(128th General Assembly)
(Substitute House Bill Number 102)



AN ACT
To enact sections 2108.61 to 2108.63 of the Revised Code regarding umbilical cord blood donations.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:

SECTION 1. That sections 2108.61, 2108.62, and 2108.63 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 2108.61.  (A) As used in this section and sections 2108.62 and 2108.63 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Health care institution" means a hospital registered as such under section 3701.07 of the Revised Code or a freestanding birthing center.

(2) "Health care professional" means a physician authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery; a registered nurse, including a certified nurse-midwife, authorized to practice under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code; or a physician assistant authorized to practice under Chapter 4130. of the Revised Code.

(3) "Umbilical cord blood" means the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after the birth of a newborn child.

(B) The department of health shall encourage health care professionals who provide health care services that are directly related to a woman's pregnancy to provide a woman before her third trimester of pregnancy with the publications described in section 2108.62 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 2108.62. (A) The department of health, on its internet web site, shall make available to health care professionals printable publications that can be downloaded containing standardized, objective information about umbilical cord blood banking that is sufficient to allow a pregnant woman to make an informed decision about whether to participate in an umbilical cord blood banking program. The publications shall include all of the following information:

(1) The medical processes involved in the collection of umbilical cord blood;

(2) The medical risks of umbilical cord blood collection to the mother and the newborn child;

(3) The options available to a mother regarding stem cells contained in the umbilical cord blood after delivery of the mother's newborn child, including:

(a) Having the stem cells discarded;

(b) Donating the stem cells to a public umbilical cord blood bank;

(c) Having the stem cells stored in a private umbilical cord blood bank for use by immediate and extended family members;

(d) Storing the stem cells for use by the family through a family or sibling donor banking program that provides free collection, processing, and storage of the stem cells where there is a medical need.

(4) The current and potential future medical uses, risks, and benefits of umbilical cord blood collection to the mother, newborn child, and biological family;

(5) The current and potential future medical uses, risks, and benefits of umbilical cord blood collection to individuals who are not biologically related to the mother or newborn child;

(6) Any costs that may be incurred by a pregnant woman who chooses to make an umbilical cord blood donation;

(7) The average cost of public and private umbilical cord blood banking.

(B) The department may update the publications prepared pursuant to this section as it considers necessary.

Sec. 2108.63. A health care professional or health care institution is not liable for damages in a civil action, subject to prosecution in a criminal proceeding, or subject to disciplinary action by the state medical board or board of nursing for acting in good faith pursuant to section 2108.61 of the Revised Code.