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• 2020 General Session
• H.B. 231

H.B. 231 Genetic Information Amendments

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Bill Sponsor: Rep. Hall, Craig

Floor Sponsor:

• Drafting Attorney: Chelsea Grant
• Fiscal Analyst: Russell T. Frandsen

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• Bill Text
  • Introduced (Currently Displayed)

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• Other Versions
  • H.B. 231 1st Substitute (Not Adopted)
    Substitute Sponsor:
    

    • Text
    • Fiscal Note
    • HB0231 comparison
    • Agency Perf Note

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• Related Documents
  • Fiscal Note
  • Agency Perf Note

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• Information
  • Last Action: 12 Mar 2020, House/ filed
  • Last Location: House file for bills not passed

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• Similar Bills
  • Health
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• Sections Affected
  • 26-45-102
  • 26-45-103
  • 26-45-104
  • 26-45-105

Introduced

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H.B. 231

1     GENETIC INFORMATION AMENDMENTS
2     2020 GENERAL SESSION
3     STATE OF UTAH
4     Chief Sponsor: Craig Hall
5     Senate Sponsor: ____________
6     

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7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies provisions and provides limitations regarding the use of genetic
10     information.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     defines terms;
14          ▸     removes provisions regulating an employer's and a health insurer's use of personal
15     genetic information;
16          ▸     provides limitations on law enforcement's ability to obtain and use personal genetic
17     information;
18          ▸     provides limitations on law enforcement's ability to obtain a DNA sample from
19     certain sources; and
20          ▸     makes conforming changes.
21     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
22          None
23     Other Special Clauses:
24          None
25     Utah Code Sections Affected:
26     AMENDS:
27          26-45-102, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2002, Chapter 120

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28     ENACTS:
29          26-45-104.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
30     REPEALS:
31          26-45-103, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2002, Chapter 120
32          26-45-104, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2002, Chapter 120
33          26-45-105, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2002, Chapter 120
34     

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35     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
36          Section 1. Section 26-45-102 is amended to read:
37          26-45-102. Definitions.
38          As used in this chapter:
39          [(1) "Blood relative" means a person's biologically related:]
40          [(a) parent;]
41          [(b) grandparent;]
42          [(c) child;]
43          [(d) grandchild;]
44          [(e) sibling;]
45          [(f) uncle;]
46          [(g) aunt;]
47          [(h) nephew;]
48          [(i) niece; or]
49          [(j) first cousin.]
50          [(2)] (1) "Combined DNA Index System" or "CODIS" means the program operated by
51     the Federal Bureau of Investigation to support criminal justice DNA databases and the software
52     used to run the databases.
53          (2) "DNA" means deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, and chromosomes[, which
54     may be analyzed to detect heritable diseases or conditions, including the identification of
55     carriers, predicting risk of disease, or establishing a clinical diagnosis].
56          (3) "DNA sample" means [any] a human biological specimen from which DNA can be
57     extracted, or DNA extracted from such specimen.
58          [(4) (a) "Genetic analysis" or "genetic test" means the testing or analysis of an

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59     identifiable individual's DNA that results in information that is derived from the presence,
60     absence, alteration, or mutation of an inherited gene or genes, or the presence or absence of a
61     specific DNA marker or markers.]
62          [(b) "Genetic analysis" or "genetic test" does not mean:]
63          [(i) a routine physical examination;]
64          [(ii) a routine chemical, blood, or urine analysis;]
65          [(iii) a test to identify the presence of drugs or HIV infection; or]
66          [(iv) a test performed due to the presence of signs, symptoms, or other manifestations
67     of a disease, illness, impairment, or other disorder.]
68          [(5) "Individual" means the person from whose body the DNA sample originated.]
69          [(6) "Person" means any person, organization, or entity other than the individual.]
70          [(7) (a) "Private genetic information" means any information about an identifiable
71     individual that is derived from the presence, absence, alteration, or mutation of an inherited
72     gene or genes, or the presence or absence of a specific DNA marker or markers, and which has
73     been obtained:]
74          [(i) from a genetic test or analysis of the individual's DNA; or]
75          [(ii) from a genetic test or analysis of a person's DNA to whom the individual is a
76     blood relative.]
77          [(b) "Private genetic information" does not include information that is derived from:]
78          [(i) a routine physical examination;]
79          [(ii) a routine chemical, blood, or urine analysis;]
80          [(iii) a test to identify the presence of drugs or HIV infection; or]
81          [(iv) a test performed due to the presence of signs, symptoms, or other manifestations
82     of a disease, illness, impairment, or other disorder.]
83          (4) "Genetic genealogy service" means a person that receives an individual's DNA
84     sample or personal genetic information and uses the DNA sample or personal genetic
85     information to obtain or provide information about the individual's genetic traits or biological
86     relationships.
87          (5) "Genetic testing company" means a person that receives an individual's DNA
88     sample and uses the DNA sample to produce personal genetic information.
89          (6) "Law enforcement agency" means:

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90          (a) an entity of the state or a political subdivision of the state that exists to primarily
91     prevent, detect, or prosecute crime and enforce criminal statutes or ordinances;
92          (b) an officer or employee of an entity described in Subsection (6)(a) acting in the
93     officer or employee's official capacity; or
94          (c) a person contracted by an agency or an officer or employee of an agency described
95     in Subsection (6)(a) to perform a task relating to DNA or personal genetic information analysis
96     on the agency's behalf.
97          (7) "Personal genetic information" means any information acquired from an analysis of
98     a DNA sample, or from the analysis of any other element of an individual, that identifies an
99     inherited or acquired genetic characteristic of the individual, including identification of the
100     individual's biological relationships.
101          (8) "Twenty core CODIS loci" means the twenty core loci required by the Federal
102     Bureau of Investigation, as of January 1, 2017, to upload a DNA profile to the National DNA
103     Index System.
104          Section 2. Section 26-45-104.5 is enacted to read:
105          26-45-104.5. Restrictions on law enforcement.
106          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a law enforcement agency may not request,
107     obtain, use, or share an individual's personal genetic information.
108          (2) A law enforcement agency may:
109          (a) provide a lawfully obtained DNA sample to the Utah Bureau of Forensic Services
110     Laboratory System or a genetic testing company for analysis; and
111          (b) use the resulting personal genetic information in a criminal investigation to:
112          (i) ascertain the identity of an individual by using CODIS or an alternative DNA
113     database maintained by a state or local law enforcement agency, if the alternative DNA
114     database:
115          (A) uses the twenty core CODIS loci and no other personal genetic information; and
116          (B) is not used to identify biological relatives of the individual; or
117          (ii) confirm a match to an existing DNA sample for purposes of a criminal
118     investigation.
119          (3) A law enforcement agency that obtains personal genetic information under
120     Subsection (2) may not:

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121          (a) provide the personal genetic information to a genetic genealogy service; or
122          (b) share or use the personal genetic information in any manner not authorized by law.
123          (4) A law enforcement agency may not:
124          (a) obtain, use, share, process, or retain a DNA sample unless authorized by Title 53,
125     Chapter 10, Part 4, Bureau of Forensic Services;
126          (b) retrieve a DNA sample from personal property currently or no longer in the
127     possession of an individual, regardless of whether the individual has disposed of the personal
128     property, without a warrant;
129          (c) request, obtain, use, share, process, or retain a DNA sample from, or information
130     derived from, a newborn screening test conducted under Subsection 26-10-6(1); or
131          (d) provide false information or make a false representation to a genetic testing
132     company or genetic genealogy service.
133          (5) Evidence obtained in violation of this section is inadmissible in any court
134     proceeding.
135          Section 3. Repealer.
136          This bill repeals:
137          Section 26-45-103, Restrictions on employers.
138          Section 26-45-104, Restrictions on health insurers.
139          Section 26-45-105, Private right of action.