SENATE BILL REPORT

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.

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Health & Long-Term Care, February 9, 2011

Title: An act relating to requiring the department of health to collect current and past employment information in the cancer registry program.

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

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Conway, Vice Chair; Becker, Ranking Minority Member; Kline, Parlette, Pflug and Pridemore.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senator Carrell.

Background: The Department of Health (DOH) maintains a statewide cancer database to monitor the incidence of cancer in the state. Health care facilities, independent clinical laboratories, and other principal health care providers must identify and report cases of cancer. Information collected through the cancer registry system is used by medical, research and public health professionals to understand, control, and reduce occurrences of cancer in Washington residents. If the information is available in the patient record, patient demographic information as described in DOH rule must be reported to the database; this includes information on the usual occupation of the patient.

Summary of Bill: A cancer patient's usual occupation must be reported to the cancer registry. If the patient is retired, the primary occupation of the patient before retirement must be reported.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This is a result of some very laudable reporting about the linkage between certain cancers and people working as oncology nurses. The reports show that there is no real way to trace a person's occupation under the current cancer registry. This is important not just for nurses but for other occupations. It is difficult to find statistics on the links between occupations and cancers, but people have worked as pharmacists and nurses and developed cancer. This bill will start the research. People will know that certain occupations lead to cancer if we are able to link an occupation with any form of cancer. This will assist researchers and lead to ways to prevent occupational cancer.