Bill to modify birth defects information system passes House

A bill passed 125-0 by the House Monday seeks to give parents more things to think about when deciding whether to opt out of the state’s birth defects information system.

Sponsored by Rep. Deb Kiel (R-Crookston), HF3689 would include reporting provisions on stillborn babies to those on live babies that currently exist in law. It would also require the Department of Health to inform parents of a child with birth defects of “the privacy implications” of the department maintaining records about their child.

Kiel said the Health Department supports the bill, and that the recent Zika virus outbreak highlighted the need for more data on defects.

The bill now travels to the Senate where Sen. Jim Abeler (R-Anoka) is the sponsor.