1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; establishing the Cervical Cancer
1.3 	Elimination Task Force.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. CERVICAL CANCER ELIMINATION TASK FORCE.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Goal. It is the goal of the state to
1.7 	decrease the morbidity and mortality rates from cervical cancer
1.8 	by establishing a statewide comprehensive, coordinated plan to
1.9 	improve cervical cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in
1.10 	Minnesota.  The Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force is
1.11 	created to achieve this goal.
1.12 		Subd. 2.Membership. Appointments to the Cervical Cancer
1.13 	Elimination Task Force shall be coordinated by the commissioner
1.14 	of health to ensure ethnic and racial representation and to
1.15 	ensure that the geographic areas of the state are represented in
1.16 	proportion to each area's population.  The Cervical Cancer
1.17 	Elimination Task Force consists of 21 members, as follows:
1.18 	(1) the commissioners of health, human services, commerce,
1.19 	and education;
1.20 	(2) the state epidemiologist;
1.21 	(3) four members representing health care providers:  one
1.22 	member appointed by the Minnesota Nurses' Association, one
1.23 	member appointed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, one
1.24 	member appointed by the American Academy of Family Practice, and
2.1 	one member appointed by the American College of Gynecology;
2.2 	(4) one member representing the American Cancer Society;
2.3 	(5) two members representing health plan companies:  one
2.4 	member appointed by the Minnesota Council of Health Plans and
2.5 	one member appointed by the Insurance Federation of Minnesota;
2.6 	(6) one member representing the University of Minnesota
2.7 	Academic Health Center appointed by the university provost;
2.8 	(7) two members representing community health boards as
2.9 	defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 145A.02;
2.10 	(8) four members of the legislature:  two members appointed
2.11 	under the rules of the senate and two members appointed under
2.12 	the rules of the house of representatives; and 
2.13 	(9) two members representing the general public interested
2.14 	in women's health issues:  one member appointed under the rules
2.15 	of the senate and one member appointed under the rules of the
2.16 	house of representatives.
2.17 		Subd. 3.Administration. (a) The Cervical Cancer
2.18 	Elimination Task Force is governed by Minnesota Statutes,
2.19 	section 15.059.
2.20 	(b) The task force shall elect a chair from its
2.21 	membership.  The commissioner of health shall provide staff and
2.22 	administrative support for the task force.
2.23 		Subd. 4.Duties. The task force shall:
2.24 	(1) examine, both statistically and qualitatively, the
2.25 	prevalence and cost to the state due to cervical cancer;
2.26 	(2) develop a statewide integrated and comprehensive
2.27 	cervical cancer prevention plan, including strategies for
2.28 	promoting and implementing the plan.  In developing the plan,
2.29 	the task force must consider reports and testimony from
2.30 	individuals, local health departments, community-based
2.31 	organizations, and other public and private organizations
2.32 	statewide regarding contributions and ideas for improving
2.33 	cervical cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment;
2.34 	(3) develop a statewide public awareness campaign on the
2.35 	causes and nature of cervical cancer, including personal risk
2.36 	factors, and the value of prevention and early detection;
3.1 	(4) identify new technologies, tests, and vaccines, which
3.2 	may be effective in preventing and controlling the risk of
3.3 	cervical cancer, and develop a plan to raise public awareness
3.4 	and educate physicians about the identified advancements that
3.5 	prove to be effective; and 
3.6 	(5) identify and examine limitations and barriers in
3.7 	providing cervical cancer screening, diagnosis tools, and
3.8 	treatment, including but not limited to medical care
3.9 	reimbursement, treatment costs, and the availability of
3.10 	insurance coverage, and make recommendations on any necessary
3.11 	changes to existing laws, programs, or services in terms of
3.12 	improving coverage for screening and treatment services.
3.13 		Subd. 5.Report. The task force shall submit a report to
3.14 	the legislature by January 15, 2006, and annually thereafter
3.15 	until the expiration of the task force addressing:
3.16 	(1) progress being made in fulfilling the duties of the
3.17 	task force and in developing the cervical cancer prevention
3.18 	plan; and 
3.19 	(2) recommended strategies or actions to reduce the
3.20 	occurrence of cervical cancer and to improve prevention,
3.21 	diagnosis, and treatment for cervical cancer.
3.22 		Subd. 6.Expiration. The task force expires upon
3.23 	submission of the final report on January 15, 2008.