Glenn Beck invents DNA-stealing fear to fantasize about U.S. becoming Gattaca

Watching Glenn Beck, I was a bit confused that he dedicated a big chunk of his show about some some evil government plan to “steal” the DNA of every child and that there was nothing you could do about it. One thing to remember about Beck, however: Everything he said is either ignorant, a lie, or both. Below is the entire bill that he was so worried about. The bill that will lead us down the road to “Gattaca” and “Minority Report.” Note the bolded sections.

S.F. No. 1478, 1st Engrossment – 86th Legislative Session (2009-2010) Posted on Apr 02, 2009

1.1A bill for an act
1.2relating to health; changing provisions for handling genetic information from
1.3newborn screening; requiring a report;amending Minnesota Statutes 2008,
1.4sections 13.386, subdivision 3; 144.125, subdivision 3.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 13.386, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
1.7 Subd. 3. Collection, storage, use, and dissemination of genetic information. (a)
1.8Unless otherwise expressly provided by law, genetic information about an individual:
1.9 (1) may be collected by a government entity, as defined in section 13.02, subdivision
1.107a, or any other person only with the written informed consent of the individual;
1.11 (2) may be used only for purposes to which the individual has given written
1.12informed consent;
1.13 (3) may be stored only for a period of time to which the individual has given written
1.14informed consent; and
1.15 (4) may be disseminated only:
1.16 (i) with the individual’s written informed consent; or
1.17 (ii) if necessary in order to accomplish purposes described by clause (2). A consent
1.18to disseminate genetic information under item (i) must be signed and dated. Unless
1.19otherwise provided by law, such a consent is valid for one year or for a lesser period
1.20specified in the consent.
1.21 (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the Department of Health’s collection, storage,
1.22use, and dissemination of genetic information and blood specimens for testing infants for
1.23heritable and congenital disorders are governed by sections 144.125 to 144.128.

2.1 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144.125, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
2.2 Subd. 3. Objection of parents to test Information provided to parents. Persons
2.3with a duty to perform testing under subdivision 1 shall advise parents of infants (1) that
2.4the blood or tissue samples used to perform testing thereunder as well as the results of
2.5such testing may be retained by the Department of Health, (2) the benefit of retaining the
2.6blood or tissue sample, and (3) that the following options are available to them with
2.7respect to the testing: (i) to decline to have the tests, or (ii) to elect to have the tests but to
2.8require that all blood samples and records of test results be destroyed within 24 months
2.9of the testing. If the parents of an infant object in writing to testing for heritable and
2.10congenital disorders or elect to require that blood samples and test results be destroyed,
2.11the objection or election shall be recorded on a form that is signed by a parent or legal
2.12guardian and made part of the infant’s medical record. A written objection exempts an
2.13infant from the requirements of this section and section 144.128.
2.14(a) Prior to collecting a sample, persons with a duty to perform testing under
2.15subdivision 1 must provide parents or legal guardians of infants with a document that
2.16provides the following information:
2.17 (1) the blood sample will be used to test for heritable and congenital disorders, the
2.18blood sample will be retained by the Department of Health for a period of at least two
2.19years and that the blood sample may be used for public health studies and research;
2.20 (2) the data that will be collected as a result of the testing;
2.21 (3) the alternatives available to the parents set forth in paragraph (b) and that a form
2.22to exercise the alternatives is available from the person with a duty to perform testing
2.23under subdivision 1;
2.24 (4) the benefits of testing and the consequences of a decision to permit or refuse
2.25to supply a sample;
2.26 (5) the benefits of retaining the blood sample and the consequences of a decision to
2.27destroy the blood sample after two years or to permit or decline to have the blood sample
2.28used for public health studies and research;
2.29 (6) the ways in which the samples and data collected will be stored and used at the
2.30Department of Health and elsewhere; and
2.31 (7) the Department of Health’s Web site address where the forms referenced in
2.32paragraph (b) may be obtained.
2.33This document satisfies the requirements of section 13.04, subdivision 2.
2.34 (b) The parent or legal guardian of an infant otherwise subject to testing under this
2.35section may object to any of the following:
2.36 (1) the testing itself;
3.1 (2) the maintenance of the infant’s blood samples and test result records for a period
3.2longer than 24 months; and
3.3 (3) the use of the infant’s blood samples and test result records for public health
3.4studies and research.
3.5If a parent or legal guardian elects one of the alternatives, the election shall be recorded
3.6on a form that is signed by the parent or legal guardian. The signed form shall be made
3.7part of the infant’s medical record and shall be provided to the Department of Health. The
3.8signature of the parent or legal guardian is sufficient and no witness to the signature, photo
3.9identification, or notarization shall be required. When a parent or legal guardian elects
3.10an alternative under this subdivision, the Department of Health must follow the election
3.11and section 144.128. A written election exempts an infant from the requirements of this
3.12section and section 144.128.
3.13 (c) For purposes of this subdivision, “public health studies and research” includes
3.14calibrating newborn screening equipment, evaluating existing newborn screening tests to
3.15reduce the number of false positive and false negative results, studying the development
3.16of new newborn screening tests for heritable and congenital disorders, and other
3.17population-based health studies.

3.18 Sec. 3. NEWBORN SCREENING REPORT.
3.19 By January 15, 2010, the Department of Health shall report and make
3.20recommendations to the legislature on its current efforts for ensuring and enhancing how
3.21parents of newborns are fully informed about the newborn screening program and of their
3.22rights and options regarding: (1) testing; (2) storage; (3) public health practices, studies,
3.23and research; (4) the ability to opt out of the collection of data and specimens related to
3.24the testing; and (5) the ability to seek private testing.

Basically, Glenn Beck spent 20 minutes of his show telling his audience that the government was going to steal DNA from their babies and that they had no recourse whatsoever, ultimately leading to a science fiction nightmare of some kind. Even though the process includes informing the parents, and giving the freedom to opt out. And because Michelle Bachmann told him so. So sorry, folks, we still have a little ways to go before we’re living Gattaca. Maybe it’s time Beck stopped watching movies. And started to work for Alex Jones and InfoWars where he belongs.

–WKW

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