1     
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CREATE AWARENESS

2     
REGARDING THE VALUE OF BIRTH TISSUES

3     
2020 GENERAL SESSION

4     
STATE OF UTAH

5     
Chief Sponsor: Brad M. Daw

6     
Senate Sponsor: Luz Escamilla

7     Cosponsors:
8     Cheryl K. Acton
Melissa G. Ballard
Brad R. Wilson

9     

10     LONG TITLE
11     General Description:
12          This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor encourages Utah's
13     medical community to raise public awareness regarding the life-saving value of birth
14     tissues.
15     Highlighted Provisions:
16          This resolution:
17          ▸     encourages Utah's medical community to raise public awareness regarding the
18     life-saving value of birth tissues for the purposes of treatment and research; and
19          ▸     encourages hospitals and birthing centers to educate a pregnant woman about her
20     choice to store or donate her newborn child's birth tissues.
21     Other Special Clauses:
22          None
23     

24     Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
25          WHEREAS, the placenta, umbilical cord, umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid,
26     chorionic membrane, and Wharton's jelly are all birth tissues;
27          WHEREAS, birth tissues are commonly discarded as medical waste;
28          WHEREAS, the stem cells found in birth tissues can be used to treat over 80 diseases;

29          WHEREAS, a pregnant woman can choose to store her newborn child's birth tissues for
30     her family, or donate her newborn child's birth tissues to help others or for research purposes;
31     and
32          WHEREAS, there are no health risks to the mother or her newborn child if the mother
33     chooses to store or donate her newborn child's birth tissues:
34          NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
35     Governor concurring therein, encourages Utah's medical community to raise public awareness
36     regarding the life-saving value of birth tissues for the purposes of treatment and research.
37          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage Utah's
38     hospitals and birthing centers to educate a pregnant woman on her choice to store her newborn
39     child's birth tissue for her family, or donate her newborn child's birth tissue to help others or for
40     research purposes.