By:  Harris, et al.                                               S.B. No. 1949
	(In the Senate - Filed May 8, 2003; May 9, 2003, read first 
time and referred to Committee on Health and Human Services; 
May 22, 2003, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 9, 
Nays 0; May 22, 2003, sent to printer.)


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to the cancer registry.                                            
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  It is an important public policy goal of the 
state for the state's cancer registry to receive gold standard 
certification by the North American Association of Central Cancer 
Registries.  Gold standard certification will enable the state and 
research institutions in the state to qualify for additional 
federal funds.
	SECTION 2.  Section 82.006, Health and Safety Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 82.006.  BOARD POWERS.  (a)  To implement this chapter, 
the board may:
		(1)  adopt rules that the board considers necessary;                          
		(2)  execute contracts that the board considers 
necessary;                  
		(3)  receive the data from medical records of cases of 
cancer that are in the custody or under the control of clinical 
laboratories, health care facilities, and health care 
practitioners to record and analyze the data directly related to 
those diseases;
		(4)  compile and publish statistical and other studies 
derived from the patient data obtained under this chapter to 
provide, in an accessible form, information that is useful to 
physicians, other medical personnel, and the general public;
		(5)  comply with requirements as necessary to obtain 
federal funds in the maximum amounts and most advantageous 
proportions possible;
		(6)  receive and use gifts made for the purpose of this 
chapter; and        
		(7)  limit cancer reporting activities under this 
chapter to specified geographic areas of the state to ensure 
optimal use of funds available for obtaining the data.
	(b)  The board shall ensure that the state's cancer registry 
receives gold standard certification from the North American 
Association of Central Cancer Registries.
	SECTION 3.  Section 82.007, Health and Safety Code, is 
amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
	(c)  The department shall report to the legislature as soon 
as the cancer registry receives gold standard certification from 
the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.                           



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