HCS/SB 533 - This act modifies several provisions relating to the protection of children, including: (1) the Perinatal Advisory Council, (2) notice of immunization, and (3) safe sleep recommendations. PERINATAL ADVISORY COUNCIL (Section 192.380) This act establishes the Perinatal Advisory Council, which shall be comprised of representatives from specified community and health organizations and professions. After receiving public input, the Council shall make recommendations for the division of the state into neonatal and maternal care regions. The Council shall establish criteria for levels of birthing center care and base its levels of care designations upon evidence and best practices as identified by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. By January 1, 2017, and every year thereafter, hospital license applications shall include the appropriate level of maternal care and neonatal care designations as determined by the Council. By the same date, any hospital operated by a state university shall report to the Department of Health and Senior Services, upon the Department's request, the appropriate level of maternal care designation and neonatal care designation. The Department may partner with appropriate nationally recognized nonprofit organizations with relevant expertise to administer the provisions of this act. This provision is identical to provisions in HCS/SCS/SB 38 (2015), HCS/SCS/SB 107 (2015), HCS/SCS/SB 146 (2015), HCS/SCS/SB 197 (2015), substantially similar to provisions in HCS/SCS/SB 230 (2015) and HCS/SS/SCS/SB 354 (2015), and similar to HB 735 (2015) and SB 342 (2015). NOTICE OF IMMUNIZATION (Section 210.003) This act requires all public, private, and parochial day care centers, preschools, and nursery schools to notify parents or guardians, upon request, of whether there are children currently enrolled in or attending the facility for whom an immunization exemption has been filed. This provision is identical to HB 976 (2015), and substantially similar to provisions in HCS/HB 976 (2015), SCS/HCS/HB 976 (2015), HCS/SCS/SB 341 (2015), and HCS/SS/SCS/SB 354 (2015). SAFE SLEEP RECOMMENDATIONS (Sections 210.221 and 210.223) This act grants the Department of Health and Senior Services the power to approve training concerning the safe sleep recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics. All licensed child care facilities that provide care for children under one year of age shall implement and maintain a written safe sleep policy in accordance with those recommendations, as well as provide necessary training for all employees and volunteers. If, in the opinion of the infant's licensed health care provider, the infant requires alternative or special sleeping arrangements that differ from those set forth by the most recent sleep recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the infant's health care provider shall provide written and signed instructions detailing the alternative sleep positions or special sleeping arrangements and the facility shall follow these instructions. These provisions are identical to SCS/SB 427 (2015) and substantially similar to SB 427 (2015), HB 707 (2015), and provisions in HCS/HB 976 (2015), SCS/HCS/HB 976 (2015), and HCS/SCS/SB 341 (2015). SARAH HASKINS
|