BILL NUMBER: AB 40 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Portantino DECEMBER 4, 2006 An act relating to umbilical cord blood banking. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 40, as introduced, Portantino. Umbilical cord blood banking: advisory council. Existing law contains provisions governing the licensure of blood banks and health facilities. Effective July 1, 2007, these provisions shall be administered by the State Department of Public Health. This bill would require that department to establish an advisory council on umbilical cord blood donation that would make recommendations to the Legislature about how best to achieve specified objectives as set forth in the bill, including to increase the amount of umbilical cord blood donated for public use. The bill would require for council members to be appointed by the Governor, the President pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the Assembly. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. (a) The State Department of Public Health shall establish an advisory council on umbilical cord blood donation. The advisory council shall be comprised of members of a variety of backgrounds, and shall be appointed by the Governor, the President pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the Assembly. Council members shall serve without compensation, except that members shall be reimbursed for authorized travel costs and expenses. (b) The council shall make recommendations to the Legislature on how best to achieve all of the following: (1) An increase the number of public blood banks in California. The Legislature intends to accomplish this objective by using state funds and matching private and federal funds. The council shall make these recommendations to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2010. (2) An increase umbilical cord blood donation for public use, particularly among undersupplied ethnic minorities. The council shall make these recommendations to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2010. (3) Ensuring that all general acute care hospitals licensed in the state offer women the option to donate or collect umbilical cord blood. The council shall make these recommendations to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2011.