ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 1431

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  JUNE 22, 2021

 

      The Assembly Budget Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1431 (1R).

      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 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.

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

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.