Bill > LB310

This bill amends existing Nebraska law to provide an explicit exemption from mandatory newborn screening for certain diseases and conditions. Currently, the law requires all infants born in Nebraska to be screened for multiple genetic and metabolic disorders, including phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, and spinal muscular atrophy, among others. The key change is the addition of a new subsection (10) that allows parents or guardians to object to the screening, effectively creating a opt-out provision for these mandatory tests. This means that while the comprehensive newborn screening program remains in place, parents now have the right to refuse the screening for their infant without potential legal consequences. The bill maintains all other existing provisions of the law, including requirements for specimen collection, reporting, and the department's authority over blood specimens. By adding this exemption, the bill provides parents with more autonomy in making healthcare decisions for their newborns while preserving the overall structure of the state's newborn screening program.

Health and Social Services

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=58757