ENROLLED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 106
BY REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT OWEN
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the office of public health of the Louisiana Department of Health, in
collaboration with the Louisiana Public Health Institute, to study the 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
proposed through legislation known commonly as the "Cure Bill" and to report
findings of the study to the House of Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana.
WHEREAS, over the past several decades, advancements in health sciences have led
to many innovative treatments for a vast array of health conditions, yet new discoveries of
cures for diseases remain very rare; and
WHEREAS, several states have recently considered legislation known as the "Cure
Bill" which would encourage states to work collaboratively to provide incentives for the
discovery and propagation of cures for diseases; and
WHEREAS, by enacting the Cure Bill, a state would join an interstate compact
known as the Solemn Covenant of the States to Award Prizes for Curing Diseases; and
WHEREAS, Ohio became the charter member of this interstate compact in 2019
when its legislature enacted the Cure Bill through passage of House Bill No. 166 of the 133
Ohio General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, in this 2021 Regular Session, the Legislature of Louisiana considered
a version of the Cure Bill, House Bill No. 290, which the House Committee on Health and
Welfare reported favorably with no opposition pursuant to a May 12, 2021, hearing on the
bill; and
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WHEREAS, though the system for awarding prizes for curing diseases proposed in
the Cure Bill is highly promising and would have little to no cost impact to the state, it has
yet to be tested, as fewer than the minimum number of states necessary to effectuate the
compact (six states) have enacted the compact legislation; and
WHEREAS, despite the favorable consideration given to House Bill No. 290 of this
2021 Regular Session in the bill's committee hearing, the sense of the House of
Representatives is that further study of potential costs, benefits, and public health impacts
associated with Louisiana participating in the Solemn Covenant of the States to Award
Prizes for Curing Diseases is needed in order for the legislature to make a fully informed
decision with respect to enacting the Cure Bill in this state.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the office of public health of the
Louisiana Department of Health, working in collaboration with the Louisiana Public Health
Institute, to study the 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.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of public health shall submit findings
from the study called for in this Resolution in the form of a report to the House of
Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana on or before February 1, 2022.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and the chief executive officer of the
Louisiana Public Health Institute.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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