§ 115. Public health surveillance assessment and planning

(a) The Department of Health may, in the discretion of the Commissioner, accept for treatment children who have chronic diseases or developmental disabilities.

(b) The Commissioner of Health is authorized to:

(1) study the prevalence of chronic disease;

(2) make such morbidity studies as may be necessary to evaluate the overall problem of chronic disease and developmental disabilities;

(3) develop an early case-finding program, in cooperation with the medical profession;

(4) develop and carry on an educational program as to the causes, prevention, and alleviation of chronic disease and developmental disabilities; and

(5) adopt rules for the purpose of screening chronic diseases and developmental disabilities in newborns.

(c) The Department of Health is directed to consult and cooperate with the medical profession and interested official and voluntary agencies and societies in the development of this program.

(d) The Department is authorized to accept contributions or gifts which are given to the State for any of the purposes as stated in this section, and the Department is authorized to charge and retain monies to offset the cost of providing newborn screening program services. (Amended 1959 (Adj. Sess.), § 27, eff. March 1, 1961; 1973, No. 77, § 60, eff. April 14, 1973; 1997, No. 59, § 84, eff. June 30, 1997; 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 86; 2015, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 11.)