House File 548 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY MASCHER (COMPANION TO LSB 2497SS BY APPEL) Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to resources for families with premature infants. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 2497HH 83 4 pf/nh/14 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 135.175 PREMATURE INFANTS == 1 2 RESOURCES. 1 3 1. By January 1, 2010, the department shall develop 1 4 written educational publications or provide linkages to 1 5 existing resources, to provide information and support to 1 6 families with infants who are born at less than thirty=seven 1 7 weeks gestational age. 1 8 2. The department shall, to the greatest extent possible, 1 9 ensure that the information is provided in a manner that is 1 10 accessible and understandable to parents notwithstanding their 1 11 socioeconomic status, educational level, gender, or age. 1 12 3. The department may consult with appropriate 1 13 organizations, agencies, and programs including those that 1 14 focus on premature infants or pediatric health care in 1 15 developing the written educational publications and in 1 16 providing linkages to the existing resources under this 1 17 section. 1 18 4. The department shall make the information available to 1 19 families through various types of media and through a variety 1 20 of sources including but not limited to the department's 1 21 internet website, local public health departments, empowerment 1 22 areas, the HOPES=HFI program, child health providers, maternal 1 23 care providers, hospitals, health care provider locations, 1 24 public and private programs that focus on infant, child, and 1 25 maternal health, and other appropriate entities. 1 26 EXPLANATION 1 27 This bill directs the department of public health, by 1 28 January 1, 2010, to develop written educational publications 1 29 or to provide linkages to existing resources, to provide 1 30 information and support to families with premature infants. 1 31 The information is to be provided in a manner that is 1 32 accessible and understandable to parents notwithstanding their 1 33 socioeconomic status, educational level, gender, or age. The 1 34 bill directs the department to consult with other appropriate 1 35 organizations, agencies, and programs including those that 2 1 focus on premature infants or pediatric health care in 2 2 developing the written educational publications and in 2 3 providing linkages to the existing resources, and directs the 2 4 department to make the information available through various 2 5 types of media and through a variety of sources including the 2 6 department's internet website and other existing appropriate 2 7 entities. 2 8 LSB 2497HH 83 2 9 pf/nh/14