BREAST CANCER SCREENING FUND S.B. 741 (S-3): FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 741 (Substitute S-3 as reported by the Committee of the Whole) Sponsor: Senator Joanne G. Emmons
Committee: Finance
The bill would create the “Breast Cancer Research Fund Act” to establish the Breast Cancer Research Fund in the Department of Community Health (DCH), to provide funds to promote research, early detection programs, and community education relating to breast cancer; and to provide for the distribution of money from the Fund. Fifty percent of the money available for distribution each year would have to be granted to fund proposals for applied breast cancer research; and 50% for early detection and community education programs. The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bills 740, 1181, and 1182.
The Fund would consist of the money credited to it pursuant to the Breast Cancer and Prostate Cancer Fund Act (proposed by Senate Bill 1182), and any interest and earnings accruing from the saving and investment of that money. The Fund could receive appropriations, money, or other things of value. Money appropriated from the Fund would have to be in addition to any allocations made pursuant to existing law, and would be “intended to enhance appropriations from the general fund...and not to replace or supplant those appropriations”. The interest and earnings of the fund would have to be spent solely for the purpose described in the bill. Money granted or received as a gift or donation to the Fund would be available for distribution upon appropriation.
The DCH would have to do all of the following with the money from the Fund: support the development of the Department’s statewide breast cancer control plan; provide information to the public about the value of breast cancer screening and early detection; develop and publicize criteria for proposals to be funded under the bill; and review and approve proposals.
The DCH would have to determine which proposals to fund with money from the Fund. The Department would have to solicit proposals and approve proposals for funding. Proposals could be submitted only by individuals, groups, and institutions with an interest in breast cancer research and breast cancer reduction activities. The DCH would have to review and approve proposals submitted for funding in consultation with the Michigan Cancer Consortium. The Department would have to give preference to proposals that addressed specific geographic areas or population groups that had a rate of breast cancer that was higher than the Michigan average rate of breast cancer. The DCH could fund only proposals submitted by applicants that were located in Michigan and that conducted research or other activity that was the basis for the proposal.
Legislative Analyst: G. Towne
Based on the assumption that the experience of the Breast Cancer and Prostate Cancer Fund would be similar to that of the Children’s Trust Fund and the Nongame Fish and Wildlife Fund, there would be approximately $125,000 to $250,000 available annually for expenditure on the projects outlined in the bill. From that amount and amounts available for the prostate cancer projects outlined in Senate Bill 1181 (an additional $125,000 to $250,000), between $50,000 and
$100,000 would be necessary to administer the programs required by the bill.
Date Completed: 10-1-96 Fiscal Analyst: P. Graham
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.