07 LC 29 2838S
(SCS)
Senate
Resolution 280
By:
Senators Johnson of the 1st, Smith of the 52nd, Thomas of the 54th, Staton of
the 18th, Adelman of the 42nd and others
ADOPTED
SENATE
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
the Senate Study Committee on Rights Relating to Reproductive and Genetic
Technology; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
sophisticated reproductive technology has made it possible to preserve eggs,
sperm, and embryos to be used at a later date; and
WHEREAS,
a large amount of genetic material, donated by men suffering from cancer or
heading off to war, is now being deposited in cryogenic storage banks for future
use; and
WHEREAS,
healthy sperm can even be extracted after a man´s death, frozen for years,
and then used to conceive a child; and
WHEREAS,
because of such new technologies, property rights issues have been raised
relating to the ownership rights of embryos in divorce actions; and
WHEREAS,
questions have also arisen relating to whether a deceased donor of sperm or eggs
should be recognized as a parent or whether children produced by using frozen
sperm or eggs after a parent has died can claim inheritance rights or be
entitled to life insurance proceeds or Social Security benefits; and
WHEREAS,
there is a need to examine these issues to determine if legislative action is
needed to ensure that property rights and other rights are defined and
protected, including whether legislation should be proposed in areas including,
but not limited to, advanced written directives prior to the creation of
embryos; the creation and treatment of embryos unneeded for fertility treatment
or reproductive purposes; the treatment of embryos in the event of divorce or
death involving a couple that has donated eggs or sperm or had embryos in vitro
fertilized; the treatment of unused embryos, including storage, disposal,
research, and adoption; the ethics of the use of unused embryos in scientific
research; and property rights relating to biometric information, such as DNA,
retinal scans, and information from implanted microchips.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that there is created the Senate Study
Committee on Rights Relating to Reproductive and Genetic Technology to be
composed of seven members of the Senate. The chairpersons of the Senate
Judiciary Committee, Senate Health and Human Services Committee, and Senate
Science and Technology Committee shall each be a member, and the other four
members shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor. The Lieutenant Governor
shall designate one of the members of the committee to serve as chairperson of
the committee. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the
committee.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the
conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and
recommend any actions or legislation that the committee deems necessary or
appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such
times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and
effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and
purposes of this resolution. The members of the committee shall receive the
allowances authorized for legislative members of interim legislative committees
but shall receive the same for not more than five days unless additional days
are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this
resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the Senate. In the event
that the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations with
suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or
before the convening of the 2008 session of the General Assembly, at which time
the committee shall stand abolished.