HCS HB 1534 -- LIFE SCIENCES RESEARCH

SPONSOR:  Cooper, 155 (Lembke)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Health
Care Policy by a vote of 10 to 0.

This substitute requires 25% of the funds received from
subsequent participating manufacturers in the Tobacco Settlement
Agreement that are deposited into the Life Sciences Research
Trust Fund to be expended by the Life Sciences Research Board.
The board is required to spend 25% of the moneys in the trust
fund for the program that awards grants to establish and expand
umbilical cord blood banks.  The remaining 75% must fund life
science research projects involving the study, use, or therapies
involving human stem cells derived from non-embryonic and
non-fetal sources.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and
FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say the bill will put a portion of the
moneys received from subsequent participating manufacturers of
the Tobacco Settlement Agreement into research funds for
umbilical cord and adult stem cell research.  Cord blood is a
non-controversial source of stem cells that is abundantly
available.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Lembke; Campaign Life
Missouri; St. Louis Blood Cord Bank, SSM Cardinal Glennon
Children's Medical Center; Missouri Right to Life; Missouri
Catholic Conference; Missouri Family Network; and Missouri
Baptist Convention, Christian Life Commission.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Dominic Lackey, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:43 am