A. On or before July 1, 2008, the State Commissioner of Health shall request information from one or more umbilical cord blood banks concerning the establishment of a public cord blood collection operation within this state to collect, transport, process and store cord blood units from Oklahoma residents for therapeutic and research purposes. Any such request for information shall contain provisions inquiring about the ability of the umbilical cord blood bank to:

1. Establish and operate one or more collection sites within the state to collect a targeted number of cord blood units;

2. Implement collection procedures designed to collect cord blood units that reflect the state’s racial and ethnic diversity;

3. Set up public cord blood collection operations not later than six (6) months after execution of a contract with the state, provided the umbilical cord blood bank is able to negotiate any necessary contracts related to the collection sites within that time frame;

4. Participate in the National Cord Blood Coordinating Center or similar national cord blood inventory center by listing cord blood units in a manner that assures maximum opportunity for use;

5. Have a program that provides cord blood units for research and agree to provide cord blood units that are unsuitable for therapeutic use to researchers located within the state at no charge; and

6. Maintain national accreditation by an accrediting organization recognized by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration.

B. On or before January 1, 2009, the Commissioner of Health shall submit, as and in the manner provided for by law, a summary of the responses to the request for information, along with any recommendations, to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the chairs of those committees of the Legislature with legislative responsibility over matters relating to public health.

Added by Laws 2008, c. 151, § 2, eff. July 1, 2008.