95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB1691

 

Introduced 2/9/2007, by Sen. Carole Pankau - William R. Haine - Christine Radogno - Pamela J. Althoff - Edward D. Maloney, et al.

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Umbilical Cord Blood Bank Commission. Sets out the specific requirements for appointment to the Commission. Sets out the specific duties and responsibilities of the Commission with respect to the development of plans regarding umbilical cord blood and placental tissue. Provides that the Commission shall file a report with the Governor and the General Assembly by January 1, 2009. Provides that the report shall contain recommendations for a plan to establish the Illinois Umbilical Cord Blood Bank based upon the activities and findings of the Commission. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1     AN ACT concerning public health.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Umbilical Cord Blood Bank Commission Act.
 
6     Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds and
7 declares all of the following:
8         (1) Over 100 million Americans and 2 billion other
9     humans worldwide suffer from diseases that may eventually
10     be treated more effectively or even cured with stem cells.
11         (2) Stem cell research has been hampered by the
12     controversy over embryonic stem cells.
13         (3) Stem cells are not found only in embryos.
14         (4) The umbilical cord, placenta, and amniotic fluid
15     are rich in stem cells, which may be used for scientific
16     research and medical treatment without destroying embryos.
17         (5) Stem cell research using stem cells from postnatal
18     tissue and fluid has already resulted in treatments for
19     anemia, leukemia, lymphoma, lupus, multiple sclerosis,
20     rheumatoid arthritis, sickle cell disease, spinal cord
21     injury, and Crohn's disease.
22         (6) Stem cell therapies using stem cells from postnatal
23     tissue and fluid are being studied for diseases as

 

 

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1     wide-ranging and diverse as corneal degeneration, heart
2     disease, stroke, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's
3     disease.
4         (7) It shall be the public policy of this State to
5     encourage the donation, collection, and storage of stem
6     cells collected from postnatal tissue and fluid and to make
7     such stem cells available for both scientific research and
8     medical treatment. It shall also be the public policy of
9     this State to encourage ethical research in life science
10     and regenerative medicine.
 
11     Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
12     "Amniotic fluid" means the fluid inside the amnion.
13     "Commission" means the Illinois Umbilical Cord Blood Bank
14 Commission.
15     "Placenta" means the organ that forms on the inner wall of
16 the human uterus during pregnancy.
17     "Postnatal tissue and fluid" means the placenta, umbilical
18 cord, and amniotic fluid expelled or extracted in connection
19 with the birth of a human being.
20     "Quorum" means a majority of the appointed Commission
21 members.
22     "Stem cells" means unspecialized or undifferentiated cells
23 that can self-replicate and have the potential to differentiate
24 into specialized cell types.
25     "Umbilical cord" means the gelatinous tissue and blood

 

 

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1 vessels connecting an unborn human being to the placenta.
 
2     Section 15. Illinois Umbilical Cord Blood Bank Commission;
3 establishment. There is created the Illinois Umbilical Cord
4 Blood Bank Commission, which shall consist of 17 members
5 appointed as provided in this Section. One member who is
6 representative of a public college, university, or medical
7 school shall be appointed by the Governor and serve as the
8 chairperson of the Commission. Four members each shall be
9 appointed by the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader
10 of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and
11 the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. Of these 4
12 members, there shall be at least one of each of the following:
13 a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its
14 branches; a recognized medical ethicist with an accredited
15 degree in medicine, medical ethics, or theology; a scientific
16 researcher in stem cell research; and an attorney with
17 experience in public health or biotechnology law. The initial
18 terms of office for the members of the Commission shall begin
19 on October 1, 2007. Appointments shall be made by the
20 respective appointing authorities no later than September 1,
21 2007. Vacancies shall be filled by the respective appointing
22 authority. The Commission shall meet at least 4 times per year
23 at the call of the Chair or upon the request of a majority of
24 the members appointed. The Commission must have a quorum in
25 order to conduct any business.
 

 

 

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1     Section 20. Duties and responsibilities of the Commission.
2 The Commission shall have the following duties and
3 responsibilities:
4         (1) to develop a comprehensive plan for the
5     establishment of the Illinois Umbilical Cord Blood Bank;
6         (2) to develop a plan to ensure the privacy of persons
7     who donate umbilical cord blood and placental tissue to the
8     Illinois Umbilical Cord Blood Bank, which must be
9     consistent with applicable federal guidelines;
10         (3) to develop a plan for making postnatal tissue and
11     fluid collected for the Illinois Umbilical Cord Blood Bank
12     available for scientific research and medical treatment
13     and to ensure compliance with all relevant national
14     practice and quality standards relating to such use;
15         (4) to develop a plan for private storage of postnatal
16     tissue and fluid for medical treatment or to make potential
17     donors aware of private storage options for said tissue and
18     fluid as deemed in the public interest; and
19         (5) to develop a plan to participate in the National
20     Cord Blood Program and to register postnatal tissue and
21     fluid collected with registries operating in connection
22     with the Program.
23     The Commission shall provide for the protection from
24 disclosure of the identity of persons making donations to the
25 Illinois Umbilical Cord Blood Bank. The Commission may request

 

 

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1 additional funding from any sources, including, but not limited
2 to, federal and private grants.
 
3     Section 25. Report. The Commission shall file a report with
4 the Governor and the General Assembly by January 1, 2009. The
5 report shall contain recommendations for a plan to establish
6 the Illinois Umbilical Cord Blood Bank based upon the
7 activities and findings of the Commission. The report shall
8 include, but is not limited to, the following:
9         (1) the legislative changes necessary to fulfill the
10     goals of this Act;
11         (2) the fiscal impact of the plan and suggested sources
12     of funding;
13         (3) recommendations for the oversight and governance
14     of the Illinois Umbilical Cord Blood Bank; and
15         (4) any other information deemed appropriate by the
16     Commission.
 
17     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
18 becoming law.