NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1979 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 1255

HOUSE BILL 466

 

 

AN ACT TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE GENETIC HEALTH CARE PROGRAM.

 

Whereas, in North Carolina approximately 150,000 persons are suffering from serious genetic disorders causing mental retardation and physical deformities; and

Whereas, forty percent (40%) of all children admitted to inpatient pediatric care are there because of genetic diseases; and

Whereas, forty percent (40%) of all infant mortality results from genetic factors; and

Whereas, thirty-six percent (36%) of all fetal loss is caused by gross chromosomal defects; and

Whereas, one-half of all blindness is due to genetic factors; and

Whereas, heredity has a tremendous impact on the etiological factors of disease; and

Whereas, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, sickle cell anemia and Tay-Sachs are examples of genetic diseases passed from parent to child, generation to generation; and

Whereas, it is essential to provide Genetic Health Care Services to reduce the occurrence of these problems and diseases; Now, therefore,

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  There is hereby appropriated from the General Fund of the State, in addition to all other funds to the Division of Health Services in the Department of Human Resources, the sum of one hundred seventy-five thousand dollars ($175,000) in fiscal year 1980-81 to be used to expand the number of families receiving genetic counseling and treatment services, including those families with sickle cell anemia traits.

Sec. 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1980.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 25th day of June, 1980.