Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Newborn Screening topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee backs bill to place newborn screening rules into Idaho law
Summary
Senate Bill 1014 would move existing newborn screening rules from administrative rule into Idaho statute; supporters said it does not change screening requirements and would increase legislative oversight. Committee voted to send the bill to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation.
Senate Bill 1014, which would codify existing newborn screening rules into Idaho statute, advanced out of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Jan. 22 with a due-pass recommendation.
Nut Graf: Sponsor Senator Camille Blaylock said the bill takes rules the committee previously approved and places them directly into Idaho Code. She and supporters stated repeatedly that the measure does not add or remove screening requirements but relocates the text so elected officials retain oversight.
Senator Camille Blaylock described the legislation as consolidating six sections of repealed statute and reintroducing the rule text verbatim into a streamlined code section. "These rules govern newborn screening tests conducted on infants born in Idaho today," Blaylock said, and she noted the requirement dates back to 1921.
Senator Wintrow asked about potential drawbacks of moving rules into statute. Blaylock said she saw no drawbacks and argued that codifying stable rules increases transparency and gives elected officials clearer oversight. Senator Wintrow later acknowledged she "vacillates" on whether all rules should be codified, but said she supported the measure as presented.
A public testifier, Jennifer Beazer, identified herself as an Idaho resident who works with families whose newborn screening tests are positive. She thanked Senator Blaylock for the outreach and said, "I'm just one Idaho girl who supports this bill and moving newborn screening as one of the most important things we do for our children into Idaho code."
Action: Senator Harris moved to send Senate Bill 1014 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; the motion carried.
Ending: The committee reported the bill to the floor; the sponsor asked that the changes take effect July 1, and the bill will await floor consideration.
