The bill amends the Health and Safety Code to include Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in the list of conditions for which newborn screening tests are required. It updates the heading of Chapter 33 to reflect this addition and defines DMD as a progressive muscular degeneration disorder caused by alterations of the dystrophin protein. The bill mandates that the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) carry out a program to combat morbidity and mortality associated with DMD, along with other heritable diseases and hypothyroidism. It also requires the establishment of a laboratory to develop screening tests and methods for prevention or treatment of these conditions.

Additionally, the bill outlines the responsibilities of healthcare providers in screening newborns for DMD and other specified disorders, as well as the notification process for abnormal test results. It allows for referrals to the DSHS services program for children with special health care needs for those who test presumptively positive. The bill stipulates that the DSHS must implement these changes by September 1, 2027, and the act will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 33.001, Health and Safety Code 33.002, Health and Safety Code 33.011, Health and Safety Code 33.014, Health and Safety Code 33.031, Health and Safety Code 33.032, Occupations Code 203.355 (Occupations Code 203, Health and Safety Code 33)