Bill Text: NJ S119 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requires DHSS to study relationship between autism and ultrasounds and issue protocol for use of ultrasounds.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-12 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee [S119 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2016-S119-Introduced.html

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SENATE, No. 119

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  JOSEPH PENNACCHIO

District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires DHSS to study relationship between autism and ultrasounds and issue protocol for use of ultrasounds.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

  

An Act concerning the use of ultrasounds during pregnancy and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a.  The Department of Health and Senior Services shall compile and review existing literature published in peer-reviewed medical journals and conduct a study to determine if there is a relationship between the incidence of autism and the use of ultrasounds during pregnancy.

     b.    No later than 18 months following the effective date of P.L.       , c.     (C.   )(pending before the Legislature as this bill), the department shall prepare and submit to the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), a written report of the study findings and literature review together with any recommendations for legislative or administrative action.

 

     2.    The department, in consultation with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecology and the American Academy of Pediatrics, shall issue a protocol on the use of ultrasounds on pregnant women, which takes into account, but need not be limited to, the following factors:

     a. the age of the fetus at the time of the ultrasound, measured in trimesters or shorter periods;

     b. the age of the mother;

     c. the intensity, duration, and frequency of the ultrasound; and

     d. the parents' family history of autism, learning disabilities, and other pervasive developmental or neurodevelopmental disorders.

 

     3.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to study if there is a relationship between the use of ultrasounds during pregnancy and the incidence of autism, and report its findings to the Legislature no later than 18 months after the bill takes effect.

     In addition, the bill requires the department, in consultation with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecology and the American Academy of Pediatrics, to issue a protocol on the use of ultrasounds on pregnant women, which takes into account, but need not be limited to, the following factors:

·         the age of the fetus at the time of the ultrasound, measured in trimesters or shorter periods;

·         the age of the mother;

·         the intensity, duration, and frequency of the ultrasound; and

·         the parents' family history of autism, learning disabilities, and other pervasive developmental or neurodevelopmental disorders.