Bill Text: CA ACR74 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Umbilical cord blood banking.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2010-09-07 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 116, Statutes of 2010. [ACR74 Detail]
Download: California-2009-ACR74-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: ACR 74 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
RESOLUTION CHAPTER 116
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 7, 2010
ADOPTED IN SENATE AUGUST 23, 2010
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 25, 2010
AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 16, 2010
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 24, 2010
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JANUARY 26, 2010
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Members Portantino and Hill
MAY 18, 2009
Relative to umbilical cord blood banking.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 74, Portantino. Umbilical cord blood banking.
This measure would state that the Legislature desires to find ways
to help California gain a viable public umbilical cord blood banking
system to ensure that all races and ethnicities have an equal
probability of finding a match when medically necessary. This measure
would also specify that the Legislature supports related research
being done with collected units that are not suitable for
transplantation.
WHEREAS, Since the first umbilical cord blood transplant in 1988,
the industry of collecting umbilical cord blood for public or private
use has grown rapidly, both as a treatment for over 70 medical
conditions and as an industry of biological insurance; and
WHEREAS, Even with the industry's rapid growth and umbilical cord
blood's current use to treat blood cancers, such as leukemia,
myeloma, and lymphoma, and more than 70 inherited immunodeficiencies
and other genetic and acquired blood diseases, including sickle cell
anemia, thalassemias, hemoglobinopathies, aplastic anemias, and
marrow failure disorders, and inherited disorders or errors of
metabolism, the public is largely unaware of the critical differences
between public umbilical cord blood banking and private umbilical
cord blood banking systems; and
Private Umbilical Cord Blood Banking
WHEREAS, Umbilical cord blood can be collected privately for any
consumer who wishes to pay for both collection and storage. The
private umbilical cord blood banking industry is entirely supported
by consumers who pay about $2,000 to collect, and $125 annually to
store, their families' umbilical cord blood. Private banks do not
charge consumers for release of their umbilical cord blood and any
decision regarding the use of the unit is up to the donor or the
donor's family; and
WHEREAS, Consumers are informed that banking their families'
umbilical cord blood may be clinically useful for their future
medical needs, but should be aware that to date, most transplants
have been provided by public banks because a patient's malignant or
genetic disease was most effectively treated by stem cells from
another individual, although stem cells from a matched sibling have
been especially suitable; and
WHEREAS, The exploration of umbilical cord blood's capacity to
cure is in its early stages, but since there is a strong likelihood
that the use of one's own stem cells, specifically in regenerative
medicine, will increase, the future of this incredible potential
supports private umbilical cord blood banking as a prudent choice for
those who can afford it; and
WHEREAS, Over the last 20 years, transplant physicians chose
family banks to transplant perfectly matched siblings. Recently,
neurological disorders, such as cerebral palsy and other injuries to
the brain, are being treated with the donor's own stem cells, and
there are clinical trials approved by the United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) to evaluate the use of a child's own umbilical
cord blood in regenerative therapies for diseases and conditions that
could not previously be treated, such as juvenile diabetes. These
indicate many future cures may come from autologous cells using the
patient's own immune system; and
WHEREAS, The private banking industry has been largely responsible
for the public's current knowledge of umbilical cord blood banking
and has been a consistent advocate of disseminating information about
umbilical cord blood banking to pregnant women and their families;
and
WHEREAS, The trend of disseminating information about umbilical
cord blood banking culminated in California with the enactment of
Senate Bill 1555 (Chapter 484 of the Statutes of 2006) that
authorizes distribution of information to families about umbilical
cord blood banking; and
WHEREAS, Several other states passed similar laws around the same
time as the enactment of Senate Bill 1555; and
Public Umbilical Cord Blood Banking
WHEREAS, In 2007, the California Legislature shifted its focus
from disseminating information about umbilical cord blood banking to
taking measures to ensure all races and ethnicities of all incomes
have an equal probability of finding a suitable match on public
umbilical cord blood registries; and
WHEREAS, Umbilical cord blood collected for public use is in high
demand; and
WHEREAS, The collection and storage of umbilical cord blood for
public use is free of charge to the donor and listed on public
registries for access by health providers for transplantation; and
WHEREAS, Public umbilical cord blood banks have been chosen by
transplanting physicians to provide stem cell units for approximately
95 percent of the 20,000 transplants performed to date; and
WHEREAS, Since the probability of finding a tissue match is
greatest among persons of similar genetic backgrounds and the current
inventory is deficient of genetically diverse umbilical cord blood,
especially from specific ethnic, racial, and multiracial individuals,
collection efforts are aimed directly at underrepresented groups;
and
WHEREAS, Since only about one-third of collected umbilical cord
blood is usable for transplantation, the remaining units should be
provided to research institutions exploring the potential of
umbilical cord blood stem cells to treat many debilitating and lethal
medical conditions; and
WHEREAS, The public umbilical cord blood banking system needs
financial support to ensure inventories can provide all ethnic and
racial groups with an equal probability of a match. Since public
umbilical cord blood systems do not charge donors, funds do not flow
until units are released to transplanting health providers, at a cost
of about $20,000 to $25,000 per unit. However, the current low
inventory means the number of matches are limited, and this system
under which payment is made after a match is found makes it difficult
for public banks to generate enough capital to fund significant
increases in the inventory without outside support; and
WHEREAS, The federal government enacted the Stem Cell Therapeutic
and Research Act of 2005 to collect and maintain umbilical cord blood
for public use in transplantation and research. To help in this
effort, Assembly Bill 34 (Chapter 516 of the Statutes of 2007) was
enacted to create a public banking infrastructure in California that
adds genetically diverse umbilical cord blood units to the national
public inventory to ensure Californians, who are ethnically and
genetically diverse, have their ethnic and genetic diversity
reflected in the inventory. The more the inventory mirrors the
genetic makeup of our state's population, the greater the chance our
constituents will find a match when they are in need; and
WHEREAS, These actions changed California's focus from being about
disseminating information about umbilical cord blood banking to
funding efforts that would collect and store umbilical cord blood for
public use; and
WHEREAS, Since almost half the births in California are to mothers
enrolled in state-funded programs who cannot afford to bank
privately, their only option is public banking; and
WHEREAS, The National Marrow Donor Program, in a recent plea to
states to help increase the national umbilical cord blood public
inventory, stated the following:
(1) States can help expand the number of publicly available
umbilical cord blood units by appropriating additional resources for
the collection and storage of units.
(2) Many states are currently passing legislation that mandates
public awareness campaigns or development of educational materials,
or both. These efforts can create a demand that cannot be met in many
areas and they do little to expand the national public umbilical
cord blood inventory; and
WHEREAS, The future of medicine that relies on umbilical cord
blood stem cells will likely require both public and private family
umbilical cord blood banking systems and collaborations between the
two systems. However, without building a viable public banking
system, these joint ventures will not be realized and many
Californians will be unable to access the benefits of current and
future health remedies umbilical cord blood does and will provide;
now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature desires to find ways to help
California gain a viable public umbilical cord blood banking system
to ensure all races and ethnicities have an equal probability of
finding a match when medically necessary; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature supports related research being
done with collected units that are not suitable for transplantation;
and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the State Department of Public Health and the
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
