GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1209

Short Title:  Research Studies/Women/Funds.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representative Boyd-McIntyre.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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May 5, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO REQUIRE MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS AND UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS THAT RECEIVE STATE FUNDS TO INCLUDE WOMEN AS SUBJECTS IN MEDICAL RESEARCH PROJECTS, AS APPROPRIATE, AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND NATURAL RESOURCES FOR A STUDY RELATED TO WOMEN AS SUBJECTS IN MEDICAL RESEARCH PROJECTS.
Whereas, in recent decades a number of large-scale medical research projects have been conducted in this country, including longitudinal studies by NIH, as well as major university hospitals, that included men but not women as subjects, thereby resulting in unanswered questions about women's health; and
Whereas, the results of the research on men have been used regularly and widely as a basis for treatment of women; and
Whereas, women and men possess certain biological and chemical differences that influence the approach to meeting their respective medical needs; and
Whereas, the status of a woman's health not only impacts the quality of her life and that of her family, but also impacts the economy of her community and ultimately the State; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Every public or private medical center or university hospital in this State that receives State funds and that conducts medical research on human physical or mental health, including diseases affecting humans, shall ensure that any research conducted by the entity on human beings for illnesses, diseases, and other health conditions affecting both men and women, includes a representative sample of adult women as subjects in the testing, studies, and other forms of research conducted.  No State funds shall be allocated, encumbered, or expended for medical research to which this act applies and that does not comply with the requirements of this section.
Section 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to conduct a study of the extent to which medical research conducted in this State with and without State funds includes women as participants in the study, when that would be appropriate.  The Department shall report its findings to the 1997 General Assembly, Regular Session 1998, upon its convening. 
Section 3. This act becomes effective July 1, 1997, and applies to research studies and testing commenced on and after that date.