ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 3800

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 22, 2021

      The Assembly Budget Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 3800.

      As amended by the committee, this bill establishes in the Department of the Treasury a special fund to be known as the “New Jersey Pediatric Cancer Research Fund.”  Each taxpayer will have the opportunity to indicate on the taxpayer’s New Jersey gross income tax return that a portion of the taxpayer’s refund or an enclosed contribution shall be deposited in the special fund.  All funds deposited in the “New Jersey Pediatric Cancer Research Fund” are to be annually appropriated to the New Jersey State Commission on Cancer Research (Commission) for pediatric cancer research projects. 

      The bill, as amended, defines “pediatric cancer research project” to means a scientific research project that focuses on the causes, prevention, education, screening, treatment, or cure of pediatric cancer, or the symptoms or effects experienced by patients following completion of a course of treatment for pediatric cancer.  The term includes, but is not limited to, basic, clinical, and epidemiologic research.  The bill amends the current statutory definition of “qualifying research institutions” to provide that, in the context of the pediatric cancer research fund, the term may include academic medical institutions, State or local government agencies, public or private organizations within New Jersey, and any other institution approved by the Commission that is conducting a pediatric cancer research project.

      The Commission will solicit, receive, evaluate and approve applications of qualifying research institutions for grants from the fund to finance pediatric cancer research projects.  The bill establishes an advisory group within the Commission, which will be responsible for advising the Commission on how moneys from the pediatric cancer research will be distributed.  The size and composition of the advisory group will be at the discretion of the Commission, and will be limited to individuals who either treat patients with pediatric cancer, conduct research into pediatric cancer, advocate to advance pediatric cancer research or treatment, or have been affected by their own or a family member’s diagnosis of pediatric cancer.  The advisory group will meet at such times and frequencies as required by the Commission.

      As amended, the bill revises the current reporting requirements for the Commission to include, with respect to the pediatric cancer research fund, a summary of the use and impact of funds expended in the prior fiscal year and any recommendations for future initiatives or action regarding pediatric cancer research funding.

      As amended and reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 3800 is identical to Senate Bill No. 1431 (1R), which the committee also reported on this date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments revise the definition of “pediatric cancer research project” to include research involving the symptoms or effects experienced by patients following a course of treatment for pediatric cancer.

      The committee amendments establish an advisory group within the New Jersey State Commission on Cancer Research to advise the Commission on how the monies deposited in the pediatric cancer research fund should be disbursed.

      The committee amendments revise the current definition of “qualifying research institution” used in the “Cancer Research Act” to clarify how it applies in the context of the pediatric cancer research fund.

      The committee amendments require the Commission to include in its annual report to the Governor and the Legislature information concerning the pediatric cancer research fund and recommendations for future initiatives or action regarding pediatric cancer research funding.

      The committee amendments revise the title and synopsis of the bill and make various technical corrections to reflect the changes being made by committee amendment.  The amendments also make certain technical changes to the current law involving formatting and a citation for reports to the Legislature.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.