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2012 SESSION

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HB 507 Child abuse; increases reporting period by health care providers on substance exposed infants.

Introduced by: T. Scott Garrett | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Suspected child abuse; substance exposed infants; reporting by physicians.  Increases the period of time from seven days to six weeks during which a health care provider, not exclusively the attending physician as in current law, may make a finding that an infant is a substance exposed infant in cases in which the determination is based on a drug test of the infant or on a diagnosis that the child has an illness, disease, or condition that may be attributed to in utero exposure to controlled substances. A diagnosis that the infant has fetal alcohol spectrum disorder may be made at any time following a child's birth. The bill also allows a petition to be filed alleging suspected child abuse or neglect based on a finding by a health care provider that an infant is a substance exposed infant at any time. This bill is identical to SB 448.

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Suspected child abuse; substance exposed infants; reporting by physicians.  Increases the period of time from seven to 30 days during which a health care provider, not exclusively the attending physician as in current law, may make a finding that an infant is a substance exposed infant in cases in which the determination is based on a drug test of the infant, a diagnosis that the child has an illness, disease, or condition that may be attributed to in utero exposure to controlled substances, or a diagnosis that the infant has fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. The bill provides that a health care provider may base his determination on a finding that the infant was born dependent on a controlled substance and has demonstrated withdrawal symptoms or on the results of a toxicology study when such diagnosis is made or toxicology study is performed within seven days of the child's birth, rather than within 48 hours of the child's birth as in current law. The bill also increases the period of time from 21 days to 30 days after the infant's birth during which a petition may be filed alleging suspected child abuse or neglect based on a finding by a health care provider that an infant is a substance exposed infant.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Suspected child abuse; substance exposed infants; reporting by physicians.  Increases the period of time during which a physician may make a finding that an infant is a substance exposed infant from seven to 30 days in cases in which the determination is based on a drug test of the infant, a diagnosis that the child has an illness, disease, or condition that may be attributed to in utero exposure to controlled substances, or a diagnosis that the infant has fetal alcohol syndrome. The bill also provides that a doctor may base his determination that an infant is a substance exposed infant on a finding that the infant was born dependent on a controlled substance and has demonstrated withdrawal symptoms or on the results of a toxicology study when such diagnosis is made or toxicology study is performed within seven days of the child's birth. Currently, the diagnosis must be made or the toxicology study must be performed within 48 hours of the child's birth. The bill also increases the period of time from 21 days to 30 days after the infant's birth during which a petition may be filed alleging that an investigation has been commenced in response to a report of suspected child abuse or neglect based on a finding by a doctor that an infant is a substance exposed infant.