CHI Supports Petition to Clarify Stem Cell Measure
On Wednesday, March 12, the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee (ICOC) of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) met in Sacramento for its regularly scheduled meeting. On the agenda was the consideration of a petition, filed on behalf of Invitrogen Corporation, requesting the adoption of a regulation to establish a definition of “California Supplier.” In the voter-approved measure, Prop. 71, passed in 2004, there is an explicit statutory preference that CIRM grantees, to the extent possible, use California suppliers for at least 50 percent of the goods and services they purchase. CHI believes that the intent in the original statute is well founded, but currently there is no clear definition of California supplier. At the meeting, despite a staff recommendation to dismiss the petition, members of the ICOC decided to move forward with a transparent process for establishing the definition. CHI submitted a letter to the ICOC and testified at the meeting in support of the Invitrogen petition.
Senate Budget Committee Holds Hearing on Higher Education
The Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review held a hearing on Thursday, March 13, titled, “Impact of Governor’s Budget Proposal on: University of California, California State University, California Community Colleges, and CalGrant Programs.” Witnesses testifying before the committee included representatives from the administration, the Office of the Legislative Analyst, and the academic institutions. Of particular interest to CHI was a presentation given during the public testimony by Steven Chang, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief scientific officer, Stemgent, who discussed the critical role that higher education plays in the life sciences industry in California. To protect important programs and resources designed to improve the biomedical workforce, CHI will remain actively involved in the budget proceedings as they pertain to the academic institutions.
State Legislative Analyst Announces Retirement
After 22 years on the job, Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill announced her retirement on Thursday as lawmakers’ fiscal advisor. As a nonpartisan analyst of the state’s general fund and legislative policies, Hill was a major influencer of decisions affecting billons of dollars in public services. Recently Hill’s recommendations have played a significant role in legislative debates, including the failure of Assembly Speaker Núñez’s proposed healthcare reform legislation and the present budget crisis. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle praised her work and dedication to the citizens of California. Senator Denise Ducheny (D-San Diego), who chairs the Legislature’s Joint Budget Committee, said a successor has not been identified.
Board of Pharmacy to Discuss Extension of E-Pedigree Legislation
The California Board of Pharmacy will meet in San Diego on Tuesday, March 25, when they are expected to make a decision regarding the implementation date of the state’s electronic pedigree law. Currently e-pedigree legislation is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2009, despite significant concern from a large percentage of the state’s supply chain. Under the statute, the board has the authority to delay implementation to Jan. 1, 2011, if doing so would better serve the citizens of California. CHI continues to play an active role in this debate, monitoring progress and facilitating conversations to ensure that the concerns of our membership are heard. In January, CHI submitted a letter to the board, requesting that it exercise its authority to delay implementation, citing potential disruptions to the drug supply chain that would result should the original date be enforced. CHI, as part of a larger coalition, is also pursuing a legislative strategy, the language of which will be resolved following the board’s decision on March 25. For more information, contact Sandra Pizarro, vice president-state government affairs at (916) 233-3497 or pizarro@chi.org.
Registration Deadline for Annual Life Sciences Day Rapidly Approaching
On Wednesday, April 9, leaders in biotechnology, medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biomedical research as well as the patients who have benefited from medical innovation, will convene in Sacramento to build support for California's life sciences industry. Attendees will participate in face-to-face meetings with legislators and state government officials; network at a luncheon featuring a keynote address by Sacramento Bee Public Affairs Columnist Dan Weintraub; and join legislators and their staffs at a closing reception at the historic Sutter Club. Given California’s current fiscal situation as well as recent reports about the state of our education system, California Life Sciences Day is a great opportunity for our industry to highlight the enormous impact we have on the economy and on public health. We encourage your participation and urge you to register prior to the April 2 deadline and if you need a hotel room, the deadline to reserve at the Hyatt is March 18. CHI would like to thank the sponsors of the event: Abbott Laboratories, AdvaMed, Amgen, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Astellas Pharmaceuticals, BayBio, BIO, BIOCOM, Boston Scientific, California Healthcare Institute, Celgene, Gen-Probe Inc., Genentech, Gilead Sciences, LifeScan, NVCA, Pfizer, PhRMA, and Roche. For more information, please visit www.lifesciencesday.org or contact David Burt, CHI legislative director at 858.551.6677 or burt@chi.org.
Legislature Breaks for Easter Recess
The State Legislature departed for Easter recess yesterday and will return at noon on Monday, March 24. When lawmakers reconvene, they will be actively working through legislative proposals, moving them out of policy committees prior to the April 18 (for fiscal bills) and May 2 (for non-fiscal bills) deadlines. CHI will spend the break crafting our policy positions on a number of these bills. Two proposals of importance to CHI will be heard the week of March 24. AB 2440, authored by John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), would require the State Department of Healthcare Services to update specified diagnostic and reimbursement codes within 60 days of their publication on the federal registries. Historically, CHI has been supportive of such efforts that seek to update state reimbursement codes for innovative technologies in a timely manner. AB 2821, authored by Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), would establish specific monetary limits on “gifts” given by pharmaceutical companies to medical or health professionals. CHI is concerned that the measure would duplicate current marketing laws at the federal and state levels in addition to imposing burdensome reporting requirements on manufacturers. Due to the recess, the next issue of Sacramento at a Glance will be distributed on Friday, March 28.