MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare

By: Representatives Robertson, Ford, Horne

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) The physician attending any newborn child in a hospital in this state, or the person attending any newborn child in a hospital in this state if the child is not attended by a physician, shall cause the child to be tested or evaluated to determine if the child has a hearing impairment, using methods and procedures prescribed by the State Department of Health. If it is determined by such testing or evaluation that a newborn child in a hospital in this state has a hearing impairment, the physician or other person attending the child shall promptly notify the child's parents or guardian that the child has a hearing impairment and shall explain to them the potential effect of such impairment on the development of the child's speech and language skills.

(2) For the purposes of this section, the term "hearing impairment" means a dysfunction of the auditory system of any type or degree that is sufficient to interfere with the acquisition and development of speech and language skills with or without the use of sound amplification.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.