Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Health Care & Wellness Committee

SB 5149

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Requiring the department of health to collect current and past employment information in the cancer registry program.

Sponsors: Senators Keiser, Becker, Kohl-Welles, Parlette, Conway and Kline.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Requires that a patient's usual occupation, or primary occupation before retirement, be reported to the Washington State Cancer Registry.

Hearing Date: 3/9/11

Staff: Morgan Powell (786-7119) and Chris Cordes (786-7103).

Background:

In 1991 the Department of Health (Department) established the Washington State Cancer Registry (Registry). The statutory intent of the Registry is to accurately monitor the incidence of cancer in the State of Washington for the purposes of understanding, controlling, and reducing the occurrence of cancer in this state.

The Department may authorize contractors or other designees to identify reportable cancer cases and complete cancer abstracts for patients diagnosed and treated at cancer diagnosis and treatment facilities. Cancer case information is reported to the Registry by health care facilities, independent clinical laboratories, and other principal health care providers.

The general type of cancer information reported, provided the information is available from the patient's medical records, includes: (1) patient information, including usual occupation; (2) diagnostic information; (3) first course of treatment information; and (4) other specific information. The Department may require submission of additional information from contractors or designees as needed to assess data reliability and validity.

Summary of Bill:

A patient's usual occupation must be reported to the Registry. If the patient is retired, the primary occupation of the patient before retirement must be reported.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.