BILL NUMBER: S5454
SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend public health law, in relation to requiring cytomegalo-
virus screening for every newborn
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to establish universal screenings of
newborns for cytomegalovirus.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of this bill would remove the requirement that a newborn
infant receive a screening conducted by the newborn infant hearing
screening program prior to a screening for cytomegalovirus.
Section 2 of this bill provides that the effective date shall take
effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a
law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any
rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its
effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such
effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Chapter 307 of the Laws of 2018 established the requirement that all
newborns who fail their initial hearing screening be tested for cytome-
galovirus (CMV), a common congenital viral infection which is the lead-
ing non-genetic cause of deafness in children. CMV infections often do
not cause harm to adults and those who are infected may not show any
signs or symptoms. However, the effects have the potential to be devas-
tating. Catching cases early on in newborns is an effective way to
prevent negative health outcomes and start early, successful medical
intervention. There are 20,000 to 40,000 infants born with CMV, and
nationwide 400 children die from the virus annually. Despite many
infants that appear asymptomatic at birth, at least twenty percent of
those with CMV will have permanent disabilities, such as hearing loss,
microcephaly, intellectual disabilities or vision abnormalities.
Failure of an initial hearing screening is often an indicator of a CMV
infection; however, it does not identify all newborns who carry the
virus. By testing all newborns for CMV, regardless of the outcome of an
initial hearing screening, medical professionals can quickly link
newborns to treatments designed to improve hearing and health outcomes.
This bill would establish universal screenings of newborns for cytomega-
lovirus.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S7659- 2024
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.

Statutes affected:
S5454: 2500-a public health law, 2500-a(1) public health law