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Bill would create childhood cancer research commission and channel underused funds to clinical trials
Summary
House Bill 2082 would establish a childhood cancer and rare childhood disease research commission within the Department of Health Services to coordinate grants and channel federal funds, donations and underused state funds toward pediatric clinical trials; the Senate amendment makes the DHS director the grantor and ties funding to appropriations or federal awards totaling at least $5,000,000.
Chairwoman Bliss introduced House Bill 2082, saying it would create a Childhood Cancer and Rare Childhood Disease Research Commission within the Department of Health Services to award grants to health-care providers and research institutions engaged in pediatric clinical trials. Legislative staff told the caucus the Senate amended the bill to require the DHS director — not the commission — to award the grants and to make allocations subject to legislative appropriation or the award of federal grants, specifying an amount of at least $5,000,000 for childhood cancer and rare childhood disease research.
"Just to remind people that this is not a money bill," Chairwoman Bliss said, but she said the measure would provide a vehicle to coordinate and direct funds that are currently underutilized. "What we looked at is the license plate funds, for example, are not being used in a proficient manner in this area," she said, urging colleagues to support the amendment and the bill.
Supporters framed the measure as a way to centralize disparate funding sources — license-plate revenues, federal grants, gifts and donations — into a single mechanism for seeding and supporting pediatric clinical trials. The staff summary noted the Senate amendment was intended to ensure grant awards continue if the commission structure is revised by giving the DHS director authority to make awards and by making funding contingent on appropriations or federal grants.
The bill sponsor said the conference amendment strengthens the bill by creating flexibility to "weather the storm" in years when state funding may be limited. No formal vote or amendment motions were recorded during the caucus; the bill was described as scheduled for final read.
