GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

S	1 

SENATE BILL 1158

Short Title:  Genetic Disorders Funds.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senators Walker; Tally and Hunt of Moore.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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May 3, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THE PREVENTION OF INFANT MORTALITY, MENTAL RETARDATION, AND PHYSICAL DEFORMITIES DUE TO GENETIC DISORDERS.
Whereas, more than one million North Carolinians now have or will have genetically influenced disease; and 
Whereas, more than 180,000 North Carolinians are mentally retarded and 2,500 babies born each year are destined to become mentally retarded; and 
Whereas, eighty percent (80%) of mental retardation has a genetic basis; and
Whereas, North Carolina has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the United States; and
Whereas, forty percent (40%) of all infant mortality is due to genetic conditions; and
Whereas, genetic factors are important causes of birth defects, and over 3,000 children are born each year in North Carolina with birth defects; and 
Whereas, over half of all fetal deaths are caused by genetic defects; and 
Whereas, over 6,000 babies conceived each year in North Carolina have chromosome abnormalities that cause birth defects and brain damage; and 
Whereas, approximately one-third of all pediatric referral hospital admissions are due to genetic conditions; and 
Whereas, one-half of all blindness in children is due to genetic factors; and 
Whereas, genetic factors are important causes of common diseases of adult life such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, emphysema, strokes, high blood pressure, and psychiatric illness; and 
Whereas, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, sickle cell anemia, X-linked mental retardation, and Tay-Sachs disease are examples of genetic diseases; and 
Whereas, all citizens of North Carolina carry mutations in their genes and chromosomes that could potentially cause significant disease or disability in them or their children; and 
Whereas, serious genetic disorders cost families and the State millions of dollars annually for medical care, lost productivity, and institutionalization; and 
Whereas, genetic health care services, including clinical diagnosis, laboratory diagnosis, and treatment and prevention counseling, can significantly reduce the impact of handicapping genetic disorders, both in human and fiscal terms; and
Whereas, greater accessibility to genetic health care services would be provided if the North Carolina medical genetics centers had additional funds for medical, laboratory, and counseling staff and equipment; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Health Services, Department of Human Resources, $900,000 for the 1989-90 fiscal year and $900,000 for the 1990-91 fiscal year to provide for expansion of genetic health care services through medical genetics centers.
Sec. 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1989.