newborn screening; Duchenne muscular dystrophy

SB 1076 adds Duchenne muscular dystrophy (a severe muscle-wasting condition) to Arizona's mandatory newborn screening program. It requires all newborns (under 28 days old) and infants (29 days to 2 years) in Arizona to be screened for this condition as part of the state's existing newborn screening system. The bill mandates that Arizona's screening panel aligns with the federal recommended uniform screening panel, adding DMD to the list within two years of its federal inclusion. The effective date is either October 1, 2027, or two years after the federal panel adopts DMD, whichever comes first. This change expands screening coverage to detect DMD early, enabling timely medical intervention.