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Relating to newborn screening and the newborn screening preservation account.
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time because the amount of
transfers to the Newborn Screening Preservation Account depend on appropriations decisions
and the adoption of new rules.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of
funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
SB 748 would require, rather than authorize, the executive commissioner of the Heath and Human Services Commission to establish the amounts charged for newborn screening fees and to ensure that the fees are sufficient to cover the costs of performing the screening. Additionally, SB 748 would create a dedicated account inside general revenue for newborn screenings. Money in the account would only be allowed to be appropriated to the department and only for the purpose of carrying out the newborn screening program. Each year the comptroller would be required to transfer to the account any unexpended and unencumbered money from Medicaid reimbursements collected by the Department of State Health Services for newborn screenings the previous fiscal year.
The bill was amended in committee to authorize the Midland County Hospital District to adopt, change the rate of, or abolish a sales and use tax at an election held in the district.