Bill Text: HI HB2149 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Newborn Hearing Screening And Diagnosis.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-02-02 - Re-referred to HHH, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 6 [HB2149 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-HB2149-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2149 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING AND DIAGNOSIS.
BE IT ENACTED
BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that newborn hearing screening is
mandated by sections 321-361 to 363, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as a public health
screening program that helps deaf or hard of hearing children reach their developmental
milestones and be language ready for school with their peers.
The legislature further finds that the national
standards for early hearing detection and intervention are hearing screening by
age one month, diagnostic audiologic evaluation by age three months, and enrollment
in early intervention services by age six months. Studies show that children who are deaf or hard
of hearing who receive early hearing screening and appropriate follow-up have better
vocabulary outcomes, reach their language and communication milestones, and are
language ready for school with their peers.
The legislature further finds that section 321-362.5,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, allows the department of health newborn hearing screening
program to receive all newborn hearing screening results to ensure that newborns
receive hearing screening and are referred for diagnostic audiologic evaluation.
The legislature further finds that the department
of health newborn hearing screening program does not receive diagnostic audiologic
evaluation results for all newborns who do not pass newborn hearing screening. Consistent reporting of diagnostic audiologic
evaluation results will allow the program to ensure that all infants who do not
pass hearing screening will receive a diagnostic audiologic evaluation and appropriate
follow-up and support. Timely diagnostic
audiologic evaluation results will also facilitate referrals into early intervention
services for infants who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The
purposes of this Act are to (1) ensure that timely diagnostic audiologic evaluation
reports on newborns who did not pass newborn hearing screening, or infants whose
hearing status changes, are provided to the department of health, and (2) to update
definitions and terminology.
SECTION 2. Section 321-361, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§321-361[]] Definitions.
As used in this part, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Audiologist" means a professional licensed
pursuant to chapter 468E.
"Deaf or hard of hearing" means any type and degree
of permanent hearing loss as assessed by a audiologist or physician specialized
in hearing function.
"Department" means the department of health.
"Diagnostic audiologic
evaluation"
means an evaluation of the sensitivity of a person's sense of hearing as assessed
by a audiologist or physician specialized in hearing function.
["Hearing-impaired infant"
means an infant who has an impairment that is a dysfunction of the auditory system
of any type or degree sufficient to interfere with the acquisition and development
of speech and language skills.]
"Hearing screening" means objective procedures
to detect possible hearing loss and determine the need for diagnostic audiologic
and medical evaluations.
"Infant" means a child from birth to thirty-six months of age.
["Management" means the
habilitation of the hearing impaired infant.
"Screening" means a test
or battery of tests administered to determine the need for a professional examination.]"
SECTION 3. Section 321-362, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§321-362 Duties. It shall be the duty and responsibility of the department to:
(1) Establish, implement,
and evaluate a statewide [program for early identification of, and intervention
for, hearing impairment in infants;] system for hearing screening and diagnostic
audiologic evaluation to identify infants who are deaf or hard of hearing, and for
referral and enrollment of these infants in early intervention services;
(2) Establish standards
and guidelines for [the] hearing screening, identification, diagnosis,
intervention, and monitoring of infants [with hearing impairment and infants
at risk for delayed onset of hearing impairment;] who are deaf or hard of
hearing or who have been identified as having a risk indicator for developing delayed-onset
or progressive hearing loss, or both;
(3) Develop a plan in conjunction
with the department of [education's statewide center for students with hearing
or visual impairments] education to involve the parents or guardians
[with the] in any medical and educational follow-up [and management
of] for infants who [have been identified as hearing-impaired or at
risk of delayed onset of hearing impairments;] are deaf or hard of hearing,
or who have been identified as having a risk indicator for developing delayed-onset
or progressive hearing loss, or both; and
(4) Collect and analyze
program data in relation to the duties and responsibilities of the department."
SECTION 4. Section 321-362.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§321-362.5[] Screening
for hearing impairment.] Hearing
screening, diagnostic audiologic evaluation, and intervention. (a) All
newborn infants shall [be screened for hearing impairment for early identification
of children with hearing loss and for the promotion of their development of language
and communication.] receive a hearing screening to allow early identification
and intervention to maximize social, emotional, and language outcomes for children
who are deaf or hard of hearing.
(b)
The person in charge of each birthing facility caring for newborn infants
and the responsible physician attending the birth of a newborn or the person assisting
the birth of a child not attended by a physician shall ensure that every infant
in the person's care [be screened for hearing impairment.] receives a
hearing screening. This section shall
not apply if the parent, guardian, or other person having custody or control of
the child objects to the hearing screening in writing on the grounds that
the hearing screening conflicts with their religious beliefs. The written objection shall be made a part of
the infant's medical record.
(c)
Birthing facilities [screening newborn infants for hearing impairment]
shall report newborn hearing screening results to the department[, for
the purpose of the department ensuring a statewide system for the screening, diagnostic
evaluation, and intervention for all newborn infants with hearing impairment].
(d) Audiologists and physicians specialized in hearing
function who perform diagnostic audiologic evaluations of infants shall report diagnostic
audiologic evaluation results of those infants who do not pass the hearing screening
test or who are diagnosed as deaf or hard of hearing up to the age of three years
to the department."
SECTION 5. Section 321-363, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§321-363 Rules. The department shall adopt rules, pursuant to
chapter 91, necessary for the purposes of this part, including but not limited to
administration and quality of newborn hearing screening; retention of records and
related data; reporting of [positive] hearing screening results; reporting
of diagnostic audiologic evaluation [and] results; intervention
for infants [with hearing impairment;] who have been identified as deaf
or hard of hearing; informing parents about the purpose of hearing screening[;],
diagnostic audiologic evaluation, and intervention; and maintaining the confidentiality
of affected families."
SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
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BY REQUEST |
Report Title:
Newborn; Newborn Hearing Screening; Newborn Hearing Diagnosis; Diagnostic Audiologic Evaluation
Description:
Amends the newborn hearing screening statute to mandate reporting of diagnostic audiologic evaluation results to improve hearing follow-up of infants. Updates definitions and terminology.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
