AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

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 and funding from private for-profit and nonprofit entities.

 

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. This bill is intended to inform the legislature about the nature and funding sources of human stem cell research being conducted in Texas to allow to make funding and policy decisions based on timely, accurate information.

 

S.B. 67 requires that Texas institutions of higher education report to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) on the amount and sources of funding spent each year on human embryonic and adult stem cell research and requires THECB to report to the legislature annually on the amount and funding sources of these types of research as part of an existing annual report made by THECB.

 

As proposed, S.B. 67 amends current law relating to reporting requirements for institutions of higher education conducting human stem cell research.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 61.051(h), Education Code, as follows:

 

(h) Requires that each report submitted annually by each institution of higher education regarding all research conducted during the last preceding year 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.  Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), no later than January 1 of each year, to submit to the legislature information regarding human stem cell research obtained by THECB from reports required by this subsection.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2013.