Implementing California SB 344

Senate Bill (SB) 344 (Rubio, 2023) was signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom on October 13, 2023, which amends Health and Safety Code (HSC) 103885 mandating pathology laboratories to report cancer diagnoses electronically to CCR.

SB 344 amends HSC 103885. This bill now mandates a pathologist or pathology laboratory diagnosing a reportable case of cancer shall report cancer diagnoses to the department utilizing the College of American Pathologists cancer protocols or any other standardized format approved by the department [HSC 103885 (3)(A)]. SB 344 authorizes the department to require that the same pathology report be submitted more than once if deemed necessary by the department or its authorized representative and would require the department to notify a pathologist of any deficiencies should the department deem a pathologist noncompliant with this provision. SB 344 requires the department to provide the pathologist an opportunity to cure the deficiencies. SB 344 prohibits the department from imposing a fine or other penalty solely based on a pathologist’s failure to comply with this provision [HSC 103885 (3)(E)].

SB 344 authorizes the sharing of information collected if the original disclosure is for research that requires researchers to participate in data sharing with specified entities, provided the disclosed data does not include individually identifiable data that could be reasonably used to identify or reidentify the data with an individual person. SB 344 clarifies only researchers with a valid scientific interest in the information are required to meet the additional conditions prior to the disclosure of the confidential information [HSC 103885 (g)(4)(5)].

Download Volume V to learn more about how to implement SB 344.