HF 1295

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/20/2017 04:37pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; establishing the patient registry to collect data on cancer incidence
among firefighters; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [144.6906] FIREFIGHTERS' CANCER REGISTRY.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Purpose. new text end

new text begin (a) The National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health
has found that firefighters are at an increased risk of exposure to fire incidents that increase
firefighters' risk of malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, and leukemia among other cancers.
The increased incidence of cancer among firefighters has been attributed to firefighters'
exposure to resultant pyrolysis products, toxic particulates, gases and fumes, metals such
as cadmium and lead, chemical substances such as benzene and vinyl chloride, and minerals
such as asbestos and silicates.
new text end

new text begin (b) A state-based cancer registry will enable researchers to conduct focused research on
cancer incidence among firefighters. This research will lead to improved safety precautions
and safety protocols for firefighters to lower their cancer risks.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of health shall establish and maintain a
voluntary patient registry to collect data on cancer incidence among firefighters. The patient
registry shall be used for the following purposes:
new text end

new text begin (1) to improve collection infrastructure activities to monitor the incidence of cancer
among firefighters; and
new text end

new text begin (2) to collect, consolidate, store, and make publicly available epidemiological information
related to cancer incidence and trends among firefighters.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Collection of data. new text end

new text begin In carrying out the voluntary data collection for purposes
of inclusion under this section, the commissioner shall include the following de-identified
information:
new text end

new text begin (1) full description of physical examinations and medical history;
new text end

new text begin (2) complete results of all relevant diagnostic tests and lab procedures;
new text end

new text begin (3) complete report of all relevant pathology and operative reports;
new text end

new text begin (4) description of treatments undergone or planned;
new text end

new text begin (5) basic demographic information including the age of the firefighter and age of onset
of cancer;
new text end

new text begin (6) a listing of the status of the firefighter whether volunteer, paid on-call, or career
firefighter;
new text end

new text begin (7) the number of years on the job and any additional employment experience that was
either performed concurrently during firefighting service or at any time after this service;
new text end

new text begin (8) the number of fire incidents attended and the type of fire incident, such as residential
house fire or commercial fire; and
new text end

new text begin (9) a list of additional individual risk factors including smoking or drug use.
new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section, "de-identified" means a process used to prevent a person's
identity from being connected with information.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Report and public access. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall report to the legislative
committees on health care by January 1, 2019, and annually thereafter on the data collected
from the cancer registry. The report shall consist of summary data as defined in section
13.02, subdivision 19, and shall be made available to the public. The commissioner shall
develop a public approval process for obtaining information from the cancer registry without
a fee for research purposes.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Classification of data. new text end

new text begin Except as otherwise required by law, data collected on
individuals by the cancer registry, including names and personal identifiers, is private,
confidential data on individuals under section 13.02, subdivision 3, and may only be used
for the purposes under subdivision 2.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2018 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
health for the purposes of section 1.
new text end