07 AM 28
0761
ADOPTED
Senator
Shafer of the 48th offered the following amendment:
Amend
SB 148 (LC 28 3437) by redesignating Sections 2 through 5 as Sections 3 through
6, respectively, and inserting after line 14 on page 1 the
following:
SECTION
2.
The
General Assembly finds and declares that:
(1)
Millions of Americans suffer from diseases that may eventually be treated more
effectively or even cured with stem cells;
(2)
Stem cell research in general has been hampered by the ethical controversy over
embryonic stem cells which are presently derived in a process resulting in the
destruction of the human embryo;
(3)
Embryonic stem cell research in particular has been hampered by difficulties in
manipulating embryonic stem cells in the laboratory and by the tendency of
embryonic stem cells to form tumors;
(4)
Stem cells are widely available from sources other than the human embryo and by
processes which do not result in the destruction of human embryonic
life;
(5)
The umbilical cord, placenta, and amniotic fluid are rich in stem cells which
may be used for scientific research and medical treatment without destroying
human life at any stage of development;
(6)
Nondestructive stem cell research using stem cells from postnatal tissue and
fluid has already resulted in treatments for anemia, leukemia, lymphoma,
Krabbe´s disease, and sickle cell disease;
(7)
Stem cell therapies from postnatal tissue and fluid are in clinical trials for
multiple sclerosis, Crohn´s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and
spinal cord injury;
(8)
Stem cell therapies from nondestructive stem cell research are being studied for
diseases as wide-ranging and diverse as corneal degeneration, heart disease,
stroke, muscular dystrophy, and Parkinson´s disease;
(9)
Stem cells have recently been derived from prenatal amniotic fluid collected in
routine amniocentesis testing without destruction of human embryonic
life;
(10)
Stem cells from prenatal amniotic fluid have been shown to possess the
approximate pluripotentiality of embryonic stem cells without the associated
risk of tumor formation; and
(11)
Destructive stem cell research using embryonic stem cells has failed to yield
any effective cures or treatments.
By
striking the colon at the end of line 20 on page 1; striking lines 21 and 22 on
page 1 and lines 1 through 25 on page 2, and by
striking "(12) It"
on line 26 on page 2
and inserting in lieu thereof
"it".
By
striking "public health"
on line 29 on page 4
and line 1 on page 5 and inserting in lieu thereof in each
place "health policy".