BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 67

By: Nelson

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that human stem cell research is currently being conducted at universities across Texas, as evidenced by scholarly publications, testimony from university leaders and scientists at previous hearings before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, and invitations to legislators and their staff to tour university laboratories where this research is occurring. Stem cell research is supported by a variety of funding sources, including federal, state, and local funds as well as funding from private for-profit and nonprofit entities.

The parties further note that, despite the multitude of research projects being pursued across the state, there is currently no mechanism in place at either the state or federal level to collect data on the type, location, and funding sources of this research. S.B. 67 is intended to inform the legislature about the nature and funding sources of human stem cell research being conducted in Texas with the goal of allowing the legislature to make funding and policy decisions based on timely, accurate information.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 67 amends the Education Code to require the report of all research conducted at an institution of higher education during the last preceding year that each institution is required to  submit annually to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to include the amounts spent by the institution on human embryonic stem cell research and adult stem cell research during the year covered by the report and the source of the funding for that research. The bill requires the coordinating board, not later than January 1 of each year, to submit to the legislature information regarding human stem cell research obtained by the coordinating board from the required reports.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.