Bill S.76, introduced by Senator Lyons, aims to amend the reporting frequency of health equity data by the Department of Health from annually to every three years, starting in 2028. The bill also modifies the disclosure requirements for the cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis registries. Specifically, it requires the Commissioner to obtain assurances that identifying information will be kept confidential and privileged as mandated by law before sharing confidential information with other cancer registries or researchers. Additionally, the bill updates the approval process for researchers, shifting from a requirement for academic committee approval to obtaining evidence of approval from an institutional review board or privacy board.

The bill includes provisions that ensure the systematic analysis of health equity data will continue to be made available to the public, while also emphasizing the importance of maintaining confidentiality in the handling of sensitive information. The effective date for the implementation of these changes is set for July 1, 2025. Overall, S.76 seeks to enhance the efficiency of health equity reporting while ensuring the protection of individual privacy in health data.

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