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2006 SESSION

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SB 370 Cord Blood Bank Initiative; established.

Introduced by: Richard L. Saslaw | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS PASSED: (all summaries)

Virginia Cord Blood Bank Initiative.  Establishes the Virginia Cord Blood Bank Initiative as a public resource for Virginians for the treatment of patients with life-threatening illnesses or debilitating conditions, for use in advancing basic and clinical research, and, in the event of a terrorist attack, to be used in the treatment of the injured citizens of the Commonwealth. The Initiative will be established as a nonprofit legal entity to collect, screen for infectious and genetic diseases, perform tissue typing on, cryopreserve, and store umbilical cord blood and will be a collaborative consortium covering all geographical regions of Virginia. The State Health Commissioner will develop or arrange for or contract with a nonprofit entity for the development of the Initiative. The medical schools, hospitals, biotechnology companies, regional blood banks, laboratories, and others will be requested to participate and assist in the design and implementation of the Initiative. Participants will estimate the costs of implementation and the Commissioner will assist in the development of cost estimates, compare and evaluate the estimates, and negotiate with the participants. The Commissioner will also coordinate the design of the Initiative, such as appropriate contact with pregnant women, obtaining informed consent for donations, storage periods, recycling of the samples and the sale or transfer of the samples being withdrawn from storage for use in basic or clinical research, and the development of reasonable rates and fees for cord blood products.  The Initiative will conduct outreach and research, particularly for ethnic and racial minorities. Information will be disseminated through health departments and Medicaid. Women will be offered the opportunity to donate umbilical cord blood; however, no woman will be required to make a cord blood donation. Health care entities must disclose financial remuneration for the collection of the cord blood prior to harvesting it. No person who objects to transfusion or transplantation of blood on the basis of bona fide religious beliefs will be required to participate in the Initiative. The Initiative will be implemented with such funds as may be appropriated or otherwise made available for its purpose. The Commissioner must, upon implementation of the Initiative, seek the development of a nonprofit entity to assume the operation and administration of it and may seek federal, state, and private grant funds for its continuation.

This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee to Study Medical, Ethical, and Scientific Issues Relating to Stem Cell Research in the Commonwealth (HJR 588 of 2005). This bill is identical to HB 413.


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