The Minnesota Department of Health is fast-tracking a bill to eliminate our genetic privacy rights. State officials have been violating the 2006 Minnesota Genetic Privacy law for three years - collecting, storing, analyzing and sharing newborn DNA (and family bloodlines) without the consent or knowledge of parents.
 
The State of Minnesota now owns and warehouses the DNA of more than 819,000 children. More than 52,000 children have been the subjects of genetic research without parent consent.   On March 11th, nine families filed a law suit against the Department of Health. In response, health officials are pushing for the rapid passage of a new law that would exempt newborn genetic testing from the state genetic privacy law, eliminate written informed consent requirements and the legal options of parents (see HF1341/SF1478).
 
Thanks to your calls to Governor Pawlenty, he vetoed this legislaion last year, telling lawmakers in his veto letter that while screening for medical disorders is a laudable goal, maintaining the database without parental permission - and in some cases, over the stated objections of the parents - "is concerning."  But since then the Governor has come under intense pressure from the special interests seeking passage of this bill.
 
The new bill could land on the Governor's desk by as early as Monday, March 23. To protect children and families from unwelcome government intrusion, and to protect the genetic privacy and DNA property rights of all citizens, please contact Governor Pawlenty as soon as possible.
 
Take Action: Send a message to Governor Pawlenty asking him to veto bill number HF1341/SF1478.

Additional Resources

• Citizens' Council on Health Care
• Listen to the Dan Conry Show on Tuesday, March 17th for a discussion of this issue with Twila Brase.
• Listen to a podcast of the Sue Jeffers Show from March 7th for more from Twila Brase on baby DNA.