HLS 21RS-2899 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 106
BY REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT OWEN
INTERGOV COMPACTS: Requests a study regarding potential costs, benefits, and public
health impacts of Louisiana joining the interstate compact known as the Solemn
Covenant of the States to Award Prizes for Curing Diseases
1 A RESOLUTION
2To urge and request the office of public health of the Louisiana Department of Health, in
3 collaboration with the Louisiana Public Health Institute, to study the potential costs,
4 benefits, and public health impacts of Louisiana joining the interstate compact
5 known as the Solemn Covenant of the States to Award Prizes for Curing Diseases
6 proposed through legislation known commonly as the "Cure Bill" and to report
7 findings of the study to the House of Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana.
8 WHEREAS, over the past several decades, advancements in health sciences have led
9to many innovative treatments for a vast array of health conditions, yet new discoveries of
10cures for diseases remain very rare; and
11 WHEREAS, several states have recently considered legislation known as the "Cure
12Bill" which would encourage states to work collaboratively to provide incentives for the
13discovery and propagation of cures for diseases; and
14 WHEREAS, by enacting the Cure Bill, a state would join an interstate compact
15known as the Solemn Covenant of the States to Award Prizes for Curing Diseases; and
16 WHEREAS, Ohio became the charter member of this interstate compact in 2019
17when its legislature enacted the Cure Bill through passage of House Bill No. 166 of the 133
rd
18Ohio General Assembly; and
19 WHEREAS, in this 2021 Regular Session, the Legislature of Louisiana considered
20a version of the Cure Bill, House Bill No. 290, which the House Committee on Health and
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HR NO. 106
1Welfare reported favorably with no opposition pursuant to a May 12, 2021 hearing on the
2bill; and
3 WHEREAS, though the system for awarding prizes for curing diseases proposed in
4the Cure Bill is highly promising and would have little to no cost impact to the state, it has
5yet to be tested, as fewer than the minimum number of states necessary to effectuate the
6compact (six states) have enacted the compact legislation; and
7 WHEREAS, despite the favorable consideration given to House Bill No. 290 of this
82021 Regular Session in the bill's committee hearing, the sense of the House of
9Representatives is that further study of potential costs, benefits, and public health impacts
10associated with Louisiana participating in the Solemn Covenant of the States to Award
11Prizes for Curing Diseases is needed in order for the legislature to make a fully informed
12decision with respect to enacting the Cure Bill in this state.
13 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
14Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the office of public health of the
15Louisiana Department of Health, working in collaboration with the Louisiana Public Health
16Institute, to study the potential costs, benefits, and public health impacts of Louisiana joining
17the interstate compact known as the Solemn Covenant of the States to Award Prizes for
18Curing Diseases.
19 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of public health shall submit findings
20from the study called for in this Resolution in the form of a report to the House of
21Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana on or before February 1, 2022.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
23secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and the chief executive officer of the
24Louisiana Public Health Institute.
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)]
HR 106 Original 2021 Regular Session Robert Owen
Urges and requests the office of public health (OPH) of the La. Department of Health, in
collaboration with the La. Public Health Institute, to study the potential costs, benefits, and
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HR NO. 106
public health impacts of this state joining the interstate compact known as the Solemn
Covenant of the States to Award Prizes for Curing Diseases.
Requires OPH to report findings of the study to the La. House of Representatives on or
before Feb. 1, 2022.
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