SESSION OF 2022
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON SENATE BILL NO. 155
As Recommended by Senate Committee on
Public Health and Welfare

Brief*
SB 155 would update statutes related to newborn
screening and designate those statutes as the Newborn
Screening Act (Act). The bill would also establish the
Universal Newborn Screening Program (UNSP) within the
Act.
The bill also would make technical changes.
Newborn Screening Act – Amendments; Program
Creation
The bill would update provisions related to the Act to:
● Establish the UNSP to be administered by the
Secretary of Health and Environment (Secretary);
● Remove the list of conditions included in the Act
and grant the Secretary the authority to determine
the conditions to be included in the UNSP. The bill
would require the Secretary determine the
conditions included in the UNSP, including, but not
limited to, conditions listed in the recommended
uniform screening panel recommended by the U.S.
Secretary of Health and Human Services;
● Clarify the stated purpose for maintaining a registry
of cases to specify the registry will maintain
information of importance including follow-up to
____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org
 support early diagnosis, treatment and services for
healthy development, or the prevention of disability
or morbidity;
● Remove guidelines for the reimbursement and
purchase of medically necessary food treatment
products for all purchasers, including the Kansas
Department of Health and Environment (KDHE),
and add language that purchasers will be
reimbursed in accordance with rules and
regulations adopted by the Secretary; and
● Increase the amount available for transfer from the
Medical Assistance Fee Fund to the Kansas
Newborn Screening Fund from a maximum of $2.5
million to a maximum of $5.0 million in any one
fiscal year.
The bill would be in effect upon publication in the
Kansas Register.
Background
The bill was introduced by the Senate Committee on
Ways and Means and referred to the Senate Committee on
Public Health and Welfare.
[Note: HB 2250, which contains similar provisions, has
been introduced in the House.]
Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
In the Senate Committee hearing, representatives of
Kansas Action for Children, KDHE, and The Treehouse and
four private citizens provided proponent testimony, stating
the screening program allows for identification of many
conditions that can be successfully treated through early
intervention, which can be life-changing for children and their
families. Proponents stated additional funds would help
ensure the program continues to have adequate support.
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 Written-only proponent testimony was provided by
representatives of the American Academy of Pediatrics,
Kansas Chapter; Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund;
Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing;
Kansas Hospital Association, Kansas Newborn Screening
Advisory Council; Kansas School for the Deaf; and a private
citizen.
No other testimony was provided.
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Department
of the Budget on the bill, KDHE indicates the bill would
provide for growth and expansion of the newborn screening
program. Under the current maximum transfer of $2.5 million
to the Kansas Newborn Screening Fund, the Department
allocates approximately $550,000 to Newborn Screening
Follow-Up and $1.95 million to testing performed by KDHE
laboratories. KDHE indicates that increasing the transfer to a
maximum of $5.0 million would allow the agency to allocate
$1.065 million for Newborn Screening Follow-Up, $3.45
million to testing performed by KDHE laboratories, and
$485,000 to Newborn Screening Systems of Care. However,
KDHE notes that under current law, transfers to the Kansas
Newborn Screening Fund are based on actual expenditures
and increasing the transfer limit would not result in immediate
increases to expenditures equal to the new cap. Reaching the
allocations above would occur over time.
Currently, most of the Medical Assistance Fee Fund is
used for KDHE KanCare expenditures under the Human
Services Consensus Caseloads process. Increasing the
transfer to the Kansas Newborn Screening Fund could
require an increase of up to $2.5 million from the State
General Fund for caseloads. Any fiscal effect associated with
the bill is not reflected in The FY 2022 Governor’s Budget
Report.
Newborn Screening Act; Department of Health and Environment; screening; rules
and regulations

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Statutes affected:
As introduced: 65-180, 65-183, 65-181