WHEREAS, advances in newborn screening technology, treatment options, and gene discoveries now allow for the screening of a number of disorders in newborn infants that were previously undetectable; and

WHEREAS, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Newborn Biochemical Screening Program provides the citizens of New Jersey with screening of newborns for specific disorders that are detectable and traceable so that affected individuals can obtain comprehensive and coordinated care for the disorders from appropriate medical specialists; and

WHEREAS, advances in technologies continue to make it possible to expand the DHSS Newborn Biochemical Screening Program to include screening for additional disorders; and

WHEREAS, the Newborn Screening Advisory Panel convened last year by the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services established basic criteria for the inclusion of a disorder in the state mandated Newborn Biochemical Screening Program, which included the ability to test for the disorder with an acceptable error rate, the life threatening nature of the disorder and the availability of an acceptable treatment option for the disorder;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD T. DiFRANCESCO, Acting Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services to empanel a Newborn Screening Annual Review Committee (committee) that shall be charged with reviewing disorders, newborn screening technologies, available treatment options and the Newborn Biochemical Screening Program on an annual basis. The committee shall meet no less than once each calendar year, beginning with the 2002 calendar year. The committee shall conduct its review, allow for public input and issue a recommendation to the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services on the improvement of the state mandated Newborn Biochemical Screening Program.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal
this day of in the Year of Our
Lord, Two Thousand and One
and of the Independence of the
United States, the Two Hundred
and Twenty-Fifth.

Donald T. DiFrancesco
President of the Senate,
Acting Governor

Attest:
Chief Counsel to the Governor