AB 1801: Newborns: cytomegalovirus public education and testing.

Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to establish a statewide program for the screening of newborns for specified genetic diseases. Existing law requires the department to establish a genetic disease unit to, among other things, evaluate and prepare recommendations on the implementation of tests for the detection of hereditary and congenital diseases. Existing law also requires the department to establish a statewide birth defects monitoring program.

Existing law, the Newborn and Infant Hearing Screening, Tracking and Intervention Act, requires a general acute care hospital with licensed perinatal services to administer to a newborn, upon birth admission, a hearing screening test for the identification of hearing loss, using protocols approved by the State Department of Health Care Services or its designee, unless the newborns parent or guardian objects to the test, as specified. Existing law requires the department to develop and implement a reporting and tracking system for newborns and infants tested for hearing loss, as specified. Existing law authorizes the department to conduct a community outreach and awareness campaign to inform medical providers, pregnant women, and the families of newborns and infants about the newborn hearing screening program, as specified.

This bill would, until January 1, 2023, require the State Department of Health Care Services to establish a commission on Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Public Education and Testing. The bill would require the commission to examine research and data relating to congenital CMV, as specified. The bill would require the director of the department to appoint members to the commission, as specified. The bill would require the commission to submit a report to the Legislature on or before December 31, 2019, and an additional report on or before December 31, 2022, as specified.