Ken Maddy California Cancer Registry.

Senator Richardson's proposal to update California's cancer registry system would modify how the state maintains and operates its cancer data collection infrastructure. The legislation revises Section 103885 of the Health and Safety Code to require ongoing maintenance of existing statewide and regional cancer reporting systems while removing outdated operational deadlines.

The bill establishes new requirements for the Department of Public Health's management of cancer data collection. The department must maintain current statewide and regional reporting infrastructure, submit an implementation and funding schedule to the Legislature by January 1, 2027, and formally establish regional cancer registries to provide incidence data. The legislation also codifies partnerships between the state system and regional registries to maximize available federal funding.

The measure preserves existing confidentiality protections and reporting obligations for healthcare facilities and practitioners. Hospitals, clinics, physicians, and pathologists must continue reporting cancer cases in department-prescribed formats, with provisions for cost recovery if facilities fail to report properly. The bill maintains current access protocols allowing researchers and other states' registries to obtain data for authorized studies while protecting patient privacy through strict confidentiality requirements.