The bill S.76, introduced by Senator Lyons, proposes significant changes to health equity data reporting and the disclosure requirements for cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis registries in Vermont. One of the key changes is the reduction of the frequency of health equity data reports submitted by the Department of Health from annually to every three years, starting in 2028. This report will analyze health equity data to identify disparities based on various factors, including race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, and will be made available to the public in accordance with state and federal law.

Additionally, the bill amends the disclosure provisions for both the cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis registries. It requires that before confidential information is shared with other cancer registries or researchers, the Commissioner must obtain assurances that the identifying information will be kept confidential as required by law. The bill also updates the requirements for researchers to provide evidence of approval from an institutional review board or privacy board, aligning with federal regulations. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 18-253, 18-155, 18-174