HOUSE BILL No. 4962

 

September 10, 2013, Introduced by Rep. Haines and referred to the Committee on Health Policy.

 

     A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled

 

"Public health code,"

 

(MCL 333.1101 to 333.25211) by adding part 58A.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

PART 58A

 

SUDDEN UNEXPECTED INFANT DEATH EDUCATION AND PREVENTION

 

     Sec. 5881. (1) This part may be referred to as the "sleep safe

 

act".

 

     (2) For purposes of this part, the words and phrases defined

 

in sections 5883 to 5884 have the meanings ascribed to them in

 

those sections unless the context requires otherwise.

 

     (3) In addition, article 1 contains general definitions and


 

principles of construction applicable to all articles in this act.

 

     Sec. 5883. (1) "Health professional" means an individual

 

licensed, registered, certified, or otherwise authorized to engage

 

in a health profession under article 15.

 

     (2) "Hospital" means a hospital licensed under article 17 that

 

provides clinically related health services for obstetrical and

 

newborn care and includes a hospital operated by this state, a

 

local governmental unit, or an agency. Hospital does not include an

 

office used primarily for private or group practice by health

 

professionals in which no reviewable, clinically related health

 

services are offered.

 

     (3) "Infant" means a child who is 30 days old or older and who

 

is younger than 24 months old.

 

     (4) "Newborn" means a child who is younger than 30 days old.

 

     Sec. 5884. (1) "Parent" means a natural parent, stepparent,

 

adoptive parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian of a newborn or

 

infant.

 

     (2) "Parent acknowledgment statement" means the statement of a

 

parent on a form prescribed by the department under section

 

5885(4).

 

     (3) "Program" means the safe sleep education program

 

established under this part.

 

     (4) "Safe sleep video" means the safe sleep video described in

 

section 5885(3).

 

     (5) "Sudden infant death syndrome" or "SIDS" means a sudden

 

unexpected infant death that remains unexplained after the

 

performance of a complete postmortem investigation that includes an


 

autopsy, an examination of the scene of the death, and a review of

 

the infant's medical record.

 

     (6) "Sudden unexpected infant death" or "SUID" means the

 

sudden unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant.

 

     Sec. 5885. (1) The department shall establish a safe sleep

 

education program to promote awareness and education relating to

 

SIDS and SUIDs with the focus on the risk factors of SIDS and

 

SUIDs and safe sleeping practices for newborns and infants.

 

     (2) The department shall design and implement strategies

 

for raising public awareness concerning SUIDs, including, but

 

not limited to, all of the following:

 

     (a) Risk factors for SUID, including, but not limited to,

 

infant sleep position, exposure to smoke, overheating,

 

inappropriate infant bedding, and bed sharing.

 

     (b) Suggestions for reducing the risk of SUIDs.

 

     (3) The department shall include as part of the program the

 

distribution of readily understandable information and educational

 

and instructional materials regarding SUIDs and safe sleeping

 

practices. The materials distributed under this subsection must

 

explain the risk factors associated with SUIDs and emphasize safe

 

sleeping practices. The department and the department of human

 

services shall create and maintain a safe sleep video that includes

 

information on safe sleeping practices for inclusion in the

 

program.

 

     (4) The department shall prescribe the form of a parent

 

acknowledgment statement. The form must include a place for a

 

parent to sign, acknowledging that the parent has viewed the safe


 

sleep video and has received, has read, and has an understanding of

 

the educational and instructional materials provided on SUID and

 

safe sleeping practices.

 

     Sec. 5886. (1) For a birth that occurs in a hospital, the

 

hospital shall provide the materials described in section 5885(3)

 

without cost to a parent after the birth of the newborn and before

 

discharge from the hospital. For a birth that occurs in a setting

 

other than a hospital, the health professional in charge of the

 

care of a newborn, or if none the health professional in charge at

 

the birth of a newborn, shall provide the materials described in

 

section 5885(3) without cost to a parent as soon as possible after

 

the birth of a newborn.

 

     (2) After receipt of the materials under subsection (1),

 

including the viewing of the safe sleep video, a parent shall sign

 

the parent acknowledgment statement. The hospital or health

 

professional, as applicable, shall place the signed parent

 

acknowledgment statement in the newborn's permanent medical record.

 

The hospital or health professional, as applicable, shall provide a

 

copy of the signed parent acknowledgment statement to the parent

 

who signed the statement.

 

     (3) A hospital or health professional that complies with this

 

section is not criminally or civilly liable for the action or

 

inaction of a parent with regard to safe sleeping practices for a

 

newborn or infant pursuant to materials given to the parent under

 

this section. This subsection does not apply if the hospital or

 

health professional engages in behavior that involves gross

 

negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.


 

     Sec. 5887. The department shall do all of the following:

 

     (a) Work to improve the capacity of community-based services

 

available to parents regarding the risk factors involved with SUID

 

and safe sleeping practices for newborns and infants.

 

     (b) Work with other state and local governmental agencies,

 

community and business leaders, community organizations, health

 

care and human service providers, and national organizations to

 

coordinate efforts and maximize state and private resources in the

 

areas of education about SUIDs, including the risk factors and safe

 

sleeping practices.

 

     (c) Identify and, when appropriate, replicate or use

 

successful SUID programs and procure related materials and services

 

from organizations with appropriate experience and knowledge of

 

SUID.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days

 

after the date it is enacted into law.