BILL NUMBER: AB 2072	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Mendoza

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2010

   An act to amend Section 124119.5 of the Health and Safety Code,
relating to public health.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2072, as introduced, Mendoza. Hearing screening: resources and
services.
   Existing law, the Newborn and Infant Hearing Screening, Tracking,
and Intervention Act, requires every general acute care hospital with
licensed perinatal services to offer every newborn a hearing
screening test for the identification of hearing loss, as specified,
and provide written information on the availability of community
resources and services for children with hearing loss to the parents
of those who are diagnosed with a hearing loss.
   Existing law, the California Early Start Intervention Services
Act, commonly known as the Early Start program, provides various
early intervention services for infants and toddlers who have
disabilities to enhance their development and to minimize the
potential for developmental delays.
   This bill would, instead provide that the written information
shall be on all communication, options for children with hearing
loss, and that the information shall be provided to parents when
their newborn or infant fails the hearing screening, at a followup
appointment to diagnose a hearing loss, and at entry into the Early
Start program. It would also specify additional items of information
to be provided pursuant to these requirements.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 124119.5 of the Health and Safety Code is
amended to read:
   124119.5.   (a)    Parents of all newborns and
infants  diagnosed with a hearing loss  shall be
provided written information on  the availability of
community resources and services   all communication
options  for children with hearing loss, including those
provided in accordance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.), through the reporting
and tracking system followup procedures  .   and
  at each of the following events: 
    (1)     When a newborn or infant fails the
hearing screening.  
   (2) At a followup appointment with an audiologist to diagnose a
hearing loss.  
   (3) At entry into the Early Start program, provided for pursuant
to Title 14 (commencing with Section 95000) of the Government Code.

    (b)     Information provided pursuant to
subdivision (a)  shall include  , but is not limited to,
 listings of local and statewide nonprofit deaf and
hard-of-hearing  consumer-based organizations,  
organizations, agencies and early intervention centers, educational
programs,  parent support organizations affiliated with
deafness, and programs offered through the State Department of Social
Services, Office of Deaf Access, State Department of Developmental
Services, and the State Department of Education.