24185-24187
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTION 24185-24187
24185. (a) No person shall clone a human being or engage in human reproductive cloning. (b) No person shall purchase or sell an ovum, zygote, embryo, or fetus for the purpose of cloning a human being. (c) For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply: (1) "Clone" means the practice of creating or attempting to create a human being by transferring the nucleus from a human cell from whatever source into a human or nonhuman egg cell from which the nucleus has been removed for the purpose of, or to implant, the resulting product to initiate a pregnancy that could result in the birth of a human being. (2) "Department" means the State Department of Health Services. (3) "Human reproductive cloning" means the creation of a human fetus that is substantially genetically identical to a previously born human being. The department may adopt, interpret, and update regulations, as necessary, for purposes of more precisely defining the procedures that constitute human reproductive cloning. 24186. (a) (1) The department shall establish an advisory committee for purposes of advising the Legislature and the Governor on human cloning and other issues relating to human biotechnology. The committee shall be composed of at least nine members, appointed by the Director of Health Services, who shall serve without compensation. (2) The committee shall include at least one representative from the areas of medicine, religion, biotechnology, genetics, law, and from the general public. The committee shall also include not less than three independent bioethicists who possess the qualifications described in paragraph (3). (3) The independent bioethicists selected to serve on the committee shall reflect a representative range of religious and ethical perspectives in California regarding the issues of human cloning and human biotechnology. An independent bioethicist serving on the advisory committee shall not be employed by, consult with or have consulted with, or have any direct or indirect financial interest, in any corporation engaging in research relating to human cloning or human biotechnology. A person with any affiliation to the grant-funded cloning research programs operated by the University of California or the California State University is also prohibited from serving as a bioethicist on the advisory committee. (b) On or before December 31, 2003, and annually thereafter, the department shall report to the Legislature and the Governor regarding the activities of the committee. (c) The activities of the committee shall, to the extent that funds are available, be funded by the department out of existing resources. 24187. For violations of Section 24185, the State Director of Health Services may, after appropriate notice and opportunity for hearing, by order, levy administrative penalties as follows: (a) If the violator is a corporation, firm, clinic, hospital, laboratory, or research facility, by a civil penalty of not more than one million dollars ($1,000,000) or the applicable amount under subdivision (c), whichever is greater. (b) If the violator is an individual, by a civil penalty of not more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) or the applicable amount under subdivision (c), whichever is greater. (c) If any violator derives pecuniary gain from a violation of this section, the violator may be assessed a civil penalty of not more than an amount equal to the amount of the gross gain multiplied by two. (d) The administrative penalties shall be paid to the General Fund.