[{"_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",6595002,"mediaKeyId","3044660-c9e840292301ed3448a69e742534504a","parentId",3044660,"title","Senate committee hears bill to codify newborn blood‑spot screening supports and follow‑up","audioSeconds",2406,"startMs",453000,"endMs",2859000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3044660-c9e840292301ed3448a69e742534504a&start=453&end=2859","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3044660-c9e840292301ed3448a69e742534504a/thumbnail_453000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6595002/Oregon/Senate-committee-hears-bill-to-codify-newborn-bloodspot-screening-supports-and-followup","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595002-2927a6b0edfe630aad6c4f0e892e3b25/orig.mp4?Expires=1770716578&Signature=dduZW5hrdsuPsgqUCeiFMpBJkzxpqtZUsHP6eYgaQEL6IWyFW-Dc73sQKm-1odo0iAYH-6OWX8GqaWdKAnXboXkY7bOXMYMRyTp2G2JGkp~sTLmdBRCzmII3HFkDP~SpG8CrbkC~TZCfR3aHRC0nosEiqRbwuxkv~T20fJuDCH5nXmyUDHH5F-sNPBgzcBKDN7EnaQCfbiHWAYwwvxTmzr83vhn9tzbmPWpCLnLMrNdZthE6jEIuLShCamb72l2guFSTG4zGOoTR~KvgWuJ7FrWDgjyX9zew8~ebCnsekmH12GpEP9WXPJQEpxf3euBQJagOrbgOb78VjVtiUU260A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-04-17T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health held a public hearing April 17 on House Bill 2741, which would direct the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to maintain a state public health laboratory capable of performing analyses for the newborn blood‑spot screening program and to expand education and family follow‑up services.

Representative Travis Nelson, sponsor of the House measure, told the committee that about 40,000 babies in Oregon receive the newborn blood‑spot screening each year and that the panel tests for roughly 45 conditions. Nelson said the screens identify “nearly 100 infants annually who would need urgent medical intervention,” and described HB 2741 as “a safeguard” to ensure families get help after a positive screen.

Patrice Held, newborn blood‑spot screening program manager at the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory, testified in support and described the bill’s intent: to preserve the state’s central laboratory role, to promote equity by expanding education and follow‑up, to instruct coordinated care organizations to cover screening costs for families, to recognize philosophical exemptions, and to protect confidential screening data from public disclosure.

Senators asked about language in section 2 that authorizes the state public health laboratory to analyze samples “for any … country or territory.” Held explained the provision is intended to preserve the laboratory’s existing ability to perform contracted screening services for other jurisdictions — she cited current contracts to provide screening for New Mexico, Guam, Saipan and some military bases — and said those contracting entities cover the laboratory’s costs for out‑of‑state testing.

Committee members also asked whether families sometimes face out‑of‑pocket costs. Held said families who have community births may face costs that are not covered by insurance or Medicaid; HB 2741 would direct coordinated care organizations to cover screening costs and would add language to expand outreach and family resources for follow‑up care.

No committee vote occurred; the hearing record includes testimony from the sponsor, laboratory staff and supportive stakeholders including the Sickle Cell Foundation that the committee referenced.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee On Early Childhood and Behavioral Health 04/17/2025 1:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health held a public hearing April 17 on House Bill 2741, which would direct the Oregon Health Authority to maintain the state public health laboratory for newborn blood‑spot screening and expand education and family follow‑up services.","taxTitle","Early Childhood and Behavioral Health, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",78276,"location","Oregon","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},6595006,"Committee hears bill to lift $300,000 cap so children’s advocacy centers can access leftover grants",441,57000,498000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3044660-c9e840292301ed3448a69e742534504a&start=57&end=498","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3044660-c9e840292301ed3448a69e742534504a/thumbnail_57000.jpg","/articles/6595006/Oregon/Committee-hears-bill-to-lift-300000-cap-so-childrens-advocacy-centers-can-access-leftover-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595006-d7b416517e901462d7010a9c1001dae1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770716578&Signature=FD7qe8V7v56Ln7AUIk~gV2BZsp9saQ9Y4oGpobPCbTJpCsZBYqYGfigThC-GfCUA-RPJ~fa2uSxnrMkCGHqe8HtmNCp0sQr8t3Jk5hyD2M0rzKMH~B8pb~GB~b-C0u8tmB1qtC-0cwZ~O63TGr7kHZeEdMJfzXJpYlxVCF4Mej1JKiMKwfWSvSM5DXpOCgEuhw~tnDi6yxEjBkTej7-o7NLVy9dL3nGnDblEOhq-oFkvq0LeOQd9asaaopitiJmS-T7FxOlM~RQ2kKTgDOGyqSEx-bSncGXIKs0iyJOIcAsLfrM5TouK6IO-ulAQPVtd~UQzQ~~bwUqCTRptRv6ffA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chair Reynolds opened a public hearing April 17 before the Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health on House Bill 3195A, a measure to remove a $300,000 per‑center cap on one‑time grant funding for Oregon children's advocacy centers and to extend the Oregon Department of Justice’s (ODOJ) deadline to distribute the grants from June 30, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2025.

Shelley Smith, executive director of Oregon Child Abuse Solutions, told the committee the bill “seeks to ensure that we do not leave any money on the table that has already been allocated in past legislatures to Oregon’s Children's Advocacy Centers.” Smith said the state Legislature in 2024 approved a one‑time, noncompetitive $7,000,000 allocation in Senate Bill 1579; that funding was split into two parts, the second requiring National Children's Alliance accreditation (or a plan to seek it) by June 30, 2025, and each center faced a $300,000 total cap.

Smith said some centers — particularly in smaller and rural communities — were unable to meet the accreditation‑related criteria or to obligate their full award, leaving roughly $120,000 unobligated. She asked the committee to lift the $300,000 cap so eligible centers could apply for remaining funds and to extend the DOJ distribution deadline to allow equitable dispersal.

Committee members asked for organizational detail about why some centers could not access the funds. Smith said some rural centers have very small annual budgets and that certain accreditation requirements depend on external partners, for example law enforcement attending forensic interviews at a specified rate; in those communities meeting the accreditation criteria has been difficult.

On process, Smith said ODOJ will use the same eligibility criteria applied in the 2024 law and will notify eligible centers so they may submit applications; distribution will be handled with attention to equitability rather than strictly first‑come, first‑served.

No formal committee action or vote was taken at the hearing.

Ending: The committee closed the public hearing on House Bill 3195A after testimony and member questions. The bill was presented from the House with a reported floor vote of 46‑1, per testimony.","A senate committee held a public hearing April 17 on House Bill 3195A, which would remove a $300,000 per-center cap on one-time grant money set by 2024 legislation and push the Department of Justice deadline to Sept. 30, 2025, so unobligated funds — about $120,000 — can be reallocated to eligible centers.",{"_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},6594997,"Bill to allow newborn safety devices (\"baby boxes\") draws mixed testimony and safety concerns",1478,737000,2215000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3044660-c9e840292301ed3448a69e742534504a&start=737&end=2215","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3044660-c9e840292301ed3448a69e742534504a/thumbnail_737000.jpg","/articles/6594997/Oregon/Bill-to-allow-newborn-safety-devices-baby-boxes-draws-mixed-testimony-and-safety-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6594997-65fbfdd30eac0500e3ff23cf6c5cd035/orig.mp4?Expires=1770716578&Signature=EWvECxgK3oXJ5qAM~EpzspQ1vJ0bUyotV30nqj7BQNQGh2gD00lGWVWwcktaI-XRbkS2T6ztWZ~HYQxbd5EJP5O9k6FoBUYqXVeVbl6-OsDeoPaFI4Mg8kiOIUvVYOSzCR7MaP-XB9rs7eRnqwooRLW5m9eSYFeCvU7oA8H0ks4IJPYPBojAFv3W8r5ieCKgOvrVCvhhjgYZCXuAwGvYO-HOq0fXGbonGarF9a-VC1ffVgPjLk5YMcZTcmI1o~eVdZWkYraSNSE8NsZzzIvnRjUgqthnXhrSiL1L6i-OCwjErdlfFqNSe0TeSGCi1DkDhgS6Xc1aWhiHKx9XEaySrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health held a public hearing April 17 on House Bill 2901, which would permit authorized facilities — hospitals, doctors’ offices, law enforcement stations or fire stations — to install climate‑controlled, alarmed newborn safety devices and allow anonymous surrender of an infant into the device as an alternative to an in‑person safe‑surrender under existing law.

Emily McIntyre, testifying for the measure, said HB 2901 “is a bill for parents in crisis” and described the devices as a last‑resort, safety‑focused option for a parent who feels they have no other choice. She told the committee the bill is permissive (a “may,” not a “shall”), that counties would decide whether to purchase or install boxes, and that authorized installation sites must be 24/7 manned facilities with a medical provider on staff. McIntyre said the devices are tested at least weekly and include local information and hotline numbers designed to connect parents with services.

Representative E. Warner Raschke also supported the bill, saying safe surrender should remain a nonpunitive option for parents who feel they cannot safely parent a newborn.

Marley Greiner, testifying remotely and identifying herself with an adoptee/advocacy organization, opposed the bill. Greiner raised a series of adoption‑rights and safety concerns, including that Oregon’s 60‑day safe‑haven age limit makes anonymity harder to maintain, that an entity called Safe Haven Baby Box Inc. has a dominant role in producing and promoting boxes, and that there have been reported incidents the witness attributed to box use (Greiner cited an infant in Hammond, Indiana who had a stroke around birth, a New Mexico child admitted with pneumonia and hypothermia, and other adverse reports). Greiner said such boxes discourage prenatal and medical care and risk returning to a “secret relinquishment” model that many adoption‑rights advocates have opposed.

Committee members expressed mixed views. One senator, identifying as an adoptive parent, described personal concern about an infant being left in a box rather than handed to a person and said the emotional and identity issues for adoptees are meaningful. Another senator said the bill could prevent worse alternatives — such as abandonment in unsafe places — and noted that some firefighters and first responders have recounted positive outcomes from safe‑surrender boxes in other states.

The committee took no final action at the hearing. Testimony and committee questions identified a set of implementation issues the committee may return to, including medical oversight, equipment testing and certification, information available at the site, and potential conflicts with existing adoption and safe‑haven laws.","House Bill 2901 would permit hospitals, police or fire stations and similar 24/7 facilities to install newborn safety devices to allow anonymous surrender of infants. Supporters called the measure an extra safe‑haven option for parents in crisis; opponents raised adoptee‑rights, safety, and regulatory concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee hears bill to codify newborn blood‑spot screening supports and follow‑up

Committee hears bill to lift $300,000 cap so children’s advocacy centers can access leftover grants

Bill to allow newborn safety devices ("baby boxes") draws mixed testimony and safety concerns