Senate Bill 2591

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH AN "UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD BANKING PROGRAM" TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; TO PROVIDE STANDARDS FOR THE PROGRAM; TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH TO ISSUE RULES AND REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as "The Umbilical Cord Blood Umbilical Cord Blood Banking Program Act."

(2) Umbilical Cord Blood Banking Program; establishment; duties of the State Department of Health; funding. (a) The Umbilical Cord Blood Banking Program is hereby established within the State Department of Health to promote public awareness of the potential benefits of cord blood banking, to promote research into the uses of cord blood, and to facilitate predelivery arrangements for banking of cord blood donations.

(b) The department shall:

(i) Develop a public education and outreach campaign via written materials, brochures, the Internet, and public service announcements to promote cord blood banking awareness and the benefits of cord blood banking.

(ii) Develop educational materials and brochures which shall be made available to the general public and potential cord blood donors through county health departments, health care practitioners, including obstetricians, gynecologists and pediatricians, health maintenance organizations, hospitals, walk-in medical centers, mobile care units, surgical centers, urgent care centers, and clinics and organizations serving pregnant women.

(iii) Coordinate and promote professional education programs for health care providers on the benefits of cord blood banking.

(iv) Establish a statewide toll-free telephone number to receive requests for information and to direct potential cord blood donors to available cord blood banks serving the area in which a potential donor resides.

(v) Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

(3) The State Department of Health shall accept and expend any grants, awards or other funds as may be made available for the purposes of this section. Subject to an appropriation from the Legislature, the department shall implement the provisions of this section.

(4) The State Department of Health is prohibited from using the Umbilical Cord Blood Banking Program for cloning or DNA research purposes.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.