Amended IN Assembly June 14, 2021 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 11Introduced by Senator Rubio(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Gipson and Blanca Rubio)(Coauthors: Senators Archuleta, Becker, Dodd, Hueso, Jones, Limn, Newman, Ochoa Bogh, Pan, Portantino, Wiener, and Wilk)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Burke, Calderon, Chau, Chen, Chiu, Choi, Daly, Fong, Frazier, Gabriel, Cristina Garcia, Holden, Lackey, Levine, Patterson, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, and Rodriguez Rodriguez, Stone, and Villapudua)February 04, 2021Relative to the Cancer Patients Bill of Rights.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSCR 11, as amended, Rubio. Cancer Patients Bill of Rights.This measure would proclaim specified principles as the Cancer Patients Bill of Rights to make clear the Legislature supports the best cancer care for cancer patients in the state.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Bill TextWHEREAS, Remarkable advances in cancer science are creating more effective treatments and cures for patients affected by cancer; andWHEREAS, Unfortunately, many cancer patients do not benefit from these treatment advances, and some die needlessly as a result; andWHEREAS, The disconnect between advances in access to good-quality health care and the continuing gaps in the quality of cancer care is reflective of an important truth: cancer care is different; andWHEREAS, Cancer care is increasingly reliant on genetic and genomic testing to direct care for each individual patient; andWHEREAS, There is a growing understanding that there are hundreds of different cancer types that each may require different types of therapy. The complexities of cancer care include relying on the accuracy of initial diagnosis, choice of therapy, and access to appropriate clinical trials; andWHEREAS, There is significant variability in the ability of the community of medical oncologists to keep current with the most recent evidence due to complexities of cancer care in the precision medicine era; andWHEREAS, For many cancer patients, the best chance of a cure is the first chance of a cure, highlighting the need for access to appropriate expertise early in the cancer journey; andWHEREAS, There are disparities in cancer outcomes and access to leading-edge clinical trials based on race and socioeconomic status that are unfavorable to those that are most vulnerable and disadvantaged; andWHEREAS, It is imperative that California policymakers prioritize appropriate and timely access to expert cancer care for individuals; now, therefore, be itResolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaims the following principles as the Cancer Patients Bill of Rights to make clear the Legislature supports the best cancer care for cancer patients in the state:(a) Cancer patients have a right to fully understand fully their diagnoses and be informed about treatment options in culturally appropriate and understandable languages.(b) Cancer patients have a right to transparent and timely processes that ensure direct access to oncology specialists, diagnostic testing, and accurate interpretations of those tests.(c) Cancer patients have a right to timely access to cancer subspecialists who have expertise in the treatment of their subtypes of cancers when complex decisions are needed.(d) Cancer patients have a right to direct and prompt access to medical treatments for pain management and other services that support their overall health.(e) Cancer patients have a right to direct access to National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers and leading academic medical centers for the management of complex cancers that require multiple experts or high-risk or emerging therapies.(f) Cancer patients have a right to timely access to relevant clinical trials, medical research, and cutting-edge innovation, including evidence-supported precision medicine; and be it furtherResolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution. Amended IN Assembly June 14, 2021 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 11Introduced by Senator Rubio(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Gipson and Blanca Rubio)(Coauthors: Senators Archuleta, Becker, Dodd, Hueso, Jones, Limn, Newman, Ochoa Bogh, Pan, Portantino, Wiener, and Wilk)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Burke, Calderon, Chau, Chen, Chiu, Choi, Daly, Fong, Frazier, Gabriel, Cristina Garcia, Holden, Lackey, Levine, Patterson, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, and Rodriguez Rodriguez, Stone, and Villapudua)February 04, 2021Relative to the Cancer Patients Bill of Rights.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSCR 11, as amended, Rubio. Cancer Patients Bill of Rights.This measure would proclaim specified principles as the Cancer Patients Bill of Rights to make clear the Legislature supports the best cancer care for cancer patients in the state.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Amended IN Assembly June 14, 2021 Amended IN Assembly June 14, 2021 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 11 Introduced by Senator Rubio(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Gipson and Blanca Rubio)(Coauthors: Senators Archuleta, Becker, Dodd, Hueso, Jones, Limn, Newman, Ochoa Bogh, Pan, Portantino, Wiener, and Wilk)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Burke, Calderon, Chau, Chen, Chiu, Choi, Daly, Fong, Frazier, Gabriel, Cristina Garcia, Holden, Lackey, Levine, Patterson, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, and Rodriguez Rodriguez, Stone, and Villapudua)February 04, 2021 Introduced by Senator Rubio(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Gipson and Blanca Rubio)(Coauthors: Senators Archuleta, Becker, Dodd, Hueso, Jones, Limn, Newman, Ochoa Bogh, Pan, Portantino, Wiener, and Wilk)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Burke, Calderon, Chau, Chen, Chiu, Choi, Daly, Fong, Frazier, Gabriel, Cristina Garcia, Holden, Lackey, Levine, Patterson, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, and Rodriguez Rodriguez, Stone, and Villapudua) February 04, 2021 Relative to the Cancer Patients Bill of Rights. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SCR 11, as amended, Rubio. Cancer Patients Bill of Rights. This measure would proclaim specified principles as the Cancer Patients Bill of Rights to make clear the Legislature supports the best cancer care for cancer patients in the state. This measure would proclaim specified principles as the Cancer Patients Bill of Rights to make clear the Legislature supports the best cancer care for cancer patients in the state. ## Digest Key ## Bill Text WHEREAS, Remarkable advances in cancer science are creating more effective treatments and cures for patients affected by cancer; and WHEREAS, Unfortunately, many cancer patients do not benefit from these treatment advances, and some die needlessly as a result; and WHEREAS, The disconnect between advances in access to good-quality health care and the continuing gaps in the quality of cancer care is reflective of an important truth: cancer care is different; and WHEREAS, Cancer care is increasingly reliant on genetic and genomic testing to direct care for each individual patient; and WHEREAS, There is a growing understanding that there are hundreds of different cancer types that each may require different types of therapy. The complexities of cancer care include relying on the accuracy of initial diagnosis, choice of therapy, and access to appropriate clinical trials; and WHEREAS, There is significant variability in the ability of the community of medical oncologists to keep current with the most recent evidence due to complexities of cancer care in the precision medicine era; and WHEREAS, For many cancer patients, the best chance of a cure is the first chance of a cure, highlighting the need for access to appropriate expertise early in the cancer journey; and WHEREAS, There are disparities in cancer outcomes and access to leading-edge clinical trials based on race and socioeconomic status that are unfavorable to those that are most vulnerable and disadvantaged; and WHEREAS, It is imperative that California policymakers prioritize appropriate and timely access to expert cancer care for individuals; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaims the following principles as the Cancer Patients Bill of Rights to make clear the Legislature supports the best cancer care for cancer patients in the state: (a) Cancer patients have a right to fully understand fully their diagnoses and be informed about treatment options in culturally appropriate and understandable languages. (b) Cancer patients have a right to transparent and timely processes that ensure direct access to oncology specialists, diagnostic testing, and accurate interpretations of those tests. (c) Cancer patients have a right to timely access to cancer subspecialists who have expertise in the treatment of their subtypes of cancers when complex decisions are needed. (d) Cancer patients have a right to direct and prompt access to medical treatments for pain management and other services that support their overall health. (e) Cancer patients have a right to direct access to National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers and leading academic medical centers for the management of complex cancers that require multiple experts or high-risk or emerging therapies. (f) Cancer patients have a right to timely access to relevant clinical trials, medical research, and cutting-edge innovation, including evidence-supported precision medicine; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.