GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1987 SESSION

CHAPTER 822
HOUSE BILL 576

AN ACT TO RECODIFY AND AMEND PART 18, ARTICLE 3, OF CHAPTER 143B OF THE GENERAL STATUTES CONCERNING THE SICKLE CELL PROGRAM.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  G.S. 143B-191 through G.S. 143B-196 are hereby repealed.
Sec. 2.  Article 5, Chapter 130A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Part 3 as follows:
"Part 3.  Sickle Cell.
"§ 130A-129.  Department to establish program.–The Department shall establish and administer a Sickle Cell Program.  The Commission shall, after consultation with the Council on Sickle Cell Syndrome, adopt rules for the program that shall include, but not be limited to, programs for education, voluntary testing, counseling, and medical reimbursement services for sickle cell syndrome.  'Sickle cell syndrome' includes sickle cell disease, sickle cell trait, sickle cell thalassemia and variants.
"§ 130A-130.  Duties of local health departments.–Local health departments shall provide sickle cell syndrome testing and counseling at no cost to persons requesting these services.  If an individual is found to have any aspect of sickle cell syndrome, the local health department shall inform the individual to that effect.  The State Laboratory of Public Health shall, upon request, provide a person's sickle cell screening test results to any local health department or Sickle Cell Program contracting agency which has been requested to provide sickle cell services to that person."
Sec. 3.  G.S. 143B-188 through G.S. 143B-190 are rewritten to read:
"§ 143B-188.  Council on Sickle Cell Syndrome; appointment; expenses; terms.–A Council on Sickle Cell Syndrome is created.  The Council shall consist of a chairperson and 14 other members appointed by the Governor.  Members shall serve without compensation except for reimbursement for travel and expenses in pursuit of Council business.  Except as provided in this subsection, Council members shall serve a term of three years.  To achieve a staggered term structure, five members shall be appointed for a term of one year, five members for a term of two years, and five members for a term of three years.
"§ 143B-189.  Council membership.–In making appointments, consideration shall be given to persons representing the following areas:
(1)	Members of community agencies interested in sickle cell syndrome;
(2)	State and local officials concerned with public health, social services and rehabilitation;
(3)	Teachers and members of State and local school boards;
(4)	Physicians in medical centers and physicians in community practice who are interested in sickle cell syndrome;
(5)	Persons or relatives of persons with sickle cell disease.
"§ 143B-190.  Council role.–The Council shall advise the Department and the Commission for Health Services on the needs of persons with sickle cell syndrome, and shall make recommendations to meet these needs.  Such recommendations shall include but not be limited to recommendations for legislative action and for rules regarding the services of the Sickle Cell Program.  The Council shall develop procedures to facilitate its operation.  All clerical and other services required by the Council shall be furnished by the Department of Human Resources within budget limitations."
Sec. 4.  This act is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 13th day of August, 1987.