Bill > A03956

This bill modifies existing public health law to require cytomegalovirus (CMV) screening for every newborn using a nucleic acid-based test, such as a dried blood spot or a urine polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. The legislation removes previous language that limited CMV testing only to newborns with identified or suspected hearing impairments and eliminates parental opt-out provisions. The bill grants the commissioner of health flexibility to allow or require alternative testing methods if they are determined to be diagnostically equivalent to or better than the specified nucleic acid-based or urine PCR tests. Cytomegalovirus is a common viral infection that can cause serious health complications in newborns, particularly if transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, making early detection crucial. The bill will take effect 180 days after becoming law, with provisions allowing preparatory regulatory work to begin immediately upon passage.

Health and Social Services

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3956