§22-13-31. Registry established; reporting of confirmed cases.

(a) There is hereby established within the Department of Public Health the Alabama Statewide Cancer Registry for the purpose of providing accurate and up-to-date information about cancer or benign brain-related tumors in Alabama and facilitating the evaluation and improvement of cancer or benign brain-related tumor prevention, screening, diagnosis, therapy, rehabilitation, and community care activities for the citizens of Alabama. The State Committee of Public Health shall adopt rules necessary to effect the purposes of this article, including the data to be reported, and the effective date after which reporting shall be required. For the purposes of this article, cancer means all malignant neoplasms, regardless of the tissue of origin, including malignant lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and leukemia, but excluding basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and carcinoma in situ of the cervix.

(b) All cases of confirmed cancer or benign brain-related tumor diagnosed or treated in the state are to be reported to the State Health Department. For the purposes of this article, confirmed cancer or benign brain-related tumor means the best evidence available for determining the nature of the neoplasms.

(c) The State Health Officer shall establish a training program to include instruction on the manner in which data are to be reported and shall be available to personnel of all reporting sources. A quality control program for cancer data shall be instituted to ensure the quality of data submitted.

(Acts 1995, No. 95-275, p. 485, §2; Act 2004-396, p. 666, §1.)