HB 12-1058 Summary

• Physicians, nurses, and other birth attendants must provide eye prophylaxis treatment to newborns in accordance with current standard of care, administered as soon as practicable after birth and always within one hour.

• Any signs of eye redness, swelling, inflammation, or pus discharge in infants within two weeks after birth must be reported to a physician or advanced practice nurse within six hours of discovery.

• Treatment requirement does not apply to minor children whose parents are members of well-recognized churches or religious denominations with religious convictions against medical treatment.

• Repeals prior sections (25-4-302 through 25-4-305) that delegated prophylaxis approval and distribution duties to the Department of Public Health and Environment and established penalties for violations.

• Updates references in midwife regulations to align with the new prophylaxis requirement structure in section 25-4-301.