The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6900, aims to establish a task force dedicated to studying child development and perinatal depression screening tools, as well as data sharing systems. The task force will develop guidelines for the use of developmental screening tools for children from birth to age three and for identifying maternal perinatal depression during pediatric appointments. Additionally, it will create an Internet-based system for collecting, analyzing, and sharing data from these screenings among healthcare providers and early intervention programs to enhance service delivery and identify trends.

The task force will consist of various appointed members, including representatives from pediatric medicine, community health centers, and organizations focused on maternal mental health and child behavioral needs. The task force is required to submit a report with its findings and recommendations by January 1, 2026, and will be dissolved upon submission of this report. The bill includes new legal language establishing the task force and its functions, while no deletions from current law are specified.