(410 ILCS 223/1)

Sec. 1.

Short title.

This Act may be cited as the

Newborn Eye Pathology Act.

(Source: P.A. 94‑631, eff. 8‑19‑05.)410 ILCS 223/10

(410 ILCS 223/10)

Sec. 10.

Newborn Eye Pathology Advisory Committee.

(a) By January 1, 2006, the Department of Public Health shall organize a Newborn Eye Pathology Advisory Committee and appoint members of the Advisory Committee, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Three ophthalmologists with backgrounds in or

knowledge of providing services to infants with retinoblastoma, one from the Chicago metropolitan area, one representing DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties, and one from the southern counties of Illinois.

(2) A pediatric ophthalmologist who sees general

pediatric patients and is a designee of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.

(3) An academic pediatrician with a background in or

knowledge of infant eye pathology.

(4) Three parents representing families with child

blindness or other ocular abnormalities affecting vision, one from the Chicago metropolitan area, one representing DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties, and one from the southern counties of Illinois.

(5) Two community pediatricians.

(6) A nurse with a background in or knowledge of the

current Department's program for instillation of eye drops to prevent conjunctivitis.

(7) A retinal specialist with research experience in

detecting the signs of treatable congenital eye disease.

(8) An optometrist with a background in or experience

with pupil dilation in infants and red reflex screening for intraocular pathology.

(b) The Advisory Committee members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(c) The duties of the Advisory Committee shall be to do all of the following:

(1) Develop and conduct training for hospitals

implementing newborn eye pathology.

(2) Develop a referral system for early intervention

services for those infants diagnosed with a congenital abnormality of the eye.

(3) Develop educational and informational materials

for hospital personnel, health care professionals, and parents on appropriate follow‑up procedures for infants diagnosed with a congenital abnormality of the eye.

(4) Monitor any reports made available to the State

with respect to the eye pathology status of all newborns.

(Source: P.A. 94‑631, eff. 8‑19‑05.)410 ILCS 223/15

(410 ILCS 223/15)

Sec. 15.

Department of Public Health.

(a) All hospitals shall report information on all congenital abnormalities or diseases of the eye detected in newborns to the Department of Public Health. Reports shall be made to the Department's Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Reporting System.

(b) The Department of Public Health shall maintain a registry of cases of reported congenital abnormalities or diseases of the eye in newborns, including information needed for the purpose of follow‑up service. This information shall be treated in the same manner as information under the Communicable Disease Report Act.

(c) Any person or hospital making a report under this Act shall have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal, that may result by reason of making the report, except for willful or wanton misconduct.

(Source: P.A. 94‑631, eff. 8‑19‑05.)410 ILCS 223/20

(410 ILCS 223/20)

Sec. 20.

Rules.

The Department of Public Health shall adopt rules necessary to implement this Act.

(Source: P.A. 94‑631, eff. 8‑19‑05.)410 ILCS 223/5

(410 ILCS 223/5)

Sec. 5.

Policy.

It is the policy of the State of Illinois to make efforts to detect pediatric congenital ocular abnormalities that lead to premature death, blindness, or vision impairment unless treated soon after birth.

(Source: P.A. 94‑631, eff. 8‑19‑05.)410 ILCS 223/99

(410 ILCS 223/99)

(This Act was approved by the Governor on August 19, 2005, so the actual effective date of this Act is August 19, 2005)

Sec. 99.

Effective date.

This Act takes effect July 1, 2005.

(Source: P.A. 94‑631, eff. 8‑19‑05.)