Texas Health and Safety Code 33.0111 – Disclosure Statement and Consent
(a) The department shall develop a disclosure statement that clearly discloses to the parent, managing conservator, or guardian of a newborn child subjected to screening tests under § 33.011:
(1) that the department or a laboratory established or approved by the department under § 33.016 may retain for use by the department or laboratory genetic material used to conduct the newborn screening tests and discloses how the material is managed and used subject to this section and Sections 33.0112 and 33.018;
(2) that reports, records, and information obtained by the department under this chapter that do not identify a child or the family of a child will not be released for public health research purposes under § 33.018(c-1) unless a parent, managing conservator, or guardian of the child consents to disclosure; and
(3) that newborn screening blood spots and associated data are confidential under law and may only be used as described by § 33.018.
(b) The disclosure statement required by Subsection (a) must be included on the form developed by the department to inform parents about newborn screening. The disclosure statement must:
(1) be in a format that allows a parent, managing conservator, or guardian of a newborn child to consent to disclosure under § 33.018(c-1);
(2) include instructions on how to complete the portions of the form described by Subdivision (1);
(3) include the department’s mailing address; and
(4) describe how a parent, managing conservator, or guardian of a newborn child may obtain information regarding consent through alternative sources.
Terms Used In Texas Health and Safety Code 33.0111
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Written: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures. See Texas Government Code 311.005
(b-1) The department may provide the disclosure statement required by Subsection (a) in various formats and languages to ensure clear communication of information on the screening test required under this chapter.
(c) At the time a newborn child is subjected to screening tests under § 33.011, the physician attending a newborn child or the person attending the delivery of a newborn child that is not attended by a physician shall provide the parent, managing conservator, or guardian of a newborn child a copy of the written or electronic disclosure statement developed by the department under this section.
(d) The department shall establish procedures for a physician attending a newborn child or the person attending the delivery of a newborn child to provide verification to the department that the physician or person has provided the parent, managing conservator, or guardian of the newborn child the disclosure statement required under this section.
(e) The physician attending a newborn child or the person attending the delivery of a newborn child that is not attended by a physician shall submit any document required by the department.
(f) This section does not supersede the requirements imposed by § 33.018.
(g) Repealed by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 268, Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2013.
(h) Nothing in this section prohibits a physician attending a newborn child from delegating the physician’s responsibilities under this section to any qualified and properly trained person acting under the physician’s supervision.