AB 2661: Search warrants: newborn screening program.

The bill aims to amend the health and safety code to allow the state department of public health to release a portion of the newborn blood specimen card in certain circumstances. A coroner can request the information to identify unidentified human remains, and law enforcement can obtain it in response to a search warrant if the objective is to find the DNA of a missing person suspected of being a victim of homicide, kidnapping, or child abuse resulting in death. The department must annually report to the legislature on the number of requests from coroners and search warrants received, as well as the number of disclosures granted in response to those requests and warrants.