Senate Bill 746 Summary

• Establishes the Central Cancer Registry as the lead agency for cancer cluster inquiries and investigations in North Carolina, coordinating efforts across state agencies.

• Requires the Central Cancer Registry to employ a cancer epidemiologist to serve as the single point of contact for state-level cancer cluster activities and to lead investigations in collaboration with the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch and Department of Environmental Quality.

• Creates a Cancer Cluster Subcommittee comprised of 11 members with cancer cluster expertise to meet quarterly and advise on the statewide cancer cluster protocol and investigations.

• Directs development of an enhanced statewide cancer cluster protocol based on CDC guidelines, including best practices for assessment, statistical methods, infrastructure needs, and communication plans.

• Appropriates $560,576 in recurring funds for the 2020-2021 fiscal year to create six full-time positions (cancer epidemiologist, public health educator, GIS analyst, website developer, and two tumor registrars) and purchase software and equipment for cancer cluster investigations.