United States of America: Passed California Genetic Information Privacy Act including data protection measures for genetic testing companies

On 9 September 2021 the California Senate passed the Genetic Information Privacy Act (Senate Bill 41), which will now be sent to the governor for signing. The bill would require direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies to provide consumers with certain information regarding the company’s policies and procedures for the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of genetic data. Additionally, these companies would have to obtain consumers' express consent for the collection, use, or disclosure of the consumer’s genetic data. The bill further provides that in case of revocation of a consumer's consent, the genetic testing company has to comply with certain procedures, and has to destroy the consumer’s biological sample within 30 days of revocation of consent.