HB 1271 -- Stem Cell Research

Sponsor:  Schoeller

This bill establishes requirements regarding stem cell research.
In its main provisions, the bill:

(1)  Specifies that reproductive cells collected for use in the
in vitro fertilization process cannot be used for research
without the consent of the donor;

(2)  Specifies that decisions regarding the creation of embryos
for infertility treatment cannot be influenced by investigators
who plan to use stem cells in research, and whenever possible,
the physician responsible for the infertility treatment and the
investigator should not be the same person;

(3)  Requires individuals performing human egg extraction for
research purposes to function independently from any in vitro
fertilization services;

(4)  Specifies that relatives or co-workers of individuals
performing research on human eggs cannot donate eggs for
research;

(5)  Specifies that no payments will be made to an in vitro
fertilization patient for donations in excess of the clinical
need for research purposes;

(6)  Specifies that a woman undergoing hormonal induction to
create reproductive cells for research purposes can be reimbursed
for direct expenses as a result of the procedure.  There will be
no reimbursement for donations of sperm or somatic cells for use
in nuclear transfer;

(7)  Requires that consent for a donation be obtained from each
donor at the time of donation.  A person who has expressed an
intent to donate reproductive cells after clinical care is
required to give informed consent at the time of donation;

(8)  Requires clinical staff to provide appropriate care without
prejudice regarding the patient's decision to consent or refuse
to donate embryos;

(9)  Specifies that clinical personnel who have a conscientious
objection to embryonic stem cell research or somatic cell nuclear
transfer research cannot be required to provide donor information
or secure donor consent for research;

(10)  Specifies that researchers cannot ask members of the
infertility treatment team to create more cells than necessary.
An infertility clinic or other third party obtaining consent or
collecting materials cannot be paid for the material obtained;

(11)  Requires that uniform tracking systems and common
guidelines for the distribution of cells be established; and

(12)  Requires the institutional review board to verify
compliance with the provisions of the bill prior to collaboration
between a Missouri-based investigator and an investigator in
another state or country.

Any person violating the provisions of the bill will be guilty of
a class A misdemeanor.  A second or subsequent violation will be
a class D felony.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:21 am