CA's Prop 71

From Libertarian Wiki

Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute

1021. (SA03RF0055, Amdt. #1-NS). Stem Cell Research. Funding. Bonds. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.

Proponents: Roberta B. Johansen and James C. Harrison, c/o Remcho, Johansen & Purcell (323) 468-3391

Establishes "California Institute for Regenerative Medicine" to regulate stem cell research and provide funding, through grants and loans, for such research and research facilities. Establishes constitutional right to conduct stem cell research; prohibits Institute's funding of human reproductive cloning research. Establishes oversight committee to govern Institute. Provides General Fund loan up to $3 million for Institute's initial administration/implementation costs. Authorizes issuance of general obligation bonds to finance Institute activities up to $3 billion subject to annual limit of $350 million. Appropriates monies from General Fund to pay for bonds. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: State cost of about $6 billion over 30 years to pay off both the principal ($3 billion) and interest ($3 billion) on the bonds. Payments of about $200 million per year.

While this proposition does ban reproductive cloning, it explicitly allows and funds non-reproductive cloning; ie, clones that must be destroyed before they can develop beyond the embryo stage.

Libertarian Position

Other Organizations' Positions

The Catholic Church supports research using adult stem cells but remains opposed to the use of embryonic stem cells, so is unequivocally opposed to Prop 71.