HLS 12RS-4316 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 163
BY REPRESENTATIVE HOFFMANN
CORRECTIONS/PRISONERS: Requests the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections to
study the feasibility and effectiveness of establishing a bone marrow testing program
for incarcerated persons
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to study the feasibility2
and effectiveness of establishing a procedure for allowing persons under the custody3
of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to participate in bone marrow4
testing and for creating incentives to encourage participation.5
WHEREAS, bone marrow transplantation is a relatively new medical procedure6
being used to treat diseases once thought incurable. Since its first successful use in 1968,7
bone marrow transplants have been used to treat patients diagnosed with leukemia, aplastic8
anemia, lymphomas such as Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, immune deficiency9
disorders, and some solid tumors such as breast and ovarian cancer; and10
WHEREAS, the first step in a successful bone marrow transplant procedure is to11
locate a donor whose blood cells closely match that of the patient, which is done by tissue12
typing prospective donors; and13
WHEREAS, a patient's siblings each have a twenty-five percent chance of being a14
tissue type match, less commonly, a parent may match the patient; and15
WHEREAS, if a related donor is not available, then a search for a compatible,16
unrelated donor is performed through the National Marrow Donor Program; and17
WHEREAS, finding bone marrow donor matches is critical for saving lives and18
providing effective treatment for patients who may have no other treatment options; and19 HLS 12RS-4316 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 163
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WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections is charged with1
housing many individuals who may want to participate in the National Bone Marrow2
Program; and3
WHEREAS, those individuals provide additional opportunities for finding matches4
with patients who were otherwise unsuccessful in finding compatible donors; and5
WHEREAS, incentives to encourage participation in the National Bone Marrow6
Program may be utilized to benefit both the patient and the donor.7
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby8
urge and request the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to study the feasibility and9
effectiveness of establishing a procedure for allowing persons under the custody of the10
Department of Public Safety and Corrections to participate in bone marrow testing and for11
creating incentives to encourage participation.12
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Public Safety and Corrections13
work in conjunction with the Department of Health and Hospitals and any other entities or14
individuals it deems necessary to conduct this study.15
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Public Safety and Corrections16
shall provide a written report of its findings to the Legislature of Louisiana on or before17
February 1, 2013.18
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Hoffmann HCR No. 163
Requests DPS&C to study the feasibility and effectiveness of establishing a procedure for
allowing persons under the custody of DPS&C to participate in bone marrow testing and for
creating incentives to encourage participation.