Health Sciences University shall, on an annual basis, provide to all Oregon
hospitals and birthing centers the following information:
(a) A description of the
responsibilities created by this section;
(b) A list of appropriate
screening devices and descriptions of training protocols to ensure that staff
members are adequately trained in the use of screening equipment;
(c) A list of newborn
hearing screening testing and diagnostic facilities;
(d) A list of public and
private educational institutions that provide early intervention services and a
description of the geographic area served by each institution; and
(e) Other information
related to newborn hearing screening tests that the division deems appropriate.
(6) A hospital or birthing
center directed to provide newborn hearing screening tests under this section
is exempt from providing such services if the parent or guardian of the newborn
child objects to the testing procedure on the grounds that the procedure
conflicts with the religious tenets and practices of the parent or guardian.
The parent or guardian must sign a statement that the newborn infant is being
so reared.
(7) No newborn child may be
refused the procedure described in subsection (1) of this section because of an
inability of the parent or guardian to pay for the procedure.
SECTION 2. (1) The Health Division shall collect
information on newborn hearing screening tests from Oregon hospitals, birthing
centers and educational institutions providing early intervention services as
defined in ORS 343.035.
(2) The division shall
analyze the information collected under subsection (1) of this section to
determine the effectiveness of the testing requirements of section 1 of this
1999 Act in identifying hearing loss in the newborn child population.
(3) The division shall issue
an annual report detailing the results of the newborn hearing screening tests.
SECTION 3. The Health Division shall appoint an
advisory committee to provide:
(1) Advice on the
implementation of section 1 of this 1999 Act.
(2) Assistance in the
preparation of a report to the Seventy-first Legislative Assembly on the status
of the newborn hearing screening testing program. The report shall include
recommendations on improving the testing program, including but not limited to
strategies to increase the rate of early screening for children born in
hospitals and birthing centers with less than 200 live births per year or born
outside of hospitals and birthing centers.
SECTION 4. Sections 1 and 2 of this 1999 Act do not
become operative until July 1, 2000.
Approved by the Governor
August 17, 1999
Filed in the office of
Secretary of State August 18, 1999
Effective date October 23,
1999
__________