CABCO has played a major role in obtaining passage of significant California breast cancer legislation.
1993—The Breast Cancer Act of 1993 imposed a 2¢ tax on cigarettes that resulted in the creation of the Breast Cancer Research Program, the Breast Cancer Early Detection Program and provided funding for the California Cancer Registry.
> The Breast Cancer Early Detection Program (BCEDP) provides breast cancer screening and diagnosis for those who are under 200% of the poverty level and 40 years of age or older.
>The Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) provides funding for California scientists to perform innovative research on breast cancer.
>The Cancer Registry has established a cohort of 133,000 teachers and is conducting a prospective study of these teachers.
>Breast cancer advocates sit on the Advisory Committee for each of the above programs that are funded by the cigarette tax.
1993— The creation of a line on California personal income tax forms that allowed individuals to make a donation to the Breast Cancer Research Program.
1994— CABCO members worked with The California Foundation to obtain funding that allowed the creation of the Breast Cancer Treatment Program for those women diagnosed with breast cancer through the BCEDP.2000—When the California Foundation funding for treatment was running out, CABCO advocates succeeded in working with the Governor to obtaining budgetary funding to extend the breast cancer treatment program.
2000—CABCO worked with the grassroots network of NBCC to obtain passage of the federal Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act of 2000.
2001— CABCO worked with the Governor to have the state budget include funding so that California could "opt in" to the federal Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program
2001—Passage of a CABCO initiated Clinical Trials Bill to provide that the ordinary patient costs incurred by patients, who participate in high quality clinical trials, must be paid by insurers. CABCO was present at the signing of the bill (picture below).
2002—Tax-check-off line for the BCRP renewed and extended to 2008.
2002—Governor again included funding for the treatment program in his budget.
2003—Study finds that clinical trial legislation passed in 2001 has effectively reduced barrier to clinical trial participation
2004– Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program eligibility determination retained in Department of Health Services.
2007- Tax-check-off line for the Breast Cancer Research Program renewed and extended to 2013.
CABCO has demonstrated that, if you put a face on breast cancer with dedicated, passionate, educated breast cancer survivors, legislators will listen!