Vermont H 533: An act relating to workforce development

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.533
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VT LEG #385165 v.2
H.533 1
Introduced by Representatives Minier of South Burlington and Pouech of 2
Hinesburg 3
Referred to Committee on 4
Date: 5
Subject: Health; public health; newborn screening program; congenital 6
cytomegalovirus 7
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require the 8
Department of Health to amend its newborn screening rule to include 9
congenital cytomegalovirus. It further proposes to create the Congenital 10
Cytomegalovirus Advisory Committee. 11
An act relating to congenital cytomegalovirus 12
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 13
Sec. 1. RULEMAKING; NEWBORN SCREENING PROGRAM 14
The Department of Health shall amend its rule pertaining to the newborn 15
screening program pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 to include testing for 16
congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV). The Department shall further amend its 17
rule to ensure information is distributed to expectant parents, hospitals, 18
birthing centers, and health care providers offering prenatal, postnatal, 19

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VT LEG #385165 v.2
pediatric, and fertility counseling services about each of the diseases and 1
conditions tested as part of the newborn screening program, including: 2
(1) an overview of each disease or condition; 3
(2) the incidence of each disease or condition; 4
(3) transmission specifically of cytomegalovirus to pregnant women; 5
(4) birth defects associated with each disease or condition; 6
(5) testing and methods of diagnosis for each disease or condition; 7
(6) any known preventative measures for a disease or condition; and 8
(7) any other relevant resources. 9
Sec. 2. 18 V.S.A. § 994 is added to read: 10
§ 994. CONGENITAL CYTOMEGALOVIRUS ADVISORY COMMITTEE 11
(a) Creation. There is created the Congenital Cytomegalovirus Advisory 12
Committee to advise the Department and make recommendations regarding 13
congenital cytomegalovirus. 14
(b) Membership. The Advisory Committee shall be composed of the 15
following members, who shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Health: 16
(1) a representative of the Department, who shall serve as chair; 17
(2) a representative of a hospital licensed in Vermont; 18
(3) a primary care pediatrician or family practitioner licensed in 19
Vermont; 20

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VT LEG #385165 v.2
(4) an otolaryngologist licensed in Vermont; 1
(5) a neonatologist licensed in Vermont; 2
(6) an infectious disease specialist licensed in Vermont; 3
(7) a health care provider representing newborn nurseries; 4
(8) an audiologist licensed in Vermont; 5
(9) an ophthalmologist licensed in Vermont; 6
(10) an obstetrician-gynecologist licensed in Vermont; 7
(11) a representative of Help Me Grow Vermont; 8
(12) two parents or guardians of a child impacted by congenital 9
cytomegalovirus; and 10
(13) a teacher licensed in Vermont who specializes in working with 11
children who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Deafblind. 12
(c) Powers and duties. The Advisory Committee shall: 13
(1) advise the Department regarding the validity and cost of proposed 14
congenital cytomegalovirus screenings; 15
(2) recommend standards for performing and interpreting screening tests 16
based on the most current technological methods for documenting test results 17
and follow-up care; 18
(3) recommend standards for facilitating interactions between parents or 19
guardians and health care providers and agencies that participate in follow-up 20
care; and 21

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VT LEG #385165 v.2
(4) propose public education campaign initiatives about diseases and 1
conditions for which newborns are screened, including specifically 2
cytomegalovirus. 3
(d) Assistance. The Advisory Committee shall have the administrative, 4
technical, and legal assistance of the Department. 5
(e) Report. Annually, on or before February 1, the Advisory Committee 6
shall submit a written report to the House Committee on Health Care and to the 7
Senate Committee on Health and Welfare with its findings and any 8
recommendations for legislative action. 9
(f) Meetings. 10
(1) A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum. 11
(2) Meetings shall be held not less than twice annually. 12
(g) Compensation and reimbursement. For attendance at meetings during 13
adjournment of the General Assembly, a legislative member of the Advisory 14
Committee shall be entitled to per diem compensation and reimbursement of 15
expenses pursuant to 2 V.S.A. § 23 for not more than four meetings annually. 16
These payments shall be made from monies appropriated to the Department. 17
Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 18
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026. 19