Stem Cell Disclosure Bill Held

The Assembly Appropriations Committee on Thursday held a bill (SB 401) that would increase oversight of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine's Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee, the Sacramento Bee reports.

The bill, by Sen. Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento), would have placed a measure on a future statewide ballot asking voters to require more people involved in grant-making decisions to disclose their financial interests.

Assembly Appropriations Committee Chair Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) said she was concerned that if the measure is placed on a ballot, any changes to the initiative would require another statewide vote. Chu said she also was concerned that stricter disclosure rules might dissuade some scientists from participating in the grant approval process (Lin, Sacramento Bee, 8/18).