HB1310
To Amend The Newborn Umbilical Cord Blood Initiative Act; To Abolish The Arkansas Commission For The Newborn Umbilical Cord Blood Initiative; And To Declare An Emergency.
AI-Generated Summary
This bill proposes to amend the Newborn Umbilical Cord Blood Initiative Act in Arkansas. The primary action is to abolish the Arkansas Commission for the Newborn Umbilical Cord Blood Initiative. Administrative authority and all related functions, including records, contracts, personnel, property, and unexpended funds, would be transferred to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). The bill also updates statutory language to reflect that UAMS, rather than the abolished commission, is responsible for establishing and maintaining the Newborn Umbilical Cord Blood Bank. The purpose of the bank remains to collect and store postnatal tissue and fluid for scientific research and medical treatment, with a voluntary contribution option for parents. The bill specifies that existing rules and standards set by the commission will remain in effect until amended or repealed. An emergency clause is included, stating the act is necessary for efficient and cost-effective government services and to ensure the continuity of the Newborn Umbilical Cord Blood Bank's operations, with an effective date of July 1, 2025.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this bill would be the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), as it assumes direct administrative control and responsibility for the Newborn Umbilical Cord Blood Bank. This could potentially lead to greater integration of the bank's operations with UAMS's broader medical research and patient care initiatives. The public may also benefit from a potentially more streamlined and efficient operation of the cord blood bank, leading to improved services for research and treatment purposes. Citizens of Arkansas could also benefit from the declared efficiencies and cost savings associated with consolidating administrative functions.
Who Might Suffer?
The most directly negatively impacted entity would be the Arkansas Commission for the Newborn Umbilical Cord Blood Initiative itself, as the bill mandates its abolition. This would result in the termination of its existence, authority, duties, and functions, and the dissolution of its membership. Personnel employed by or associated with the commission in its current capacity may also be negatively impacted by the transfer of functions and potential restructuring of roles within UAMS.