CHAPTER 500
FORMERLY SENATE BILL NO.
705 AS AMENDED BY SENATE AMENDMENT
NO. 1
AN ACT PROVIDING A SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, DIVISION OF PHYSICAL HEALTH FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SICKLE CELL ANEMIA PROGRAM IN DELAWARE.
WHEREAS, the General Assembly hereby finds and declares
(1) that sickle cell anemia is a debilitating, inheritable disease that afflicts approximately two million American citizens and has been largely neglected;
(2) that the disease is a deadly and tragic burden which is likely to strike one-fourth of the children born to parents, both of whom bear the sickle-cell trait;
(3) that efforts to control sickle cell anemia must be directed toward screening and follow-up, education and genetic counseling of carriers of the sickle cell trait;
(4) that simple and inexpensive screening tests have been devised which will identify those who have the disease or carry the trait;
(5) that programs to control sickle cell anemia must be based entirely upon the voluntary cooperation of the individual involved;
(6) that the attainment of better methods of control, diagnosis and treatment of sickle cell anemia deserves the highest priority; and
WHEREAS, in order to preserve and protect the health and welfare of all citizens, it is the purpose of this Act to establish a State-wide program for the screening and follow-up, education and genetic counseling of persons having sickle cell anemia or its trait.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Delaware:
Section 1. The sum of One Hundred and Forty-Six Thousand Dollars ($146,000) is hereby appropriated to the Division of Physical Health of the Department of Health and Social Services for the purposes of establishing a Sickle Cell Anemia Program in Delaware.
Section 2. The participation by an individual in any program or portion thereof under this Act shall be wholly voluntary and shall not be a prerequisite for receipt of any other service or assistance from or to participation in, any other program of the Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Physical Health.
Section 3. The Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services shall establish a program within the Division of Physical Health to provide for the voluntary sickle cell anemia screening, counseling and treatment. Such program shall be made available through facilities of the Division of Physical Health to any eligible person requesting screening, counseling or treatment, and shall include notification of all eligible persons of the availability and voluntary nature of such programs.
Section 4. Mass screening, especially of the Black population on a voluntary basis, is to be performed in facilities and through public health programs of the Division of Physical Health.
Section 5. The funds herein appropriated shall be expended for the following items:
(a) Electrophoretic screening of suspects.
(b) Genetic counseling.
(c) Intensive educational program:
(1) Junior High School Health Education as one of a number of racial and/or sex associated anemias.
(2) Development of films, pamphlets, etc. for general public use.
(3) In-service training workshops, etc., for health personnel (private, public, etc.)
(d) Funding to defray costs of clinics, hospital or doctor visits for children suffering from sickle cell disease.
(1) Screening test (Sickle-dex) $ 40,000.00
(2) Development of the Electrophoresis
(3) Two technicians at $8,000 each 16,000.00
(4) Genetic and family counseling team 40,000.00
(i) Hematologist
(ii) Geneticist
() Psychologist
(i) Nursing follow-up
(5) Educational materials (booklets, films) 10,000.00
(6) Costs of anticipated referrals for
Section 6. The sums appropriated herein are for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1973.
Section 7. This Act is a supplementary appropriation and the moneys appropriated shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any moneys in the General Fund of the State not otherwise appropriated.