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SB 702 — Umbilical Cord Blood Banking
by Senator Flores
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Health Regulation Committee (HR)
This bill requires the Department of Health (DOH) to post on its Internet website resources and an electronic link to materials relating to umbilical cord blood which have been developed by the Parent’s Guide to Cord Blood Foundation, Inc., including:
- An explanation of the potential value and uses of umbilical cord blood;
- An explanation of the differences between using one’s own cord blood cells or another’s in the treatment of disease;
- An explanation of the differences between public and private umbilical cord blood banking;
- The options available to a mother relating to stem cells that are contained in the umbilical cord blood after the delivery of her newborn, including donating, storing, or discarding the stem cells;
- The medical processes involved in the collection of cord blood;
- Criteria for medical or family history that can affect a family’s consideration of umbilical cord blood banking;
- Options for ownership and future use of donated umbilical cord blood;
- The average cost of public and private umbilical cord blood banking;
- The availability of public and private cord blood banks to residents of Florida; and
- An explanation of which racial and ethnic groups are in particular need of publicly donated cord blood samples based on certain medical data.
This bill requires the DOH to encourage health care providers, who provide health care services directly related to a woman’s pregnancy, to make available to the pregnant woman before her third trimester, or at the woman’s next scheduled appointment with the provider during her third trimester, the information required under the bill to be posted by the DOH on its Internet website. This bill also absolves any health care provider or health care facility, including any employee or agent of the provider or facility, of any liability from a civil action, any criminal prosecution, or any disciplinary action if the provider or facility acted in good faith to comply with the provisions of the bill.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2011.
Vote: Senate 34-0; House 117-0