Federal

Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 -  (H.R..3) The Democratic-controlled House passed a bill January 11, 2007 bolstering embryonic stem cell research that advocates say shows promise for numerous medical cures.

The Biotechnology Industry Organization offers information on legislation effecting life sciences.

Kansas

Legislation for the 2007 session effecting the life science initiative:

• SCR 1606 - Designating the region from Manhattan, Kansas, to the Kansas City metropolitan area as the KC Animal Health Corridor and recognizing the value and economic benefits of the animal health industry throughout the State of Kansas

• HB 2098 - Providing for the defining of certain terms relating to human cloning

• HB 2255 - Human cloning; prohibiting certain expenditures of moneys appropriated from the state treasury by state agencies

• HB 2266 - Health care; relating to providing information concerning umbilical cord collection to certain pregnant women; enacting the Umbilical Cord Donation Information Act

• HB 2006 - Alexa’s Law; relating to crimes against unborn children

• HB 2303 - Creating the Kansas National Bio and Agro Defense Facility Interagency Working Group Act

• HCR 5009 - This resolution expresses legislative support to bring the NBAF to Kansas.

• HB 2134 - Powers, duties and functions of the University of Kansas Medical Center and School of Medicine, the University of Kansas Hospital and the University of Kansas Hospital Authority; prescribing limitations on and procedures for partnership, affiliation and other agreements with certain health care facilities, hospitals and research organizations

• HB 2403 - Certain life form engineering; concerning animal-human hybrid; creating certain crimes and providing penalties for such crimes; authorizing civil fines

• HR 6006 - Urging the Governor and the University of Kansas, the University of Kansas Medical Center and the University of Kansas Hospital Authority to not proceed with any affiliations for the University of Kansas Medical Center and the University of Kansas Hospital Authority with other hospitals, institutions and entities until the Legislature has had the opportunity to review the available information on any possible affiliations and to participate in the consideration of these matters affecting the future of the University of Kansas Medical Center and the University of Kansas Hospital Authority, particularly in relation to other important issues affecting Kansas and Kansans

• HB 2252 - Human cloning; relating to criminal and civil penalties

• HB 2254 - Human embryos; relating to criminal penalties

• HB 2291 - Income taxation; relating to credits; employers who employ certain members of the Kansas Army and Air National Guard or a Kansas unit of the Reserve Forces of the United States; establishing the Pluripotent Non-embryonic Adult Stem Cell Research Fund and the Kansas Umbilical Cord Bank Fund and providing income tax credits for contributions to such funds

• B 2 - Enacting the Unborn Victims of Violence Act

For more information on these issues, refer to the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures web site or the Kansas Legislative web site. Additional legislative information is available from the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.

Missouri

Stem Cell Referendum – Amendment 2:
Legislation to be introduced will be influenced by the November 2006 Initiative ballot measure to protect stem cell research and patient access to stem cell treatments in Missouri.

MOHELA:
On September 27, Governor Blunt’s plan was approved by the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA) board of directors subject to legislative approval in January 2007. The plan now includes restrictive stem cell research language.

Tobacco Funds – Amendment 3:
Governor Blunt plans to include $32.5 million in tobacco settlement funds in next year’s budget for life sciences capacity and infrastructure development.

For more information, refer to the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures web site.