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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill amends provisions related to educational services for an individual with a
11 hearing loss.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 ▸ requires reporting results of a test for hearing loss to the Utah Schools for the Deaf
15 and the Blind under certain circumstances;
16 ▸ requires the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind to provide educational services
17 to certain individuals; and
18 ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
19 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
20 None
21 Other Special Clauses:
22 None
23 Utah Code Sections Affected:
24 AMENDS:
25 26-10-6, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 132
26 53A-25b-301, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 294
27 ENACTS:
28 26-10-12, Utah Code Annotated 1953
29 53A-25b-308, Utah Code Annotated 1953
30
31 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32 Section 1. Section 26-10-6 is amended to read:
33 26-10-6. Testing of newborn infants.
34 (1) Except in the case where parents object on the grounds that they are members of a
35 specified, well-recognized religious organization whose teachings are contrary to the tests
36 required by this section, [
37 (a) phenylketonuria (PKU);
38 (b) other heritable disorders which may result in an intellectual or physical disability or
39 death and for which:
40 (i) a preventive measure or treatment is available; and
41 (ii) there exists a reliable laboratory diagnostic test method;
42 (c) (i) an infant born in a hospital with 100 or more live births annually, hearing loss;
43 and
44 (ii) an infant born in a setting other than a hospital with 100 or more live births
45 annually, hearing loss; and
46 (d) [
47 (2) In accordance with Section 26-1-6, the department may charge fees for:
48 (a) materials supplied by the department to conduct tests required under Subsection (1);
49 (b) tests required under Subsection (1) conducted by the department;
50 (c) laboratory analyses by the department of tests conducted under Subsection (1); and
51 (d) the administrative cost of follow-up contacts with the parents or guardians of tested
52 infants.
53 (3) Tests for hearing loss [
54 more methods approved by the Newborn Hearing Screening Committee, including:
55 (a) auditory brainstem response;
56 (b) automated auditory brainstem response; and
57 (c) evoked otoacoustic emissions.
58 (4) Results of tests for hearing loss [
59 reported to:
60 [
61
62 [
63 (b) when results of tests for hearing loss under Subsection (1) suggest that additional
64 diagnostic procedures or medical interventions are necessary:
65 (i) a parent or guardian of the infant; and
66 (ii) the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, created in Section 53A-25b-103.
67 (5) (a) There is established the Newborn Hearing Screening Committee.
68 (b) The committee shall advise the department on:
69 (i) the validity and cost of newborn infant hearing loss testing procedures; and
70 (ii) rules promulgated by the department to implement this section.
71 (c) The committee shall be composed of at least 11 members appointed by the
72 executive director, including:
73 (i) one representative of the health insurance industry;
74 (ii) one pediatrician;
75 (iii) one family practitioner;
76 (iv) one ear, nose, and throat specialist nominated by the Utah Medical Association;
77 (v) two audiologists nominated by the Utah Speech-Language-Hearing Association;
78 (vi) one representative of hospital neonatal nurseries;
79 (vii) one representative of the Early Intervention Baby Watch Program administered by
80 the department;
81 (viii) one public health nurse;
82 (ix) one consumer; and
83 (x) the executive director or [
84 (d) Of the initial members of the committee, the executive director shall appoint as
85 nearly as possible half to two-year terms and half to four-year terms. Thereafter, appointments
86 shall be for four-year terms except:
87 (i) for those members who have been appointed to complete an unexpired term; and
88 (ii) as necessary to ensure that as nearly as possible the terms of half the appointments
89 expire every two years.
90 (e) A majority of the members constitute a quorum, and a vote of the majority of the
91 members present constitutes an action of the committee.
92 (f) The committee shall appoint a chairman from [
93 (g) The committee shall meet at least quarterly.
94 (h) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service, but
95 may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:
96 (i) Section 63A-3-106;
97 (ii) Section 63A-3-107; and
98 (iii) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and
99 63A-3-107.
100 (i) The department shall provide staff for the committee.
101 (6) [
102 department shall conduct a pilot program for testing newborns for critical congenital heart
103 defects using pulse oximetry. The pilot program shall include the development of:
104 (a) appropriate oxygen saturation levels that would indicate a need for further medical
105 follow-up; and
106 (b) the best methods for implementing the pulse oximetry screening in newborn care
107 units.
108 Section 2. Section 26-10-12 is enacted to read:
109 26-10-12. Reporting results of a test for hearing loss.
110 (1) As used in this section, "health care provider" means the same as that term is
111 defined in Section 78B-3-403.
112 (2) A health care provider shall report results of a test for hearing loss to the Utah
113 Schools for the Deaf and the Blind if:
114 (a) the results suggest that additional diagnostic procedures or medical interventions
115 are necessary; and
116 (b) the individual tested for hearing loss is under the age of 22.
117 Section 3. Section 53A-25b-301 is amended to read:
118 53A-25b-301. Eligibility for services of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the
119 Blind.
120 (1) Except as provided in Subsections (3) [
121 receive services of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind if the person is:
122 (a) a resident of Utah;
123 (b) younger than 22 years of age;
124 (c) referred to the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind by the person's school
125 district of residence or a local early intervention program; and
126 (d) identified as deaf, blind, or deafblind through:
127 (i) the special education eligibility determination process; or
128 (ii) the Section 504 eligibility determination process.
129 (2) (a) In diagnosing a person younger than age three who is deafblind, the following
130 information may be used:
131 (i) opthalmological and audiological documentation;
132 (ii) functional vision or hearing assessments and evaluations; or
133 (iii) informed clinical opinion conducted by a person with expertise in deafness,
134 blindness, or deafblindness.
135 (b) Informed clinical opinion shall be:
136 (i) included in the determination of eligibility when documentation is incomplete or not
137 conclusive; and
138 (ii) based on pertinent records related to the [
139 and medical history, an evaluation and observations of the [
140 sensory functioning, and the needs of the family.
141 (3) (a) A student who qualifies for special education shall have services and placement
142 determinations made through the IEP process.
143 (b) A student who qualifies for accommodations under Section 504 shall have services
144 and placement determinations made through the Section 504 team process.
145 (c) A parent or legal guardian of a child who is deaf, blind, or deafblind shall make the
146 final decision regarding placement of the child in a Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
147 program or in a school district or charter school program subject to special education federal
148 regulations regarding due process.
149 (4) (a) A nonresident may receive services of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the
150 Blind in accordance with rules of the board.
151 (b) The rules shall require the payment of tuition for services provided to a
152 nonresident.
153 (5) An individual is eligible to receive services from the Utah Schools for the Deaf and
154 the Blind under circumstances described in Section 53A-25b-308.
155 [
156 (6) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, and
157 this chapter, the board:
158 (a) shall make rules that determine the eligibility of students to be served by the Utah
159 Schools for the Deaf and the Blind[
160 (b) [
161 nor deafblind to receive services of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind if the
162 student[
163 [
164 [
165 Section 4. Section 53A-25b-308 is enacted to read:
166 53A-25b-308. Educational services for an individual with a hearing loss.
167 (1) Subject to Subsection (2), the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind shall provide
168 educational services to an individual:
169 (a) who seeks to receive the educational services; and
170 (b) (i) whose results of a test for hearing loss are reported to the Utah Schools for the
171 Deaf and the Blind in accordance with Section 26-10-6 or 26-10-12; or
172 (ii) who has been diagnosed with a hearing loss by a physician or an audiologist.
173 (2) If the individual who will receive the services described in Subsection (1) is a
174 minor, the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind may not provide the services to the
175 individual until after receiving permission from the individual's parent or guardian.
Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel