An  Act enacting the newborn infant hearing screening act; repealing K.S.A. 65-1,149, 65-
      1,150, 65-1,152, 65-1,153, 65-1,154, 65-1,155, 65-1,156 and 65-1,157 and K.S.A. 1998
      Supp. 65-1,151.


     
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:

      Section  1. (a) This act shall be known as the newborn infant hearing
screening act.

      (b) Every child born in the state of Kansas, within three to five days for
normal births and five to eight days for premature births following birth,
unless a different time period is medically indicated, shall be given a screen-
ing examination for detection of significant hearing loss. The screening shall
be conducted in accordance with accepted medical practices and in the
manner prescribed by the secretary of health and environment.

      (c) Informed consent of parents shall be obtained and if any parent
or guardian of a child objects to the mandatory examination for detection
of significant hearing loss the child is exempt from subsection (b) of this
section.

      (d) Information obtained by the secretary of health and environment
under this section shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed except
to notify the primary care physician and the parents or guardian of the
child of the screening results.

      (e) The secretary of health and environment may make application
for and receive grants or other moneys which may be available from the
federal government for newborn hearing screening and may enter into
cooperative agreements with the federal government relating to newborn
hearing screening.

      (f) The secretary of health and environment shall adopt such rules
and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this
section.

 Sec.  2. K.S.A. 65-1,149, 65-1,150, 65-1,152, 65-1,153, 65-1,154, 65-
1,155, 65-1,156 and 65-1,157 and K.S.A. 1998 Supp. 65-1,151 are hereby
repealed.

 Sec.  3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.

I hereby certify that the above BILL originated in the
HOUSE, and passed that body

____________________________________

HOUSE adopted
Conference Committee Report ______________________________

Passed the SENATE
     as amended ______________________________SENATE adopted
Conference Committee Report ______________________________

APPROVED ______________________________