To Protect Newborn Genetic Privacy Rights

HB 3437 requires parents or guardians to provide specific, written consent before newborn genetic screening occurs, replacing general hospital admission forms. It limits blood sample collection to only what's necessary for screening and mandates destruction of blood spots after three weeks unless separate consent is obtained for retention. The bill also requires explicit parental consent for any future use of blood samples or test results - including research, law enforcement, or public health studies - preventing automatic retention or sharing. This applies directly to all newborns in West Virginia and ensures parents control how their child's genetic information is handled.