Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 5, Part 4.

Present law requires that all infants born in this state be tested for specific genetic, metabolic, or other heritable conditions beginning six months following the occurrence of all of the following: (1) The development of a reliable test or series of tests for screening newborns for specific genetic, metabolic, or other heritable conditions using dried blood spots or other testing and quality assurance testing methodology for such specific genetic, metabolic or the heritable conditions testing; (2) The availability of quality assurance materials for the specific genetic, metabolic, or other heritable condition tests from the federal centers for disease control and prevention; (3) The review and approval of the proposed test by the genetics advisory committee of the department of health ("department"); and (4) The acquisition of necessary equipment, completion of appropriate validation tests, and hiring of any necessary staff to implement the expanded screening tests by the newborn screening laboratory and newborn screening follow-up program of the state. This bill adds the requirement that all infants be tested for conditions including those listed on the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP). This bill also authorizes the department to require newborn screening for conditions not listed on the RUSP. Newborn screening for a condition listed on the RUSP or required by the department must begin no later than 36 months after the condition is added to the RUSP or required by the department, but not before (1)-(4) above occur. REPORTING This bill requires the department to provide a report when screening for a condition is not implemented within 36 months. The report must include the status and the reason for delay to the health and welfare committee of the senate, the health committee of the house of representatives, the genetics advisory committee of the department, and the Tennessee rare disease advisory council. The report is required no later than six months after the 36-month period has expired, and by January 1 of each year thereafter until screening for the condition is implemented. ON MARCH 4, 2024, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1791, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, provide that, when screening for a condition is not implemented within 36 months of being added to the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel, the department of health ("department") must provide a report on the status and the reason for delay to the health and welfare committee of the senate, the health committee of the house, the genetics advisory committee of the department, and the Tennessee rare disease advisory council. The report is required no later than six months after the 36-month period has expired, and by January 1 of each year thereafter until screening for the condition is implemented.