House Bill 429

Chair's Name: Sharon Cooper

Committee: Health & Human Services

House Sponsor: Sharon Cooper

HB 429 adds a new code section entitled the �Georgia HIV Pregnancy Screening Act of 2007�. This act requires all pregnant women to be tested for HIV at time of delivery, unless she specifically refuses the test. The woman must be informed of the test and of her right to refuse. If the test is refused, the refusal must be recorded in her medical records. If the woman tests positive, counseling and medical referrals shall be provided.

This bill received a Do Pass recommendation from the Health & Human Services Committee and comes to the House Floor under the Modified Structured Rule. 

Chairman Cooper�s opinion of this legislation:

WHAT PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY DOES THIS LEGISLATION ADDRESS?

Currently not all mothers undergoing prenatal treatment are offered an HIV test. This can result in mothers who do have aids passing this onto their children.  If detected there are steps that doctors and mothers can take that significantly reduces the chance babies being infected even if there mothers are infected.

WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS LEGISLATION?

To reduce the number of babies who are born every year with aids.

THIS LEGISLATION:

• Reduces the Tax Burden on our Citizens:

The $3-$10 test can reduce the chance of the child having aids and in Medicaid cases would save the state over $600,000 over the course of that child�s life, if the virus is detected and appropriate steps are taken to prevent transmission.

Senate Changes:

The Senate added a provision to make the Health Strategies Council an advisory board instead of a rule-making board (the Department of Community Health already had a board that proposed rules) thus avoiding duplication in the rule-making process. Representative Cooper will likely move to agree.