Evaluation of infants for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and referral of infants who have that condition for services and treatment. (FE)

What it does

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under current law, if a hospital employee who provides health care, social worker, or intake worker of the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under the Children's Code (juvenile court intake worker) suspects that an infant has controlled substances in the infant's bodily fluids because of the use of those substances by the infant's mother while she was pregnant with the infant, the hospital employee, social worker, or juvenile court intake worker may refer the infant to a physician for testing of the infant's bodily fluids for those substances. If the physician determines that there is a serious risk that there are controlled substances in the infant's bodily fluids because of the use of those substances by the mother and that the health of the infant may be adversely affected by those substances, the physician may test the infant to ascertain whether the infant has those substances in the infant's bodily fluids. If the test indicates that the infant does have controlled substances in the infant's bodily fluids, the physician must report that condition to the agency that is responsible for conducting child abuse and neglect investigations under the Children's Code and that agency must offer services and treatment for the infant and mother.

This bill: 1) requires a hospital employee who provides health care, a social worker, or a juvenile court intake worker who suspects that an infant has fetal alcohol spectrum disorder to refer the infant to a physician for an evaluation to diagnose whether the infant has that disorder; 2) requires a physician who determines that there is a serious risk that an infant has fetal alcohol spectrum disorder to evaluate the infant to diagnose whether the infant has that disorder; 3) requires a physician who diagnoses that an infant has fetal alcohol spectrum disorder to report that diagnosis to the agency responsible for conducting child abuse and neglect investigations; and 4) requires that agency to offer services and treatment for the infant and the infant's mother.

Who's behind it

9 lawmakers are its authors⁠. 8 are Republicans and 1 is a Democrat.

5 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.

What it would cost

State agencies filed a cost estimate. Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

• Fiscal Estimate From DCF
• Fiscal Estimate From DHS

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

• Amendment Histories
• LC Amendment Memo