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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
childhood cancer research; commission
Purpose
Establishes the Childhood Cancer and Rare Childhood Disease Research Commission (Commission) consisting of monies allocated from the Childhood Cancer and Rare Childhood Disease Research Fund (Fund). Outlines Commission grant qualifications and membership.
Background
The Fund consists of monies received from fees collected from the issuance of Childhood Cancer Research special plates and is administered by the Director of the Department of Health Services (DHS). Monies in the Fund are continuously appropriated and annually distributed. The Director of DHS must allocate monies from the Fund to Arizona health care providers and research institutions that are engaged in phase I clinical trials relating to research on pediatric cancer or other rare pediatric diseases. Allocated monies may be used in a collaborative study or research program with other, out-of-state facilities. Nonprofit organizations receiving money from the Fund must use the monies for the prescribed purposes, even if the monies are aggregated with other monies. Monies in the Fund are exempt from lapsing (A.R.S. § 36-121).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Establishes the Commission, consisting of members appointed by the Director of DHS, including at least the following:
a) one member who is a survivor of childhood cancer or a caregiver to individuals who have childhood cancer;
b) one member who is a survivor of a rare childhood disease or the caregiver to individuals who have rare childhood diseases;
c) four health professionals who practice in the field of pediatric cancer or rare childhood diseases; and
d) one representative of a nationwide pediatric cancer advocacy nonprofit organization.
2. Requires Commission members to serve five-year terms and annually elect a chairperson from the membership.
3. Specifies that Commission members are not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of expenses.
4. Requires the Commission to award grants to Arizona nonprofit health care providers and research institutions that are engaged in clinical trials relating to research on pediatric cancer or other rare pediatric diseases.
5. Allows monies awarded by grants to be used in a collaborative study or research program with other, out-of-state facilities.
6. Requires nonprofit organizations that receive grant monies to use the monies for the outlined purposes, even if the monies are aggregated with other monies.
7. Requires Commission members to recuse themselves from discussing and voting on any matter in which the members have a conflict of interest.
8. Allows the Director of DHS and other Director-appointed DHS staff members to act as members of the Commission on any grant application if grant member recusals due to conflicts of interest cause the Commission to lack quorum to take official action.
9. Requires the Commission, beginning August 1, 2027, to submit an annual report to the Appropriations and Health and Human Services Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives, or their successor committees, detailing the:
a) number, amounts and recipients of the awarded grants;
b) resulting research;
c) return on investment; and
d) any other relevant information.
10. Adds, to the funding sources available for the Fund, legislative appropriations, gifts, donations and federal grants.
11. Requires the Director of DHS to allocate monies from the Fund for grants awarded by the Commission, rather than to prescribed research institutions.
12. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
HHS 1/22/26 DP 12-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/25/26 44-9-7
Prepared by Senate Research
March 9, 2026
MM/SDR/hk