ANALYSIS OF HOUSE BILL 2357

           Creating a task force on prostate cancer.

Health Care Committee                          January 19, 2000

Washington State House of Representatives

SPONSORS:  Representatives Dickerson and Stensen.

BACKGROUND:  Based on national cancer research:  Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers of American men; it is estimated that in 1999, about 179,300 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the United States; prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, exceeded only by lung cancer; 37,000 men in the United States are projected to die of this disease during 1999; and African-American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer of any population of men in the world today.

SUMMARY:  A prostate cancer task force is established consisting of 17 members. The task force will be composed of four legislative members representing an equal number from each of the minority and majority caucuses.  The legislative members will consist of two members from the House of Representatives and two members from the Senate.  The remaining members will represent, oncologists, urologists, cancer patients or survivors, cancer advocates, and a cancer researcher. 

The duties and the responsibilities of the task force are outlined.  A written report must be written to the Governor by December 12, 2000.  The task force will expire on July 1, 2001. 

An emergency is declared.