BILL ANALYSIS
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
ACR 74 (Portantino and Hill)
As Amended February 24, 2010
Majority vote
HEALTH 18-0
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|Ayes:|Monning, Adams, Ammiano, |
| |Carter, Conway, De La |
| |Torre, De Leon, Emmerson, |
| |Eng, Gaines, Hayashi, |
| |Hernandez, Jones, Bonnie |
| |Lowenthal, Nava, V. |
| |Manuel Perez, Salas, |
| |Audra Strickland |
| | |
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SUMMARY : States 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.
Specifically, this resolution :
1)Makes a number of legislative findings and declarations
related to the public and private umbilical cord blood
collection industry as a treatment for blood cancers and other
diseases, the lack of public knowledge about the differences
of the public and private umbilical cord blood banking
systems, the lack of genetic diversity of public umbilical
cord blood inventories, the importance of using umbilical cord
blood that is not suitable for transplantation for research
institutions to explore the potential of umbilical cord blood
stem cells to treat medical conditions, and the importance of
building a viable public banking system.
2)States the Legislature's desire 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.
3)States the Legislature's support for research being done with
collected units that are not suitable for transplantation.
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EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires the California Department of Public Health (DPH) to
establish, by January 1, 2010, and until January 1, 2015, the
Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program (UCBCP) for the
purpose of collecting and storing umbilical cord blood and
increasing the amount of umbilical cord blood that is donated
in the state and added to the National Cord Blood Inventory.
2)Authorizes the UCBCP, to the extent private or public funds
are identified and secured for these purposes, to contract
with blood banks that are licensed or accredited to provide
umbilical cord blood banking storage services, for the purpose
of collecting and storing umbilical cord blood for public
transplantation services. Permits DPH to implement any
additional standards for blood banks to collect and store
umbilical cord blood through the adoption of regulations.
3)Requires DPH, contingent upon private funding, to conduct the
Umbilical Blood Community Awareness Campaign to provide
awareness and information regarding umbilical cord blood
banking options using print media, radio, the Internet,
outdoor advertising and other media, to establish an Internet
Web site, and to undertake public education activities related
to umbilical cord blood donation to targeted populations, as
appropriate.
FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS : According to the author, most cord blood is
collected for private usage and although this service is a great
benefit to individuals, it does not ensure the general public
has access to this potential treatment for a variety of medical
conditions. The author believes that this resolution will help
increase awareness for the need to create a public cord blood
banking system that will bring the benefits of this resource to
a broad and more diverse group of Californians.
According to information from the National Marrow Donor Program
(NMDP), cord blood, which is the blood collected from the
umbilical cord and placenta after a baby is born, is rich in
blood-forming cells that can be used in transplants for patients
with leukemia, lymphoma, and many other life-threatening
diseases. Cord blood is one of three sources of cells used in
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transplants; the other two are bone marrow and peripheral blood
stem cells. The NMDP estimates that, on any given day, more
than 6,000 patients around the world are searching the NMDP's
registry for a matching bone marrow or cord blood donor. Since
cord blood is stored and ready to use and it does not require a
perfect donor match, the NMDP states that it is especially
useful for patients who need a transplant quickly, patients who
have difficulty finding a matched bone marrow donor, and
patients from racially diverse communities who often have
uncommon tissue types. Patients are more likely to match
someone who shares their racial and ethnic heritage. The NMDP
reports that, in 2008, 36% of the 90,000 cord blood units in its
registry went to patients from racially or ethnically diverse
communities and the need for cord blood donations from these
populations remains high.
Public and private banks provide for the collection and storage
of cord blood. Public banks promote related and unrelated
donation, similar to the current collection of whole blood units
in the U.S., for transplantation or research purposes. Private
banks store cord blood from an individual for subsequent use by
the same individual or his or her family members should the need
arise. Private banks typically charge between $1,000 and $2,000
in collection fees and between $50 and $125 annually for
storage. Public banks do not charge for cord blood that is
donated for public use. The American Association of Blood Banks
(AABB) and the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular
Therapy (FACT) provide voluntary accreditation of cord blood
banks using standards governing all aspects of operation,
including collection, processing, and transplantation.
According to their respective Web sites, 25 facilities
nationwide are currently accredited by the AABB and eight
currently have FACT accreditation.
Analysis Prepared by : Martin Radosevich / HEALTH / (916)
319-2097
FN: 0003802