Genetic test privacy bill clears Senate committee

BOISE – Legislation to protect the privacy of people’s genetic test results has cleared a Senate committee, but only after surviving, by a single vote, a motion to kill it.

Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, called Senate Bill 1423 “common-sense legislation” that prohibits insurance companies, employers and others from accessing genetic testing results. It’s her second draft, in an attempt to placate opponents.

Lobbyists for insurance companies and the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry opposed the bill. “If you’ve had a test, the insurance company should have access to the results,” said John Mackey, representing United Heritage Financial Group.

Backers of the bill included the American Cancer Society and the Idaho Medical Association.

Thirty-three other states have genetic privacy laws.