Portantino-Roth Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program Extension Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk
For Immediate Release: August 23, 2022
Contact: Lerna Shirinian, (818) 409-0400
Portantino-Roth Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program Extension Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk
Sacramento, CA –Senate Bill 883, jointly authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank) and Senator Richard D. Roth (D – Riverside), passed the Assembly floor and is headed to the Governor’s desk for signature. The measure extends the sunset date on the Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program (UCBCP) for an additional five years.
“I am excited that SB 883 is headed to the Governor and we can extend the sunset date for this program. The program was the result of the very first bill I introduced on my very first day in office as an Assemblymember. This program has saved lives and will continue to do so if we extend the sunset date. I am grateful for the collaboration and leadership of General Roth,” commented Senator Portantino.
In 2010, Senator Portantino authored AB 52 to fund California’s Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program. It is a statewide public program designed to capture the genetic diversity of Californians through the collection of cord blood units for transplantation. Umbilical cord blood is used to treat over 80 life-threatening diseases, including various types of leukemias, immune deficiencies, and lymphomas. According to the University of California, there have been 75 transplants to date. The idea for the bill came from a constituent whose son was one of California’s first leukemia patients to successfully receive a cord blood transplant.
Senate Bill 883 was authored to keep this lifesaving program going. It extends the sunset date on the Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program from 2023 to 2027.
“We thank Senator Portantino and Senator Roth for their leadership in extending this lifesaving program that helps ensure that children and adults in the state have access to a diverse supply of umbilical cord blood for transplants to treat more than 80 conditions," said Carrie L. Byington, M.D., University of California Health Executive Vice President.
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