HB 1615-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2024 SESSION

24-2428

05/08

 

HOUSE BILL 1615-FN

 

AN ACT relative to the autism registry.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Gallager, Merr. 20; Rep. Filiault, Ches. 7; Rep. Kuttab, Rock. 17

 

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill revises certain aspects of the autism registry maintained by the department of health and human services.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

24-2428

05/08

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four

 

AN ACT relative to the autism registry.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Autism Registry.  Amend RSA 171-A:30 to read as follows:

171-A:30  Autism Registry.

I.  There shall be established a state registry in the department which shall include a record of all reported cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that occur in New Hampshire and other information relevant and appropriate to conduct thorough and complete [epidemiologic] sociological surveys of ASD, to enable analysis of this [problem] phenomenon, and to facilitate planning for services to children with ASD and their families.  The department may enter into an agreement with an appropriate entity for the management of the registry; provided, that any records and data submitted to the department pursuant to this subdivision, as well as the software used to store such data, shall be the property of the department.

II.  Physicians, psychologists, and any other licensed or certified health care provider who is qualified by training to make the diagnosis and who then makes the diagnosis that a child is affected with ASD shall report all new cases of this diagnosis to the department in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner.  The report shall be in writing and shall include the name and address of the person submitting the report and the child's date of birth[, gender,] and zip code at birth residence, and the specific diagnosis of the child diagnosed as having ASD.  The department shall assign a unique identification code to identify the child diagnosed as having ASD.  The code shall not include the name, [or] address, or initials of the child, nor shall any other field in the registry.  The health care provider reporting the diagnosis shall also send a copy of the report to the child's parent or guardian, along with information regarding available resources.

III.  All information required to be reported under this subdivision shall be confidential in accordance with the New Hampshire state constitution's guarantee of privacy.  A physician, psychologist, or licensed or certified health care provider providing information to the department in accordance with this section shall not be deemed to be, or held liable for, divulging confidential information.

IV.  Nothing in this section shall be construed to compel a child who has been reported as affected with ASD to submit to medical or health examination or supervision by the department.

V.  Whenever a child reaches 18 years of age, the department shall remove the entry pertaining to the child from the registry.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

LBA

24-2428

Revised 2/14/24

 

HB 1615-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to the autism registry.

 

FISCAL IMPACT: [   ] State [   ] County [   ] Local [ X ] None

 

METHODOLOGY:

The Department of Health and Human Services states this bill, as introduced, will have no fiscal impact.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Health and Human Services