SB45 Summary: Umbilical Cord Blood Storage Information Act

• Establishes the Umbilical Cord Blood Storage Information Act to educate pregnant women about stem cell benefits in umbilical cord blood and provide donation and banking opportunities.

• Requires health care providers to advise pregnant women during their last trimester about possible medical uses of umbilical cord blood stem cells and options for banking (private storage for family use) or donating (public storage for non-family persons).

• Directs the Department of Public Health to prepare and distribute written publications by January 1, 2012 covering medical collection processes, risks, current and potential medical uses, costs, ownership options, and available facilities in Alabama and contiguous states.

• Requires health care facilities and providers to permit and assist with umbilical cord blood collection upon request, unless medically inadvisable or conflicting with provider religious beliefs; exempts facilities from medical standard of care liability for non-compliance.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and approval by the Governor.