Nebraska

That September 9, 2011, be designated Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day in Nebraska.

Upon the filing of a petition for adoption of a child

who is under ten years of age and is a ward of the state, the judge shall require that (a) the child be evaluated for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, including fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects, if the child shows indications of such disorders or (b) a physician's statement be provided on the child that states that the child does not show indications of such disorders. ...A child placement agency, the department, or a private agency handling the adoption, as the case may be, shall maintain and shall provide to the adopting parents upon placement of the person with such parents and to the adopted person, upon his or her request, the available medical history and any fetal alcohol spectrum disorders evaluation or statement.

The purpose of this interim study is to examine the procedures of the Department of Health and Human Services related to the evaluation of state wards for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders prior to adoption. The

study will include, but not be limited to:

(1) An investigation of data related to the number of state wards who may require evaluation and the likelihood that they will receive evaluation;

(2) An evaluation of costs that may be associated with the

evaluation of state wards for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders; and

(3) An examination of the consequences of such an evaluation or lack of an evaluation for adoptees and adoptive families.

1. That the Judiciary and Health and Human Services Committees of the Legislature shall be designated to conduct a joint interim study to carry out the purposes of this resolution.

2. That the committees shall upon the conclusion of the study make a report of their findings, together with their recommendations, to the Legislative Council or Legislature.

For an Act relating to appropriations; to appropriate funds to the Department of health and Human Services for alcohol-related birth defects prevention programs. Be it enacted by the people pf the State of Nebraska, Section 1. there is hereby appropriated $250,000 from the General Fund for FY2006-07 to the Department of health and Human Services Finance and Support, for Program 514, to be used for alcohol-related birth defects prevention programs.

Section 1. There is hereby appropriated $500,000 from the general Fund for FY2006-07 to the Department of Health and Human Services Finance and Support, for Program 514, to be used for alcohol-related birth defects prevention programs. It is the intent of the Legislature that increased tax revenue generated from liquor sales be utilized for this appropriation.

Section 1. Section 71-647, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is amended to read: 71-647 (1) The Department of Health and Human Services regulation and Licensure shall have and may exercise the following powers and duties:...(c) To carry on programs of professional education and training of medical students, physicians, nurses, scientists, and technicians in the causes, methods of prevention, treatment, and cure of birth defects. Such programs shall provide for, but not be limited to, statewide research and education on the prevention of alcohol-related birth defects ....