A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ENACT THE STEM CELL RESEARCH HEALTH AND WELLNESS ACT TO PERMIT STEM CELL RESEARCH UNDER LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS TRUST FUND FOR ALLOCATION AS STEM CELL RESEARCH GRANTS.
Whereas, an estimated 128 million Americans suffer from the crippling economic and psychological burden of chronic, degenerative, and acute diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, cancer, diabetes, and Parkinson's disease; and
Whereas, the costs of treating, and lost productivity from, chronic, degenerative, and acute diseases in the United States constitutes hundreds of billions of dollars annually. Estimates on the economic costs of these diseases do not account for the extreme human loss and suffering associated with these conditions; and
Whereas, human stem cell research offers immense promise for developing new medical therapies for these debilitating diseases and a critical means to explore fundamental questions of biology. Stem cell research could lead to unprecedented treatments and potential cures for Alzheimer's disease, cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and other diseases; and
Whereas, stem cell research, including the use of embryonic stem cells for medical research, raises significant ethical and public policy concerns; and
Whereas, the ethical and policy concerns associated with stem cell research must be carefully considered; and
Whereas, the public policy of this State governing stem cell research must balance ethical and medical considerations based upon both an understanding of the science associated with stem cell research and a thorough consideration of the ethical concerns regarding this research; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 16 of Chapter 130A of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new Part to read:
"Part 4A. Stem Cell Research Health and Wellness Act.
"§ 130A‑413.1. Public policy relative to derivation, use of certain cells of humans.
(a)	It is the public policy of this State that research involving the derivation and use of human embryonic stem cells, human embryonic germ cells, and human adult stem cells shall:
(1)	Be permitted in this State only with the informed consent of the donor and only if the stem cells are:
a.	Embryonic stem cells obtained from miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or nonliving in‑vitro fertilized embryos; or
b.	Adult type stem cells obtained from umbilical cords, placentas, and amniotic fluid, or other tissues and organ systems.
(2)	Be conducted with full consideration for the ethical and medical implications of this research; and
(3)	Be reviewed, in each case, by an institutional review board operating in accordance with applicable federal regulations.
As used in this section, 'miscarriage' means spontaneous loss of pregnancy before the middle of the second trimester.
(b)	A physician or other health care provider who is treating a patient for infertility shall provide the patient with timely, relevant, and appropriate information sufficient to allow that person to make an informed and voluntary choice regarding the disposition of any human embryos remaining following the infertility treatment. The physician or health care provider shall present to the individual the option of storing any unused live embryos, donating them to another person, donating nonliving embryos for research purposes consistent with this Part, or other means of disposition consistent with applicable State and federal law. An individual who elects to donate, for research purposes, any embryos remaining after receiving infertility treatment shall provide written consent to that donation.
(c)	A person shall not knowingly, for valuable consideration, purchase or sell, or otherwise transfer or obtain, or promote the sale or transfer of, embryonic or cadaveric fetal tissue for research purposes except as permitted by this section or other applicable State or federal law.
(d)	An individual or entity who knowingly violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation."
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Health and Wellness Trust Fund the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) for the 2005‑2006 fiscal year.  These funds shall be allocated by the Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission as grants to nonprofit organizations conducting stem cell research.  Grants shall not exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000) per grant recipient. Funds allocated shall be matched by the grant recipient at the rate of one non‑State dollar for each dollar of grant funds awarded to the recipient. The Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission shall establish guidelines setting eligibility requirements for grant applicants, and for applying for, expending, and reporting on the use of grant funds.
SECTION 3.  Section 2 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2005. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.