Bill > HB2917

This bill establishes a firefighter cancer registry within the Arizona Department of Health Services to collect, maintain, and analyze data on cancer among firefighters in the state, ensuring compliance with privacy laws like HIPAA. The registry will gather information such as the firefighter's age at diagnosis, gender, cancer type and stage, length of service, department history, job classification, and any available exposure-related data, with participation required for firefighters diagnosed with cancer while serving or after separation, though they are not obligated to personally submit medical records if the information is otherwise collected. Data can be sourced from fire departments, healthcare providers, existing cancer registries, workers' compensation insurers, and voluntarily from firefighters themselves, and while personal identifying information remains confidential, aggregated and de-identified data can be used for public health research, statistical analysis, reports to the governor and legislature, and the development of cancer prevention strategies, but it cannot be used to determine eligibility for benefits or insurance. The department is mandated to submit an annual report to state leadership by December 31st, summarizing registry data, cancer types, trends, and any legislative recommendations, with "firefighter" broadly defined to include individuals serving on any basis with a fire department or district engaged in various emergency response duties.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/84820