BILL ANALYSIS
------------------------------------------------------------
|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 471|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|1020 N Street, Suite 524 | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
------------------------------------------------------------
THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 471
Author: Romero (D) and Steinberg (D), et al
Amended: 5/28/09
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 7-1, 4/29/09
AYES: Romero, Alquist, Hancock, Liu, Maldonado, Padilla,
Simitian
NOES: Huff
NO VOTE RECORDED: Wyland
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 7-5, 5/28/09
AYES: Kehoe, Corbett, DeSaulnier, Hancock, Leno, Oropeza,
Yee
NOES: Cox, Denham, Runner, Walters, Wyland
NO VOTE RECORDED: Wolk
SUBJECT : Education: stem cell research
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill establishes the Stem Cell and
Biotechnology Education and Workforce Development Act of
2009, and requires the Department of Education, in
consultation with California Institute for Regenerative
Medicine (CIRM) and representatives of the biotechnology
industry, to promote stem cell and biotechnology education
and workforce development in the science curriculum
frameworks, the California Partnership Academies, the
California Resource Network, and other existing programs.
CONTINUED
SB 471
Page
2
The bill requests the University of California, in
consultation with CIRM, to include stem cell and
biotechnology in the Science Subject Matter Project and the
California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science,
as specified. The bill requests that the Independent
Citizens Oversight Committee, and entity created by
Proposition 71 (2004) to govern CIRM) give consideration to
education and workforce development when allocating funds
for stem cell research and facilities.
ANALYSIS : Proposition 71, approved by California voters
in November 2004, authorized $3 billion in state bond
funding for stem cell research and established the CIRM to
regulate stem cell research and provide funding for such
research and research facilities. Proposition 71 also
established an Independent Citizens Oversight Committee
(ICOC) to govern CIRM, established a constitutional right
to conduct stem cell research, and prohibited funding of
human reproductive cloning research.
Existing law provides for the establishment and maintenance
of the California Subject Matter Projects (CSMP) for the
purpose of developing and enhancing teachers' subject
matter knowledge and instructional strategies in order to
improve student learning and academic performance in core
content areas, including science.
Existing law provides for the operation of the California
State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS)
through the University of California (UC). The 2009-10
Budget Act provides $1.897 million for this program.
In March 2009, the State Board of Education (SBE)
unanimously adopted a proposal to include stem cell science
in the science curriculum and include the content in the
update of the 2010 Science Frameworks.
This bill:
1. Requires the Department of Education (DOE), in
consultation with the CIRM and representatives of the
biotechnology industry, to promote stem cell and
biotechnology education and workforce development in its
existing programs such as the California Partnership
SB 471
Page
3
Academies, the California Resource Network, regional
science resource centers, the K-12 High Speed Network,
and other specified entities.
2. Requires the DOE to post on its Internet Web site,
information and links about:
A. Biotechnology education programs as specified.
B. The CIRM education initiatives and related stem
cell education and workforce development programs.
3. Requests the UC Regents to consult with CIRM and
representatives of the biotechnology industry in
developing curriculum for COSMOS.
4. Requires the SBE to incorporate stem cell science
curriculum content into the next revision of the Science
Curriculum Framework.
5. Requests the ICOC, when allocating funds for stem cell
research and facilities, to consider education and
workforce development in addition to other criteria with
the goal of furthering this article.
6. States findings and declarations of the Legislature
relating to stem cell research and science, and the need
for all education, policymakers and institutions of
public education, and all relevant public agencies and
industry organizations to collaborate and make it a
priority to increase stem cell and biotechnology
education and workforce development.
Comments
Stem cell research . According to the analysis provided by
the Legislative Analyst for Proposition 71, stem cell
research may provide information on the complex events that
occur during human development that lead to serious medical
conditions and birth defects. Stem cells differ from other
cells in that they are unspecialized, can, under certain
circumstances, be transformed into cells with specialized
functions, and are capable of reproducing themselves, which
allow them to serve as a repair system for the body.
SB 471
Page
4
The various types of stem cells have different potential
for treating disease. Researchers indicate that stem cells
could be used to test the safety of drugs and offer the
possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and
tissues to treat diseases such as cancer, Parkinson's,
Alzheimer's, heart disease, diabetes, or to treat spinal
cord injuries.
To date, the CIRM governing board has approved more than
$693 million in research and facilities grants and is
currently considered to be the largest source for embryonic
and pluripotent stem cell research in the world. In March
2009, President Obama signed an executive order lifting
restrictions on federal funding for stem cell research and
directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to
support and conduct responsible, scientifically worthy
human stem cell research, including human embryonic stem
cell research to the extent permitted by law. To the
extent that industry, research institutions, and schools
can work together to address the education and training
necessary to fill positions in the stem cell field, this
bill could enable California to maintain the momentum
initiated through Proposition 71 and build a regenerative
medicine infrastructure that will generate jobs, contribute
to the economy, and help California maintain a competitive
edge in this emerging field of medicine.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2009-10 2010-11
2011-12 Fund
SDE $65 General
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/29/09)
BioCom
California Healthcare Institute
SB 471
Page
5
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
California State University
Don Reed, Californians for Cures
Student Society for Stem Cell Research
University of California
OPPOSITION : (Verified 5/29/09)
California Catholic Conference
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : The author's office states the
bill will have a positive fiscal effect by (1) making good
on the significant public investment made by the people of
California with approval of Proposition 71 of 2004, which
authorized $3 billion in state bond funds for stem cell
research and facilities. The follow-up step of aligning
public education with this public funding of stem cell
research is necessary to turn this important research into
therapies and cures and for California to realize the
economic benefits of stem cell research as promised in the
ballot information on Proposition 71; and (2) positioning
California for additional federal funds for stem cell
research made possible by President Obama's March 9, 2009,
executive order lifting federal restrictions on stem cell
research; (3) enabling California to leverage and expand
the significant investment that private industry has
already made in implementing science education programs in
partnership with public schools, such as those outlined in
the California biotechnology Foundation's soon-to-be
-released directory of education programs; (4) enabling
California to maximize the benefit realized from the public
funding of existing programs of the Department of Education
by promoting greater collaboration and resource-sharing
among the Department of Education, CIRM, and private
industry; and (5) enabling California to produce the
educated and trained workers needed to meet industry demand
in the growing stem cell and biotechnology sectors, thereby
keeping those jobs and tax-paying workers in California.
BIOCOM states, "SB 471 seeks to help insure a highly
trained and continuous workforce for the life science
industry, including that portion which is involved in the
stem cell arena. The life science industry is one of the
leading industries in the state in terms of jobs and
SB 471
Page
6
economic impact, yet is not currently recognized as a
priority in education. Currently, education in or
recognition of the life sciences is often determined by the
proximity of the industry to individual school districts."
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION : The California Catholic
Conference states, "To date after several decades of work,
the only successful therapies derived from stem cells have
been the result of the type of research that the CIRM will
not fund, i.e., research on nonembryonic stem cells. Until
CIRM pragmatically directs its funding towards research
that has proven effective and away from research that is
ideological, e.g., embryonic stem cell research,
Californian tax-payer will not see little return on their
multi-billion investment."
DLW:do 5/29/09 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
**** END ****