RLV S.B. 600 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS PUBLIC HEALTH S.B. 600 By: Harris (Janek) 4-30-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Currently, Texas law provides for the careful and confidential transfer of data concerning precancerous and tumorous diseases by hospitals, clinical laboratories, and cancer treatment centers to the Texas Board of Health, but does not specifically provide for the sharing of data between cancer registries. However, cancer registries contribute to cancer research by enabling hospitals and other health care professionals to document the results of their management of cancer patients and providing data used to evaluate survival rates and patient treatment outcomes. This legislation clarifies that cancer registries can share patient information with other cancer registries to be used in studies to reduce morbidity or mortality or to identify persons needing immunization. PURPOSE S.B. 600 establishes the collection and use of certain information by cancer registries. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 82.008, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subsection (e), to authorize the data concerning cancer and precancerous and tumorous diseases which is required to be furnished by hospitals, clinical laboratories, and cancer treatment centers to the Texas Board of Health or its representatives, to be furnished only to cancer registries of hospitals as well. SECTION 2. Amends Section 82.009, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subsection (d) to establish that data obtained under this chapter from the medical records of a patient and furnished to a hospital cancer registry under Section 82.008(e) is for the confidential use of the hospital cancer registry and is subject to Subsection (a) relating to confidentiality requirements. SECTION 3. Amends Section 161.021(a), Health and Safety Code, by adding a cancer registry to the list of entities and individuals to whom a person or organization may provide interviews, reports, or other information relating to the condition and treatment of any person to be used in a study to reduce morbidity or mortality or to identify persons needing immunization. SECTION 4. Amends Section 161.022(a), Health and Safety Code, by adding a cancer registry to the list of entities authorized to use or publish information under Section 161.021 only to advance medical research or education, with certain exceptions. SECTION 5. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.