Search warrants: newborn screening program.
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Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Health
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill modifies California’s newborn screening program by establishing specific circumstances under which the Department of Public Health can release a newborn’s blood test to law enforcement. Specifically, the department can release the sample only if a search warrant’s objective is to obtain DNA to identify a missing person suspected of being a victim of homicide, child abuse, or manslaughter, and to upload the sample to the Department of Justice Missing Persons DNA Database. The bill also requires the department to report annually on the number of search warrants received and disclosures granted related to these releases.
Key provisions
- Allows the Department of Public Health to release a newborn’s blood test to law enforcement under specific warrant conditions.
- Specifies that the warrant must be to obtain DNA to identify a missing person suspected of homicide, child abuse resulting in death, or manslaughter.
- Requires the DNA sample to be uploaded to the Department of Justice Missing Persons DNA Database.
- Prohibits search warrants for the blood test unless the objective aligns with identifying a missing person.
- Mandates an annual report to the Legislature detailing search warrants received and disclosures granted.
- Requires the department to report on the number of new residual screening specimens collected annually.
- Requires the department to report on the number of inheritable conditions identified annually.
- Requires the department to report on the number of specimens provided for research projects.
Bill text
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Sponsors
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1 on record
Primary sponsor
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