The bill, known as the Zachary Thomas Newborn Screening Act, amends the Code of Alabama to enhance the newborn screening program by requiring testing for certain heritable diseases based on family history and mandating the inclusion of conditions from the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) in the state's screening panel. Key provisions include the establishment of definitions for terms related to newborn screening, the requirement for the Alabama State Board of Health to adopt rules for administering the screening program, and a timeline for adding RUSP-approved conditions to the Newborn Screening Panel. Specifically, the board must add any new RUSP condition within 36 months of its approval and ensure that conditions added before January 1, 2024, are included by October 1, 2027.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that testing for heritable diseases is contingent upon the availability of funding and workforce at the State Laboratory. It also clarifies that no screening or confirmatory tests will be administered if parents object on religious grounds, protecting healthcare providers from liability in such cases. The act will take effect on October 1, 2024, and aims to improve the health outcomes of newborns in Alabama by ensuring timely and comprehensive screening for genetic and metabolic conditions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 22-20-3, 22-20-3
Enrolled: 22-20-3, 22-20-3