HB 1855: Relating to Noncommunicable Disease Surveillance
Sponsor: Matthew Overcast
OPPOSE
Surveillance Infrastructure Expansion
HB 1855 creates a new statewide "noncommunicable disease surveillance" law and gives DHSS broad authority to decide which noncommunicable diseases are "of public health concern," then issue and enforce orders, findings, rules, and regulations related to them.
What Does This Bill Do?
- Broad Agency Authority: Grants DHSS the power to designate any noncommunicable disease as a "public health concern" and enforce "adequate orders" to prevent its spread.
- Mandatory Reporting: Specifically requires providers and labs to report cases of alpha-gal syndrome and Lyme disease within 7 days of confirmation.
- Federal Integration: Mandates the development of an electronic lab reporting system and requires annual data sharing with the CDC based on evolving federal case definitions.
Constitutional or Critical Context
This bill represents a major delegation of power from the legislature to an unelected agency. By allowing DHSS to determine which diseases trigger surveillance and enforcement, the bill creates a "designate-and-enforce" loop that bypasses legislative oversight. Furthermore, by incorporating the "most current" CDC surveillance definitions, Missouri law would effectively change based on federal standards without a single vote from Missouri representatives.
Red Flags & Recommended Amendments
Open-Ended Enforcement Authority
The bill authorizes "orders and regulations" for noncommunicable diseases—a term usually reserved for infectious threats—creating prime territory for mission creep.
Lack of Privacy Guardrails
The state-to-federal reporting pipeline lacks explicit requirements for data de-identification, retention limits, or bans on secondary uses of personal health data.
Act for Missouri Recommendation:
Act for Missouri STRONGLY OPPOSES HB 1855. This is exactly the kind of surveillance-and-delegation framework that tends to expand over time and should not be enacted.