The bill H.293, introduced by Representative Maguire, proposes significant changes to health equity data reporting and the disclosure requirements for cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis registries in Vermont. Notably, it reduces the frequency of health equity data reports submitted by the Department of Health from annually to every three years, starting in 2028. Additionally, the bill modifies the disclosure provisions for confidential information related to cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis registries, ensuring that any shared data is kept confidential and privileged as required by law.

Key amendments include the requirement for the Commissioner to obtain assurances that identifying information will remain confidential before sharing it with other cancer registries or researchers. The bill also updates the approval process for researchers, shifting from a requirement for academic committee approval to needing approval from an institutional review board or privacy board. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

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