Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the State Board of Health intends to consider amending 12VAC5-90, Regulations for Disease Reporting and Control, and repealing 12VAC5-120, Regulations for Testing Children for Elevated Blood-Lead Levels. The purpose of the proposed action is to amend several disease-specific sections of the disease reporting regulations. Cancer reporting requirements will be updated to require the use of electronic means of reporting. The section on testing of gamete donors will be amended to align state requirements with those of the federal Food and Drug Administration. The board also proposes to incorporate the testing and risk determination criteria for identifying children with elevated blood-lead levels into 12VAC5-90 and to repeal 12VAC5-120, the existing regulation pertaining to blood-lead level testing of children. The Department of Health may request additional changes that reflect changing practices in the field of communicable disease control and emergency preparedness that are needed to protect the health of the residents of Virginia.

The agency does not intend to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: §§ 32.1-35 and 32.1-46.1 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: December 6, 2013.

Agency Contact: Diane Woolard, PhD, Director, Disease Surveillance, Department of Health, 109 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 864-8124, or email diane.woolard@vdh.virginia.gov.