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SB 5244

Providing an exemption for women, infants, and children program staff to perform hematological screening tests.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jess Bateman and 4 co-sponsors

SB 5244 exempts WIC staff from medical licensing to perform blood hemoglobin and hematocrit screening, improving access to routine nutritional assessments for low-income mothers and children.

Effective date 7/27/2025.
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Bill Summary · SB 5244

Legislative bill overview

SB 5244 exempts Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program staff from certain medical licensing requirements to perform hematological screening tests (blood tests that measure hemoglobin and hematocrit levels). The bill allows trained WIC personnel to conduct these specific tests without holding a medical laboratory technician license, streamlining screening procedures within the federally-funded nutrition assistance program.

Why is this important

Hematological screening is a routine part of WIC eligibility assessment and nutritional monitoring, particularly for detecting anemia in pregnant women and young children. By allowing WIC staff to perform these tests directly, the bill reduces barriers to care access, decreases wait times for screening results, and may lower administrative costs by reducing referrals to external medical laboratories. This is especially significant for low-income families who may face transportation or scheduling challenges accessing separate testing facilities.

Potential points of contention

  • Quality control concerns: Critics may worry that non-licensed personnel performing blood tests could introduce accuracy or safety issues, particularly regarding proper sample handling, equipment calibration, and infection control protocols.
  • Scope creep in medical delegation: Some medical professionals or licensing boards may object to broadening exemptions from licensure requirements, viewing it as erosion of professional standards or oversight.
  • Training and accountability gaps: Questions may arise about whether WIC staff training is sufficiently rigorous and whether there are adequate mechanisms to ensure consistent quality and address errors across all WIC programs.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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