Bill > HB0363

This bill makes several important amendments related to maternal and infant care in Utah, focusing on two primary areas: newborn infant testing and the treatment of pregnant and postpartum inmates. For newborn testing, the bill requires healthcare providers to offer parents comprehensive information about testing procedures, including details about sample storage and genetic data retention. Parents must now be provided with a privacy consent form and can choose whether to allow the department to retain their infant's biological samples. The bill maintains existing requirements for testing newborns for conditions like phenylketonuria (PKU), heritable disorders, hearing loss, and critical congenital heart defects, while adding new informed consent and privacy protections. Regarding incarcerated women, the bill mandates that female inmates under 50 be offered pregnancy testing upon admission, and it strengthens protections for pregnant and postpartum inmates by restricting the use of restraints during pregnancy and childbirth, requiring least restrictive restraint methods, and ensuring privacy during medical procedures. The bill also expands the Correctional Postnatal and Early Childhood Advisory Board by adding new members from various legal and child welfare organizations, and requires the board to continue studying diversion programs for infants and incarcerated mothers. The bill will take effect on May 7, 2025.

Health and Social Services

https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0363.html