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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
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.

New York Privacy Enacted

Directs the director of the office of information technology services 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 of education authorizes such purchase or utilization, whichever occurs later. Biometric identifier is defined to include a DNA sequence. 1/28/2021 Signed by the Governor. Effective immediately.

New York Privacy Enacted

Directs the director of the office of information technology services 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 of education authorizes such purchase or utilization, whichever occurs later. Biometric identifier is defined to include a DNA sequence. 1/25/2021 Substituted by A954. 1/28/2021 Signed by the Governor. Effective immediately.

New York Other Topics Enacted

Prohibits the state, or any agency or bureau, or any other entity from denying a refugee resettlement anywhere within the state based on any criterion, method of administration, or practice that has the purpose or effect of discriminating on the basis of various factors, including predisposing genetic characteristics. Carries over to 2022.

North Carolina Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Enacted

This bill requires health benefit plans and insurers to comply with all applicable standards of Public Law 110-233, known as the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, as amended by Public Law 110-343, and as further amended. Signed by the Governor July 31, 2009.

North Carolina Employment Nondiscrimination Enacted

Sets forth procedures for State employment appeals of grievances and disciplinary actions related to discrimination claims, including discrimination based on genetic information. Signed by the Governor August 21, 2013.

North Carolina Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Enacted

A sponsoring association of an employee welfare benefit program may not condition eligibility for coverage, including continuing eligibility for coverage, on health status related factors such as genetic information. 8/26/2019 Became law without signature.

North Dakota Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Enacted

This bill amends the statute that allows the health council to authorize the use of newborn metabolic screening tests for legitimate research purposes by broadening the term "newborn metabolic screening tests" to include "newborn metabolic and genetic disease screening tests." Signed by the Governor April 26, 2011.

North Dakota Privacy, Research Enacted

This bill amends provisions in the state newborn screening law pertaining to the use of residual dried blood spots for research. The bill states that a person conducting research on blood spots, other specimens, or registry data that is maintained by the health department must follow IRB processes for human research, which must include obtaining parent or guardian authorization. 4/16/2015 Signed by the Governor.

Ohio Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Enacted

Amends existing health_insurance_nondiscrimination law. The bill adds that accident and sickness insurers and public employee health benefit plans may not use information from genetic screening or testing to set premiums for, a policy or plan. Effective 6/30/2015.

Ohio Health Insurance Coverage Enacted

Requires the state Medicaid program, individual health insurers and group health insurers to cover breast cancer screening for women meeting certain conditions, including those who have a genetic predisposition to breast cancer. Carries over to 2022.

Ohio Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Enacted

Amends the definition of "genetic screening or testing" used in the state health_insurance_nondiscrimination statute. Replaces "abnormalities, defects, or deficiencies," in the definition with "genotypes, mutations, or chromosomal changes." Carries over to 2022.

Oklahoma Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Enacted

This bill requires parental consent required to store, transfer, use or database DNA from any newborn child. Signed by the Governor May 11, 2010.

Oklahoma Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Research Enacted

This bill modifies the state Genetic Information Nondiscrimination in Insurance Act. Topics addressed by the modifications include definitions, discrimination in health insurance based on genetic information, and prohibitions for requesting and requiring genetic a genetic test with exceptions for research if conducted in compliance with the Common Rule and certain criteria are met. Approved by the Governor on 5/10/2010.

Oklahoma Employment Nondiscrimination Enacted

This bill amends statutes pertaining to discriminatory practices in employment, housing, and public accommodations. The bill provides exclusive remedies for individuals alleging discrimination in employment on the basis of genetic information. Signed by the Governor May 18, 2011.

Oklahoma Privacy, Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Enacted

This bill creates the Parents' Bill of Rights. Rights under the bill include the right to consent in writing before any record of a minor childs blood or DNA is created, stored or shared, except as required by Sections 1-516 (pertaining to syphilis) and 1-524.1 (pertaining to testing arrested persons for sexually transmitted infections and HIV) of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or unless authorized pursuant to a court order. Signed by the Governor on May 12, 2014.

Oregon Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Privacy Enacted

This bill amends the state genetic privacy law by allowing health insurers to retain or disclose genetic information without written authorization if (1) the retention is for treatment, payment or health care operations by the insurer; and (2) the disclosure is in accordance with ORS 746.607 (3). Signed by the Governor July 17, 2007.

Oregon Privacy Enacted

This bill amends the state genetic privacy law by designating the Oregon Health Authority (previously the Department of Health and Human Services) as the body responsible for certain provisions of the law. Signed by the Governor June 26, 2009.

Oregon Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Enacted

Aligns Oregon health insurance law with changes in federal law and renumbers sections of Oregon law pertaining pre-existing condition, which are defined not to include genetic information in the absence of a diagnosis of the condition related to such information. 7/29/13 Signed by the Governor.

Oregon Health Insurance Coverage Enacted

A health benefit plan offered in Oregon must provide coverage for screening to determine whether counseling about BRCA testing is indicated. Governor signed. Effective 8/15/2017.

Pennsylvania Coverage and reimbursement Approved

An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in casualty insurance, further providing for coverage for mammographic examinations and diagnost...

South Carolina Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Privacy, Research Enacted

This bill amends existing statute sections and creates new statute sections pertaining to health_insurance_nondiscrimination, genetic privacy, research issues and enforcement of these provisions. Signed by the Governor on June 7, 2010.

South Dakota Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Enacted

This bill amends the definitions used in the health_insurance_nondiscrimination law. Signed by the Governor March 8, 2011.

South Dakota Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination, Privacy Enacted

Existing law prohibits health carriers, in determining eligibility for coverage, establishing premiums, limiting coverage, renewing coverage, or any other underwriting decision from, in connection with the offer, sale, or renewal of insurance: (1) requiring or requesting an individual or a blood relative of the individual to take a genetic test; or (2) taking into consideration the fact that a genetic test was refused by an individual or a blood relative of the individual. Amends existing law by adding life insurers and long-term care insurers to covered entities. Prohibits any company providing genetic testing directly to a consumer from sharing any genetic test, genetic information, or other personally identifiable information of a consumer with any health carrier, life insurer, or long-term care insurer without written consent from the consumer. A company that provides genetic testing may communicate with a health carrier for the purposes of payment, coordination of medical treatment, or patient care so long as such communication is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and only used for the purposes permitted. 3/29/2021 Signed by the Governor. Effective 1/1/2022.

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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