(1) The general assembly hereby finds and determines that:
The national marrow donor program reports that researchers are studying umbilicalcord blood, also known as cord blood, as a source of adult blood stem cells that can be used to treat leukemia, lymphoma, and other life-threatening diseases;
For many patients with a life-threatening disease, a cord blood transplant may be thebest and only hope for a cure;
Cord blood is desirable for use in stem cell transplants because it has a large numberof adult blood stem cells;
Blood from each donated umbilical cord is frozen and made available for transplant,and if it cannot be used for transplant, the cord blood stem cells may be used for research;
Cord blood donations are urgently needed to keep up with the demand for transplantsand research; and
Many women in good health may be eligible to voluntarily donate their children'scord blood but are unaware of its unique value or of the existence of donation programs.
(2) Therefore, it is the intent of the general assembly to create the adult stem cells cure fund for the purpose of advancing umbilical cord blood collection for public blood banks and promoting awareness across the state.
Source: L. 2008: Entire article added, p. 2070, § 1, effective June 3.