Senate Bill 862 Summary

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

• Creates a new Cancer Epidemiologist position ($97,911) within the central cancer registry to lead cancer cluster investigations and serve as the single point of contact for state-level cancer cluster activities.

• Creates a Public Health Educator II position ($84,890) in the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch to assist with communications during and after cancer cluster investigations.

• Creates two Certified Tumor Registrar positions ($131,976) within the central cancer registry to improve cancer case identification and compliance with state-mandated cancer reporting requirements by physician practices.

• Appropriates $314,777 in recurring funds for fiscal year 2022-2023 to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, with appropriation effective July 1, 2022 and remaining provisions effective October 1, 2022.