SRC-CDH S.B. 600 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 600 By: Harris Health & Human Services 3-7-97 As Filed DIGEST 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 As proposed, S.B. 600 establishes the collection and use of certain information by cancer registries. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. 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 provide 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). SECTION 3. Amends Section 161.021(a), Health and Safety Code, to include a cancer registry among 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, to include a cancer registry among the list of entities authorized to use or publish information under Section 161.021 to advance only medical research or education, with certain exceptions. SECTION 5. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.