SB3013 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 18815 LJB 54225 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
SB3013

Introduced 1/20/2006, by Sen. Dale A. Righter - Peter J. Roskam - Dale E. Risinger - Christine Radogno - Carole Pankau

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Umbilical Cord Blood Donation and Outreach Initiative Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to establish an Umbilical Cord Blood Donation and Outreach Initiative to promote public awareness about cord blood donation. Requires the Initiative to include a public information and outreach campaign. Authorizes the Department to create and update an Adult Stem Cell Research Database to collect information on the advancements being made and treatments being provided through the use of adult stem cells. Requires the Department to fund the Initiative through funds appropriated for the Illinois Regenerative Institute for Stem Cell Research. Requires the Department to adopt rules necessary to implement and administer the Act. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning health.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Umbilical Cord Blood Donation and Outreach Initiative Act.

Section 5. Legislative Findings. The General Assembly finds and declares that:

(1) Every child's umbilical cord blood contains stem cells that have successfully treated patients for several diseases, including sickle cell anemia, cancer, and bone diseases.

(2) Many women in the State of Illinois are unaware that they have an option to donate umbilical cord blood upon the birth of their child and that this choice could make available the miracle of stem cells derived from medical waste to thousands of patients who otherwise have no hope to recover from lethal diseases.

(3) Public cord blood donations can be helpful in treating the diseases of an unrelated person in need. Umbilical cord blood is collected after a baby's birth and the collection poses no risk to the mother or her child.

(4) Public cord blood banks specialize in the collection of umbilical cord blood and coordinate with participating hospitals that are available statewide to collect cord blood from women who wish to make a donation upon the birth of a child.

(5) Cord blood can be preserved indefinitely through freezing, does not require an exact match for treatment, and can be made immediately available by cord blood banks for transplantation for routine or emergency clinical situations.

(6) The promise and success that has been provided through the experimental use of adult stem cells such as cord blood has demonstrated the potential that adult stem cell therapy holds to one day replace the use of drugs to treat degenerative ailments and harness the patient's own cells as potent medicine to rebuild damaged organs and body tissues.

(7) Public awareness regarding the benefits of cord blood is crucial and women at their child bearing age have a right to know that the option of donation exists.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Cord blood" means the blood collected from the umbilical cord at the time of birth.

"Public cord blood bank" means any blood bank that specializes in the collection, processing, and storage of the donated cord blood of Illinois residents, through participation with Illinois hospitals, for the purpose of providing cord blood to physicians and researchers for medical treatment and research.

"Initiative" means the Umbilical Cord Blood Donation and Outreach Initiative established pursuant to this Act.

"Department" means the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Section 15. Initiative.

(a) The Department shall establish an Umbilical Cord Blood Donation and Outreach Initiative. The purpose of the Initiative is to promote public awareness about the following:

(1) A woman's option to donate cord blood upon the birth of a child.

(2) The medical benefits of cord blood.

(3) The importance of the donation of cord blood to a public cord blood bank.

(b) The Department may accept, for the purposes of establishing the Initiative, any special grant of money, services, or property from the federal government or any of its agencies or from private donors, in addition to moneys appropriated by the General Assembly.

Section 20. Public information and outreach campaign.

(a) The Initiative shall include a public information and outreach campaign that, at a minimum, includes the creation of a brochure that includes, but is not limited to, the following information:

(1) Information on the option that is available to pregnant women allowing them to donate cord blood upon the birth of a child.

(2) Information that is in accordance with the National Marrow Donor Program and other credible sources on the benefits of cord blood and its use in medical treatments, including, but not limited to:

(A) a detailed list of diseases that have been successfully treated through the use of cord blood; and

(B) a detailed list of diseases for which there is promising research with respect to treatments through the use of cord blood.

(3) Information on public cord blood banking, including, but not limited to:

(A) a list of public cord blood banks and participating Illinois hospitals, including contact information; and

(B) the process by which cord blood is collected and the steps necessary, prior to delivery of a child, to ensure that the donation can take place upon the delivery of a child.

(b) The brochure required under subsection (a) of this Section shall be updated at least annually and distributed, at a minimum, to physicians licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, certified nurse midwives, and other healthcare professionals who provide care to women in their child bearing years, including, but not limited to, pregnant and minority women, in a hospital, office, or clinic.

Section 25. Adult Stem Cell Research Database. The Department may create and update an Adult Stem Cell Research Database for the purpose of collecting information on the advancements being made and treatments being provided through the use of adult stem cells. The Department shall establish, by rule, the sources from which this information may be obtained.

Section 30. Funding. The Department shall fund the Umbilical Cord Blood Donation and Outreach Initiative through the use of funds appropriated to the Illinois Department of Public Health for the purpose of funding the Illinois Regenerative Institute for Stem Cell Research.

Section 35. Rules. The Department shall adopt rules necessary to implement and administer this Act.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.