[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 1431

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 13, 2020

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  JOSEPH PENNACCHIO

District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)

Senator  ANTHONY M. BUCCO

District 25 (Morris and Somerset)

Senator  HOLLY T. SCHEPISI

District 39 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblywoman  BETTYLOU DECROCE

District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)

Assemblywoman  VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE

District 37 (Bergen)

Assemblywoman  PAMELA R. LAMPITT

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators T.Kean, Singleton, Diegnan, O'Scanlon, Pou, Assemblymen Webber, Zwicker, Dancer, Holley, Assemblywomen N.Munoz, Stanfield, Assemblymen Benson and Scharfenberger

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes “Pediatric Cancer Research Fund” and establishes requirements for disbursement of monies deposited in fund; provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for pediatric cancer research.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on May 20, 2021, with amendments.

  


An Act concerning 1[voluntary contributions through gross income tax returns to support]1 pediatric cancer research, supplementing chapter 9 of Title 54A of the New Jersey Statutes and supplementing and amending P.L.1983, c.6 (C.52:9U-1 et seq.).

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    (New section)  a.  There is established in the Department of the Treasury a special fund to be known as the “New Jersey Pediatric Cancer Research Fund.”

     b.    Each taxpayer shall 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.

     c.     Any costs incurred by the Division of Taxation for collection or administration attributable to this act may be deducted from receipts collected pursuant to this act, as determined by the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury. The State Treasurer shall deposit net contributions collected pursuant to this section to the “New Jersey Pediatric Cancer Research Fund.”

     d.    The Legislature shall annually appropriate all funds deposited in the “New Jersey Pediatric Cancer Research Fund” established pursuant to this section to the New Jersey State Commission on Cancer Research, established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1983, c.6 (C.52:9U-4) 1,1 for pediatric cancer research projects. 

     1e.1  As used in this 1[subsection] section,1 “pediatric cancer research project” means a scientific research project 1[, which is]1 approved 1[by the commission and] pursuant to section 2 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        and C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill),1 which 1scientific research project1 focuses on the causes, prevention, education, screening, treatment 1,1 or cure of pediatric cancer 1, or the symptoms or effects experienced by patients following completion of a course of treatment for pediatric cancer,1 and may include, but 1[is] shall1 not limited to, basic, clinical, and epidemiologic research.

 

     2.    (New section)  The New Jersey State Commission on Cancer Research 1, in consultation with the advisory group established pursuant to section 3 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ),1 shall solicit, receive, evaluate and approve applications of qualifying research institutions for grants from the “New Jersey Pediatric Cancer Research Fund,” established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.    , c.   (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), to 1[conduct research relating to the causes, prevention, education, screening, treatment and cure of pediatric cancer.  As used in this section, “qualified research institution” 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, which is conducting a] fund1 pediatric cancer research 1[project] projects1 .

 

     13.   (New section)  a.  The New Jersey State Commission on Cancer Research shall establish an advisory group within the commission which shall be responsible for advising the commission on how moneys from the fund established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) to support pediatric cancer research projects will be distributed by the commission.

     b.    The size and composition of the advisory group shall be at the discretion of the commission and shall 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.

     c.     The advisory group shall meet at such times and frequencies as shall be required by the commission.1

 

     14.   Section 3 of P.L.1983, c.6 (C.52:9U-3) is amended to read as follows:

     3.    As used in this act:

     [a.]  "Approved research project" means a scientific research project, which is approved by the commission and which focuses on the genetic, biochemical, viral, microbiological and environmental causes of cancer, and may include, but is not limited to, behavioral, socio-economic, demographic and psychosocial research or research into methods of clinical treatment; or which focuses on pain management and palliative care for persons diagnosed with cancer.

     [b.]  "Commission" means the New Jersey State Commission on Cancer Research established pursuant to this act.

     [c.]  "Institutional support services" means all services, facilities, equipment, personnel and expenditures associated with the creation and maintenance of approved research projects.

     [d.]  “Pediatric cancer research project” means a scientific research project approved pursuant to this act, which scientific research project 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, and may include, but shall not limited to, basic, clinical, and epidemiologic research.

     "Qualifying research institution" means the Coriell Institute for Medical Research in Camden, New Jersey, Rutgers--The State University, Rowan University, Princeton University and any other institution approved by the commission, which is conducting an approved research project.  For the purposes of sections 2 through 5 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ), “qualifying research institution” 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, which is conducting a pediatric cancer research project.1

(cf: P.L.2012, c.45, s.131)

 

     15.  Section 5 of P.L.1983, c.6 (C.52:9U-5) is amended to read as follows:

     5.    The commission shall:

     a.     Review and authorize approved research projects;

     b.    Apportion all available funds to qualifying research institutions to finance approved research projects and necessary institutional support services;

     c.     Ensure that funds appropriated to approved research projects are not diverted to any other use;

     d.    Take steps necessary to encourage the development within the State of research projects on:

     (1)   the causes of cancer; and

     (2)   pain management and palliative care for persons diagnosed with cancer;

     e.     Compile a directory of all cancer research projects being conducted in the State; and

     f.     Provide the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature, with a report by January 30 of each year describing the status of the commission's activities and the results of its funded research efforts, which report shall include, with respect to the pediatric cancer research fund established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), 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.1

(cf: P.L.2000, c.63, s.2)

 

     1[3.] 6.1     Section 8 of P.L.1983, c.6 (C.52:9U-8) is amended to read as follows:

     8.    $1,000,000.00 shall be appropriated annually from the Cancer Research Fund established by P.L.1982, c.40 (C.54:40A-8 et al.) to effectuate the purposes of this act, except that only $500,000.00 shall be appropriated from the fund in fiscal year 1982-1983.  The full amount of the annual appropriation from the Cancer Research Fund mandated by this section to effectuate the purposes of this act shall be made notwithstanding any monies received by taxpayer voluntary contribution through gross income tax return to any cancer research fund designated for a specific type or category of cancer by State law.

(cf: P.L.1983, c.6, s.8)

 

     1[4.] 7.1     This act shall take effect immediately and apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1 next following enactment.