A bill regarding human embryonic stem cell research received unanimous first-round approval by the Nebraska Legislature on Tuesday.
The bill — LB 606 — represents a compromise between supporters and opponents of the research and is expected to easily make it through two more rounds of approval and be submitted to Gov. Dave Heineman.
In relation to research involving human embryonic stem cell lines, LB 606 would:
- Allow UNMC to do research with public and private funding on human embryonic stem cell lines as long as the cell lines were developed elsewhere; and
- Allow UNMC to do research with public and private funding on SCNT lines as long as the lines were developed elsewhere.
The bill would not:
- Alter the Board of Regents’ policy that allows UNMC scientists to use only federally approved stem-cell lines;
- Affect the Board of Regents’ policy that prohibits University of Nebraska scientists from conducting research using stem cell lines produced through SCNT;
- Restrict human embryonic stem cell line creation or research done using private money and private facilities; and
- Restrict SCNT cell line creation or research done using private money and private facilities.
As a condition of the compromise, key opponents and supporters of embryonic stem cell research have agreed to refrain from pursuing further legislation concerning the issue unless:
1) Private sector activity in Nebraska … destroys an embryo for research or creates an embryo through somatic cell nuclear transfer for any purpose;
2) Research is undertaken in the state that presents ethical considerations not contemplated at this time; or
3) Researchers begin doing work that would be in violation of LB 606.
LB 606 encourages scientists to consider research using non-embryonic stem cells. Up to $500,000 in state tobacco settlement funds will be set aside as matching funds each year for non-embryonic stem cell research projects with no single Nebraska institution being able to receive more than 70 percent of the funds.
Grants will be awarded by the Stem Cell Research Advisory Committee, a six-member body composed of the deans of the UNMC and Creighton University medical schools as well as four scientists outside of Nebraska. The outside scientists would be nominated by each of the medical schools.