SCS HB 401 -- BLIND STUDENT LITERACY; HEARING SCREENING FOR
NEWBORNS

BLIND STUDENT LITERACY

This bill establishes a program for blind student literacy.  The
Division of Special Education in the Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education is required to establish a program to
provide a blindness skills specialist at each regional
professional development center.  The bill specifies the duties
of the specialists.  A Blindness Skills Specialist Fund will be
created and administered by the Division of Special Education.

Members of a Task Force on Blind Student Academic and Vocational
Performance will be appointed by the Commissioner of Education
with cooperation from the Director of the Department of Social
Services and will develop goals and objectives for the
improvement of special education, vocational training,
rehabilitation services, and other related services.

The bill requires the Division of Special Education to conduct
an annual study of the educational status of eligible students
and to report the findings to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, the President Pro Tem of the Senate, and the
standing committee of jurisdiction in both legislative chambers
by December 1 of each year.

The Division of Special Education is required to develop a
system of joint referral with Rehabilitation Services for the
Blind.  Children identified by a school district or the Division
of Special Education as eligible students will be referred, with
parental consent or the consent of the student, to
Rehabilitation Services for the Blind.

Public elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools are
required to preferentially procure educational materials from
vendors who make materials available in Braille or electronic
format at no greater costs than regular materials.

HEARING SCREENING FOR NEWBORNS

Effective January 1, 2002, this bill establishes a screening
program for hearing loss in newborn children and children less
than 3 months old who are born in Missouri.

Authorized facilities, physicians, and other persons providing
pediatric care to newborns are required to provide parents or
guardians of newborns with information from the Department of
Health about screening for hearing loss and implications for
treatment or nontreatment before the examination is conducted.
The bill also specifies the type of hearing technology to be
used; the facilities, physicians, and other persons who are
required to ensure that the screening test was completed and
reported to parents and the department; and regulations
regarding the exemption of newborns.

If the newborn fails the screening test, authorized facilities,
physicians, and other persons are required to provide
educational information to parents or guardians promoting
further diagnostic assessments and the identification of
community resources.  Authorized facilities, physicians, and
other persons who voluntarily provided screening examinations to
newborns prior to January 1, 2002, are required to report the
results to the department.

The Department of Health is required to provide administrative
and technical assistance to facilities implementing the
screening program.  The department is also required to establish
and maintain a newborn hearing screening surveillance and
monitoring system for newborns reported with a hearing loss and
to establish follow-up, referral, and reporting procedures for
newborns reported with a possible hearing loss.  The department
can disclose confidential information to authorized persons and
agencies for follow-up examinations without parental or guardian
consent.

The director of the Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education is required to establish rules for the implementation
of Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
data system in order to monitor and to annually report the
results of early intervention services to the Department of
Health.  The bill authorizes the establishment of a non--
compensated 16-member Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory
Committee and specifies the composition of the committee.  The
committee is to advise and assist the Department of Health in
the operation and evaluation of the hearing screening program.

Various health insurance policies are required to provide
coverage for hearing screening examinations and additional
diagnostic examinations.  Copayments and deductible amounts are
required to remain similar to other health care services
contained in the policies.  Newborns eligible for medical
assistance or the children's health insurance program will also
be covered.  Specific insurance policies are excluded from the
requirement to provide coverage for the hearing loss screening
tests.

HB 401 -- SCREENING FOR HEARING LOSS IN NEWBORNS (Barry)

Effective January 1, 2002, this bill establishes a screening
program for hearing loss in newborn children and children less
than 3 months old who are born in Missouri.

Authorized facilities, physicians, and other persons providing
pediatric care to newborns are required to provide parents or
guardians of newborns with information from the Department of
Health about screening for hearing loss and implications for
treatment or non-treatment before the examination is conducted.
The bill also specifies the type of hearing technology to be
used; the facilities, physicians, and other persons who are
required to ensure that the screening test was completed and
reported to parents and the department; and regulations
regarding the exemption of newborns.

If the newborn fails the screening test, authorized facilities,
physicians, and other persons are required to provide
educational information to parents or guardians promoting
further diagnostic assessments and the identification of
community resources. Authorized facilities, physicians, and
other persons who voluntarily provided screening examinations to
newborns prior to January 1, 2002, are required to report the
results to the department.

The Department of Health is required to provide administrative
and technical assistance to facilities implementing the
screening program.  The department is also required to establish
and maintain a newborn hearing screening surveillance and
monitoring system for newborns reported with a hearing loss and
to establish follow-up, referral, and reporting procedures for
newborns reported with a possible hearing loss.  The department
can disclose confidential information to authorized persons and
agencies for follow-up examinations without parental or guardian
consent.

The director of the Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education in conjunction with Part C of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act data system is required to monitor
and to annually report the results of early intervention
services to the Department of Health.  The bill authorizes the
establishment of a non-compensated, 12-member, Newborn Hearing
Screening Advisory Committee and specifies the composition of
the committee.  The committee is to advise and assist the
Department of Health in the operation and evaluation of the
hearing screening program.

Various health insurance policies are required to provide
coverage for hearing screening examinations and additional
diagnostic examinations.  Co-payments and deductible amounts are
required to remain similar to other health care services
contained in the policies.  Newborns eligible for other medical
assistance or the children's health insurance program will also
be covered.  Specific insurance policies are excluded from the
requirement to provide coverage for the hearing loss screening
tests as stated in the bill.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Cost to General Revenue of $164,144
to Unknown in FY 2000, $178,686 to Unknown in FY 2001, and
$359,576 in FY 2002.  Estimated Net Income to Insurance
Dedicated Fund of $14,450 to $28,900 in FY 2000, $0 in FY 2001,
and $0 in FY 2002.  Estimated Net Cost to Highway Funds of $0 in
FY 2000, $0 in FY 2001, and $41,177 in FY 2002.

HB 401 -- SCREENING FOR HEARING LOSS IN NEWBORNS

CO-SPONSORS:  Barry, Backer

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Public
Health by a vote of 13 to 0.

Effective January 1, 2002, this bill establishes a screening
program for hearing loss in newborn children and children less
than 3 months old who are born in the State of Missouri.

Authorized facilities, physicians, and other persons providing
pediatric care to newborns are required to provide parents or
guardians of newborns with information from the Department of
Health about screening for hearing loss and implications for
treatment or non-treatment before the examination is conducted.
The bill also specifies the type of hearing technology to be
used; the facilities, physicians, and other persons who are
required to ensure that the screening test was completed and
reported to parents and the department; and regulations
regarding the exemption of newborns.

If the newborn fails the screening test, authorized facilities,
physicians, and other persons are required to provide
educational information to parents or guardians promoting
further diagnostic assessments and the identification of
community resources. Authorized facilities, physicians, and
other persons who voluntarily provided screening examinations to
newborns prior to January 1, 2002, are required to report the
results to the department.

The Department of Health is required to provide administrative
and technical assistance to facilities implementing the
screening program.  The department is also required to establish
and maintain a newborn hearing screening surveillance and
monitoring system for newborns reported with a hearing loss and
to establish follow-up, referral, and reporting procedures for
newborns reported with a possible hearing loss.  The department
can disclose confidential information to authorized persons and
agencies for follow-up examinations without parental or guardian
consent.

The director of the Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education in conjunction with Part C of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act data system is required to monitor
and to annually report the results of early intervention
services to the Department of Health.  The bill authorizes the
establishment of a non-compensated, 12-member, Newborn Hearing
Screening Advisory Committee and specifies the composition of
the committee.  The committee is to advise and assist the
Department of Health in the operation and evaluation of the
hearing screening program.

Various health insurance policies are required to provide
coverage for hearing screening examinations and additional
diagnostic examinations.  Co-payments and deductible amounts are
required to remain similar to other health care services
contained in the policies.  Newborns eligible for other medical
assistance or the children's health insurance program will also
be covered.  Specific insurance policies are excluded from the
requirement to provide coverage for the hearing loss screening
test.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Cost to General Revenue Fund of
$164,144 to Unknown in FY 2000, $178,686 to Unknown in FY 2001,
and $359,576 in FY 2002.  Income to Insurance Dedicated Fund of
$28,900 in FY 2000, $0 in FY 2001, and $0 in FY 2002.  Estimated
Net Cost to Highway Funds of $0 in FY 2000, $0 in FY 2001, and
$41,177 in FY 2002.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that undetected hearing loss causes
problems later in life which include problems with
socialization,  learning, speech and language development, and
below-grade reading ability and comprehension.  Supporters also
state that parents are given the option to object to the hearing
screening test if the test conflicts with their religious tenets
and practices.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Barry and Backer;
Quota International of Kirksville; Mary Wieberg and Megan
Wieberg; Missouri School for the Deaf; Department of Health;
Missouri Commission for the Deaf; Department of Mental Health;
Missouri Nurses Association; Missouri Speech, Language, and
Hearing Association; Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education; Gay Jones; and Kris Grbac-Schomaker.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Joseph Deering, Legislative Analyst

HB 401 -- Screening for Hearing Loss in Newborns

Co-Sponsors:  Barry, Backer

This bill establishes a screening program for hearing loss in
newborn children and children less than 3 months old who are
born in the State of Missouri.  The effective date of operation
is January 1, 2002.

Authorized facilities, physicians, and other persons providing
pediatric care to newborns are required to provide parents or
guardians of newborns with information from the Department of
Health about screening for hearing loss and implications for
treatment or non-treatment before the examination is conducted.
The bill also specifies the type of hearing technology to be
used; the facilities, physicians, and other persons who are
required to ensure that the screening test was completed and
reported to parents and the department; and regulations
regarding the exemption of newborns.

If the newborn fails the screening test, authorized facilities,
physicians, and other persons are required to provide
educational information to parents or guardians promoting
further diagnostic assessments and the identification of
community resources. Authorized facilities, physicians, and
other persons who voluntarily provided screening examinations to
newborns prior to January 1, 2002, are required to report the
results to the department.

The Department of Health is required to provide administrative
and technical assistance to facilities implementing the
screening program.  The department is also required to establish
and maintain a newborn hearing screening surveillance and
monitoring system for newborns reported with a hearing loss and
to establish follow-up, referral, and reporting procedures for
newborns reported with a possible hearing loss.  The department
can disclose confidential information to authorized persons and
agencies for follow-up examinations without parental or guardian
consent.

The director of the Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education in conjunction with Part C of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act data system is required to monitor
and to annually report the results of early intervention
services to the Department of Health.  The bill authorizes the
establishment of a non-compensated, 12-member, Newborn Hearing
Screening Advisory Committee and specifies the composition of
such members.  The purposes of the committee are to advise and
assist the Department of Health in the operation and evaluation
of the hearing screening program.

Various health insurance policies are required to provide
coverage for hearing screening examinations and additional
diagnostic examinations.  Co-payments and deductible amounts are
required to remain similar to other health care services
contained in the policies.  Newborns eligible for other medical
assistance or the children's health insurance program will also
be covered.  Specific insurance policies are excluded from the
requirement to provide coverage for the hearing loss screening
test.