Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB135 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	81R1288 SJM-D
2	2	By: Ellis S.B. No. 135
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the creation and publication of cancer incidence maps
8	8	by the Department of State Health Services.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Chapter 82, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
11	11	adding Section 82.0051 to read as follows:
12	12	Sec. 82.0051. CANCER INCIDENCE MAPS. (a) The department
13	13	shall collect and develop statistical data on the incidence of
14	14	particular types of cancer in the state and shall plot this data on
15	15	computer-generated cancer incidence maps.
16	16	(b) The department shall establish and maintain a
17	17	computerized mapping system for plotting the incidence of each type
18	18	of cancer reported. In plotting incidences of cancer, the
19	19	department shall employ a spatial filter or other statistical
20	20	method to detect statistical anomalies and identify cancer
21	21	clusters. The department shall plot incidences of cancer by census
22	22	block, as recognized by the United States Census Bureau, except
23	23	that if the board determines that plotting by this method could make
24	24	it possible to identify a particular individual with cancer, the
25	25	department shall aggregate census blocks to protect the
26	26	individual's identity.
27	27	(c) The department shall:
28	28	(1) post the cancer incidence maps on its Internet
29	29	website and make the maps available to the public by other means the
30	30	department considers appropriate; and
31	31	(2) annually update the maps.
32	32	(d) The department shall submit a quarterly report to the
33	33	governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
34	34	representatives that includes:
35	35	(1) the current status of data entry into the mapping
36	36	system required under Subsection (b);
37	37	(2) information remaining to be gathered or entered
38	38	into the mapping system; and
39	39	(3) progress in using the mapping system to identify
40	40	cancer clusters.
41	41	SECTION 2. Section 82.007(a), Health and Safety Code, is
42	42	amended to read as follows:
43	43	(a) The department shall publish an annual report to the
44	44	legislature of the information obtained or created under this
45	45	chapter.
46	46	SECTION 3. (a) Not later than the 180th day after the
47	47	effective date of this Act, the department shall submit an initial
48	48	report to the legislature. The department shall make a draft of the
49	49	report available to the public for review and comment not later than
50	50	the 30th day before the day the report is submitted to the
51	51	legislature. The report must include:
52	52	(1) the scientific strengths and limitations of
53	53	statistical cancer incidence mapping as related to cancer
54	54	recognition, prevention, cure, or control;
55	55	(2) the appropriate use and publication of cancer
56	56	incidence maps; and
57	57	(3) the implementation of safeguards to prevent misuse
58	58	of cancer incidence mapping, including:
59	59	(A) collecting background data that ensures the
60	60	accuracy of reported cancer diagnoses;
61	61	(B) identifying the appropriate uses of the
62	62	mapping; and
63	63	(C) ensuring the confidentiality of all
64	64	individual medical data.
65	65	(b) Not later than the 90th day after the date the initial
66	66	report is submitted under Subsection (a) of this section, the
67	67	department shall post on its Internet website maps that show the
68	68	incidences of:
69	69	(1) lung cancer; and
70	70	(2) breast cancer.
71	71	(c) Not later than the 180th day after the date the maps are
72	72	posted under Subsection (b) of this section, the department shall
73	73	post on its Internet website maps that show the incidences of:
74	74	(1) colorectal cancer;
75	75	(2) prostate cancer; and
76	76	(3) all types of cancer in the aggregate.
77	77	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.