Existing law requires the Director of Public Health to establish a statewide system for the collection of information determining the incidence of cancer, known as the Ken Maddy California Cancer Registry. Existing law sets forth the dates by which, among other things, the statewide cancer reporting system is required to be fully operational and the deadline by which the director is required to submit an implementation and funding schedule to the Legislature. Existing law requires the department to maximize the use of available federal funds in establishing the statewide system.

This bill would require the director to maintain statewide and regional infrastructures and systems, as well as a statewide cancer reporting system. The bill would delete those provisions relating to the dates. The bill would require the director to submit an implementation and funding schedule to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2027. In establishing the statewide system, the bill would require the department to partner with the states regional cancer registries to maximize the use of available federal funds.

Existing law requires the Director of Public Health to establish a statewide system for the collection of information determining the incidence of cancer, known as the Ken Maddy California Cancer Registry. Existing law sets forth the dates by which, among other things, the statewide cancer reporting system is required to be fully operational and the deadline by which the director is required to submit an implementation and funding schedule to the Legislature. Existing law requires the department to maximize the use of available federal funds in establishing the statewide system.

This bill would require the director to maintain the existing statewide and regional infrastructure and system, infrastructures and systems, as well as the existing a statewide cancer reporting system. The bill would delete those provisions relating to the dates. The bill would require the director to submit an implementation and funding schedule to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2027. In establishing the statewide system, the bill would require the department to partner with the states regional cancer registries to maximize the use of available federal funds.

Existing law requires the Director of Public Health to establish a statewide system for the collection of information determining the incidence of cancer, known as the Ken Maddy California Cancer Registry. Existing law sets forth the dates by which, among other things, the statewide cancer reporting system is required to be fully operational and the deadline by which the director is required to submit an implementation and funding schedule to the Legislature.

This bill would require the director to maintain the existing statewide and regional infrastructure and system, as well as the existing statewide cancer reporting system. The bill would delete those provisions relating to the dates. The bill would require the director to submit an implementation and funding schedule to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2027.

Existing law authorizes the State Department of Public Health to designate any demographic parts of the state as regional cancer incidence reporting areas and establish regional cancer registries to provide cancer incidence data. Existing law requires the department to maximize the use of available federal funds in establishing the statewide system.

This bill would require the department to establish regional cancer registries to provide cancer incidence data. In establishing the statewide system, the bill would require the department to partner with the states regional cancer registries to maximize the use of available federal funds.

 VETO  

Bill No: SB 717

Author: Richardson (D)

Enrolled: 9/16/25

Vote: 27

SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE: 10-0, 3/26/25

AYES: Menjivar, Valladares, Durazo, Gonzalez, Limón, Padilla, Richardson, Rubio, Weber Pierson, Wiener

NO VOTE RECORDED: Grove

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 6-0, 5/23/25

AYES: Caballero, Seyarto, Cabaldon, Grayson, Richardson, Wahab

NO VOTE RECORDED: Dahle

SENATE FLOOR: 38-0, 5/29/25

AYES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Pérez, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener

NO VOTE RECORDED: Limón, Reyes

SENATE FLOOR: 39-0, 9/11/25

AYES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Pérez, Reyes, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener

NO VOTE RECORDED: Limón

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 80-0, 9/9/25 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: Ken Maddy California Cancer Registry

SOURCE: Keck School of Medicine - USC

The University of Southern California

DIGEST:

This bill (1) requires the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to maintain statewide and regional infrastructures and systems for collecting information on and reporting cancer incidence through regional cancer registries, and (2) deletes past dates regarding the establishment of these provisions.

Assembly Amendments revert the provision in this bill requiring the establishment of regional cancer registries to existing law, which permits CDPH to establish such registries. The Assembly amendments also make technical, nonsubstantive changes.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Requires CDPH to establish a statewide system for the collection of information determining the incidence of cancer, using population-based cancer registries (known as the Ken Maddy California Cancer Registry, or CCR). Requires all county or regional registries to be implemented or initiated by July 1, 1988, and the statewide cancer reporting system to be fully operational By July 1, 1990. [Health & Safety Code (HSC) §103885(a)]
2. Permits CDPH to establish regional cancer registries and to designate any demographic parts of the state as regional cancer incidence reporting areas. [HSC §103885(b)]
3. Requires CDPH, in establishing the system, to maximize the use of available federal funds. [HSC §103885(j)]

This bill:

1. Requires CDPH to maintain the existing statewide and regional infrastructures and systems of registries, and to maintain statewide cancer reporting systems.
2. Deletes past dates by which the registries and reporting system were required to be implemented and operational.
3. Requires CDPH to submit an implementation and funding schedule, in partnership with the state’s existing registries, to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2027.

Comments

According to the author of this bill:

The CCR has relied on the regional registries as the state designated agents to perform data collection for the statewide cancer surveillance system. The current three regional registries have been in operation since 2000 and are also the core registries of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). They have been federally funded by NCI for over 50 years and have always served as the foundation of California’s cancer surveillance, preceding the state level operations of the CCR by more than a decade. The federal government, through contract awards to the three registries in California (i.e., LA Cancer Surveillance Program, Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry, and Cancer Registry of Greater California), has invested over $15 million annually to cover 80% of their operational costs, with the state covering 20%. As current law does not formally recognize the three regional registries, their eligibility is at risk for the competitive renewal of their next contracts, which could result in severe financial strain for the state to maintain the legally mandated CCR.

Background

CCR. AB 136 (Connelly, Chapter 841, Statutes of 1985) established the CCR. Today there are three regional registries: the Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry (administered by the University of California, San Francisco); the Los Angeles County Cancer Surveillance Program (administered by the University of Southern California); and, the Cancer Registry of Greater California (administered by the Public Health Institute, which covers all other counties). The CCR is California’s statewide cancer surveillance system, which collects all the data from the regional registries into a statewide database. The CCR and regional registries use the data to write summary reports that inform the public, local health workers, educators, and legislators about the status of cancer. Researchers may examine the data to identify areas that have high cancer rates and areas where people might benefit from cancer screening and education programs, or to look at trends in cancer diagnosis. Other uses include measuring the success of cancer screening programs; examining disparities in cancer risk, treatment, and survival; examining treatment choices and other predictors of survival; responding to public concerns and questions about cancer; and, conducting research to find the causes and cures of cancer.

Background on SEER program and the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR). According to the NCI website, the SEER program is an authoritative source of information on cancer incidence and survival for the nation. SEER collects and publishes cancer incidence and survival data from population-based registries covering approximately 48% of the U.S. population. NCI staff work with the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries to guide all state registries to achieve data content and compatibility acceptable for pooling data and improving national estimates. Use of surveillance data for research is being improved through web-based access to the data and analytic tools, and linking with other national data sources. The NPCR was established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide funding and technical assistance to statewide, population-based cancer registries. NPCR supports states and territories to improve existing cancer registries; plan and implement registries where none existed; develop model legislation and regulations for states to enhance the viability of registry operations; set standards for data completeness, timeliness, and quality; provide training for registry personnel; and, help establish a computerized reporting and data processing system. In 2006, NPCR launched the Electronic Pathology (ePath) Implementation Project to test a model for automated electronic capture and reporting of cancer registry data to central cancer registries. Following initial pilot programs, ePath has expanded to all 50 states and includes many more national and regional laboratories. In California, AB 2325 (Bonilla, Chapter 354, Statutes of 2016) required pathologists to use ePath to report cancer diagnoses beginning on January 1, 2019.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, CDPH estimates annual General Fund costs of approximately $91,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2026-27 through FY 2028-29 to update the regulations governing CCR.

SUPPORT: (Verified 10/8/25)

Keck School of Medicine - USC (co-source)

The University of Southern California (co-source)

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

California Medical Association

California Professional Firefighters

City of Hope

Public Health Institute

Susan G. Komen

University of California

OPPOSITION: (Verified 10/8/25)

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The sponsors and supporters state that this bill will ensure the continuation of a robust and efficient statewide cancer surveillance system while protecting vital federal funding and minimizing the state’s financial burden. The sponsors state that a benefit of the CCR is that, in April 2024, cancer prevention procedures in real time were impacted when the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a statement changing its guidelines for breast cancer screening to recommend that all women in the U.S. aged 40 to 74 should have a mammogram every other year, lowering the recommended age of screening by a decade. This significant change in guidelines was informed using data from the national SEER cancer registry—of which the CCR is a vital component—that found rates of breast cancer diagnosis have been on the rise in women under 50 for the past 20 years. The Public Health Institute states this bill is critical to protecting the state’s ability to collect and analyze high-quality cancer surveillance data, which is essential for advancing public health research, informing policy, and improving cancer prevention and treatment strategies.

GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE:

Governor Newsom stated “while I appreciate the author’s intent to maintain the integrity and effectiveness of California’s cancer surveillance system […] locking a regional cancer surveillance model in statute […] constrains CDPH’s ability to update its infrastructure, respond to evolving public health needs, and implement cost-saving strategies to sustain the program. The state needs flexibility to adapt to reduced federal funding, which is not provided for by this measure.”

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 80-0, 9/9/25

AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Johnson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca

Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas

Prepared by: Reyes Diaz / HEALTH / (916) 651-4111

10/8/25 13:51:35

**** END ****

 UNFINISHED BUSINESS  

Bill No: SB 717

Author: Richardson (D)

Amended: 9/4/25 in Assembly

Vote: 21

SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE: 10-0, 3/26/25

AYES: Menjivar, Valladares, Durazo, Gonzalez, Limón, Padilla, Richardson, Rubio, Weber Pierson, Wiener

NO VOTE RECORDED: Grove

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 6-0, 5/23/25

AYES: Caballero, Seyarto, Cabaldon, Grayson, Richardson, Wahab

NO VOTE RECORDED: Dahle

SENATE FLOOR: 38-0, 5/29/25

AYES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Pérez, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener

NO VOTE RECORDED: Limón, Reyes

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 62/0, 9/9/25 – Roll call is not available

SUBJECT: Ken Maddy California Cancer Registry

SOURCE: Keck School of Medicine - USC

The University of Southern California

DIGEST:

This bill (1) requires the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to maintain statewide and regional infrastructures and systems for collecting information on and reporting cancer incidence through regional cancer registries, and (2) deletes past dates regarding the establishment of these provisions.

Assembly Amendments revert the provision in this bill requiring the establishment of regional cancer registries to existing law, which permits CDPH to establish such registries. The Assembly amendments also make technical, nonsubstantive changes.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Requires CDPH to establish a statewide system for the collection of information determining the incidence of cancer, using population-based cancer registries (known as the Ken Maddy California Cancer Registry, or CCR). Requires all county or regional registries to be implemented or initiated by July 1, 1988, and the statewide cancer reporting system to be fully operational By July 1, 1990. [Health & Safety Code (HSC) §103885(a)]
2. Permits CDPH to establish regional cancer registries and to designate any demographic parts of the state as regional cancer incidence reporting areas. [HSC §103885(b)]
3. Requires CDPH, in establishing the system, to maximize the use of available federal funds. [HSC §103885(j)]

This bill:

1. Requires CDPH to maintain the existing statewide and regional infrastructures and systems of registries, and to maintain statewide cancer reporting systems.
2. Deletes past dates by which the registries and reporting system were required to be implemented and operational.
3. Requires CDPH to submit an implementation and funding schedule, in partnership with the state’s existing registries, to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2027.

Comments

According to the author of this bill:

The CCR has relied on the regional registries as the state designated agents to perform data collection for the statewide cancer surveillance system. The current three regional registries have been in operation since 2000 and are also the core registries of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). They have been federally funded by NCI for over 50 years and have always served as the foundation of California’s cancer surveillance, preceding the state level operations of the CCR by more than a decade. The federal government, through contract awards to the three registries in California (i.e., LA Cancer Surveillance Program, Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry, and Cancer Registry of Greater California), has invested over $15 million annually to cover 80% of their operational costs, with the state covering 20%. As current law does not formally recognize the three regional registries, their eligibility is at risk for the competitive renewal of their next contracts, which could result in severe financial strain for the state to maintain the legally mandated CCR.

Background

CCR. AB 136 (Connelly, Chapter 841, Statutes of 1985) established the CCR. Today there are three regional registries: the Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry (administered by the University of California, San Francisco); the Los Angeles County Cancer Surveillance Program (administered by the University of Southern California); and, the Cancer Registry of Greater California (administered by the Public Health Institute, which covers all other counties). The CCR is California’s statewide cancer surveillance system, which collects all the data from the regional registries into a statewide database. The CCR and regional registries use the data to write summary reports that inform the public, local health workers, educators, and legislators about the status of cancer. Researchers may examine the data to identify areas that have high cancer rates and areas where people might benefit from cancer screening and education programs, or to look at trends in cancer diagnosis. Other uses include measuring the success of cancer screening programs; examining disparities in cancer risk, treatment, and survival; examining treatment choices and other predictors of survival; responding to public concerns and questions about cancer; and, conducting research to find the causes and cures of cancer.

Background on SEER program and the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR). According to the NCI website, the SEER program is an authoritative source of information on cancer incidence and survival for the nation. SEER collects and publishes cancer incidence and survival data from population-based registries covering approximately 48% of the U.S. population. NCI staff work with the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries to guide all state registries to achieve data content and compatibility acceptable for pooling data and improving national estimates. Use of surveillance data for research is being improved through web-based access to the data and analytic tools, and linking with other national data sources. The NPCR was established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide funding and technical assistance to statewide, population-based cancer registries. NPCR supports states and territories to improve existing cancer registries; plan and implement registries where none existed; develop model legislation and regulations for states to enhance the viability of registry operations; set standards for data completeness, timeliness, and quality; provide training for registry personnel; and, help establish a computerized reporting and data processing system. In 2006, NPCR launched the Electronic Pathology (ePath) Implementation Project to test a model for automated electronic capture and reporting of cancer registry data to central cancer registries. Following initial pilot programs, ePath has expanded to all 50 states and includes many more national and regional laboratories. In California, AB 2325 (Bonilla, Chapter 354, Statutes of 2016) required pathologists to use ePath to report cancer diagnoses beginning on January 1, 2019.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, CDPH estimates annual General Fund costs of approximately $91,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2026-27 through FY 2028-29 to update the regulations governing CCR.

SUPPORT: (Verified 9/9/25)

Keck School of Medicine - USC (co-source)

The University of Southern California (co-source)

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

California Medical Association

California Professional Firefighters

City of Hope

Public Health Institute

Susan G. Komen

University of California

OPPOSITION: (Verified 9/9/25)

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The sponsors and supporters state that this bill will ensure the continuation of a robust and efficient statewide cancer surveillance system while protecting vital federal funding and minimizing the state’s financial burden. The sponsors state that a benefit of the CCR is that, in April 2024, cancer prevention procedures in real time were impacted when the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a statement changing its guidelines for breast cancer screening to recommend that all women in the U.S. aged 40 to 74 should have a mammogram every other year, lowering the recommended age of screening by a decade. This significant change in guidelines was informed using data from the national SEER cancer registry—of which the CCR is a vital component—that found rates of breast cancer diagnosis have been on the rise in women under 50 for the past 20 years. The Public Health Institute states this bill is critical to protecting the state’s ability to collect and analyze high-quality cancer surveillance data, which is essential for advancing public health research, informing policy, and improving cancer prevention and treatment strategies.

Prepared by: Reyes Diaz / HEALTH / (916) 651-4111

9/9/25 14:31:24

**** END ****

SENATE THIRD READING

STR Bill Id:SB 717

Author:(Richardson)

As Introduced Ver:September 4, 2025

Majority vote

SUMMARY

Requires the California Department of Public Health (DPH) to maintain statewide and regional infrastructures and systems for collecting and reporting cancer data through regional cancer registries, and deletes obsolete dates regarding the establishment timeline. Requires DPH to submit an implementation and funding schedule to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2027, and to partner with the state's regional cancer registries to maximize the use of available federal funds.

Major Provisions

COMMENTS

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). According to the National Institutes of Health, SEER is an authoritative source of information on cancer incidence and survival in the United States. SEER began collecting data on cancer cases on January 1, 1973, in the states of Connecticut, Iowa, New Mexico, Utah, and Hawaii and the metropolitan areas of Detroit and San Francisco-Oakland. SEER currently collects and publishes cancer incidence and survival data from population-based cancer registries covering approximately 45.9% of the U.S. population. These registries routinely collect data on patient demographics, primary tumor site, tumor morphology (or structure) and stage at diagnosis, first course of treatment, and follow-up for vital status. The SEER Program is the only comprehensive source of population-based information in the United States that includes stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis and patient survival data. Thousands of researchers, clinicians, public health officials, legislators, policymakers, community groups, and the public use SEER data. California's three regional cancer registries, LA Cancer Surveillance Program, Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry, and Cancer Registry of Greater California, are operated by the University of Southern California (USC), the University of California – San Francisco (UCSF), and the Public Health Institute (PHI), respectively.

National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Congress established the NPCR in 1992 by enacting the Cancer Registries Amendment Act. This law authorized CDC to provide funding and technical assistance to statewide, population-based cancer registries and established CDC's national cancer surveillance system. Through NPCR, CDC supports central cancer registries in 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Pacific Island Jurisdictions, and the US Virgin Islands. These data represent 97% of the U.S. population. Together, NPCR and the NCI SEER Program collect cancer data for the entire U.S. population. California participates in the NPCR and in the SEER program. California Cancer Registry (CCR) data must meet all NPCR and SEER standards for quality, timeliness, and completeness.

California Cancer Registry (CCR). According to DPH's website, the CCR is California's statewide population-based cancer surveillance system. The CCR collects information about most cancers diagnosed in California, and all cancer professionals and facilities responsible for treating or diagnosing patients with cancer are required to report demographic, diagnostic, and treatment data to the CCR. In 1985, statewide population-based cancer reporting was mandated in state law. Statewide cancer reporting was fully implemented in 1988. Due to the size and diversity of the California population, more is now known about the occurrence of cancer in diverse populations than ever before. The CCR and regional registries use collected data to write summary reports that inform the public, local health workers, educators, and legislators about the status of cancer.

Funding of the CCR. The CCR is funded with both state and federal dollars. State funding comes from the General Fund, Proposition 99 Fund, and the Breast Cancer Research Fund, and federal funding comes from the CDC. In Fiscal Year 2024-25, the CCR received a total of $11.9 million, $2.5 million in federal funds and $9.4 million in state funds. All of the regional registries receive NCI SEER funding.

Federal budget uncertainty. The current federal administration has slashed funding for several health research programs, eliminated thousands of federal health jobs, and has proposed a budget to reduce federal Health and Human Services spending by 25%. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026 contains $4.531 billion for the NCI. This represents a cut of almost $2.7 billion, or approximately 37.2%, from the current fiscal year. The ACS states that this cut "will set this nation back dramatically in our ability to reduce death and suffering from a disease that is expected to kill more than 618,000 Americans this year alone." The Trump Administration has also proposed significant cuts at the CDC.

According to the Author

The CCR has relied on the regional registries as the state designated agents to perform data collection for the statewide cancer surveillance system. The current three regional registries have been in operation since 2000, and they are also the core registries of the SEER Program of the NCI. The author indicates that the registries have been federally funded by NCI for over 50 years and have always served as the foundation of California's cancer surveillance, preceding the state level operations of the CCR by more than a decade.

The author says, since 2000, the federal government, through the NCI SEER contract awards to the three SEER core registries in California (i.e., LA Cancer Surveillance Program, Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry, and Cancer Registry of Greater California), has invested over $15 million annually to cover 80% of these CCR regional registries' operational costs, leaving the state to only cover 20%. However, current law does not recognize the three regional registries, which risks their eligibility for the competitive renewal of their next NCI SEER contracts and, in turn, poses severe financial strain for the state to maintain the legally mandated statewide cancer reporting system.

Arguments in Support

The University of Southern California (USC) and the Keck School of Medicine at USC are co-sponsors of this bill and state that, in April 2024, the impact of CCR on cancer prevention procedures was evident when the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a statement changing its guidelines for breast cancer screening to recommend that all women in the U.S. aged 40 to 74 should have a mammogram every other year, lowering the recommended age of screening by a decade. This significant change in guidelines was informed using data from the national SEER cancer registry – of which the CCR is a vital component – that found that rates of breast cancer diagnosis have been on the rise in women under 50 for the past 20 years. USC argues that by codifying the regional registries' status, this bill will safeguard the more than $15 million in annual federal funding that covers 80% of the regional registries' operational costs and ensure the continuity of high-quality cancer data collection and analysis.

Susan G. Komen supports this bill stating that the CCR – one of the world's foremost cancer registries – relies on three regional registries as the state designated agents to perform data collection for the statewide cancer surveillance system. It has been largely funded through NCI SEER awards since 2000. Current law does not recognize the three regional registries, which puts their eligibility for the competitive renewal of their next NCI SEER contracts at risk. Susan G. Komen argues that without these contracts, the state would be financially responsible for maintaining the legally mandated statewide cancer reporting system. This bill will codify the relationship between the CCR and its three regional registries, ensuring their eligibility for future SEER contracts.

City of Hope also supports this bill stating, since its inception, the CCR has relied on the regional registries. The current three regional registries of CCR have been in operation since 2000, and they are the core registries of the SEER Program of the NCI. They have been federally funded by NCI for over 50 years and have always served as the foundation of California's cancer surveillance, preceding the state level operations of the CCR by more than a decade. The regional registries' long-standing contributions continue to shape strategies to reduce the cancer burden nationwide and attract additional funding to support groundbreaking cancer research. Data collected by the regional registries also make it possible to determine cancer risk factors and study groupings of cancers in communities. City of Hope argues this bill will protect the regional registries and ensure the future of cancer research and prevention.

California Professional Firefighters (CPF) also support the bill stating that this data informs treatment practices, research, and prevention with community and demographic level data, but this resource has for decades relied on three regional cancer registries throughout the state as the agents for collecting data for the statewide system. While this arrangement has been highly effective, the fact that it has not been formalized in statute means that the regional registries are at risk of losing funding through the competitive grant process. CPF argues that this bill will guarantee the continuation of the work of the regional cancer registries, thereby continuing the CCR as a whole. These changes are necessary to ensure that the CCR remains a robust and effective resource in the fight against cancer in California's communities. Cancer is one of the leading causes of illness and death in California's fire service, with diagnosis rates significantly higher than the general population.

Public Health Institute (PHI) supports this bill stating that, for decades, PHI has played a central role in cancer surveillance in California, partnering with the state to administer and advance the California Cancer Registry. Currently, PHI administers the Cancer Registry of Greater California, one of the three federally funded NCI SEER Program registries in the state. In this role, PHI ensures the comprehensive collection, analysis, and dissemination of cancer data for a broad region of California, supporting critical research, health equity initiatives, and public health interventions. California's cancer registries are a cornerstone of our public health infrastructure. PHI indicates current law does not formally recognize the three regional registries, putting their eligibility for future NCI SEER funding at risk. PHI argues that without this funding, California would face significant financial and operational challenges in maintaining its legally mandated statewide cancer surveillance system.

Arguments in Opposition

None.

FISCAL COMMENTS

According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, DPH estimates annual General Fund costs of approximately $91,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2026-27 through FY 2028-29 to update the regulations governing CCR.

VOTES

SENATE FLOOR: 38-0-2

YES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Pérez, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener

ABS, ABST OR NV: Limón, Reyes

ASM HEALTH: 15-0-1

YES: Bonta, Chen, Aguiar-Curry, Caloza, Carrillo, Flora, Mark González, Krell, Patel, Patterson, Celeste Rodriguez, Sanchez, Schiavo, Sharp-Collins, Elhawary

ABS, ABST OR NV: Addis

ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 13-0-2

YES: Wicks, Sanchez, Calderon, Caloza, Dixon, Elhawary, Fong, Mark González, Hart, Pacheco, Solache, Ta, Tangipa

ABS, ABST OR NV: Arambula, Pellerin

UPDATED

VERSION: September 4, 2025

CONSULTANT: Logan Hess / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097 FN: 0001680

SENATE THIRD READING

STR Bill Id:SB 717

Author:(Richardson)

As Introduced Ver:February 21, 2025

Majority vote

SUMMARY

Requires the California Department of Public Health (DPH) to maintain the existing statewide and regional infrastructure for collecting and reporting cancer data through regional cancer registries, and deletes obsolete dates regarding its establishment timeline.

Major Provisions

COMMENTS

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). According to the National Institutes of Health, SEER is an authoritative source of information on cancer incidence and survival in the United States. SEER began collecting data on cancer cases on January 1, 1973, in the states of Connecticut, Iowa, New Mexico, Utah, and Hawaii and the metropolitan areas of Detroit and San Francisco-Oakland. SEER currently collects and publishes cancer incidence and survival data from population-based cancer registries covering approximately 45.9% of the U.S. population. These registries routinely collect data on patient demographics, primary tumor site, tumor morphology (or structure) and stage at diagnosis, first course of treatment, and follow-up for vital status. The SEER Program is the only comprehensive source of population-based information in the United States that includes stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis and patient survival data. Thousands of researchers, clinicians, public health officials, legislators, policymakers, community groups, and the public use SEER data. California's three regional cancer registries, LA Cancer Surveillance Program, Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry, and Cancer Registry of Greater California, are operated by the University of Southern California (USC), the University of California – San Francisco (UCSF), and the Public Health Institute (PHI), respectively.

National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Congress established the NPCR in 1992 by enacting the Cancer Registries Amendment Act. This law authorized CDC to provide funding and technical assistance to statewide, population-based cancer registries and established CDC's national cancer surveillance system. Through NPCR, CDC supports central cancer registries in 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Pacific Island Jurisdictions, and the US Virgin Islands. These data represent 97% of the U.S. population. Together, NPCR and the NCI SEER Program collect cancer data for the entire U.S. population. California participates in the NPCR and in the SEER program. California Cancer Registry (CCR) data must meet all NPCR and SEER standards for quality, timeliness, and completeness.

CCR. According to DPH's website, the CCR is California's statewide population-based cancer surveillance system. The CCR collects information about most cancers diagnosed in California, and all cancer professionals and facilities responsible for treating or diagnosing patients with cancer are required to report demographic, diagnostic, and treatment data to the CCR. In 1985, statewide population-based cancer reporting was mandated in state law. Statewide cancer reporting was fully implemented in 1988. Due to the size and diversity of the California population, more is now known about the occurrence of cancer in diverse populations than ever before. The CCR and regional registries use collected data to write summary reports that inform the public, local health workers, educators, and legislators about the status of cancer.

Funding of the CCR. The CCR is funded with both state and federal dollars. State funding comes from the General Fund, Proposition 99 Fund, and the Breast Cancer Research Fund, and federal funding comes from the CDC. In Fiscal Year 2024-25, the CCR received a total of $11.9 million, $2.5 million in federal funds and $9.4 million in state funds. All of the regional registries receive NCI SEER funding.

Federal budget uncertainty. The current federal administration has slashed funding for several health research programs, eliminated thousands of federal health jobs, and has proposed a budget to reduce federal Health and Human Services spending by 25%. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026 contains $4.531 billion for the NCI. This represents a cut of almost $2.7 billion, or approximately 37.2%, from the current fiscal year. The ACS states that this cut "will set this nation back dramatically in our ability to reduce death and suffering from a disease that is expected to kill more than 618,000 Americans this year alone." The Trump Administration has also proposed significant cuts at the CDC. Should the federal funding for cancer registries through NCI SEER and the NPCR at the CDC be reduced or eliminated, it is unclear how codifying the current structure in California would improve the likelihood of securing federal funds.

According to the Author

The CCR has relied on the regional registries as the state designated agents to perform data collection for the statewide cancer surveillance system. The current three regional registries have been in operation since 2000, and they are also the core registries of the SEER Program of the NCI. The author indicates that the registries have been federally funded by NCI for over 50 years and have always served as the foundation of California's cancer surveillance, preceding the state level operations of the CCR by more than a decade.

The author says, since 2000, the federal government, through the NCI SEER contract awards to the three SEER core registries in California (i.e., LA Cancer Surveillance Program, Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry, and Cancer Registry of Greater California), has invested over $15 million annually to cover 80% of these CCR regional registries' operational costs, leaving the state to only cover 20%. However, current law does not recognize the three regional registries, which risks their eligibility for the competitive renewal of their next NCI SEER contracts and, in turn, poses severe financial strain for the state to maintain the legally mandated statewide cancer reporting system.

Arguments in Support

The University of Southern California (USC) and the Keck School of Medicine at USC are co-sponsors of this bill and state that, in April 2024, the impact of CCR on cancer prevention procedures was evident when the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a statement changing its guidelines for breast cancer screening to recommend that all women in the U.S. aged 40 to 74 should have a mammogram every other year, lowering the recommended age of screening by a decade. This significant change in guidelines was informed using data from the national SEER cancer registry – of which the CCR is a vital component – that found that rates of breast cancer diagnosis have been on the rise in women under 50 for the past twenty years. USC argues that by codifying the regional registries' status, this bill will safeguard the more than $15 million in annual federal funding that covers 80% of the regional registries' operational costs and ensure the continuity of high-quality cancer data collection and analysis.

Susan G. Komen supports this bill stating that the CCR – one of the world's foremost cancer registries – relies on three regional registries as the state designated agents to perform data collection for the statewide cancer surveillance system. It has been largely funded through NCI SEER awards since 2000. Current law does not recognize the three regional registries, which puts their eligibility for the competitive renewal of their next NCI SEER contracts at risk. Susan G. Komen argues that without these contracts, the state would be financially responsible for maintaining the legally mandated statewide cancer reporting system. This bill will codify the relationship between the CCR and its three regional registries, ensuring their eligibility for future SEER contracts.

City of Hope also supports this bill stating, since its inception, the CCR has relied on the regional registries. The current three regional registries of CCR have been in operation since 2000, and they are the core registries of the SEER Program of the NCI. They have been federally funded by NCI for over 50 years and have always served as the foundation of California's cancer surveillance, preceding the state level operations of the CCR by more than a decade. The regional registries' long-standing contributions continue to shape strategies to reduce the cancer burden nationwide and attract additional funding to support groundbreaking cancer research. Data collected by the regional registries also make it possible to determine cancer risk factors and study groupings of cancers in communities. City of Hope argues this bill will protect the regional registries and ensure the future of cancer research and prevention.

California Professional Firefighters (CPF) also support the bill stating that this data informs treatment practices, research, and prevention with community and demographic level data, but this resource has for decades relied on three regional cancer registries throughout the state as the agents for collecting data for the statewide system. While this arrangement has been highly effective, the fact that it has not been formalized in statute means that the regional registries are at risk of losing funding through the competitive grant process. CPF argues that this bill will guarantee the continuation of the work of the regional cancer registries, thereby continuing the CCR as a whole. These changes are necessary to ensure that the CCR remains a robust and effective resource in the fight against cancer in California's communities. Cancer is one of the leading causes of illness and death in California's fire service, with diagnosis rates significantly higher than the general population.

Public Health Institute (PHI) supports this bill stating that, for decades, PHI has played a central role in cancer surveillance in California, partnering with the state to administer and advance the California Cancer Registry. Currently, PHI administers the Cancer Registry of Greater California, one of the three federally funded NCI SEER Program registries in the state. In this role, PHI ensures the comprehensive collection, analysis, and dissemination of cancer data for a broad region of California, supporting critical research, health equity initiatives, and public health interventions. California's cancer registries are a cornerstone of our public health infrastructure. PHI indicates current law does not formally recognize the three regional registries, putting their eligibility for future NCI SEER funding at risk. PHI argues that without this funding, California would face significant financial and operational challenges in maintaining its legally mandated statewide cancer surveillance system.

Arguments in Opposition

None.

FISCAL COMMENTS

According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, DPH estimates annual General Fund costs of approximately $91,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2026-27 through FY 2028-29 to update the regulations governing CCR.

VOTES

SENATE FLOOR: 38-0-2

YES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Pérez, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener

ABS, ABST OR NV: Limón, Reyes

ASM HEALTH: 15-0-1

YES: Bonta, Chen, Aguiar-Curry, Caloza, Carrillo, Flora, Mark González, Krell, Patel, Patterson, Celeste Rodriguez, Sanchez, Schiavo, Sharp-Collins, Elhawary

ABS, ABST OR NV: Addis

ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 13-0-2

YES: Wicks, Sanchez, Calderon, Caloza, Dixon, Elhawary, Fong, Mark González, Hart, Pacheco, Solache, Ta, Tangipa

ABS, ABST OR NV: Arambula, Pellerin

UPDATED

VERSION: February 21, 2025

CONSULTANT: Logan Hess / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097 FN: 0001121

Date of Hearing: July 16, 2025

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Buffy Wicks, Chair

SBPCA Bill Id:SB 717

Author:(Richardson) – As Introduced Ver:February 21, 2025

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill requires the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) continue to maintain the existing statewide and regional infrastructure and system of the California Cancer Registry (CCR). The bill also requires the director of CDPH submit an implementation and funding schedule to the Legislature by January 1, 2027. The bill requires CDPH partner with the regional registries to maximize the use of federal funds. 

FISCAL EFFECT:

CDPH estimates annual General Fund costs of approximately $91,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2026-27 through FY 2028-29 to update the regulations governing CCR. 

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. This bill is sponsored by the University of Southern California (USC) and the Keck School of Medicine - USC and the Public Health Institute. According to the author:

[CCR] has relied on the regional registries as the state-designated agents to perform data collection for the statewide cancer surveillance system. The current three regional registries have been in operation since 2000, and they are also…core registries of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). They have been federally funded by NCI for over 50 years and have always served as the foundation of California's cancer surveillance, preceding the state level operations of the CCR by more than a decade.

Since 2000, the federal government, through the NCI SEER contract awards to the three [registries in California]…, has invested over $15 million annually to cover 80% of these CCR regional registries’ operational costs…However, current law does not recognize the three regional registries, which risks their eligibility for the competitive renewal of their next NCI SEER contracts and, in turn, poses severe financial strain for the state to maintain the legally mandated statewide cancer reporting system.

1. Background. AB 136 (Connelly), Chapter 841, Statutes of 1985, established the CCR, California’s statewide cancer surveillance system. The three regional registries are the Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry (administered by the University of California, San Francisco), the Los Angeles County Cancer Surveillance Program (administered by the University of Southern California), and the Cancer Registry of Greater California (administered by the Public Health Institute), which covers all other counties. The CCR collects all the data from the regional registries into a statewide database. The CCR, regional registries, and researchers use the data to measure and study the burden of cancer in communities and to identify cancer trends, risk factors, causes, and effects of various programs.

Funding of the CCR. In FY 2024-25, CCR received $11.9 million, of which $2.5 million was federal funds from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and $9.4 million was state funds from the General Fund, Proposition 99 Fund, and the Breast Cancer Research Fund. According to the author, the regional registries receive a combined $15 million SEER funding annually to cover 80% of costs.

1. Prior Legislation. SB 344 (Rubio) Chapter 867, Statutes of 2023, allowed individuals who are authorized to access confidential data in cancer registries to participate in data sharing with other authorized individuals. SB 344 also required a pathology laboratory report cancer diagnoses electronically.

Analysis Prepared by: Allegra Kim / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: June 24, 2025

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH

Mia Bonta, Chair

SBPCA Bill Id:SB 717

Author:(Richardson) – As Introduced Ver:February 21, 2025

SENATE VOTE: 38-0

SUBJECT: Ken Maddy California Cancer Registry.

SUMMARY: Requires the California Department of Public Health (DPH) to maintain the existing statewide and regional infrastructure for collecting and reporting cancer data through regional cancer registries, and deletes obsolete dates regarding its establishment timeline. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires DPH to maintain the existing statewide and regional infrastructure and system of registries, and to maintain the existing statewide cancer reporting system. Requires, rather than permits, DPH to establish the regional registries.
2. Deletes obsolete requirements and dates by which the registries and reporting system were to be implemented and operational.
3. Requires DPH to submit an implementation and funding schedule to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2027.
4. Requires DPH to partner with California’s regional cancer registries to maximize the use of available federal funds.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Requires DPH to conduct a program of epidemiological assessments of the incidence of cancer. Requires the program to encompass all areas of the state for which cancer incidence data are available. Requires the program to include the monitoring of cancers associated with suspected carcinogens encountered by the general public both in occupational locations and in the environment generally. [Health and Safety (HSC) § 103875]
2. Requires the program to be under the direction of the DPH director, who may enter into contracts as are necessary to conduct the program and may accept, on behalf of the state, grants of public or private funds for the program. Requires the director to analyze available incidence data, prepare reports, and perform studies as necessary to identify cancer hazards to the public health and their remedies. [Ibid.]
3. Requires the DPH director to establish a statewide system for the collection of information determining the incidence of cancer, using population-based regional cancer registries, as specified. [HSC § 103885]
4. Authorizes DPH to designate any demographic parts of the state as regional cancer incidence reporting areas and to establish regional cancer registries, with the responsibility and authority to carry out the intent of the statewide system in designated areas. [Ibid.]
5. Requires designated regional registries to provide the DPH, on a timely basis, cancer incidence data, as designated by DPH. [Ibid.]
6. Authorizes DPH to establish a competitive process to receive applications for, and issue, the award funds to operate the statewide cancer reporting system and to enter into contracts, or issue grants or funding allocations, to other agencies representing a designated cancer reporting region for the purposes of collecting and collating cancer incidence data. [Ibid.]
7. Requires the DPH director to designate cancer as a disease required to be reported in the state or any demographic parts of the state in which cancer information is collected, as specified. [Ibid.]
8. Requires any hospital or other facility providing therapy to cancer patients within an area designated as a cancer reporting area to report each case of cancer to DPH or the authorized representative of DPH in a format prescribed by DPH. Permits DPH’s authorized representative to access the information from a hospital or facility and report it in the appropriate format if the hospital or facility fails to report in a format prescribed by DPH. Requires, in these cases, the hospital or health facility to reimburse DPH or the authorized representative for its cost to access and report the information. [Ibid.]
9. Requires any physician and surgeon, dentist, podiatrist, or other health care practitioner diagnosing or providing treatment for cancer patients to report each cancer case to DPH or the authorized representative of DPH, except for those cases directly referred to a treatment facility or those previously admitted to a treatment facility for diagnoses or treatment of that instance of cancer. [Ibid.]

FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, DPH estimates annual costs of approximately $91,000 for three fiscal years, starting in 2026-27, to update the regulations (General Fund).

COMMENTS:

1. PURPOSE OF THIS BILL. According to the author, the California Cancer Registry (CCR) has relied on the regional registries as the state designated agents to perform data collection for the statewide cancer surveillance system. The current three regional registries have been in operation since 2000, and they are also the core registries of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The author indicates that the registries have been federally funded by NCI for over 50 years and have always served as the foundation of California's cancer surveillance, preceding the state level operations of the CCR by more than a decade.

The author says, since 2000, the federal government, through the NCI SEER contract awards to the three SEER core registries in California (i.e., LA Cancer Surveillance Program, Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry, and Cancer Registry of Greater California), has invested over $15 million annually to cover 80% of these CCR regional registries’ operational costs, leaving the state to only cover 20%. However, current law does not recognize the three regional registries, which risks their eligibility for the competitive renewal of their next NCI SEER contracts and, in turn, poses severe financial strain for the state to maintain the legally mandated statewide cancer reporting system.

1. BACKGROUND.
   1. NCI SEER. According to the National Institutes of Health, SEER is an authoritative source of information on cancer incidence and survival in the United States. SEER began collecting data on cancer cases on January 1, 1973, in the states of Connecticut, Iowa, New Mexico, Utah, and Hawaii and the metropolitan areas of Detroit and San Francisco-Oakland. SEER currently collects and publishes cancer incidence and survival data from population-based cancer registries covering approximately 45.9% of the U.S. population. These registries routinely collect data on patient demographics, primary tumor site, tumor morphology (or structure) and stage at diagnosis, first course of treatment, and follow-up for vital status. The SEER Program is the only comprehensive source of population-based information in the United States that includes stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis and patient survival data. Thousands of researchers, clinicians, public health officials, legislators, policymakers, community groups, and the public use SEER data. California’s three regional cancer registries, LA Cancer Surveillance Program, Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry, and Cancer Registry of Greater California, are operated by the University of Southern California (USC), the University of California – San Francisco (UCSF), and the Public Health Institute (PHI), respectively.
   2. National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Congress established the NPCR in 1992 by enacting the Cancer Registries Amendment Act. This law authorized CDC to provide funding and technical assistance to statewide, population-based cancer registries and established CDC's national cancer surveillance system. Through NPCR, CDC supports central cancer registries in 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Pacific Island Jurisdictions, and the US Virgin Islands. These data represent 97% of the U.S. population. Together, NPCR and the NCI SEER Program collect cancer data for the entire U.S. population. California participates in the NPCR and in the SEER program. CCR data must meet all NPCR and SEER standards for quality, timeliness, and completeness.
   3. CCR. According to DPH’s website, the CCR is California’s statewide population-based cancer surveillance system. The CCR collects information about most cancers diagnosed in California, and all cancer professionals and facilities responsible for treating or diagnosing patients with cancer are required to report demographic, diagnostic, and treatment data to the CCR. In 1985, statewide population-based cancer reporting was mandated in state law. Statewide cancer reporting was fully implemented in 1988. Due to the size and diversity of the California population, more is now known about the occurrence of cancer in diverse populations than ever before. The CCR and regional registries use collected data to write summary reports that inform the public, local health workers, educators, and legislators about the status of cancer.
   4. Funding of CCR. CCR is funded with both state and federal dollars. State funding comes from the General Fund, Proposition 99 Fund, and the Breast Cancer Research Fund, and federal funding comes from the CDC. In Fiscal Year 2024-25, the CCR received a total of $11.9 million, $2.5 million in federal funds and $9.4 million in state funds. All of the regional registries receive NCI SEER funding.
   5. Federal budget uncertainty. The current federal administration has slashed funding for several health research programs, eliminated thousands of federal health jobs, and has proposed a budget to reduce federal Health and Human Services spending by 25%. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026 contains $4.531 billion for the NCI. This represents a cut of almost $2.7 billion, or approximately 37.2%, from the current fiscal year. The ACS states that this cut “will set this nation back dramatically in our ability to reduce death and suffering from a disease that is expected to kill more than 618,000 Americans this year alone.” The Trump Administration has also proposed significant cuts at the CDC. Should the federal funding for cancer registries through NCI SEER and the NPCR at the CDC be reduced or eliminated, it’s unclear how codifying the current structure in California would improve the likelihood of securing federal funds.
2. SUPPORT. The University of Southern California (USC) and the Keck School of Medicine at USC are co-sponsors of this bill and state that, in April 2024, the impact of CCR on cancer prevention procedures was evident when the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a statement changing its guidelines for breast cancer screening to recommend that all women in the U.S. aged 40 to 74 should have a mammogram every other year, lowering the recommended age of screening by a decade. This significant change in guidelines was informed using data from the national SEER cancer registry – of which the CCR is a vital component – that found that rates of breast cancer diagnosis have been on the rise in women under 50 for the past twenty years. USC argues that by codifying the regional registries’ status, this bill will safeguard the more than $15 million in annual federal funding that covers 80% of the regional registries’ operational costs and ensure the continuity of high-quality cancer data collection and analysis.

Susan G. Komen supports this bill stating that the CCR – one of the world's foremost cancer registries – relies on three regional registries as the state designated agents to perform data collection for the statewide cancer surveillance system. It has been largely funded through NCI SEER awards since 2000. Current law does not recognize the three regional registries, which puts their eligibility for the competitive renewal of their next NCI SEER contracts at risk. Susan G. Komen argues that without these contracts, the state would be financially responsible for maintaining the legally mandated statewide cancer reporting system. This bill will codify the relationship between the CCR and its three regional registries, ensuring their eligibility for future SEER contracts.

City of Hope also supports this bill stating, since its inception, the CCR has relied on the regional registries. The current three regional registries of CCR have been in operation since 2000, and they are the core registries of the SEER Program of the NCI. They have been federally funded by NCI for over 50 years and have always served as the foundation of California's cancer surveillance, preceding the state level operations of the CCR by more than a decade. The regional registries’ long-standing contributions continue to shape strategies to reduce the cancer burden nationwide and attract additional funding to support groundbreaking cancer research. Data collected by the regional registries also make it possible to determine cancer risk factors and study groupings of cancers in communities. City of Hope argues this bill will protect the regional registries and ensure the future of cancer research and prevention.

California Professional Firefighters (CPF) also support the bill stating that this data informs treatment practices, research, and prevention with community and demographic level data, but this resource has for decades relied on three regional cancer registries throughout the state as the agents for collecting data for the statewide system. While this arrangement has been highly effective, the fact that it has not been formalized in statute means that the regional registries are at risk of losing funding through the competitive grant process. CPF argues that this bill will guarantee the continuation of the work of the regional cancer registries, thereby continuing the CCR as a whole. These changes are necessary to ensure that the CCR remains a robust and effective resource in the fight against cancer in California’s communities. Cancer is one of the leading causes of illness and death in California’s fire service, with diagnosis rates significantly higher than the general population.

Public Health Institute (PHI) supports this bill stating that, for decades, PHI has played a central role in cancer surveillance in California, partnering with the state to administer and advance the California Cancer Registry. Currently, PHI administers the Cancer Registry of Greater California, one of the three federally funded NCI SEER Program registries in the state. In this role, PHI ensures the comprehensive collection, analysis, and dissemination of cancer data for a broad region of California, supporting critical research, health equity initiatives, and public health interventions. California’s cancer registries are a cornerstone of our public health infrastructure. PHI indicates current law does not formally recognize the three regional registries, putting their eligibility for future NCI SEER funding at risk. PHI argues that without this funding, California would face significant financial and operational challenges in maintaining its legally mandated statewide cancer surveillance system.

1. RELATED LEGISLATION.
   1. SCR 13 (Grayson) Resolution Chapter 11, Statutes of 2025 proclaims the month of January as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month.
   2. SCR 29 (McNerney) Resolution Chapter 41, Statutes of 2025 designates March 2025 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in California.
   3. ACR 66 (Dixon, Petrie-Norris) would proclaim the month of May 2025, as Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and would encourage all Californians to make themselves and their families aware of the risk of skin cancer and the measures that can be taken to prevent it. ACR 66 is pending on the Senate Special Consent Calendar.
   4. AB 703 (Lee) would authorize the addition of the California Pediatric Cancer Research Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund as a voluntary contribution fund on the personal income tax return. AB 703 is pending in the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee.
2. PREVIOUS LEGISLATION.
   1. SB 344 (Rubio) Chapter 867, Statutes of 2023 revised provisions of the CCR, including to permit individuals who are authorized to access the confidential data in cancer registries to participate in data sharing with other authorized individuals.
   2. AB 2325 (Bonilla) Chapter 354, Statutes of 2016 required pathologists diagnosing cancer to report diagnoses to DPH utilizing electronic means in a standardized format approved by DPH.
   3. AB 136 (Connelly) Chapter 841, Statutes of 1985 establishes the CCR.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

University of Southern California (Co-Sponsor)

Keck School of Medicine at USC (Co-Sponsor)

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Inc.

California Professional Firefighters

City of Hope

Public Health Institute

Susan G. Komen

University of California

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Logan Hess / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: SB 717

Author: Richardson (D)

Introduced: 2/21/25

Vote: 21

SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE: 10-0, 3/26/25

AYES: Menjivar, Valladares, Durazo, Gonzalez, Limón, Padilla, Richardson, Rubio, Weber Pierson, Wiener

NO VOTE RECORDED: Grove

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 6-0, 5/23/25

AYES: Caballero, Seyarto, Cabaldon, Grayson, Richardson, Wahab

NO VOTE RECORDED: Dahle

SUBJECT: Ken Maddy California Cancer Registry

SOURCE: Keck School of Medicine - USC (co-source)

The University of Southern California (co-source)

DIGEST:

This bill (1)requires the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to maintain the existing statewide and regional infrastructure and system for collecting information on and reporting cancer incidence through regional cancer registries, and (2) deletes past dates regarding its establishment. Requires, rather than permits, CDPH to establish the registries.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Requires CDPH to establish a statewide system for the collection of information determining the incidence of cancer, using population-based cancer registries (known as the Ken Maddy California Cancer Registry, or CCR). Requires all county or regional registries to be implemented or initiated by July 1, 1988, and the statewide cancer reporting system to be fully operational By July 1, 1990. [Health & Safety Code (HSC) §103885(a)]
2. Permits CDPH to establish regional cancer registries and to designate any demographic parts of the state as regional cancer incidence reporting areas. [HSC §103885(b)]
3. Requires CDPH, in establishing the system, to maximize the use of available federal funds. [HSC §103885(j)]

This bill:

1. Requires CDPH to maintain the existing statewide and regional infrastructure and system of registries, and to maintain the existing statewide cancer reporting system. Requires, rather than permits, CDPH to establish the registries.
2. Deletes past dates by which the registries and reporting system were required to be implemented and operational.
3. Requires CDPH to submit an implementation and funding schedule, in partnership with the state’s existing registries, to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2027.

Comments

According to the author of this bill:

The CCR has relied on the regional registries as the state designated agents to perform data collection for the statewide cancer surveillance system. The current three regional registries have been in operation since 2000 and are also the core registries of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). They have been federally funded by NCI for over 50 years and have always served as the foundation of California’s cancer surveillance, preceding the state level operations of the CCR by more than a decade. The federal government, through contract awards to the three registries in California (i.e., LA Cancer Surveillance Program, Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry, and Cancer Registry of Greater California), has invested over $15 million annually to cover 80% of their operational costs, with the state covering 20%. As current law does not formally recognize the three regional registries, their eligibility is at risk for the competitive renewal of their next contracts, which could result in severe financial strain for the state to maintain the legally mandated CCR.

Background

CCR. AB 136 (Connelly, Chapter 841, Statutes of 1985) established the CCR. Today there are three regional registries: the Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry (administered by the University of California, San Francisco); the Los Angeles County Cancer Surveillance Program (administered by the University of Southern California); and, the Cancer Registry of Greater California (administered by the Public Health Institute, which covers all other counties). The CCR is California’s statewide cancer surveillance system, which collects all the data from the regional registries into a statewide database. The CCR and regional registries use the data to write summary reports that inform the public, local health workers, educators, and legislators about the status of cancer. Researchers may examine the data to identify areas that have high cancer rates and areas where people might benefit from cancer screening and education programs, or to look at trends in cancer diagnosis. Other uses include measuring the success of cancer screening programs; examining disparities in cancer risk, treatment, and survival; examining treatment choices and other predictors of survival; responding to public concerns and questions about cancer; and, conducting research to find the causes and cures of cancer.

Background on SEER program and the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR). According to the NCI website, the SEER program is an authoritative source of information on cancer incidence and survival for the nation. SEER collects and publishes cancer incidence and survival data from population-based registries covering approximately 48% of the U.S. population. NCI staff work with the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries to guide all state registries to achieve data content and compatibility acceptable for pooling data and improving national estimates. Use of surveillance data for research is being improved through web-based access to the data and analytic tools, and linking with other national data sources. The NPCR was established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide funding and technical assistance to statewide, population-based cancer registries. NPCR supports states and territories to improve existing cancer registries; plan and implement registries where none existed; develop model legislation and regulations for states to enhance the viability of registry operations; set standards for data completeness, timeliness, and quality; provide training for registry personnel; and, help establish a computerized reporting and data processing system. In 2006, NPCR launched the Electronic Pathology (ePath) Implementation Project to test a model for automated electronic capture and reporting of cancer registry data to central cancer registries. Following initial pilot programs, ePath has expanded to all 50 states and includes many more national and regional laboratories. In California, AB 2325 (Bonilla, Chapter 354, Statutes of 2016) required pathologists to use ePath to report cancer diagnoses beginning on January 1, 2019.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, CDPH estimates annual costs of approximately $91,000 for three fiscal years, starting in 2026-27, to update the regulations (General Fund).

SUPPORT: (Verified 5/7/2025)

Keck School of Medicine - USC (co-source)

The University of Southern California (co-source)

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

California Professional Firefighters

City of Hope

Public Health Institute

OPPOSITION: (Verified 5/7/2025)

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The sponsors and supporters state that this bill will ensure the continuation of a robust and efficient statewide cancer surveillance system while protecting vital federal funding and minimizing the state’s financial burden. The sponsors state that a benefit of the CCR is that, in April 2024, cancer prevention procedures in real time were impacted when the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a statement changing its guidelines for breast cancer screening to recommend that all women in the U.S. aged 40 to 74 should have a mammogram every other year, lowering the recommended age of screening by a decade. This significant change in guidelines was informed using data from the national SEER cancer registry—of which the CCR is a vital component—that found rates of breast cancer diagnosis have been on the rise in women under 50 for the past 20 years. The Public Health Institute states this bill is critical to protecting the state’s ability to collect and analyze high-quality cancer surveillance data, which is essential for advancing public health research, informing policy, and improving cancer prevention and treatment strategies.

Prepared by: Reyes Diaz / HEALTH / (916) 651-4111

5/26/25 13:40:46

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SENATE COMMITTEE ON

Senator Anna Caballero, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular Session

SB 717 (Richardson) - Ken Maddy California Cancer Registry

Bill Summary:

SB 717 would require the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to maintain the existing statewide and regional infrastructure and system for the collection of information determining the incidence of cancer, as specified.

Fiscal Impact:

The CDPH estimates annual costs of approximately $91,000 for three fiscal years, starting in 2026-27, to update the regulations (General Fund).

Background:

Current law requires the Director of the CDPH to establish a statewide system for the collection of information determining the incidence of cancer, using population-based regional cancer registries, as specified. CDPH operates the Ken Maddy California Cancer Registry, or CCR. Current law also authorizes CDPH to designate any demographic parts of the state as regional cancer incidence reporting areas and to establish regional cancer registries.

Today there are three regional cancer registries: the Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry (administered by the University of California, San Francisco); the Los Angeles County Cancer Surveillance Program (administered by the University of Southern California); and the Cancer Registry of Greater California (administered by the Public Health Institute, which covers all other counties). The CCR collects data from the regional registries into a statewide database.

The CCR and regional registries use the data to write summary reports that inform the public, local health workers, educators, and legislators about the status of cancer. Researchers may examine the data to identify areas that have high cancer rates and areas where people might benefit from cancer screening and education programs, or to look at trends in cancer diagnosis. Other uses include measuring the success of cancer screening programs; examining disparities in cancer risk, treatment, and survival; examining treatment choices and other predictors of survival; responding to public concerns and questions about cancer; and conducting research to find the causes and cures of cancer. The three regional cancer registries also participate in the federal Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute.

Proposed Law:

Specific provisions of the bill would:

• Require the Director of the CDPH to: maintain the existing statewide and regional infrastructure and system and to continue to maintain the existing statewide cancer reporting system; and submit an implementation and funding schedule to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2027.
• Require, rather than authorize, CDPH to establish regional cancer registries.

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SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH

Senator Caroline Menjivar, Chair

BILL NO: SB 717

SUBJECT: Ken Maddy California Cancer Registry

SUMMARY:

Requires the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to maintain the existing statewide and regional infrastructure and system for collecting information on and reporting cancer incidence through regional cancer registries, and deletes past dates regarding its establishment. Requires, rather than permits, CDPH to establish the registries.

Existing law:

1. Requires CDPH to establish a statewide system for the collection of information determining the incidence of cancer, using population-based cancer registries (known as the Ken Maddy California Cancer Registry, or CCR). Requires all county or regional registries to be implemented or initiated by July 1, 1988, and the statewide cancer reporting system to be fully operational By July 1, 1990. [HSC §103885(a)]
2. Permits CDPH to establish regional cancer registries and to designate any demographic parts of the state as regional cancer incidence reporting areas. [HSC §103885(b)]
3. Requires CDPH, in establishing the system, to maximize the use of available federal funds. [HSC §103885(j)]

This bill:

1. Requires CDPH to maintain the existing statewide and regional infrastructure and system of registries, and to maintain the existing statewide cancer reporting system. Requires, rather than permits, CDPH to establish the registries.
2. Deletes past dates by which the registries and reporting system were required to be implemented and operational.
3. Requires CDPH to submit an implementation and funding schedule, in partnership with the state’s existing registries, to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2027.

FISCAL EFFECT:

This bill has not been analyzed by a fiscal committee.

COMMENTS:

1. Author’s statement. According to the author, the CCR has relied on the regional registries as the state designated agents to perform data collection for the statewide cancer surveillance system. The current three regional registries have been in operation since 2000 and are also the core registries of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). They have been federally funded by NCI for over 50 years and have always served as the foundation of California’s cancer surveillance, preceding the state level operations of the CCR by more than a decade. The federal government, through contract awards to the three registries in California (i.e., LA Cancer Surveillance Program, Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry, and Cancer Registry of Greater California), has invested over $15 million annually to cover 80% of their operational costs, with the state covering 20%. As current law does not formally recognize the three regional registries, their eligibility is at risk for the competitive renewal of their next contracts, which could result in severe financial strain for the state to maintain the legally mandated CCR.
2. CCR. AB 136 (Connelly, Chapter 841, Statutes of 1985) established the CCR. Today there are three regional registries: the Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry (administered by the University of California, San Francisco); the Los Angeles County Cancer Surveillance Program (administered by the University of Southern California); and, the Cancer Registry of Greater California (administered by the Public Health Institute, which covers all other counties). The CCR is California’s statewide cancer surveillance system, which collects all the data from the regional registries into a statewide database. The CCR and regional registries use the data to write summary reports that inform the public, local health workers, educators, and legislators about the status of cancer. Researchers may examine the data to identify areas that have high cancer rates and areas where people might benefit from cancer screening and education programs, or to look at trends in cancer diagnosis. Other uses include measuring the success of cancer screening programs; examining disparities in cancer risk, treatment, and survival; examining treatment choices and other predictors of survival; responding to public concerns and questions about cancer; and, conducting research to find the causes and cures of cancer.
3. Background on SEER program and the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR). According to the NCI website, the SEER program is an authoritative source of information on cancer incidence and survival for the nation. SEER collects and publishes cancer incidence and survival data from population-based registries covering approximately 48% of the U.S. population. NCI staff work with the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries to guide all state registries to achieve data content and compatibility acceptable for pooling data and improving national estimates. Use of surveillance data for research is being improved through web-based access to the data and analytic tools, and linking with other national data sources. The NPCR was established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide funding and technical assistance to statewide, population-based cancer registries. NPCR supports states and territories to improve existing cancer registries; plan and implement registries where none existed; develop model legislation and regulations for states to enhance the viability of registry operations; set standards for data completeness, timeliness, and quality; provide training for registry personnel; and, help establish a computerized reporting and data processing system. In 2006, NPCR launched the Electronic Pathology (ePath) Implementation Project to test a model for automated electronic capture and reporting of cancer registry data to central cancer registries. Following initial pilot programs, ePath has expanded to all 50 states and includes many more national and regional laboratories. In California, AB 2325 (Bonilla, Chapter 354, Statutes of 2016) required pathologists to use ePath to report cancer diagnoses beginning on January 1, 2019.
4. Prior legislation. SB 344 (Rubio, Chapter 867, Statutes of 2023) revised provisions of the CCR, including to permit individuals who are authorized to access the confidential data in cancer registries to participate in data sharing with other authorized individuals.

AB 2325 (Bonilla, Chapter 354, Statutes of 2016) required pathologists diagnosing cancer to report diagnoses to CDPH utilizing electronic means in a standardized format approved by CDPH.

AB 136 (Connelly, Chapter 841, Statutes of 1985) established the CCR.

1. Support. The sponsors and supporters state that this bill will ensure the continuation of a robust and efficient statewide cancer surveillance system while protecting vital federal funding and minimizing the state’s financial burden. The sponsors state that a benefit of the CCR is that, in April 2024, cancer prevention procedures in real time were impacted when the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a statement changing its guidelines for breast cancer screening to recommend that all women in the U.S. aged 40 to 74 should have a mammogram every other year, lowering the recommended age of screening by a decade. This significant change in guidelines was informed using data from the national SEER cancer registry—of which the CCR is a vital component—that found rates of breast cancer diagnosis have been on the rise in women under 50 for the past 20 years. The Public Health Institute states this bill is critical to protecting the state’s ability to collect and analyze high-quality cancer surveillance data, which is essential for advancing public health research, informing policy, and improving cancer prevention and treatment strategies.

SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION:

Support: Keck School of Medicine - USC (cosponsor)

The University of Southern California (cosponsor)

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Public Health Institute

Oppose: None received

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