P.A. 638 of 2006
H.B. 6292 – Rep. Jacob Hoogendyk
H.B. 6293 – Rep. Leslie Mortimer 

P.A. 639 of 2006
H.B. 6294 – Rep. Tom Casperson
H.B. 6295 – Rep. David LawP.A. 635 of 2006
S.B. 1353 – Sen. Laura Toy

P.A. 636 of 2006
S.B. 1354 – Sen. Gerald Van Woerkom

H.B. 6294 Allocate $5 million from the 21st Century Jobs Trust Fund to the statewide network of cord blood stem cell banks in order to establish, operate and sustain.

H.B. 6295 Revise the definition of “life science” in the Michigan Strategic Fund Act to include umbilical cord blood research.

S.B. 1353 Lists the definitions used in the package of bills.

S.B. 1354 Requires the department to promote educational avenues on the uses of cord blood stem cells.

Background
This legislation is necessary to promote and supply umbilical cord blood stem cells for use in transplants, therapies and research. Adult stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood have produced many cures and therapies. Whereas research on embryonic stem cells have not cured one disease to date. The promise for the future is in adult stem cell therapy, and this legislation provides for the establishment and funding of a cord blood stem cell bank. A public stem cell network in Michigan, having the ability to partner with other banks nationally and internationally, will multiply the effectiveness of matching donors with patients. Those who are racially and ethnically diverse will also be encouraged to donate umbilical cord blood upon their baby’s birth, to increase the supply of minority stem cells.

Most importantly, extracting umbilical cord blood stem cells does not harm the donor. After the birth of a baby, the cord is clamped and the doctor or midwife immediately draws out 2-5 ounces of blood from the cord. The umbilical cord and placenta are considered “medical waste” and are normally incinerated in the hospital. The blood is tested for safety and frozen in liquid nitrogen (- 196 C) indefinitely. These stem cells have the potential to be reprogrammed into other types of cells (pluripotence), for many uses. Cells originating from the patient’s own body will not reject the transplanted cells.

In contrast, stem cells extracted from an embryo always result in the destruction of that embryo. When implanted in the receiving subject, the embryonic stem cells are rejected as foreign bodies and have a tendency to grow tumors. To date there has been a lot of hype, but no clinical trials and no therapies produced by embryonic stem cells.

History
The bills were introduced on 6/29/06 in the House and referred to the House Health Policy Committee with the exception of H.B. 6294, which was sent to the Appropriations Committee. On 9/12/06, the House Health Policy Committee reported the bills out with a vote of 15-0. H.B. 6294 was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee on 9/13/06 with a vote of 18-2, with 9 passing. The bills were passed on the House floor on 9/13/06. H.B. 6291,2,3,5 passed unanimously, 106-0. H.B. 6294 passed with a vote of 74-32. On 11/29/06, they were reported out of the Senate Health Policy Committee, 5-0 except H.B. 6294 with a vote of 3-2.H.B. 6294 died in the Senate chamber as a result of fiscal limitations. H.B. 6291and H.B. 6295 passed in the Senate on 12/13/06 with votes of 37-0 and 38-0, H.B. 6292 and H.B. 6293 were substituted and passed 68-37 and 38-0. H.B. 6292 and H.B. 6293 were concurred in the House on 12/14/06 with votes of 68-37 and 104-0 respectively.

S.B. 1353-4 were introduced on 6/29/06 and referred to the Senate Health Policy Committee. On 11/29/06, they were reported out of the Senate Health Policy Committee, 5-0. They were passed on the Senate floor 11/30/06, 36-0. The House passed the bills on 12/14/06 with a vote of 107-0.