SB1354eng 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1354 Engrossed LRB099 09169 JLK 29367 b

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 2310-676 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2310/2310-676 new)

Sec. 2310-676. Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Advisory Committee.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Department" means the Department of Public Health.

"Director" means the Director of Public Health.

"Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome" or "NAS" means various adverse conditions that occur in a newborn infant who was exposed to addictive or prescription drugs while in the mother's womb.

(b) There is created the Advisory Committee on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. The Advisory Committee shall consist of up to 10 members appointed by the Director of Public Health. The Director shall make the appointments within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly. Members shall receive no compensation for their services. The members of the Advisory Committee shall represent different racial, ethnic, and geographic backgrounds and consist of:

(1) at least one member representing a statewide association of hospitals;

(2) at least one member representing a statewide organization of pediatricians;

(3) at least one member representing a statewide organization of obstetricians;

(4) at least one member representing a statewide organization that advocates for the health of mothers and infants;

(5) at least one member representing a statewide organization of licensed physicians;

(6) at least one member who is a licensed practical nurse, registered professional nurse, or advance practice nurse with expertise in the treatment of newborns in neonatal intensive care units;

(7) at least one member representing a local or regional public health agency; and

(8) at least one member with expertise in the treatment of drug dependency and addiction.

(c) In addition to the membership in subsection (a) of this Section, the following persons or their designees shall serve as ex officio members of the Advisory Committee: the Director of Public Health, the Secretary of Human Services, the Director of Healthcare and Family Services, and the Director of Children and Family Services. The Director of Public Health, or his or her designee, shall serve as Chair of the Committee.

(d) The Advisory Committee shall meet at the call of the Chair. The Committee shall meet at least 3 times each year and its initial meeting shall take place within 120 days after the effective date of this Act. The Advisory Committee shall advise and assist the Department to:

(1) develop an appropriate standard clinical definition of "NAS";

(2) develop a uniform process of identifying NAS;

(3) develop protocols for training hospital personnel in implementing an appropriate and uniform process for identifying and treating NAS;

(4) identify and develop options for reporting NAS data to the Department by using existing or new data reporting options; and

(5) make recommendations to the Department on evidence-based guidelines and programs to improve the outcomes of pregnancies with respect to NAS.

(e) The Advisory Committee shall provide an annual report of its activities and recommendations to the Director, the General Assembly, and the Governor by March 31 of each year beginning in 2016. The final report of the Advisory Committee shall be submitted by March 31, 2019.

(f) This Section is repealed on June 30, 2019.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.