Chapter 255

CHRONIC DISEASE AND INJURIES

SUBCHAPTER I

DEFINITIONS

255.01   Definitions.

SUBCHAPTER II

CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION,
ASSESSMENT AND CONTROL

255.02   Duties of the state epidemiologist for chronic disease.

255.03   Duties of the department.

255.04   Cancer reporting.

255.05   Cancer control and prevention grants.

255.054   Prostate cancer research program.

255.055   Cancer research program.

255.056   Drug repository.

255.06   Well-woman program.

255.065   Breast density notification.

255.07   Life-saving allergy medication; use of epinephrine.

255.085   Diabetes care and prevention action program.

255.10   Thomas T. Melvin youth tobacco prevention and education program.

255.15   Statewide tobacco use control program.

SUBCHAPTER III

INJURY PREVENTION AND CONTROL

255.20   Duties of the department.

255.30   Safety eye protective goggles.

255.35   Statewide poison control system.

255.40   Reporting of wounds and burn injuries.

Ch. 255 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See definitions in s. 250.01.

subch. I of ch. 255 SUBCHAPTER I

DEFINITIONS

255.01 255.01 Definitions. In this chapter:

255.01(1) (1) “Chronic disease” means any disease, illness, impairment or other physical condition that requires health care and treatment over a prolonged period and, although amenable to treatment, is irreversible and frequently progresses to increasing disability or death.

255.01(2) (2) “Injury” means damage to the human body that is the result of some acute exposure to harm. “Injury” includes all of the following:

255.01(2)(a) (a) Unintentional injuries including physical damage resulting from transportation-related crashes, fires, burns, submersion, suffocation, falls, natural and environmental factors and occupational hazards and exposures.

255.01(2)(b) (b) Intentional injuries, including physical damage resulting from deliberate assault by one person on another or self-inflicted acts.

255.01(2m) (2m) “Research” means a systematic investigation through scientific inquiry, including development, testing, and evaluation, that is designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.

255.01(2n) (2n) “Researcher” means a person who performs research.

255.01(3) (3) “Risk assessment” means the measurement and evaluation of specific lifestyle and environmental conditions to determine the presence of, and the extent of the threat resulting from, these factors that may increase the risk of developing chronic disease.

255.01 History History: 1993 a. 27; 2009 a. 28.

subch. II of ch. 255 SUBCHAPTER II

CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION,
ASSESSMENT AND CONTROL

255.02 255.02 Duties of the state epidemiologist for chronic disease. The state epidemiologist for chronic disease shall do all of the following:

255.02(1) (1) Develop and maintain a system for detecting and monitoring chronic diseases within this state.

255.02(2) (2) Investigate and determine the epidemiology of those conditions that contribute to preventable or premature illness, disability and death.

255.02 History History: 1993 a. 27.

255.03 255.03 Duties of the department. The department shall:

255.03(1) (1) Conduct programs to prevent, delay and detect the onset of chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, cerebrovascular disease and genetic disease, and other chronic diseases that the department determines are important to prevent, delay and detect in order to promote, protect and maintain the public’s health.

255.03(2) (2) Establish programs of community and professional education relevant to the detection, prevention and control of chronic diseases.

255.03(3) (3) Assist local health departments in performing activities related to chronic disease, including risk assessment, monitoring, surveillance and education.

255.03 History History: 1993 a. 27.

255.04 255.04 Cancer reporting.

255.04(1) (1) Any hospital, as defined under s. 50.33 (2), any physician and any laboratory certified under 42 USC 263a shall report information concerning any person diagnosed as having cancer or a precancerous condition to the department as prescribed by the department under sub. (2).

255.04(2) (2) The department shall prescribe:

255.04(2)(a) (a) The form on which the report under sub. (1) shall be submitted.

255.04(2)(b) (b) The time schedule under which the report under sub. (1) shall be submitted.

255.04(2)(c) (c) The types of cancer and precancerous conditions to be reported under sub. (1).

255.04(3) (3) Any information reported to the department under sub. (1) or (5) which could identify any individual who is the subject of the report or a physician submitting the report shall be confidential and may not be disclosed by the department except to the following:

255.04(3)(a) (a) A central tumor registry in another state if the individual who is the subject of the information resides in the other state.

255.04(3)(b) (b) A national tumor registry recognized by the department.

255.04(3)(c) (c) A researcher who proposes to conduct research, if all of the following conditions are met:

255.04(3)(c)1. 1. The researcher applies in writing to the department for approval of access to individually identifiable information under sub. (1) or (5) that is necessary for performance of the proposed research, and the department approves the application. An application under this subdivision shall include all of the following:

255.04(3)(c)1.a. a. A written protocol to perform research.

255.04(3)(c)1.b. b. The researcher’s professional qualifications to perform the proposed research.

255.04(3)(c)1.c. c. Documentation of approval of the research protocol by an institutional review board of a domestic institution that has a federalwide assurance approved by the office for human research protections of the federal department of health and human services.

255.04(3)(c)1.d. d. Any other information requested by the department.

255.04(3)(c)2. 2. The proposed research is for the purpose of studying cancer, cancer prevention, or cancer control.

255.04(4) (4) The report of information under sub. (1) or (5) may not be construed as a violation of any person’s responsibility for maintaining the confidentiality of patient health care records, as defined under s. 146.81 (4).

255.04(5) (5) The department may, to the extent feasible, collect information related to the occupation of cancer patients in order to fulfill the purpose of s. 250.04 (3) (b) 4.

255.04(6) (6) The department may charge a reasonable fee for disclosing information to a researcher under sub. (3) (c).

255.04(7) (7) Information obtained by the department under sub. (1) or (5) or obtained by a person under sub. (3) (c) is not subject to inspection, copying, or receipt under s. 19.35 (1).

255.04(8) (8) No person to whom information is disclosed under sub. (3) (c) may do any of the following:

255.04(8)(a) (a) Use the information for a purpose other than for the performance of research as specified in the application under sub. (3) (c) 1., as approved by the department.

255.04(8)(b) (b) Disclose the information to a person who is not connected with performance of the research.

255.04(8)(c) (c) Reveal in the final research product information that may identify an individual whose information is disclosed under sub. (3) (c).

255.04(9) (9) Whoever violates sub. (8) (a), (b), or (c) is liable to the subject of the information for actual damages and costs, plus exemplary damages of up to $1,000 for a negligent violation and up to $5,000 for an intentional violation.

255.04(10) (10) 

255.04(10)(a) (a) Whoever intentionally violates sub. (8) (a), (b), or (c) may be fined not more than $15,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year in the county jail or both.

255.04(10)(b) (b) Any person who violates sub. (8) (a), (b), or (c) may be required to forfeit not more than $100 for each violation. Each day of continued violation constitutes a separate offense, except that no day in the period between the date on which a request for a hearing is filed under s. 227.44 and the date of the conclusion of all administrative and judicial proceedings arising out of a decision under this paragraph constitutes a violation.

255.04(10)(c) (c) The department may directly assess forfeitures under par. (b). If the department determines that a forfeiture should be assessed for a particular violation or for failure to correct the violation, the department shall send a notice of assessment to the alleged violator. The notice shall specify the alleged violation of the statute and the amount of the forfeiture assessed and shall inform the alleged violator of the right to contest the assessment under s. 227.44.

255.04 History History: 1985 a. 29; 1989 a. 173 ss. 2, 13; 1993 a. 16; 1993 a. 27 s. 48; Stats. 1993 s. 255.04; 1993 a. 183; 1997 a. 114; 2009 a. 28.

255.05 255.05 Cancer control and prevention grants.

255.05(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

255.05(1)(a) (a) “Institution” means any hospital, nursing home, county home, county mental hospital, community-based residential facility or other place licensed or approved by the department under s. 49.70, 49.71, 49.72, 50.02, 50.03, 50.35, 51.08 or 51.09.

255.05(1)(b) (b) “Nonprofit corporation” means a nonstock corporation organized under ch. 181 that is a nonprofit corporation, as defined in s. 181.0103 (17).

255.05(1)(c) (c) “Organization” means a nonprofit corporation or a public agency which proposes to provide services to individuals.

255.05(1)(d) (d) “Public agency” means a county, city, village, town or school district or an agency of this state or of a county, city, village, town or school district.

255.05(2) (2) From the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (1) (cc), the department shall award up to $400,000 in each fiscal year as grants to applying individuals, institutions or organizations for the conduct of projects on cancer control and prevention. Funds shall be awarded on a matching basis, under which, for each grant awarded, the department shall provide 50 percent, and the grantee 50 percent, of the total grant funding.

255.05(3) (3) The department shall promulgate rules establishing the criteria and procedures for the awarding of grants for projects under sub. (2).

255.05 History History: 1987 a. 399; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 27 s. 344; Stats. 1993 s. 255.05; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27, 79; 1999 a. 9; 2007 a. 96; 2009 a. 28.

255.05 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. DHS 147, Wis. adm. code.