ARTICLE 1. California Stem Cell Research and Cures Act [125290.10. - 125290.80.]

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC 1.
in effect

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 125290.10. Section 125290.10.

General—Independent Citizen’s Oversight Committee (ICOC) This chapter implements Article XXXV of the California Constitution, which established the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (institute).

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 125290.15. Section 125290.15.

Creation of the ICOC There is hereby created the Independent Citizen’s Oversight Committee, hereinafter, the ICOC, which shall govern the institute and is hereby vested with full power, authority, and jurisdiction over the institute.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 125290.20. Section 125290.20.

ICOC Membership; Appointments; Terms of Office (a) ICOC Membership The ICOC shall have 35 members, appointed as follows: (1) The Chancellors of the University of California at San Francisco, Davis, San Diego, Los Angeles, Irvine, and Riverside shall each appoint an executive officer from his or her campus. In addition, the Chancellor of the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) shall also appoint a faculty member, physician/scientist, researcher, or executive officer from the UCSF Fresno/Clovis campus to promote geographic diversity and access. (2) The Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Treasurer, and the Controller shall each appoint an executive officer from the following three categories: (A) A California university, excluding the seven campuses of the University of California described in paragraph (1), that has demonstrated success and leadership in stem cell research, other vital research opportunities, therapy development, or therapy delivery, and that has: (i) A nationally ranked research hospital and medical school; this criteria will apply to only two of the four appointments. (ii) A recent proven history of administering scientific and/or medical research grants and contracts in an average annual range exceeding one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000). (iii) A ranking, within the past five years, in the top 10 United States universities with the highest number of life science patents or that has research or clinical faculty who are members of the National Academy of Sciences. (iv) For purposes of this category, the Governor may appoint an executive officer from the California State University system who has an advanced degree in biological sciences. (B) A California nonprofit academic and research institution that is not a part of the University of California, that has demonstrated success and leadership in stem cell research, other vital research opportunities, therapy development, or therapy delivery and that has: (i) A nationally ranked research hospital or that has research or clinical faculty who are members of the National Academy of Sciences. (ii) A proven history in the last five years of managing a research budget in the life sciences exceeding twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) annually. (C) A California life science commercial entity that is not actively engaged in researching or developing therapies or therapy delivery with pluripotent or progenitor stem cells or genetic medical treatments that has a background in implementing or developing experimental medical therapies, including conducting human clinical trials, and that has not been awarded, or applied for, funding by the institute at the time of appointment. A board member of that entity who generally meets the same qualifications may be appointed in lieu of an executive officer. (D) Only one member shall be appointed from a single university, institution, or entity for the purposes of paragraph (2). The executive officer of a California university, a nonprofit research institution or life science commercial entity who is appointed as a member, may from time to time delegate those duties to an executive officer of the entity or to the dean of the medical school, if applicable. (3) The Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Treasurer, and the Controller shall appoint members from among California representatives of California regional, state, or national disease advocacy groups, as follows: (A) The Governor shall appoint three members, one from each of the following disease advocacy groups: spinal cord injury; Alzheimer’s disease; and mental health conditions. (B) The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint three members, one from each of the following disease advocacy groups: type II diabetes; multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; and mental health conditions. (C) The Treasurer shall appoint two members, one from each of the following disease groups: type I diabetes and heart disease. (D) The Controller shall appoint two members, one from each of the following disease groups: cancer and Parkinson’s disease. (4) The Speaker of the Assembly shall appoint a member from among California representatives of a California regional, state, or national mental health disease or mental health conditions advocacy group. (5) The President pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint a member from among California representatives of a California regional, state, or national HIV/AIDS disease advocacy group. (6) The Treasurer and Controller shall each appoint a nurse with experience in clinical trial management or stem cell or genetic therapy delivery. (7) A chairperson and vice chairperson who shall be elected by the ICOC members. Each constitutional officer shall nominate a candidate for chairperson and another candidate for vice chairperson. The chairperson and vice chairperson shall each be elected for a term of six years. The chairperson and vice chairperson of ICOC shall be full- or part-time employees of the institute and shall meet the following criteria: (A) Mandatory Chairperson Criteria (i) Documented history in successful stem cell research or other vital research opportunity in therapy development or therapy delivery advocacy. (ii) Experience with state and federal legislative processes that must include some experience with medical legislative approvals of standards and/or funding. (iii) Qualified for appointment pursuant to paragraph (3), (4), or (5) of subdivision (a). (iv) Cannot be concurrently employed by or on leave from any prospective grant or loan recipient institutions in California. (B) Additional Criteria for Consideration: (i) Experience with governmental agencies or institutions (either executive or board position). (ii) Experience with the process of establishing government standards and procedures. (iii) Legal experience with the legal review of proper governmental authority for the exercise of government agency or government institutional powers. (iv) Direct knowledge and experience in bond financing. The vice chairperson shall satisfy clauses (i), (iii), and (iv) of subparagraph (A). The vice chairperson shall be selected from among individuals who have attributes and experience complementary to those of the chairperson, preferably covering the criteria not represented by the chairperson’s credentials and experience. (b) Appointment of ICOC Members (1) All appointments shall be made within 40 days of the effective date of this act. In the event that any of the appointments are not completed within the permitted timeframe, the ICOC shall proceed to operate with the appointments that are in place, provided that at least 60 percent of the appointments have been made. (2) Forty-five days after the effective date of this act, the Controller and the Treasurer, or if only one is available within 45 days, the other shall convene a meeting of the appointed members of the ICOC to elect a chairperson and vice chairperson from among the individuals nominated by the constitutional officers pursuant to paragraph (7) of subdivision (a). (c) ICOC Member Terms of Office (1) The members appointed pursuant to paragraphs (1), (3), (4), (5), and (6) of subdivision (a) shall serve eight-year terms, and all other members shall serve six-year terms. Members shall serve a maximum of two terms, unless earlier removed pursuant to paragraph (5). (2) If a vacancy occurs within a term, the appointing authority shall appoint a replacement member within 90 days to serve the remainder of the term. (3) When a term expires, the appointing authority shall appoint a member within 90 days. ICOC members shall continue to serve until their replacements are appointed. (4) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the appointing authority may replace a member, other than the chairperson or vice chairperson, who has served, as of the effective date of the act adding this paragraph, at least half of the member’s current term, by appointing a new member, who shall be eligible to serve a full term. These appointments shall be made within 90 days of the effective date of the initiative adding this paragraph. (5) The ICOC may, by a vote of 60 percent of a quorum, recommend the removal of a member by the member’s appointing authority, or in the case of the chairperson and the vice chairperson, the nominating authority or nominating authorities, if more than one constitutional officer nominated the chairperson or vice chairperson. The appointing authority or nominating authority or authorities in the case of the chairperson and vice chairperson, shall have the authority to remove the member, chairperson, or vice chairperson, respectively, upon receipt of the ICOC’s recommendation. If more than one constitutional officer nominated the chairperson or vice chairperson, each of them must agree in order to remove the chairperson or vice chairperson.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 125290.30. Section 125290.30.

Public and Financial Accountability Standards (a) Annual Public Report The institute shall issue an annual report to the public which sets forth its activities, grants awarded, grants in progress, research accomplishments, and future program directions. Each annual report shall include, but not be limited to, the following: the number and dollar amounts of research and facilities grants; the grantees for the prior year; the institute’s administrative expenses; an assessment of the availability of funding for stem cell research from sources other than the institute; a summary of research findings, including promising new research areas; an assessment of the relationship between the institute’s grants and the overall strategy of its research program; and a report of the institute’s strategic research and financial plans. (b) Independent Financial Audit for Review by Controller The institute shall annually commission an independent financial audit of its activities from a certified public accounting firm, which shall be provided to the Controller, who shall review the audit and annually issue a public report of that review. (c) A performance audit shall be commissioned by the institute every three years beginning with the audit for the 2010–11 fiscal year. The performance audit, which may be performed by the Bureau of State Audits, shall examine the functions, operations, management systems, and policies and procedures of the institute to assess whether the institute is achieving economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the employment of available resources. The performance audit shall be conducted in accordance with government auditing standards, and shall include a review of whether the institute is complying with ICOC policies and procedures. The performance audit shall not be required to include a review of scientific performance. The first performance audit shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (1) Policies and procedures for the issuance of contracts and grants and a review of a representative sample of contracts, grants, and loans executed by the institute. (2) Policies and procedures relating to the protection or treatment of intellectual property rights associated with research funded or commissioned by the institute. (d) All administrative costs of the audits required by subdivisions (b) and (c) shall be paid by the institute. (e) Citizen’s Financial Accountability Oversight Committee There shall be a Citizen’s Financial Accountability Oversight Committee chaired by the Controller. This committee shall review the annual financial audit, the Controller’s report and evaluation of that audit, and the financial practices of the institute. The Controller, the Treasurer, the President pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the Assembly, and the Chairperson of the ICOC shall each appoint a public member of the committee. Committee members shall have medical or patient advocacy backgrounds and knowledge of relevant financial matters. The committee shall provide recommendations on the institute’s financial practices and performance. The Controller shall provide staff support. The committee shall hold a public meeting, with appropriate notice, and with a formal public comment period. The committee shall evaluate public comments and include appropriate summaries in its annual report. The ICOC shall provide funds for all costs associated with the per diem expenses of the committee members and for publication of the annual report. (f) Public Meeting Laws (1) The ICOC shall hold at least four public meetings per year, one of which will be designated as the institute’s annual meeting. The ICOC may hold additional meetings as it determines are necessary or appropriate. (2) The Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, shall apply to all meetings of the ICOC, except as otherwise provided in this section. The ICOC shall award all grants, loans, and contracts in public meetings and shall adopt all governance, scientific, medical, and regulatory standards in public meetings. (3) The ICOC may conduct closed sessions as permitted by the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, under Section 11126 of the Government Code. In addition, the ICOC may conduct closed sessions when it meets to consider or discuss: (A) Matters involving information relating to patients or medical subjects, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. (B) Matters involving confidential intellectual property or work product, whether patentable or not, including, but not limited to, any formula, plan, pattern, process, tool, mechanism, compound, procedure, production data, or compilation of information, which is not patented, which is known only to certain individuals who are using it to fabricate, produce, or compound an article of trade or a service having commercial value and which gives its user an opportunity to obtain a business advantage over competitors who do not know it or use it. (C) Matters involving prepublication, confidential scientific research or data. (D) Matters concerning the appointment, employment, performance, compensation, or dismissal of institute officers and employees. Action on compensation of the institute’s officers and employees shall only be taken in open session. (4) The meeting required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 125290.20 shall be deemed to be a special meeting for the purposes of Section 11125.4 of the Government Code. (g) Public Records (1) The California Public Records Act, Article 1 (commencing with Section 6250) of Chapter 3.5 of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, shall apply to all records of the institute, except as otherwise provided in this section. (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require disclosure of any records that are any of the following: (A) Personnel, medical, or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. (B) Records containing or reflecting confidential intellectual property or work product, whether patentable or not, including, but not limited to, any formula, plan, pattern, process, tool, mechanism, compound, procedure, production data, or compilation of information, which is not patented, which is known only to certain individuals who are using it to fabricate, produce, or compound an article of trade or a service having commercial value and which gives its user an opportunity to obtain a business advantage over competitors who do not know it or use it. (C) Prepublication scientific working papers or research data, including, but not limited to, applications and progress reports. (3) The institute shall include, in all meeting minutes, a summary of vote tallies and disclosure of each board member’s votes and recusals on all action items. (h) Competitive Bidding (1) The institute shall, except as otherwise provided in this section, be governed by the competitive bidding requirements applicable to the University of California, as set forth in Chapter 2.1 (commencing with Section 10500) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code. (2) For all institute contracts, the ICOC shall follow the procedures required of the Regents by Chapter 2.1 (commencing with Section 10500) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code with respect to contracts let by the University of California. (3) The requirements of this section shall not be applicable to grants or loans approved by the ICOC. (4) Except as provided in this section, the Public Contract Code shall not apply to contracts let by the institute. (i) Conflicts of Interest (1) The Political Reform Act, Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000) of the Government Code, shall apply to the institute and to the ICOC, except as provided in this section and in subdivision (e) of Section 125290.50. (A) No member of the ICOC shall make, participate in making, or in any way attempt to use his or her official position to influence a decision to approve or award a grant, loan, or contract to his or her employer, but a member may participate in a decision to approve or award a grant, loan, or contract to an entity in the same field as his or her employer. (B) A member of the ICOC may participate in a decision to approve or award a grant, loan, or contract to an entity for the purpose of research involving a disease from which a member or his or her family suffers or in which the member has an interest as a representative of a disease advocacy organization. (C) The adoption of standards, including, but not limited to, strategic plans, concept plans, and research budgets, is not a decision subject to this section. (2) Service as a member of the ICOC by a member of the faculty or administration of any system of the University of California shall not, by itself, be deemed to be inconsistent, incompatible, in conflict with, or inimical to the duties of the ICOC member as a member of the faculty or administration of any system of the University of California and shall not result in the automatic vacation of either such office. Service as a member of the ICOC by a representative or employee of a disease advocacy organization, a nonprofit academic and research institution, or a life science commercial entity shall not be deemed to be inconsistent, incompatible, in conflict with, or inimical to the duties of the ICOC member as a representative or employee of that organization, institution, or entity. (3) Section 1090 of the Government Code shall not apply to any grant, loan, or contract made by the ICOC except where both of the following conditions are met: (A) The grant, loan, or contract directly relates to services to be provided by any member of the ICOC or the entity the member represents or financially benefits the member or the entity he or she represents. (B) The member fails to recuse himself or herself from making, participating in making, or in any way attempting to use his or her official position to influence a decision on the grant, loan, or contract. (j) Patent Royalties and License Revenues Paid to the State of California (1) The ICOC shall establish standards that require that all grants and loan awards be subject to intellectual property agreements that balance the opportunity of the State of California to benefit from the patents, royalties, and licenses that result from basic research, therapy development, and clinical trials with the need to ensure that essential medical research is not unreasonably hindered by the intellectual property agreements. All royalty revenues received through the intellectual property agreements established pursuant to this subdivision shall be deposited into an interest-bearing account in the General Fund, and to the extent permitted by law, the amount so deposited and interest thereon shall be appropriated for the purpose of offsetting the costs of providing treatments and cures arising from institute-funded research to California patients who have insufficient means to purchase such treatment or cure, including the reimbursement of patient-qualified costs for research participants. (2) These standards shall include, at a minimum, a requirement that CIRM grantees, other than loan recipients and facilities grant recipients, share a fraction of the revenue they receive from licensing or self-commercializing an invention or technology that arises from research funded by CIRM, as set forth below. (A) (i) A grantee that licenses an invention or technology that arises from a research program funded by CIRM, regardless of the number of grants awarded to that research program, shall pay 25 percent of the revenues it receives in excess of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), in the aggregate, to the General Fund. The threshold amount of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) shall be adjusted annually by a multiple of a fraction, the denominator of which is the Consumer Price Index, All Urban Consumers, All Items (San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose; 1982–84=100) as prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor and published for the month of October 2009, and the numerator of which is that index published for the month in which the grantee accepts the grant. For awards made on or after November 5, 2020, the threshold amount of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) shall be adjusted annually by a multiple of a fraction, the denominator of which is the Consumer Price Index, All Urban Consumers, All Items (San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose; 1982–84=100) as prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor and published for the month of October 2020, and the numerator of which is that index published for the month in which the grantee accepts the grant. (ii) If funding sources other than CIRM directly contributed to the development of the invention or technology, then the return to the General Fund shall be calculated as follows: The amount of CIRM funding for the invention or technology shall be divided by the total of funding provided by all sources, and that fraction shall be multiplied by 25. That numeral is the percentage due to the General Fund. (B) (i) A grantee that self-commercializes a product that results from an invention or technology that arises from research funded by CIRM shall pay an amount to the General Fund equal to three times the total amount of the CIRM grant or grants received by the grantee in support of the research that contributed to the creation of the product. The rate of payback of the royalty shall be at a rate of 3 percent of the annual net revenue received by the grantee from the product. (ii) In addition to the payment required by clause (i), the first time that net commercial revenues earned by the grantee from the product exceed two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) in a calendar year, the grantee shall make a one-time payment to the General Fund equal to three times the total amount of the grant or grants awarded by CIRM to the grantee in support of the research that contributed to the creation of the product. (iii) In addition to the payments required by clauses (i) and (ii), the first time that net commercial revenues earned by the grantee from the product exceed five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) in a calendar year, the grantee shall make an additional one-time payment to the General Fund equal to three times the total amount of the grant or grants awarded by ClRM to the grantee in support of the research that contributed to the creation of the product. (iv) In addition to the payments required by clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), the first time that net commercial revenues earned by the grantee from the product equal or exceed five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) in a calendar year, the grantee shall pay the General Fund 1 percent annually of net commercial revenue in excess of five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) for the life of any patent covering the invention or technology, if the grantee patented its invention or technology and received a CIRM grant or grants amounting to more than five million dollars ($5,000,000) in support of the research that contributed to the creation of the product. (3) The ICOC shall have the authority to adopt regulations to implement this subdivision. The ICOC shall also have the authority to modify the formulas specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2) through regulations if the ICOC determines pursuant to paragraph (1) that a modification is required either in order to ensure that essential medical research, including, but not limited to, therapy development and the broad delivery of therapies to patients, is not unreasonably hindered, or to ensure that the State of California has an opportunity to benefit from the patents, royalties, and licenses that result from basic research, therapy development, and clinical trials. The ICOC shall notify the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature 10 calendar days before exercising its authority to vote on the modification of the formulas specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2). The amendments made to this subdivision are not intended to affect the institute’s authority to modify the provisions set forth in this subdivision pursuant to this paragraph, including, but not limited to, any modifications that occurred prior to the effective date of the initiative amending this subdivision. (k) Preference for California Suppliers The ICOC shall establish standards to ensure that grantees purchase goods and services from California suppliers to the extent reasonably possible, in a good faith effort to achieve a goal of more than 50 percent of such purchases from California suppliers. (l) Additional Accountability Requirements To assure strict accountability and transparency, including rigorous conflict of interest rules, ethical research and treatment standards, and independent financial audits, every four years the ICOC shall update, at its discretion, the standards relating to conflict of interest rules, ethical research and treatment, and independent financial audits, to be generally aligned with standards adopted by the National Academy of Sciences to the extent that those standards are consistent with constitutional and statutory requirements applicable to the institute.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 125290.35. Section 125290.35.

Medical and Scientific Accountability Standards (a) Medical Standards In order to avoid duplication or conflicts in technical standards for scientific and medical research, with alternative state programs, the institute will develop its own scientific and medical standards to carry out the specific controls and intent of the act, notwithstanding Sections 125300, 125320, 125118, 125119, 125119.3, and 125119.5, or any other current or future state laws or regulations dealing with the study and research of pluripotent stem cells and/or progenitor cells, or other vital research opportunities, except Section 125315. The ICOC, its working committees, and its grantees shall be governed solely by the provisions of this act in the establishment of standards, the award of grants, and the conduct of grants awarded pursuant to this act. (b) The ICOC shall establish standards as follows: (1) Informed Consent Standards for obtaining the informed consent of research donors, patients, or participants, which initially shall be generally based on the standards in place on January 1, 2003, for all research funded by the National Institutes of Health, with modifications to adapt to the mission and objectives of the institute. (2) Controls on Research Involving Humans Standards for the review of research involving human subjects which initially shall be generally based on the Institutional Review Board standards promulgated by the National Institutes of Health and in effect on January 1, 2003, with modifications to adapt to the mission and objectives of the institute. (3) Prohibition on Compensation Standards prohibiting compensation to research donors or participants, while permitting reimbursement of expenses. (4) Permitted Reimbursement Standards permitting reimbursement for expenses, including, but not limited to, medical expenses and lodging, meals, and travel expenses, for research participants and caregivers in order to ensure functional access to clinical trials. For purposes of this paragraph, “caregivers” includes family members, friends, and professional caregivers providing supportive care. (5) Patient Privacy Laws Standards to assure compliance with state and federal patient privacy laws. (6) Limitations on Payments for Cells Standards limiting payments for the purchase of stem cells or stem cell lines to reasonable payment for the removal, processing, disposal, preservation, quality control, storage, transplantation, or implantation or legal costs or other administrative costs associated with these medical procedures and specifically including any required payments for medical or scientific technologies, products, or processes for royalties, patent, or licensing fees or other costs for intellectual property. (7) Time Limits for Obtaining Cells Standards setting a limit on the time during which cells may be extracted from blastocysts, which shall initially be up to 12 days after cell division begins, not counting any time during which the blastocysts and/or cells have been stored frozen. (8) Standards for Genetic Medical Treatments and Research Standards for research involving genetic medical treatments that shall, in the ICOC’s discretion, generally be based on the standards adopted by the National Academy of Sciences.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 125290.40. Section 125290.40.

ICOC Functions The ICOC shall perform the following functions: (a) Oversee the operations of the institute. (b) Develop annual and long-term strategic research and financial plans for the institute. (c) Make final decisions on research standards and grant awards in California across the research and therapy development and delivery spectrum, from stem cell discovery research and early development to clinical trials and therapy delivery. (d) Ensure the completion of an annual financial audit of the institute’s operations. (e) Issue public reports on the activities of the institute. (f) Develop and implement programs to enhance patient access to affordable stem cell and related treatments and cures through public hospitals and clinics and establish policies regarding intellectual property rights arising from research funded by the institute. (g) Establish and oversee the institute’s research, therapy development, and therapy delivery programs, including, but not limited to, the Alpha Stem Cell Clinics and Community Care Centers of Excellence, training and fellowship, and shared research laboratory programs. (h) Establish and oversee the development of policies and programs to help make treatments and cures arising from institute-funded research available and affordable for California patients, through engagement with health care providers, research and therapy development institutions, businesses, governmental agencies, philanthropists, foundations, and patient advocacy groups, and based on recommendations made by the Treatments and Cures Accessibility and Affordability Working Group. (i) Establish rules and guidelines for the operation of the ICOC and its working groups. (j) Perform all other acts necessary or appropriate in the exercise of its power, authority, and jurisdiction over the institute. (k) Select members of the working groups. (l) Adopt, amend, and rescind rules and regulations to carry out the purposes and provisions of this chapter, and to govern the procedures of the ICOC. Except as provided in subdivision (m), these rules and regulations shall be adopted in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (Government Code, Title 2, Division 3, Part 1, Chapter 3.5, Sections 11340 et seq.). (m) Notwithstanding the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), and in order to facilitate the immediate commencement of research covered by this chapter, the ICOC may adopt interim regulations without compliance with the procedures set forth in the APA. The interim regulations shall remain in effect for 270 days unless earlier superseded by regulations adopted pursuant to the APA. For purposes of subdivision (l), requests for applications, program announcements, and notices of award shall not be considered regulations. (n) Request the issuance of bonds from the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Finance Committee and loans from the Pooled Money Investment Board. (o) May annually modify its funding and finance programs to optimize the institute’s ability to achieve the objective that its activities be revenue-positive for the State of California during its first five years of operation without jeopardizing the progress of its core medical and scientific research program. (p) Notwithstanding Section 11005 of the Government Code, accept additional revenue and real and personal property, including, but not limited to, gifts, royalties, interest, and appropriations that may be used to supplement annual research grant funding and the operations of the institute. (q) Subject to the restrictions set forth in this article, develop conflict of interest standards, and at its discretion, consult with the National Academy of Sciences and the Scientific and Medical Accountability Standards Working Group, for the consideration of funding awards based on best practices established by the National Academy of Sciences to prevent conflicts of interest in the award of research funding and update those standards no less than every four years to be, at the ICOC’s discretion, generally aligned with standards adopted by the National Academy of Sciences, subject to the constitutional and statutory requirements applicable to the institute.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 125290.45. Section 125290.45.

ICOC Operations (a) Legal Actions and Liability (1) The institute may sue and be sued. (2) Based upon ICOC standards, institute grantees shall indemnify or insure and hold the institute harmless against any and all losses, claims, damages, expenses, or liabilities, including attorneys’ fees, arising from research conducted by the grantee pursuant to the grant, and/or, in the alternative, grantees shall name the institute as an additional insured and submit proof of such insurance. (3) Given the scientific, medical, and technical nature of the issues facing the ICOC, and notwithstanding Section 11042 of the Government Code, the institute is authorized to retain outside counsel when the ICOC determines that the institute requires specialized services not provided by the Attorney General’s office. (4) The institute may enter into any contracts or obligations which are authorized or permitted by law. (b) Personnel (1) The ICOC shall from time to time determine the total number of authorized employees for the institute, which number shall not exceed 70 employees (full-time equivalent), excluding members of the working groups and members of the ICOC, who shall not be considered institute employees, and excluding up to 15 additional institute employees (full-time equivalent) to support the development of policies and programs to help make treatments and cures arising from institute-funded research available and affordable for Californians. The cap on employees shall not apply to employees funded through sources other than bond proceeds or the General Fund. The ICOC shall select a chairperson, vice chairperson, and president who shall exercise all of the powers delegated to them by the ICOC. The following functions apply to the chairperson, vice chairperson, and president: (A) The chairperson’s primary responsibilities are to manage the ICOC agenda and workflow including all evaluations and approvals of scientific and medical working group grants, loans, facilities, and standards evaluations, and to supervise all annual reports and public accountability requirements; to manage and optimize the institute’s bond financing plans and funding cashflow plan; to interface with the California Legislature, the United States Congress, the California health care system, and the California public; to optimize all financial leverage opportunities for the institute, including, without limitation, generating matching or supplemental funds through collaborations with other states, nations, territories, or institutions; and to lead negotiations for intellectual property agreements, policies, and contract terms. The chairperson shall also serve as a member of the Treatments and Cures Accessibility and Affordability Working Group, the Scientific and Medical Accountability Standards Working Group, and the Scientific and Medical Research Facilities Working Group and as an ex officio member of the Scientific and Medical Research Funding Working Group. The vice chairperson’s primary responsibilities are to support the chairperson in all duties and to carry out those duties in the chairperson’s absence. (B) The president’s primary responsibilities are to serve as the chief executive of the institute; to recruit the highest scientific and medical talent in the United States to serve the institute on its working groups; to serve the institute on its working groups; to direct ICOC staff and participate in the process of supporting all working group requirements to develop recommendations on grants, loans, facilities, and standards as well as to direct and support the ICOC process of evaluating and acting on those recommendations, the implementation of all decisions on these and general matters of the ICOC; to hire, direct, and manage the staff of the institute; to develop the budgets and cost control programs of the institute; to manage compliance with all rules and regulations of the ICOC, including the performance of all grant recipients; and to manage and execute all intellectual property agreements and any other contracts pertaining to the institute or research it funds. (2) Each member of the ICOC except, the chairperson, vice chairperson, and the members appointed pursuant to paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 125290.20, who shall be compensated pursuant to paragraph (3), shall receive a per diem of one hundred dollars ($100) per day (adjusted annually for cost of living) for each day actually spent in the discharge of the member’s duties, plus reasonable and necessary travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of the member’s duties. (3) The ICOC shall establish daily consulting rates and expense reimbursement standards for the members of all of its working groups, including the members of the ICOC appointed pursuant to paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 125290.20. The daily consulting rate shall include time spent in preparation for, and participation in, institute, working group, and ICOC meetings and shall include compensation and expense reimbursement for caregivers when necessary to facilitate a member’s participation in a meeting as a result of the member’s medical condition. (4) Notwithstanding Section 19825 of the Government Code, the ICOC shall set compensation for the chairperson, vice chairperson, and president and other officers, and for the scientific, medical, technical, and administrative staff of the institute within the range of compensation levels for executive officers and scientific, medical, technical, and administrative staff of medical schools within the University of California system and the nonprofit academic and research institutions described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 125290.20, and travel expense reimbursement rates and moving and relocation expense limits.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 125290.50. Section 125290.50.

Scientific and Medical Working Groups—General (a) The institute shall have, and there is hereby established, four separate scientific and medical working groups as follows: (1) Scientific and Medical Research Funding Working Group. (2) Scientific and Medical Accountability Standards Working Group. (3) Scientific and Medical Research Facilities Working Group. (4) Treatments and Cures Accessibility and Affordability Working Group. (b) Working Group Members (1) Appointments of scientific and medical working group members shall be made by a majority vote of a quorum of the ICOC, within 30 days of the election and appointment of the initial ICOC members. The working group members’ terms shall be six years except that, after the first six-year terms, the members’ terms will be staggered so that one-third of the members shall be elected for a term that expires two years later, one-third of the members shall be elected for a term that expires four years later, and one-third of the members shall be elected for a term that expires six years later. Subsequent terms are for six years. Working group members may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms, provided that the ICOC may, by a two-thirds vote of a quorum, reappoint non-ICOC working group members to serve more than two consecutive terms. (2) Appointments of members of the Treatments and Cures Accessibility and Affordability Working Group shall be made by a majority vote of a quorum of the ICOC, within 90 days of the effective date of the initiative adding this paragraph. The working group members’ terms shall be six years, and members may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms, provided that the ICOC may, by a two-thirds vote of a quorum, reappoint non-ICOC working group members to serve more than two consecutive terms. (3) The ICOC may appoint ad hoc voting members to each working group as necessary to obtain expertise for a particular expert review session, not to exceed three members for any one expert review session. (c) Working Group Meetings Each group shall hold at least four meetings per year, one of which shall be designated as its annual meeting, except as otherwise determined by the institute. (d) Working Group Recommendations to the ICOC Recommendations of each panel of the working groups may be forwarded to the ICOC only by a vote of a majority of a quorum of the members of each panel for that working group. If 35 percent of the members of any working group panel award scores in the funding range, a minority recommendation report, including a summary of the strengths and weaknesses of the application and a rebuttal to the majority recommendation, shall be submitted to the ICOC. The ICOC shall consider the recommendations of the working groups in making its decisions on applications for research and facility grants and loan awards and in adopting regulatory standards, policies, and programs. Each working group shall recommend to ICOC rules, procedures, and practices for that working group. (e) Conflict of Interest (1) The ICOC shall adopt conflict of interest rules, based on standards applicable to members of scientific review committees of the National Institutes of Health, to govern the participation of non-ICOC working group members. (2) The ICOC shall appoint an ethics officer from among the staff of the institute. (3) Because the working groups are purely advisory and have no final decisionmaking authority, members of the working groups shall not be considered public officials, employees, or consultants for purposes of the Political Reform Act (Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000) of the Government Code), Sections 1090 and 19990 of the Government Code, and Sections 10516 and 10517 of the Public Contract Code. (f) Working Group Records All records of the working groups submitted as part of the working groups’ recommendations to the ICOC for approval shall be subject to the Public Records Act. Except as provided in this subdivision, the working groups shall not be subject to the provisions of Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, or Article 1 (commencing with Section 6250) of Chapter 3.5 of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 125290.55. Section 125290.55.

Scientific and Medical Accountability Standards Working Group (a) Membership The Scientific and Medical Accountability Standards Working Group shall have 19 members as follows: (1) Five ICOC members from the 10 groups that focus on disease-specific areas described in paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 125290.20 or from the members appointed pursuant to paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 125290.20. (2) Nine scientists and clinicians nationally recognized in the field of pluripotent and progenitor cell research. (3) Four medical ethicists. (4) The Chairperson of the ICOC. (b) Functions The Scientific and Medical Accountability Standards Working Group shall have the following functions: (1) To recommend to the ICOC scientific, medical, and ethical standards. (2) To recommend to the ICOC standards for all medical, socioeconomic, and financial aspects of clinical trials and therapy delivery to patients, including, among others, standards for safe and ethical procedures for obtaining materials and cells for research and clinical efforts for the appropriate treatment of human subjects in medical research consistent with paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 125290.35, and to ensure compliance with patient privacy laws. (3) To recommend to the ICOC modification of the standards described in paragraphs (1) and (2) as needed. (4) To make recommendations to the ICOC on the oversight of funded research to ensure compliance with the standards described in paragraphs (1) and (2). (5) To advise the ICOC, the Scientific and Medical Research Funding Working Group, and the Scientific and Medical Research Facilities Working Group, on an ongoing basis, on relevant ethical and regulatory issues.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 125290.60. Section 125290.60.

Scientific and Medical Research Funding Working Group (a) Membership The Scientific and Medical Research Funding Working Group shall have at least 23 members as follows: (1) Seven ICOC members from the 12 disease advocacy group members described in paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 125290.20 or from the members described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 125290.20. (2) At least 15 scientists nationally recognized in the field of stem cell research or other vital research opportunities, 15 of whom shall be designated to serve on each expert review panel. (3) The Chairperson of the ICOC. (b) Functions The Scientific and Medical Research Funding Working Group shall perform the following functions: (1) Recommend to the ICOC interim and final criteria, standards, and requirements for considering funding applications and for awarding research grants and loans. (2) Recommend to the ICOC standards for the scientific and medical oversight of awards. (3) Recommend to the ICOC any modifications of the criteria, standards, and requirements described in paragraphs (1) and (2) above as needed. (4) Review grant and loan applications based on the criteria, requirements, and standards adopted by the ICOC and make recommendations to the ICOC for the award of research, therapy development, clinical trial, and therapy delivery grants and loans. (5) Conduct expert peer review and progress oversight reviews of grantees to ensure compliance with the terms of the award, and report to the ICOC any recommendations for subsequent action. (6) Recommend to the ICOC standards for the evaluation of grantees to ensure that they comply with all applicable requirements. Such standards shall mandate periodic reporting by grantees and shall authorize the Scientific and Medical Research Funding Working Group to audit a grantee and forward any recommendations for action to the ICOC. (7) Recommend its first grant awards within 60 days of the issuance of the interim standards. (c) Recommendations for Awards Award recommendations shall be based upon a competitive evaluation as follows: An expert peer review panel shall consist of both scientists and patient advocates. There shall be 15 scientists on each expert peer review panel. Only the scientist members of the Scientific and Medical Research Funding Working Group shall score grant and loan award applications for scientific merit. Such scoring shall be based on scientific merit in three separate classifications—research, therapy development, and clinical trials, on criteria including the following: (1) A demonstrated record of achievement in the areas of pluripotent stem cell and progenitor cell biology and medicine, or in other vital research opportunities. (2) The quality of the research proposal, the potential for achieving significant research, or clinical results, the timetable for realizing such significant results, the importance of the research objectives, and the innovativeness of the proposed research. (3) In order to ensure that institute funding does not duplicate or supplant existing funding, a high priority shall be placed on funding pluripotent stem cell and progenitor cell research that cannot, or is unlikely to, receive timely or sufficient federal funding, unencumbered by limitations that would impede the research. In this regard, other research categories funded by the National Institutes of Health shall not be funded by the institute, unless such research funding is not timely or sufficient. (4) Notwithstanding paragraph (3), other scientific and medical research and technologies and/or any stem cell research proposal not actually funded by the institute under paragraph (3) may be funded by the institute if at least two-thirds of a quorum of the members of the Scientific and Medical Research Funding Working Group recommend to the ICOC, or if a majority of a quorum of the members of the ICOC determine, that such a research proposal is a vital research opportunity.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 125290.65. Section 125290.65.

Scientific and Medical Facilities Working Group (a) Membership The Scientific and Medical Research Facilities Working Group shall have 11 members as follows: (1) Six members of the Scientific and Medical Research Funding Working Group. (2) Four real estate specialists. To be eligible to serve on the Scientific and Medical Research Facilities Working Group, a real estate specialist shall be a resident of California, shall be prohibited from receiving compensation from any construction or development entity providing specialized services for medical research facilities, and shall not provide real estate facilities brokerage services for any applicant for, or any funding by the Scientific and Medical Research Facilities Working Group and shall not receive compensation from any recipient of institute funding grants. (3) The Chairperson of the ICOC. (b) Functions The Scientific and Medical Research Facilities Working Group shall perform the following functions: (1) Make recommendations to the ICOC on interim and final criteria, requirements, and standards for applications for, and the awarding of, grants and loans for buildings, building leases, and capital equipment; those standards and requirements shall include, among others: (A) Facility milestones and timetables for achieving such milestones. (B) Priority for applications that provide for facilities that will be available for research no more than two years after the grant award. (C) The requirement that all funded facilities and equipment be located solely within California. (D) The requirement that grantees comply with reimbursable building cost standards, competitive building leasing standards, capital equipment cost standards, and reimbursement standards and terms recommended by the Scientific and Medical Facilities Funding Working Group, and adopted by the ICOC. (E) The requirement that grantees shall pay all workers employed on construction or modification of the facility funded by facilities grants or loans of the institute, the general prevailing rate of per diem wages for work of a similar character in the locality in which work on the facility is performed, and not less than the general prevailing rate of per diem wages for holiday and overtime work fixed as provided in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1720) of Part 7 of Division 2 of the Labor Code. (F) The requirement that grantees be not-for-profit entities. (G) The requirement that awards be made on a competitive basis, with the following minimum requirements: (i) That the grantee secure matching funds from sources other than the institute equal to at least 20 percent of the award. Applications of equivalent merit, as determined by the Scientific and Medical Research Funding Working Group, considering research opportunities to be conducted in the proposed research facility, shall receive priority to the extent that they provide higher matching fund amounts. The Scientific and Medical Research Facilities Working Group may recommend waiving the matching fund requirement in extraordinary cases of high merit or urgency. (ii) That capital equipment costs and capital equipment loans be allocated when equipment costs can be recovered in part by the grantee from other users of the equipment. (2) Make recommendations to the ICOC on oversight procedures to ensure grantees’ compliance with the terms of an award.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 125290.70. Section 125290.70.

Appropriation and Allocation of Funding (a) Moneys in the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Fund shall be allocated as follows: (1) (A) No less than 97 percent of the proceeds of the bonds authorized pursuant to Section 125291.30, after allocation of bond proceeds to purposes described in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 125291.20, shall be used for grants and grant oversight as provided in this chapter. (B) Not less than 90 percent of the amount used for grants shall be used for research grants, with no more than the following amounts as stipulated below to be committed during the first 10 years of grant making by the institute, with each year’s commitments to be advanced over a period of one to seven years, except that any such funds that are not committed may be carried over to one or more following years. The maximum amount of research funding to be allocated annually as follows: Year 1, 5.6 percent; Year 2, 9.4 percent; Year 3, 9.4 percent; Year 4, 11.3 percent; Year 5, 11.3 percent; Year 6, 11.3 percent; Year 7, 11.3 percent; Year 8, 11.3 percent; Year 9, 11.3 percent; and Year 10, 7.5 percent. (C) Not more than 3 percent of the proceeds of bonds authorized by Section 125291.30 may be used by the institute for research and research facilities implementation costs, including the development, administration, and oversight of the grant making process and the operations of the working groups. (2) Not more than 3 percent of the proceeds of the bonds authorized pursuant to Section 125291.30 shall be used for the costs of general administration of the institute. (3) In any single year any new research funding to any single grantee for any program year is limited to no more than 2 percent of the total bond authorization under this chapter. This limitation shall be considered separately for each new proposal without aggregating any prior year approvals that may fund research activities. This requirement shall be determinative, unless 65 percent of a quorum of the ICOC approves a higher limit for that grantee. (4) Recognizing the priority of immediately building facilities that ensure the independence of the scientific and medical research of the institute, up to 10 percent of the proceeds of the bonds authorized pursuant to Section 125291.30, net of costs described in paragraphs (2), (4), and (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 125291.20 shall be allocated for grants to build scientific and medical research facilities of nonprofit entities which are intended to be constructed in the first five years. (5) The institute shall limit indirect costs to 25 percent of a research award, excluding amounts included in a facilities award, except that the indirect cost limitation may be increased by that amount by which the grantee provides matching funds in excess of 20 percent of the grant amount. (b) To enable the institute to commence operating during the first six months following the adoption of the measure adding this chapter, there is hereby appropriated from the General Fund as a temporary start-up loan to the institute three million dollars ($3,000,000) for initial administrative and implementation costs. All loans to the institute pursuant to this appropriation shall be repaid to the General Fund within 12 months of each loan draw from the proceeds of bonds sold pursuant to Section 125291.30. (c) The institute’s funding schedule is designed to create a positive tax revenue stream for the State of California during the institute’s first five calendar years of operations, without drawing funds from the General Fund for principal and interest payments for those first five calendar years.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 125290.70.5. Section 125290.70.5.

Appropriation and Allocation of Funding (a) Moneys in the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Fund shall be allocated as follows: (1) (A) No less than 95.5 percent of the proceeds of the bonds authorized pursuant to Section 125291.110, net of bond proceeds allocated to purposes described in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 125291.100, shall be used for grants and grant oversight as provided in this chapter. (B) Not less than 98 percent of the proceeds of bonds used for grants shall be used for research, therapy development, and therapy delivery grants, with no more than the following amounts, as stipulated below, to be committed during the first 10 years following the effective date of the initiative adding this subparagraph, with each year’s funding commitments to be advanced over a period of one to seven years, except that any such funds that are not committed may be carried over to one or more following years. The maximum amount of research funding to be allocated annually is as follows: year 1, 11 percent; year 2, 11 percent; years 3 through 10, 9 percent; and year 11 and each year thereafter, 6 percent cumulatively. To accomplish the goals of Section 125290.75, up to 2 percent of the amount available for grants may be used for research consulting in support of access to, and the affordability of, treatments and cures arising from institute-funded research and therapy development and delivery, as determined by the governing board of the institute based on the recommendations of the Treatments and Cures Accessibility and Affordability Working Group and the president. (C) Not more than 3 percent of the proceeds of bonds authorized by Section 125291.110 may be used by the institute for research and research facilities implementation costs, including the development, administration, and oversight of the grant-making process. (2) (A) Not more than 3.5 percent of the proceeds of the bonds authorized pursuant to Section 125291.110 shall be used for the costs of general administration of the institute. (B) Not more than 1 percent of the proceeds of the bonds authorized pursuant to Section 125291.110 may be used by the institute to pay for the costs of up to 15 full-time employees over 10 to 15 or more years, including, but not limited to, administrative support, facilities costs, salary, benefits, travel reimbursement, and meeting costs, to support the work of the institute to develop policies and programs to help Californians obtain access to human clinical trials, therapies, mitigating treatments, and cures arising from institute-funded research and to promote the accessibility and affordability of human clinical trials, treatments, and cures for Californians. (3) In any single year, any new research funding to any single grantee for any program year is limited to no more than 1 percent of the total bonds authorized pursuant to Section 125291.110. This limitation shall be considered separately for each new proposal without aggregating any prior year approvals that may fund research activities. This requirement shall be determinative, unless 65 percent of a quorum of the ICOC approves a higher limit for that grantee. (4) Up to 1.5 percent of the proceeds of the bonds authorized pursuant to Section 125291.110, net of costs described in paragraphs (2), (4), and (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 125291.100, shall be allocated for grants to build, equip, or fund operations of Community Care Centers of Excellence and up to one-half of 1 percent shall be allocated to build or equip shared labs, which are intended to be operational in the first five years following the effective date of the initiative adding this section. Funding received by a grantee from an institute award for construction shall be subject to prevailing wage laws. (5) The institute shall limit indirect costs to no more than 25 percent of a research award, excluding amounts included in a facilities award, except that the indirect cost limitation may be increased by that amount by which the grantee provides matching funds in excess of 20 percent of the grant amount. (b) The institute’s funding schedule is designed to create a positive tax revenue stream for the State of California during the first five calendar years following the voters’ approval of the initiative adding this section, without drawing funds from the state General Fund for principal and interest payments for those first five calendar years. (c) The institute shall allocate at least one billion five hundred million dollars ($1,500,000,000) of the proceeds of the bonds authorized pursuant to Section 125291.110 to make grants for research, therapy development, and therapy delivery involving diseases and conditions of the brain and central nervous system, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, dementia, epilepsy, schizophrenia, depression, traumatic brain injury, brain cancer, and autism, and for grant oversight and general administration costs associated with these grants and loans, subject to the limits in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) and subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a). (d) The allocation of the proceeds of bonds authorized pursuant to Section 125291.30 shall continue to be governed by Section 125290.70.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 125290.71. Section 125290.71.

Under the guidance of the ICOC, the institute shall, by January 31, 2012, create a transition plan addressing the expiration of current bond funding. A copy of the transition plan shall be transmitted to the Governor, the Controller, and the Legislature within 30 days of its completion.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 125290.72. Section 125290.72.

Expand Alpha Stem Cell Clinic Program and Establish Community Care Centers of Excellence Program (a) The institute shall expand the Alpha Stem Cell Clinic Program and establish the Community Care Centers of Excellence Program to fund the establishment of centers of excellence where clinical trials are conducted and treatments and cures are made available for all patients. The goal of the Community Care Centers of Excellence Program is to expand the capacity of the Alpha Stem Cell Clinic Program to promote access to human clinical trials and the accessibility of treatments and cures arising from institute-funded research for patients in California by establishing geographically diverse centers of excellence to conduct clinical trials and to seek to make the resulting treatments and cures broadly available to California patients. (b) The institute shall prioritize the funding of applications for Community Care Centers of Excellence that enhance the geographic distribution of Community Care Centers of Excellence across the state, considering the location of the Alpha Stem Cell Clinics, to promote patient access. The institute shall prioritize applications for Alpha Stem Cell Clinics and Community Care Centers of Excellence that offer matching funds or verified in-kind support, consistent with the highest medical standards, as established by the governing board of the institute. (c) Applications for Alpha Stem Cell Clinic and Community Care Centers of Excellence grants shall be required to include a plan for enhancing access to clinical trials for California patients and making treatments and cures that arise from institute-funded research more widely available to California patients, including addressing how the applicant will support the ancillary hospital and access costs of patients participating in clinical trials to enhance access to trials for California patients, regardless of their economic means and geographical location. (d) Alpha Stem Cell Clinic and Community Care Centers of Excellence awards shall be made pursuant to the procedures set forth in Article 1 (commencing with Section 125290.10) of Chapter 3 of Part 5 of Division 106.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 125290.73. Section 125290.73.

Scientific and Medical Training and Fellowship Programs (a) The institute shall establish training and fellowship programs. The goal of the training and fellowship programs shall be to: (1) Ensure that California has the workforce necessary to move new discoveries from the research stage to the clinic. (2) Accelerate the accessibility of treatments and cures, and make treatments and cures arising from institute-funded research available to California patients. (3) Prepare California undergraduates and master’s students for careers in stem cell research and other vital research opportunities and in the development and delivery of treatments and cures. (4) Support graduate students, postdoctoral students, and medical students, including, but not limited to, interns, residents, and graduate fellows who work in the fields of stem cell and other vital research opportunities and in the development and delivery of treatments and cures, with fellowships. (b) (1) (A) The program shall provide awards to California Community Colleges and California State University campuses to establish training programs to prepare undergraduates and provide fellowships for master’s graduate students for advanced degrees and technical careers in stem cell research and other vital research opportunities and the development and delivery of treatments and cures, including hands-on training and education in stem cell research and other vital research opportunities and in the development and delivery of treatments and cures. Direct patient engagement and outreach activities that engage California’s diverse communities to ensure that all communities are aware of, and have access to, institute-funded treatments and cures shall be a priority outcome of this program. The institute shall prioritize the funding of applications from institutions that enhance the geographic distribution of training across the state and socio-economic diversity and applications that offer matching funds or verified in-kind support. (B) The institute may establish coinvestment, sponsored apprenticeships as part of the training program in order to leverage the institute’s funding and create employment opportunities for students in technical positions that advance the fields of stem cell and other vital research opportunities and the development and delivery of treatments and cures. (2) (A) The fellowship program shall provide awards to academic and nonprofit research institutions in California to administer fellowship awards to graduate and postdoctoral students and medical school students, including, but not limited to, interns, residents, and graduate fellows, engaged in stem cell research and other vital research opportunities and the development and delivery of treatments and cures. Fellowship awards may be freestanding or supplemental of other sources of funding. (B) The institute may establish a program to empower fellows to work in Alpha Stem Cell Clinics and Community Care Centers of Excellence as part of their participation in the fellowship program. (c) Training and fellowship program awards shall be made pursuant to the procedures set forth in Article 1 (commencing with Section 125290.10) of Chapter 3 of Part 5 of Division 106.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 125290.74. Section 125290.74.

Shared Research Laboratory Program (a) The institute shall reestablish a Shared Research Laboratory Program to provide funding to academic and nonprofit research institutions in California for specialized instrumentation, a supply of cell lines, culture materials, and instruction and training in research methods and techniques. Awardees of Shared Research Laboratory grants shall be required to offer use of the research laboratory to investigators conducting research at the awardee institution and provide a reasonable access plan for neighboring research institutions, and to offer instruction and training opportunities to students and investigators at the awardee institution and provide a reasonable access plan for neighboring research institutions. (b) The institute shall prioritize the funding of applications that enhance the geographic distribution of Shared Research Laboratories across the state and applications that offer matching funds or verified in-kind support. (c) Shared Research Laboratory Program awards shall be made pursuant to the procedures set forth in Article 1 (commencing with Section 125290.10) of Chapter 3 of Part 5 of Division 106.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 125290.75. Section 125290.75.

Treatments and Cures Accessibility and Affordability Working Group (a) Membership The Treatments and Cures Accessibility and Affordability Working Group shall have 17 members, nominated by the chairperson or vice chairperson and approved by the board, as follows: (1) Five members of the ICOC (the governing board), with at least two of those members drawn from the appointments made pursuant to paragraph (3), (4), (5), or (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 125290.20. (2) An individual who has private sector experience in innovative therapy medical coverage terms, qualifications, and the process for reimbursement, including, if possible, experience with coverage negotiations with private insurers, health management organizations, or corporate self-insurance health plans. (3) An expert or a highly knowledgeable individual with experience in federal therapy coverage, qualifications, and process for reimbursement, including, if possible, experience with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (4) An expert or a highly knowledgeable individual with experience in California’s public insurance program (Covered California), coverage, qualifications, and the process for reimbursement of innovative therapies. (5) Two representatives from hospitals in California that are participating in stem cell clinical trials or that are treating patients with federal Food and Drug Administration approved stem cell or genetic therapies. (6) A representative from a philanthropic organization who has experience assisting patients with clinical trial access and affordability or with access to, and the affordability of, innovative therapies. (7) Two representatives from patient advocacy organizations who have technical expertise or experience in coverage, qualifications, and the process for reimbursement of innovative therapies. (8) A health care economist with experience in advising or negotiating with private insurers, government insurers, or corporate self-insurance programs on coverage for innovative therapies or human trials, including experience in assisting hospitals and clinics in covering financial gaps in coverage of the direct and indirect costs of innovative therapies. (9) A patient navigator with training and experience helping patients obtain financial support from private insurers, public support, or nonprofit support, and helping patients obtain social service support to facilitate their participation in federal Food and Drug Administration approved human trials or their qualification for access and financial assistance for innovative therapies. (10) The chairperson and vice chairperson of the governing board. (b) Functions The Treatments and Cures Accessibility and Affordability Working Group shall have the following functions: (1) Examine, develop, and assist with the implementation of financial models to enhance the accessibility and affordability of treatments and cures arising from institute-funded research for Californians and to enhance access to clinical trials, including reimbursement alternatives for patient-qualified costs to help achieve the objective that reimbursement covers patient expenses, including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lodging, meals, and travel for research participants and their caregivers. (2) Recommend to the governing board policies and programs to help Californians obtain access to human clinical trials and to make treatments and cures arising from institute-funded research available to California patients throughout California. (3) Recommend to the governing board policies and programs to help Californians afford to participate in human clinical trials and to make treatments and cures arising from institute-funded research affordable to California patients, regardless of their financial means. (4) Work with the Alpha Stem Cell Clinics and Community Care Centers of Excellence and other California health care institutions, and health care payors, including private insurers, government programs, and foundations, to develop model programs and coverage models to promote the access and affordability of treatments and cures arising from institute-funded research for California patients, regardless of their financial means, or the disease, injury, or health condition from which they suffer. (5) Advise the governing board regarding the coverage criteria and the process for reimbursement of innovative therapies and cures arising from institute-funded research and made available to patients through publicly or privately funded programs in California with the goal of expanding access and affordability.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 125290.76. Section 125290.76.

Advisory Task Forces (a) Membership The chairperson and the president may appoint one or more advisory task forces to provide expert guidance to address specific objectives in areas under the institute’s jurisdiction, including scientific, policy, ethical, financial, and technical matters. The chairperson and president shall each appoint an equal number of members with expertise in the area or areas for which advice is sought, including at least one member who has a patient advocate perspective. (b) Functions The advisory task forces shall advise the board through the chairperson and the president, regarding scientific, policy, financial, ethical, and technical matters under the institute’s jurisdiction. (c) Operations (1) The advisory task forces shall be advisory only and their operations shall be subject to the requirements applicable to working groups pursuant to Section 125290.50, provided that the advisory task forces shall meet in public when they vote on policy recommendations. (2) Members of the advisory task forces shall be subject to the conflict of interest requirements applicable to members of the working groups, provided that the advisory task forces shall not review, comment upon, or have jurisdiction over, any individual grant or loan approval.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 125290.80. Section 125290.80.

The intellectual property standards that the ICOC develops shall include: (a) A requirement that each grantee or the exclusive licensee of the grantee submit a plan to CIRM to afford access to any drug that is, in whole or in part, the result of research funded by CIRM to Californians who have no other means to purchase the drug. The access plan must be consistent with industry standards at the time of commercialization in California, accounting for the size of the market for the drug, and the resources of the grantee or exclusive licensee. (b) A requirement that the grantee or exclusive licensee either submit the plan required by subdivision (a), seek an extension from CIRM, or notify CIRM of its intention to seek a waiver, within 10 business days following final approval of the drug by the federal Food and Drug Administration. If the grantee seeks an extension, the plan must be submitted within 30 business days following final approval of the drug by the federal Food and Drug Administration. The plan shall be subject to the approval of CIRM, after a public hearing and opportunity for public comment. (c) A process by which the ICOC may waive the requirement in subdivision (a) if the ICOC determines, after a public hearing, that in the absence of the waiver, development and broad delivery of the drug will be unreasonably hindered or that the waiver will provide significant benefits that equal or exceed the benefits that would otherwise flow to the state pursuant to subdivision (a). The process shall include the requirement that a request for a waiver shall be posted on CIRM’s Internet Web site for a minimum of 10 business days in advance of the public hearing and that CIRM shall notify the Legislature if the ICOC grants a waiver request, including the reasons that justified the waiver request. (d) Procedures to protect from public disclosure proprietary information submitted by grantees and exclusive licensees to CIRM pursuant to this section.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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