[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6110239,"mediaKeyId","2758581-c0b0da50b0428d60d945aa81420d929d","parentId",2758581,"title","Committee reports favorably on multiple public‑health bills, including pediatric readiness, infant safety devices and opioid measures","audioSeconds",1016,"startMs",3177000,"endMs",4193000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2758581-c0b0da50b0428d60d945aa81420d929d&start=3177&end=4193","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2758581-c0b0da50b0428d60d945aa81420d929d/thumbnail_3177000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6110239/Arizona/Committee-reports-favorably-on-multiple-publichealth-bills-including-pediatric-readiness-infant-safety-devices-and-opioid-measures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110239-1e278003f7e89eeadae2867a1222f3e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442902&Signature=SwML85XCqQZmelDDsMms~PglIOWpgiL7jEIBhTyDRpdUc4nfwfCv9wBw6deHdI8DHcs015fgKtKqZJl8XADAJd-jkb-mKf46~5hDoWzoRM4hV5D9t2eGIgJ1WXBkSMfriMvQcovQu2AigTjhMvWrtR5efEr~KIJVc6oktBZvMXt-kEnFhT8tNWmzlsHeKcKL7Gl1dcQWi8f3NXJxmMDcteE3NUaliVPiw8hVdvbyDVz6oOeiXuTcKMfJB0Vo6~iCafZkbLGTaU8WkbGWNGKOnfe4hOwMoBCLUaTSZvmSsKQiaLi87V9CzAF1HTAgeX8r4ffpVM9bKK2Yu~O95i1xEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Florida Legislature","date","2025-03-24T00:00:00Z","article","The Health and Human Services Committee reported several health and safety bills favorably during a single session, advancing measures that range from newborn‑safety devices to opioid response in schools.

Votes at a glance

- HB 259 (Gerwig) — Special observances (Fentanyl awareness day). Vote: 23 yeas, 0 nays. The sponsor described the bill as an awareness and education measure about fentanyl in communities; no public testimony was recorded and members voted unanimously. (Reported favorably.)

- HB 791 (Cobb) — Surrendered newborn infants (infant safety devices). Vote: 25 yeas, 0 nays. The bill would authorize installation of infant‑safety devices in hospitals, EMS stations and fire stations and clarify that such devices may be used; sponsors and proponent witnesses said the measure aims to reduce unsafe abandonment. The committee adopted an amendment clarifying the word “surrendered” in the device statute. (Reported favorably as amended.)

- HB 355 (Alvarez) — Emergency opioid antagonists in K‑12 and post‑secondary schools. Vote: 26 yeas, 0 nays. The bill allows public schools and postsecondary institutions to purchase and maintain FDA‑approved emergency opioid antagonists (not limited to naloxone) and was advanced with no recorded opposition. (Reported favorably.)

- HB 1119 (Oliver) — Hospital pediatric readiness. Vote: 26 yeas, 0 nays. The bill requires hospitals with emergency departments to adopt evidence‑based pediatric policies, train staff, designate a pediatric coordinator, complete the National Pediatric Readiness Assessment and have AHCA publish scores; the committee adopted two amendments clarifying assessment timing and AHCA’s compilation duties. (Reported favorably as amended.)

- HB 431 (Trabulsi) — Background screening of athletic coaches. Vote: 26 yeas, 0 nays. The bill moves the deadline for Level 2 background screening for athletic coaches to July 1, 2026. (Reported favorably.)

- HB 519 (Bartleman) — Administration of controlled substances (glitch bill). Vote: 25 yeas, 0 nays. Sponsors described this as a technical alignment of state statute with federal law, supported by fire chiefs and professional firefighter groups. (Reported favorably.)

- HB 723 (Tant) — Type 1 diabetes early detection information. Vote: 26 yeas, 0 nays. The bill requires the Department of Health, working with school districts, to develop and post informational materials for early detection of Type 1 diabetes for parents and guardians; an amendment expanded distribution to Early Learning Coalitions and voluntary VPK programs. (Reported favorably as amended.)

Across these items, committee members expressed unanimous or near‑unanimous support, and several measures were described by sponsors as technical fixes, education efforts or straightforward public‑safety steps. Where amendments were adopted, sponsors and committee staff said the changes clarified language or implementation responsibilities.

Next steps vary by bill; all were reported favorably and will proceed for further legislative consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Health & Human Services Committee 03/24/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Health and Human Services Committee reported several health and safety bills favorably during one session, advancing measures on infant safety devices, pediatric readiness, opioid antagonists in schools and related items.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Arizona, Arizona","taxId",78572,"location","Arizona","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6110246,"Committee backs Sunshine Genetics Act to expand newborn genomic screening at Florida State",477,3303000,3780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2758581-c0b0da50b0428d60d945aa81420d929d&start=3303&end=3780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2758581-c0b0da50b0428d60d945aa81420d929d/thumbnail_3303000.jpg","/articles/6110246/Arizona/Committee-backs-Sunshine-Genetics-Act-to-expand-newborn-genomic-screening-at-Florida-State","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110246-3a07e8884b2dd25a8515692b84c21cbe/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442902&Signature=M8wPs~yAMRxAPC13StTiiIEqljBpK1Y6E8zNha63iKf8rUXfs93h8nIJJ49EjxZ-qhZ322LAhrTHqEMVNa4IuXbHTCygRsrV-GY5q6pz2y2Gd9OT6-OTOYlI8jW4L50XpgqREVknNUZA87VlwU9cOkVzLOqcFBT9-IPwRAL9Bza4ufEZKCR2rNfZgNdRbuFqaJ-LNrGf9N2852MELyUpJGh0uMT3BecA52xbs6dxqTI8T~r470m~Fs~otdqOUalp6Z0LQbjax0n2lUzy3ys4rp2fEPVa5SA523EjILOFPCiE4zGm416XPoQfvGcihPiJsyq8RwRxE7l5~LPkIoCfyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Health and Human Services Committee unanimously advanced CS/HB 907, known as the Sunshine Genetics Act, which establishes the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases and an opt‑in newborn whole‑genome sequencing program administered by Florida State University.

Representative Adam Anderson described the bill as creating an opt‑in newborn screening program that would expand screening beyond the roughly 60 conditions now included in Florida’s newborn panel to as many as 600 genetic conditions that have actionable treatments. Anderson told the committee the program would end much of the “diagnostic odyssey” many families face when a child has a rare genetic disorder.

Supporters included clinical and industry witnesses. Dr. Paul Kruschka, a clinical geneticist and GeneDX chief medical officer, described the results of the Guardian study and said expanded sequencing identified conditions standard screening would miss: “This is what expanded newborn screening can do.” He recounted a case—an infant diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy who received gene therapy at two weeks of age and is now well—arguing that early detection made the treatment possible.

Anderson cited a $20 million startup investment estimate and a projected $80 million in health‑care savings based on a pilot project at a children’s hospital. Committee members asked no substantive questions recorded in the transcript. The committee voted 25-0 to report the bill favorably.

The bill creates the National Sunshine Genetics Consortium linking universities, children's hospitals, and industry, and directs FSU to administer the opt‑in sequencing program. Supporters said early diagnosis can enable available therapies and reduce long‑term costs; the sponsor and witnesses cited published pilot data showing several percent of screened newborns receiving diagnoses that would have been missed by standard screening.

The measure now moves forward to further legislative consideration.","The committee reported CS/HB 907 favorably (25-0). The Sunshine Genetics Act would establish the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases and authorize an opt‑in whole‑genome newborn screening program administered through Florida State University; supporters cited potential life‑saving diagnoses and projected Medicaid savings.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6110250,"Committee advances bill to remove written supervision protocol for CRNAs after contested debate",2050,75000,2125000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2758581-c0b0da50b0428d60d945aa81420d929d&start=75&end=2125","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2758581-c0b0da50b0428d60d945aa81420d929d/thumbnail_75000.jpg","/articles/6110250/Arizona/Committee-advances-bill-to-remove-written-supervision-protocol-for-CRNAs-after-contested-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110250-4c7f26cca56f5a001a156febe76a867b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442902&Signature=HX9ELYQYS28EaVePK0lkzowKVUTupH6Y05xWG60j7EQfkN53L8aUlID0RypeYZEl-n4EDQm3iiqVlA6r5cY~lgHmOzSJxDNs8jEd6Nt~mYeOX3MBI8l1s9VuPtJnYuGuJfvTa~fPumz0gjq1Z2d0RNkf7PoDoFZDdlZZfLUfJGhbeiHH21Vjl9aPAzYT3BiWAa6k0ajfuQZpZtZs5rFfTrHQcRg-WMy-4bZgR-82pAuxVKchjXl5kXiTGlaW5rpjZ0XF3h~x1KKmPks-h0LNRRbGaXhAYB7tOYM~jvfSUizwVvGa4MBy5mxQ4n5~2lTpG7dQUJ6dte0dtKWsBsw2fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Health and Human Services Committee advanced House Bill 649 on a voice roll call after extended debate, reporting the measure favorably by an 18-7 vote.

The bill, presented by Representative Gilles Lombardo, would remove a state requirement that CRNAs maintain a written, physician- or dentist-signed supervisory protocol in order to provide anesthesia. Lombardo told the committee the measure “does not increase the scope” of practice but would allow CRNAs to practice without that paperwork requirement.

Supporters, including several CRNAs and professional groups, told the committee the change would modernize Florida’s Nurse Practice Act and help address an anesthesia workforce shortage. Michelle Canale, a CRNA and assistant dean at the University of South Florida, described CRNAs’ training and experience and said the paperwork requirement is “a generic piece of paperwork CRNAs just have to have on file.” Jan Setner, president of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, said it is “an outright, falsehood that HB 649 will replace anesthesiologists or change the scope of practice for CRNAs,” and urged passage to improve access.

Opponents, led by Dr. Charles Chase of the Florida Medical Association, focused on patient safety and training differences between physician anesthesiologists and CRNAs. Chase said “patient safety is the number 1 reason,” described the longer medical training of anesthesiologists, and warned of studies he said show worse outcomes where independent practice has been expanded. Committee members repeatedly asked the sponsor for data on outcomes, access and cost savings; Lombardo cited CMS billing data and out‑of‑state comparisons, and offered to provide follow‑up documentation to members.

Committee members raised particular questions about whether the bill would guarantee additional providers in rural counties and whether physicians would still be present or held responsible in practice settings. Lombardo responded the measure removes the written protocol requirement but does not mandate delivery models; she said hospitals and surgery centers would remain free to adopt their own staffing arrangements. Members also discussed malpractice insurance, with Lombardo noting CRNAs are required to carry malpractice coverage under current law.

After public testimony and debate, the committee took a roll call and reported the bill favorably. The final vote was 18 yeas and 7 nays.

The bill now moves to the next committee or the full House (the committee report lists the bill as reported favorably).","The House Health and Human Services Committee voted 18-7 to report House Bill 649 favorably, which would remove a required physician- or dentist-signed written protocol for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). Supporters said the change would increase access in underserved areas; opponents raised patient-safety and training concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee reports favorably on multiple public‑health bills, including pediatric readiness, infant safety devices and opioid measures

Committee backs Sunshine Genetics Act to expand newborn genomic screening at Florida State

Committee advances bill to remove written supervision protocol for CRNAs after contested debate