Florida Senate - 2025                                     SB 524
       
       
        
       By Senator Harrell
       
       
       
       
       
       31-00466-25                                            2025524__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to newborn screenings; amending s.
    3         383.14, F.S.; beginning on a specified date, requiring
    4         that the Department of Health’s rules require that
    5         newborns be screened for Duchenne muscular dystrophy
    6         at the appropriate age; providing an effective date.
    7          
    8  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
    9  
   10         Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
   11  383.14, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   12         383.14 Screening for metabolic disorders, other hereditary
   13  and congenital disorders, and environmental risk factors.—
   14         (2) RULES.—
   15         (a) After consultation with the Genetics and Newborn
   16  Screening Advisory Council, the department shall adopt and
   17  enforce rules requiring that every newborn in this state shall:
   18         1. Before becoming 1 week of age, have a blood specimen
   19  collected for newborn screenings;
   20         2. Be tested for any condition included on the federal
   21  Recommended Uniform Screening Panel which the council advises
   22  the department should be included under the state’s screening
   23  program. After the council recommends that a condition be
   24  included, the department shall submit a legislative budget
   25  request to seek an appropriation to add testing of the condition
   26  to the newborn screening program. The department shall expand
   27  statewide screening of newborns to include screening for such
   28  conditions within 18 months after the council renders such
   29  advice, if a test approved by the United States Food and Drug
   30  Administration or a test offered by an alternative vendor is
   31  available. If such a test is not available within 18 months
   32  after the council makes its recommendation, the department shall
   33  implement such screening as soon as a test offered by the United
   34  States Food and Drug Administration or by an alternative vendor
   35  is available; and
   36         3. At the appropriate age, be tested for such other
   37  metabolic diseases and hereditary or congenital disorders as the
   38  department may deem necessary. Beginning January 1, 2027, the
   39  rules must require that newborns be screened for Duchenne
   40  muscular dystrophy at the appropriate age.
   41         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.