Newborn screening program.

Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to establish a program for the development, provision, and evaluation of genetic disease testing. Existing law establishes the continuously appropriated Genetic Disease Testing Fund (GDTF) , consisting of fees paid for newborn screening tests. Existing law states the intent of the Legislature that all costs of the genetic disease testing program be fully supported by fees paid for newborn screening tests, which are deposited in the GDTF. Existing law authorizes moneys in the GDTF to be used for the expansion of the Genetic Disease Branch Screening Information System, as specified, to include cystic fibrosis, biotinidase, and severe combined immunodeficiency. Existing law exempts the amendment of contracts for this purpose from provisions of the Public Contract Code that establish standards for contracts and require the Department of General Services to approve these contracts. Existing law also exempts the amendment of contracts for this purpose from standards for personal services contracts and from provisions that give the California Technology Agency authority over the application of information technology for state agencies. This bill would require the department, until January 1, 2019, to expand the screening of newborns in Orange County to include screening for Krabbe disease, and would exempt the amendment of contracts for this purpose from provisions that establish standards for contracts, require the Department of General Services to approve contracts, and give the California Technology Agency authority over information technology projects, as described above. By authorizing moneys in the continuously appropriated GDTF to be used for screening newborns for this additional disease, the bill would make an appropriation.