Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Medical Research Veterans topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Measure to position California for federal emerging-therapies research funding advances
Summary
SB 1224 passed out of the subcommittee and was sent to Appropriations; sponsors said the bill creates a statutory framework to compete for ARPA-H funding without using general fund dollars, and veterans’ groups urged expanded access to alternative PTSD and addiction treatments.
Senator Jones presented SB 1224, the California Emerging Therapies Research Partnership Act, saying the bill would create a narrow research-infrastructure framework to allow the state to compete for federal ARPA-H funds (testimony referenced a federal direction of at least $50 million). "California is uniquely positioned to compete for those funds," the author said, and emphasized that the bill would not spend general fund dollars and that any state fund would hold dollars only if federal awards or eligible non-general-fund monies are received.
David Cuda (identified in testimony as a state commander for the VFW of California and an Army retiree) urged the committee to support research funding that could expand access to alternative and complementary treatments for PTSD, depression and substance use disorders. "On average, more than 21 veterans die by suicide every day in America," Cuda said, arguing for broader treatment options and more research. Supporters including Heroic Hearts Project and other veterans groups registered backing during the hearing.
Committee members discussed and the author agreed to technical amendments (removing DHCS from the advisory structure, conflict-of-interest protections, and using existing CalVet resources). The committee moved and passed SB 1224 and referred it to the Committee on Appropriations.
