(a)  (1)  The department shall establish an advisory committee for purposes of advising the Legislature and the Governor on human cloning and other issues relating to human biotechnology. The committee shall be composed of at least nine members, appointed by the Director of Health Services, who shall serve without compensation.

(2)  The committee shall include at least one representative from the areas of medicine, religion, biotechnology, genetics, law, and from the general public. The committee shall also include not less than three independent bioethicists who possess the qualifications described in paragraph (3).

(3)  The independent bioethicists selected to serve on the committee shall reflect a representative range of religious and ethical perspectives in California regarding the issues of human cloning and human biotechnology. An independent bioethicist serving on the advisory committee shall not be employed by, consult with or have consulted with, or have any direct or indirect financial interest, in any corporation engaging in research relating to human cloning or human biotechnology. A person with any affiliation to the grant-funded cloning research programs operated by the University of California or the California State University is also prohibited from serving as a bioethicist on the advisory committee.

(b)  On or before December 31, 2003, and annually thereafter, the department shall report to the Legislature and the Governor regarding the activities of the committee.

(c)  The activities of the committee shall, to the extent that funds are available, be funded by the department out of existing resources.

(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 821, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2003.)