TITLE: Relating to newborn hearing screening.

SUMMARY: Relating to newborn hearing screening.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to newborn hearing screening. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subsection (a), Section 47.003, Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A birthing facility, through a program certified by the department under Section 47.004, shall perform, either directly or through a referral to another program certified under that section [transfer agreement],a hearing screening for the identification of hearing loss on each newborn or infant born at the facility before the newborn or infant is discharged from the facility unless: (1) the parent declines the screening; (2) the newborn or infant is transferred to another facility before the screening is performed; [or] (3) the screening has previously been completed;or (4) the newborn was discharged from the birthing facility not more than 10 hours after birth and a referral for the newborn was made to a program certified under Section 47.004 at another birthing facility or operated by a physician or other health care provider.SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.