06-R 152

2006 -- H 7922

Enacted 03/21/06

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL HOUSE COMMISSION TO PROMOTE AND DEVELOP A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CORD BLOOD PROGRAM/BANK FOR THE FUTURE OF DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Representatives Naughton, Crowley, Church, Rice, and Almeida

Date Introduced: March 21, 2006

     RESOLVED, That a special house commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of seven (7) members: one of whom shall be a member of the House of

Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker; one of whom shall be the President of the

Rhode Island Blood Center, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Hospital

Association of Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the Chairman of Medicine of the

Brown University Medical School, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of

the Rhode Island Medical Society, or designee; one of whom shall be the Chief Executive Officer

of the Quality Partners of Rhode Island, or designee; and one of whom shall be the Director of the

Rhode Island Department of Health, or designee.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a general assembly

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

of a legislator, provided that the Majority Leader or the Minority Leader of the political party

which is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general

public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to develop recommendations for the

establishment of the first national cord blood program in the country which will include assisting

the Rhode Island Blood Center to:

     (1) Develop its already sophisticated method of blood testing, collecting and transfusion,

which includes the Therapeutic Apheresis Program, red cell collection and exchange programs

for end stage leukemia and cancer patients;

     (2) Collaborate with academic medical centers and private research facilities throughout

New England and the nation;

     (3) Use Hematopoietic and progenitor cell therapies in an ethical manner in order to

influence the future of disease management, the uses of which are expected to multiply in the

years to come; and

     (4) Ensure that all patients, especially the profoundly affected minority community, and

hospitals in Rhode Island will have a safe and available supply of blood products and cellular

therapies as part of their medical care and be educated about the aforementioned.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson. Vacancies in said

commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

House of Representatives on or before June 28, 2007 and said commission shall expire on June

28, 2009.

=======

LC02845

=======