The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6919, mandates the inclusion of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in the list of conditions for which newborns are screened. Specifically, it amends subsection (c) of section 19a-55 of the general statutes, which outlines the responsibilities of the Commissioner of Public Health regarding newborn screening programs. The bill repeals the existing language and substitutes it with a new provision that expands the list of conditions to include DMD starting on July 1, 2027, alongside existing conditions such as various amino acid disorders, hypothyroidism, and cytomegalovirus, which will be included starting July 1, 2025.

In summary, the bill updates the newborn screening program to ensure that DMD is recognized and tested for in newborns, reflecting a growing awareness of the importance of early detection of this genetic disorder. The effective dates for the inclusion of cytomegalovirus and DMD are clearly specified, with the latter being set for two years after the former. This legislative change aims to enhance public health initiatives and improve outcomes for affected families.