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Genome Statute and Legislation Database

The Genome Statute and Legislation Database is comprised of state statutes and bills introduced during the 2002-2024 U.S. state legislative sessions.

Overview

The Genome Statute and Legislation Database is reviewed and updated monthly. Searchable topics in the database include employment and insurance discrimination, health insurance coverage, privacy, research, the use of residual newborn screening specimens and other topics of interest.

Definitions of terms such as "bill", "statute", and "regulation" are available through the Glossary of Statutory, Legislative, and Regulatory Terms.

For other helpful links and legislative databases, please see Additional Resources.

Search

State Primary Link Topic(s) Bill Status Summary
Minnesota Privacy Enacted

Requires the Minnesota Insurance Marketplace to provide any data subject asked to supply private data with a notice of rights related to the handling of genetic information. The Minnesota Insurance Marketplace is a state health benefit exchange as described in section 1311 of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), and further defined through amendments to the act and regulations issued under the act. March 21, 2013 Approved by the Governor.

Minnesota Other Topics Enacted

Medical data collected, stored, used, or disseminated by or filed with the commissioner in connection with a claim for workers' compensation benefits does not constitute genetic information for the purposes of section 13.386 of the statutes. Signed by the Governor on May 18, 2013.

Minnesota Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Enacted

Amends the statute governing the collection, storage, use and dissemination of genetic information by adding a section to specify that newborn screening activities are subject to the law. Requires the Commissioner of Health to evaluate the scientific and medical validity of a comprehensive and sustainable long-term storage and use plan for newborn screening test results. Approved by the Governor May 23, 2013.

Missouri Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Enacted

This bill prohibits individual, small group and large group health insurers from treating genetic information as a pre-existing condition in the absence of a diagnosis. The bill also prohibits health insurers from establishing rules for eligibility based on genetic information. Approved by the Governor June 1, 2007.

Missouri Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Enacted

Unless otherwise directed under this section, a biological specimen may be released for purposes of anonymous scientific study. At the time of newborn screening specimen collection, the parent or legal guardian of the child from whom a biological specimen was obtained may direct the department to: (1) return the specimen after all tests have been performed; (2) destroy the specimen; or (3) store a specimen but do not release is for anonymous study. Signed by the Governor July 13, 2007

Montana Neonatal sequencing Approved

Revise laws related to collection of genetic material for newborn screenings.

Nevada Employment Nondiscrimination, Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Privacy Enacted

This bill requires health insurers to comply with the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. Signed by the Governor May 29, 2009.

Nevada Employment Nondiscrimination Enacted

Adds genetic information to the list of categories included in an apprenticeship agreement for which discrimination is prohibited. Requires the Office of Workforce Innovation to suspend for one year the right of any employer, association of employers or organization of employees acting as agent for an employer to participate in a program under the provisions of apprenticeship program after notice and hearing, finds that the employer, association or organization has discriminated against an individual based on genetic information. June 5, 2019 Approved by the Governor. Chapter 377.

Nevada Health Insurance Coverage Enacted

Requires a primary care provider to administer a genetic test for harmful mutations in the BRCA gene if clinically indicated as a result of genetic counseling. The State Plan for Medicaid must pay the nonfederal share of expenditures incurred for screening, genetic counseling and testing for harmful mutations in the BRCA gene for women under circumstances where such screening, genetic counseling or testing is required. Insurers must cover the cost of screening, genetic counseling and testing for harmful mutations in the BRCA gene for women under circumstances where such screening, genetic counseling or testing is required. 5/27/2021 Approved by the Governor. Effective 1/1/2022.

New Hampshire Privacy Enacted

No whole-genome DNA sequencing shall be performed pursuant to this chapter unless the general court authorizes such sequencing by statute. Signed by the Governor on 5/27/2014; Chapter 0063; Effective 1/01/2015.

New Hampshire Privacy Enacted

The introduced version of the bill sought to protect confidential and sensitive information such as genetic testing information. The bill has been amended to establish a committee to study the use and regulation of biometric information. Signed by the Governor on 5/15/2018. Effective 5/15/ 2018.

New Hampshire Genetic data storage/privacy/sharing (medicine) Approved

Relative to conditions for genetic testing.

New Jersey Employment Nondiscrimination Enacted

Amends employment discrimination law. Prohibits employers from paying any of its employees who are a members of a protected class at a rate of compensation, including benefits, which is less than the rate paid by the employer to employees who are not members of the protected class for substantially similar work, when viewed as a composite of skill, effort and responsibility. Member of a protected class is defined an employee who has one or more characteristics, including genetic information, for which the law prohibits discrimination in employment. 4/24/2018 Approved P.L.2018, c.9.

New Mexico Privacy Enacted

This bill amends the Genetic Information privacy Act by adding an exemption for clinical laboratories with regard to consent requirements. A laboratory conducting an analysis or test of a specific individual per a written order from a health care practitioner or the health care practitioner's agent, including by electronic transmission, may obtain, retain, transmit, or use an individual's DNA, genetic information, or test results without the individual's written and informed consent. Signed by the Governor 4/10/2015.

New Mexico Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Enacted

Aligns health insurance law with federal law. Prohibits a group health benefits plan or a health insurance issuer that offers group health_insurance_coverage in connection with a group health benefits plan from adjusting premiums or contribution amounts for the group covered under the plan on the basis of genetic information. April 4, 2019 Signed by Governor - Chapter 259. Effective June 5, 2019.

New York Other Topics Enacted

Establishes a Hate Crime Task Force. The task force will issue reports and publications in conjunction with the Division on Human Rights to combat discrimination based on a variety of factors, including genetic predisposition status. 04/20/2017 Signed by the Governor Chapter 55.

New York Other Topics Enacted

In introduced version of the bill, a Transportation Network Company (TNC) may not discriminate against passengers or potential passengers on the basis of a genetic predisposition. TNC drivers must comply with the anti-discrimination law. 4/20/2017 Signed by the Governor Chapter 58. However, final version of the bill does not include provision related to genetic information.

New York Other Topics Enacted

Establishes a Hate Crime Task Force. The task force will issue reports and publications in conjunction with the Division on Human Rights to combat discrimination based on a variety of factors, including genetic information. 4/20/2017 Signed by the Governor Chapter 55.

New York Other Topics Enacted

A Transportation Network Company (TNC) may not discriminate against passengers or potential passengers on the basis of a genetic predisposition. TNC drivers must comply with the anti-discrimination law. 4/20/2017 Signed by the Governor Chapter 58.

New York Privacy Enacted

Directs the commissioner of education to conduct a study on the use of biometric identifying technology; prohibits the use of biometric identifying technology in schools until July 1, 2022, or until the commissioner authorizes such purchase or utilization. Biometric information is defined to include a DNA sequence. 12/22/2020 Signed by the Governor. Effective immediately.

New York Employment Nondiscrimination Enacted

Declares that it is the policy of the state and all its political subdivisions to ensure a fair, non-biased compensation structure for all employees. Status within one or more protected class or classes may not be considered directly or indirectly in determining proper compensation or pay for any individual or group of employees, and no employee with status within one or more protected class to classes may be paid a wage at a rate less than the rate at which an employee without status within the protected class or classes in same establishment is paid for similar work. Protected class includes predisposing genetic characteristic. Signed by the Governor 12/26/2019.

New York Privacy Enacted

Directs the commissioner of education to conduct a study on the use of biometric identifying technology; prohibits the use of biometric identifying technology in schools until July 1, 2022, or until the commissioner authorizes such purchase or utilization. Biometric information is defined to include a DNA sequence. 12/22/2020 Signed by the Governor. Effective immediately.

New York Research Enacted

Amends the public health law, in relation to authorizing human research in compliance with federal law. 9/13/2019 Signed by the Governor.

New York Employment Nondiscrimination Enacted

Declares that it is the policy of the state and all its political subdivisions to ensure a fair, non-biased compensation structure for all employees. Status within one or more protected class or classes may not be considered directly or indirectly in determining proper compensation or pay for any individual or group of employees, and no employee with status within one or more protected class to classes may be paid a wage at a rate less than the rate at which an employee without status within the protected class or classes in same establishment is paid for similar work. Protected class includes predisposing genetic characteristic. 4/3/2020 Signed by the Governor.

New York Other Topics Enacted

Requires the state university of New York to issue a request for proposals to partner with hospitals both within the state university of New York and other not-for-profit hospitals and non-profit higher education research institutions to map the genomes of individuals suffering from or at risk of Alzheimer's. 4/3/2020 Signed by the Governor.

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Additional Resources

Cornell Legal Information Institute
This website allows users to search for Federal and state laws and regulations. NHGRI’s Genome Statute and Legislation Database does not include regulations.

LawSeqSM Database
Developed at the University of Minnesota and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, this database allows users to search federal and state statutes, regulations, and reported judicial decisions. The database allows searches by jurisdiction (federal, state, and individuals states), source type, topic, and open text. This resource was developed by a project funded by NHGRI and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) on “LawSeqSM: Building a Sound Legal Foundation for Translating Genomics into Clinical Application” (grant #: R01HG008605; Susan M. Wolf,. Ellen Wright Clayton, and Frances Lawrenz, principal investigators). The team keeps this database up to date.

National Society of Genetic Counselors
To find information about state genetic counselor licensing laws, visit the National Society of Genetic Counselors’ website. NHGRI’s Genome Statute and Legislation Database does not include state laws related to genetic counseling. 

Last updated: February 8, 2024