| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the establishment of the stem cell research program. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subtitle H, Title 3, Education Code, is amended |
|
|
by adding Chapter 155 to read as follows: |
|
|
CHAPTER 155. STEM CELL RESEARCH PROGRAM |
|
|
Sec. 155.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
|
|
(1) "Coordinating board" has the meaning assigned by |
|
|
Section 141.001. |
|
|
(2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
|
|
assigned by Section 61.003. |
|
|
(3) "Program" means the stem cell research program |
|
|
established under this chapter. |
|
|
Sec. 155.002. ADMINISTRATION; GUIDELINES AND |
|
|
PROCEDURES. (a) The coordinating board shall administer the |
|
|
program to: |
|
|
(1) make grants and loans to institutions of higher |
|
|
education and advanced medical research facilities in this state |
|
|
for: |
|
|
(A) stem cell research; |
|
|
(B) facilities for stem cell research; and |
|
|
(C) other vital research opportunities to |
|
|
develop therapies, protocols, or medical procedures that will |
|
|
result in, as speedily as possible, the cure for, or substantial |
|
|
mitigation of, major diseases, injuries, and orphan diseases; |
|
|
(2) support institutions of higher education and |
|
|
advanced medical research facilities in this state that receive |
|
|
grants under the program in all stages of the process of developing |
|
|
cures using regenerative medicine, from laboratory research |
|
|
through successful clinical trials; |
|
|
(3) establish the appropriate regulatory standards |
|
|
and oversight bodies for stem cell research and facilities |
|
|
development at institutions and facilities that receive grants |
|
|
under the program; and |
|
|
(4) assist potential candidates for grants under the |
|
|
program in the grant application process. |
|
|
(b) The coordinating board shall develop research |
|
|
priorities, guidelines, and procedures for the selection of |
|
|
specific projects at institutions of higher education and advanced |
|
|
medical research facilities. |
|
|
(c) The guidelines and procedures developed by the |
|
|
coordinating board must provide for awards on a competitive, peer |
|
|
review basis for specific projects at institutions of higher |
|
|
education and advanced medical research facilities. |
|
|
Sec. 155.003. FUNDING. The program may be funded by: |
|
|
(1) appropriations; or |
|
|
(2) gifts, grants, and donations made for that |
|
|
purpose. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |