|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the creation and publication of cancer incidence maps |
|
by the Department of State Health Services. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 82, Health and Safety Code, is amended by |
|
adding Section 82.0051 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 82.0051. CANCER INCIDENCE MAPS. (a) The department |
|
shall collect and develop statistical data on the incidence of |
|
particular types of cancer in the state and shall plot this data on |
|
computer-generated cancer incidence maps. |
|
(b) The department shall establish and maintain a |
|
computerized mapping system for plotting the incidence of each type |
|
of cancer reported. In plotting incidences of cancer, the |
|
department shall employ a spatial filter or other statistical |
|
method to detect statistical anomalies and identify cancer |
|
clusters. The department shall plot incidences of cancer by census |
|
block, as recognized by the United States Census Bureau, except |
|
that if the board determines that plotting by this method could make |
|
it possible to identify a particular individual with cancer, the |
|
department shall aggregate census blocks to protect the |
|
individual's identity. |
|
(c) The department shall: |
|
(1) post the cancer incidence maps on its Internet |
|
website and make the maps available to the public by other means the |
|
department considers appropriate; and |
|
(2) annually update the maps. |
|
(d) The department shall submit a quarterly report to the |
|
governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of |
|
representatives that includes: |
|
(1) the current status of data entry into the mapping |
|
system required under Subsection (b); |
|
(2) information remaining to be gathered or entered |
|
into the mapping system; and |
|
(3) progress in using the mapping system to identify |
|
cancer clusters. |
|
SECTION 2. Section 82.007(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) The department shall publish an annual report to the |
|
legislature of the information obtained or created under this |
|
chapter. |
|
SECTION 3. (a) Not later than the 180th day after the |
|
effective date of this Act, the department shall submit an initial |
|
report to the legislature. The department shall make a draft of the |
|
report available to the public for review and comment not later than |
|
the 30th day before the day the report is submitted to the |
|
legislature. The report must include: |
|
(1) the scientific strengths and limitations of |
|
statistical cancer incidence mapping as related to cancer |
|
recognition, prevention, cure, or control; |
|
(2) the appropriate use and publication of cancer |
|
incidence maps; and |
|
(3) the implementation of safeguards to prevent misuse |
|
of cancer incidence mapping, including: |
|
(A) collecting background data that ensures the |
|
accuracy of reported cancer diagnoses; |
|
(B) identifying the appropriate uses of the |
|
mapping; and |
|
(C) ensuring the confidentiality of all |
|
individual medical data. |
|
(b) Not later than the 90th day after the date the initial |
|
report is submitted under Subsection (a) of this section, the |
|
department shall post on its Internet website maps that show the |
|
incidences of: |
|
(1) lung cancer; and |
|
(2) breast cancer. |
|
(c) Not later than the 180th day after the date the maps are |
|
posted under Subsection (b) of this section, the department shall |
|
post on its Internet website maps that show the incidences of: |
|
(1) colorectal cancer; |
|
(2) prostate cancer; and |
|
(3) all types of cancer in the aggregate. |
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |