Honorable Four Price, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB810 by Parker (Relating to the provision of certain investigational stem cell treatments to patients with certain severe chronic diseases or terminal illnesses and regulating the possession, use, and transfer of adult stem cells; creating a criminal offense.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Health and Safety Code Chapter 1003 to require the Health and Human Services Commission to adopt rules designating medical conditions that are recognized to be a severe chronic disease or a terminal illness. The bill would allow patients with such medical conditions to access and use investigational stem cell treatment if certain requirements have been met. The bill also would amend Penal Code Chapter 48 to make it a Class A misdemeanor to sell or transfer adult stem cells, with exemptions under certain scenarios. The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
According to the Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas Medical Board, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
Local Government Impact
A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $4,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year, or both. Costs associated with enforcement, prosecution and confinement could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal implication.
Source Agencies:
503 Texas Medical Board, 529 Health and Human Services Commission