By George, Puente, Jones of Bexar, et al. H.B. No. 3572 77R11725 DLF-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to establishing an unrelated donor umbilical cord blood 1-3 bank. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: 1-6 (1) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of health 1-7 and human services. 1-8 (2) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services 1-9 Commission. 1-10 SECTION 2. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) Subject to available funds, 1-11 the commission shall establish a program to award a grant of 1-12 start-up money for the establishment in this state of an umbilical 1-13 cord blood bank for recipients of blood and blood components who 1-14 are unrelated to the donors of the blood. 1-15 (b) The commissioner by rule shall establish eligibility 1-16 criteria for awarding the grant. In awarding the grant, the 1-17 commission shall consider: 1-18 (1) the ability of the applicant to establish, 1-19 operate, and maintain an unrelated donor umbilical cord blood bank 1-20 and to provide related services; 1-21 (2) the demonstrated experience of the applicant in 1-22 operating similar facilities in this state; and 1-23 (3) the applicant's commitment to continue to operate 1-24 and maintain an unrelated donor umbilical cord blood bank after 2-1 the expiration of the term of the contract required by Subsection 2-2 (c) of this section. 2-3 (c) The recipient of the grant awarded under this Act must 2-4 enter into a contract under which the recipient agrees to: 2-5 (1) operate and maintain an unrelated donor umbilical 2-6 cord blood bank in this state at least until the eighth anniversary 2-7 of the date of the award of the grant under this Act; 2-8 (2) gather, collect, and preserve umbilical cord blood 2-9 only from live births; and 2-10 (3) comply with any financial or reporting 2-11 requirements imposed on the recipient under rules adopted by the 2-12 commissioner. 2-13 (d) The grant awarded under this Act is governed by Chapter 2-14 783, Government Code, and rules adopted under that chapter. 2-15 SECTION 3. RULES. Not later than January 1, 2002, the 2-16 commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement this Act. 2-17 SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September 1, 2-18 2001.