CS for CS for SB 1768 First Engrossed 20251768e1 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to stem cell therapy; creating ss. 3 458.3245 and 459.0127, F.S.; providing legislative 4 findings and intent; defining terms; authorizing 5 physicians to perform stem cell therapy not approved 6 by the United States Food and Drug Administration 7 under certain circumstances; specifying requirements 8 for the stem cells that may be used by such 9 physicians; requiring such physicians to adhere to 10 applicable current good manufacturing practices in the 11 performance of such therapies; requiring physicians to 12 include a specified notice in any form of 13 advertisement; providing requirements for such notice; 14 requiring physicians to obtain a signed consent form 15 from the patient or his or her representative before 16 performing the therapy; specifying requirements for 17 the consent form; providing applicability; providing 18 for disciplinary action; providing criminal penalties; 19 authorizing the Board of Medicine to adopt rules; 20 providing an effective date. 21 22 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 23 24 Section 1. Section 458.3245, Florida Statutes, is created 25 to read: 26 458.3245 Stem cell therapy.— 27 (1) The Legislature recognizes the significant potential of 28 stem cell therapies in advancing medical treatments and 29 improving patient outcomes and further recognizes the need to 30 ensure that such therapies are provided using stem cells 31 obtained in an ethical manner that does not involve stem cells 32 derived from aborted fetuses. It is the intent of the 33 Legislature to foster medical innovation while upholding ethical 34 standards that respect the sanctity of life. By encouraging the 35 use of stem cell sources such as adult stem cells, umbilical 36 cord blood, and other ethically obtained human cells, tissues, 37 or cellular or tissue-based products, the state will advance 38 regenerative medicine in a manner consistent with the values of 39 this state. 40 (2) As used in this section, the term: 41 (a) “Human cells, tissues, or cellular or tissue-based 42 products” means articles containing or consisting of human cells 43 or tissues that are intended for implantation, transplantation, 44 infusion, or transfer into a human recipient. The term does not 45 include: 46 1. Vascularized human organs for transplantation; 47 2. Whole blood or blood components or blood derivative 48 products; 49 3. Secreted or extracted human products, such as milk, 50 collagen, and cell factors, other than semen; 51 4. Minimally manipulated bone marrow for homologous use and 52 not combined with another article other than water, 53 crystalloids, or a sterilizing, preserving, or storage agent, if 54 the addition of the agent does not raise new clinical safety 55 concerns with respect to the bone marrow; 56 5. Ancillary products used in the manufacture of human 57 cells, tissues, or cellular or tissue-based products; 58 6. Cells, tissues, and organs derived from animals other 59 than humans; 60 7. In vitro diagnostic products; or 61 8. Blood vessels recovered with an organ which are intended 62 for use in organ transplantation and labeled “For use in organ 63 transplantation only.” 64 (b) “Minimally manipulated” means: 65 1. For structural tissue, processing that does not alter 66 the original relevant characteristics of the tissue relating to 67 the tissue’s utility for reconstruction, repair, or replacement. 68 2. For cells or nonstructural tissues, processing that does 69 not alter the relevant biological characteristics of cells or 70 tissues. 71 (c) “Physician” means a physician licensed under this 72 chapter acting in the course and scope of his or her employment. 73 (d) “Stem cell therapy” means a treatment involving the use 74 of afterbirth placental perinatal stem cells, or human cells, 75 tissues, or cellular or tissue-based products, which complies 76 with the regulatory requirements provided in this section. The 77 term does not include treatment or research using human cells or 78 tissues that were derived from a fetus or an embryo after an 79 abortion. 80 (3)(a) A physician may perform stem cell therapy that is 81 not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration 82 if such therapy is used for treatment or procedures that are 83 within the scope of practice for such physician and the 84 therapies are related to orthopedics, wound care, or pain 85 management. 86 (b) To ensure that the retrieval, manufacture, storage, and 87 use of stem cells used for therapies conducted under this 88 section meet the highest standards, any stem cells used by a 89 physician for therapy provided under this section must: 90 1. Be retrieved, manufactured, and stored in a facility 91 that is registered and regulated by the United States Food and 92 Drug Administration; 93 2. Be retrieved, manufactured, and stored in a facility 94 that is certified or accredited by one of the following 95 entities: 96 a. National Marrow Donor Program. 97 b. World Marrow Donor Association. 98 c. Association for the Advancement of Blood and 99 Biotherapies. 100 d. American Association of Tissue Banks; and 101 3. Contain viable or live cells upon post-thaw analysis and 102 be included in a post-thaw viability analysis report for the 103 product lot which will be sent to the physician before use with 104 the physician’s patient. 105 (c) A physician performing stem cell therapy may not obtain 106 stem cells for therapies from a facility engaging in the 107 retrieval, manufacture, or storage of stem cells intended for 108 human use under this section unless the facility maintains valid 109 certification or accreditation as required by this subsection. 110 Any contract or other agreement by which a physician obtains 111 stem cells for therapies from such a facility must include the 112 following: 113 1. A requirement that the facility provide all of the 114 following information to the physician: 115 a. The name and address of the facility. 116 b. The certifying or accrediting organization. 117 c. The type and scope of certification or accreditation. 118 d. The effective and expiration dates of the certification 119 or accreditation. 120 e. Any limitations or conditions imposed by the certifying 121 or accrediting organization. 122 2. A requirement that the facility notify the physician 123 within 30 days after any change in certification or 124 accreditation status, including renewal, suspension, revocation, 125 or expiration. 126 (4) In the performance of any procedure using or purporting 127 to use stem cells or products containing stem cells, the 128 physician shall use stem cell therapy products obtained from 129 facilities that adhere to the applicable current good 130 manufacturing practices for the collection, removal, processing, 131 implantation, and transfer of stem cells, or products containing 132 stem cells, pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic 133 Act, 21 U.S.C. ss. 301 et seq.; 52 Stat. 1040 et seq.; and 21 134 C.F.R. part 1271, Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue 135 Based Products. 136 (5)(a) A physician who conducts stem cell therapy pursuant 137 to this section shall include the following in any form of 138 advertisement: 139 140 THIS NOTICE MUST BE PROVIDED TO YOU UNDER FLORIDA LAW. 141 This physician performs one or more stem cell 142 therapies that have not yet been approved by the 143 United States Food and Drug Administration. You are 144 encouraged to consult with your primary care provider 145 before undergoing any stem cell therapy. 146 147 (b) The notice required under paragraph (a) must be clearly 148 legible and in a type size no smaller than the largest type size 149 used in the advertisement. 150 (6)(a) A physician who conducts stem cell therapy pursuant 151 to this section shall obtain a signed consent form from the 152 patient before performing the stem cell therapy. 153 (b) The consent form must be signed by the patient or, if 154 the patient is not legally competent, the patient’s 155 representative and must state all of the following in language 156 the patient or his or her representative may reasonably be 157 expected to understand: 158 1. The nature and character of the proposed treatment. 159 2. That the proposed stem cell therapy has not yet been 160 approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. 161 3. The anticipated results of the proposed treatment. 162 4. The recognized serious possible risks, complications, 163 and anticipated benefits involved in the treatment and in the 164 recognized possible alternative forms of treatment, including 165 nontreatment. 166 5. That the patient is encouraged to consult with his or 167 her primary care provider before undergoing any stem cell 168 therapy. 169 (7) This section does not apply to the following: 170 (a) A physician who has obtained approval for an 171 investigational new drug or device from the United States Food 172 and Drug Administration for the use of human cells, tissues, or 173 cellular or tissue-based products; or 174 (b) A physician who performs stem cell therapy under an 175 employment or other contract on behalf of an institution 176 certified or accredited by any of the following: 177 1. The Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular 178 Therapy. 179 2. The Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network. 180 3. The Association for the Advancement of Blood and 181 Biotherapies. 182 4. An entity with expertise in stem cell therapy as 183 determined by the department. 184 (8) A violation of this section may subject the physician 185 to disciplinary action by the board. 186 (9) A physician who willfully performs, or actively 187 participates in, the following commits a felony of the third 188 degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 189 775.084, and is subject to disciplinary action under this 190 chapter and s. 456.072: 191 (a) Treatment or research using human cells or tissues 192 derived from a fetus or an embryo after an abortion; or 193 (b) The sale, manufacture, or distribution of computer 194 products created using human cells, tissues, or cellular or 195 tissue-based products. 196 (10) The board may adopt rules necessary to implement this 197 section. 198 Section 2. Section 459.0127, Florida Statutes, is created 199 to read: 200 459.0127 Stem cell therapy.— 201 (1) The Legislature recognizes the significant potential of 202 stem cell therapies in advancing medical treatments and 203 improving patient outcomes and further recognizes the need to 204 ensure that such therapies are provided using stem cells 205 obtained in an ethical manner that does not involve stem cells 206 derived from aborted fetuses. It is the intent of the 207 Legislature to foster medical innovation while upholding ethical 208 standards that respect the sanctity of life. By encouraging the 209 use of stem cell sources such as adult stem cells, umbilical 210 cord blood, and other ethically obtained human cells, tissues, 211 or cellular or tissue-based products, the state will advance 212 regenerative medicine in a manner consistent with the values of 213 this state. 214 (2) As used in this section, the term: 215 (a) “Human cells, tissues, or cellular or tissue-based 216 products” means articles containing or consisting of human cells 217 or tissues that are intended for implantation, transplantation, 218 infusion, or transfer into a human recipient. The term does not 219 include: 220 1. Vascularized human organs for transplantation; 221 2. Whole blood or blood components or blood derivative 222 products; 223 3. Secreted or extracted human products, such as milk, 224 collagen, and cell factors, other than semen; 225 4. Minimally manipulated bone marrow for homologous use and 226 not combined with another article other than water, 227 crystalloids, or a sterilizing, preserving, or storage agent, if 228 the addition of the agent does not raise new clinical safety 229 concerns with respect to the bone marrow; 230 5. Ancillary products used in the manufacture of human 231 cells, tissues, or cellular or tissue-based products; 232 6. Cells, tissues, and organs derived from animals other 233 than humans; 234 7. In vitro diagnostic products; or 235 8. Blood vessels recovered with an organ which are intended 236 for use in organ transplantation and labeled “For use in organ 237 transplantation only.” 238 (b) “Minimally manipulated” means: 239 1. For structural tissue, processing that does not alter 240 the original relevant characteristics of the tissue relating to 241 the tissue’s utility for reconstruction, repair, or replacement. 242 2. For cells or nonstructural tissues, processing that does 243 not alter the relevant biological characteristics of cells or 244 tissues. 245 (c) “Physician” means a physician licensed under this 246 chapter acting in the course and scope of his or her employment. 247 (d) “Stem cell therapy” means a treatment involving the use 248 of afterbirth placental perinatal stem cells, or human cells, 249 tissues, or cellular or tissue-based products, which complies 250 with the regulatory requirements provided in this section. The 251 term does not include treatment or research using human cells or 252 tissues that were derived from a fetus or an embryo after an 253 abortion. 254 (3)(a) A physician may perform stem cell therapy that is 255 not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration 256 if such therapy is used for treatment or procedures that are 257 within the scope of practice for such physician and the 258 therapies are related to orthopedics, wound care, or pain 259 management. 260 (b) To ensure that the retrieval, manufacture, storage, and 261 use of stem cells used for therapies conducted under this 262 section meet the highest standards, any stem cells used by a 263 physician for therapy provided under this section must: 264 1. Be retrieved, manufactured, and stored in a facility 265 that is registered and regulated by the United States Food and 266 Drug Administration; 267 2. Be retrieved, manufactured, and stored in a facility 268 that is certified or accredited by one of the following 269 entities: 270 a. National Marrow Donor Program. 271 b. World Marrow Donor Association. 272 c. Association for the Advancement of Blood and 273 Biotherapies. 274 d. American Association of Tissue Banks; and 275 3. Contain viable or live cells upon post-thaw analysis and 276 be included in a post-thaw viability analysis report for the 277 product lot which will be sent to the physician before use with 278 the physician’s patient. 279 (c) A physician performing stem cell therapy may not obtain 280 stem cells for therapies from a facility engaging in the 281 retrieval, manufacture, or storage of stem cells intended for 282 human use under this section unless the facility maintains valid 283 certification or accreditation as required by this subsection. 284 Any contract or other agreement by which a physician obtains 285 stem cells for therapies from such a facility must include the 286 following: 287 1. A requirement that the facility provide all of the 288 following information to the physician: 289 a. The name and address of the facility. 290 b. The certifying or accrediting organization. 291 c. The type and scope of certification or accreditation. 292 d. The effective and expiration dates of the certification 293 or accreditation. 294 e. Any limitations or conditions imposed by the certifying 295 or accrediting organization. 296 2. A requirement that the facility notify the physician 297 within 30 days after any change in certification or 298 accreditation status, including renewal, suspension, revocation, 299 or expiration. 300 (4) In the performance of any procedure using or purporting 301 to use stem cells or products containing stem cells, the 302 physician shall use stem cell therapy products obtained from 303 facilities that adhere to the applicable current good 304 manufacturing practices for the collection, removal, processing, 305 implantation, and transfer of stem cells, or products containing 306 stem cells, pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic 307 Act, 21 U.S.C. ss. 301 et seq.; 52 Stat. 1040 et seq.; and 21 308 C.F.R. part 1271, Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue 309 Based Products. 310 (5)(a) A physician who conducts stem cell therapy pursuant 311 to this section shall include the following in any form of 312 advertisement: 313 314 THIS NOTICE MUST BE PROVIDED TO YOU UNDER FLORIDA LAW. 315 This physician performs one or more stem cell 316 therapies that have not yet been approved by the 317 United States Food and Drug Administration. You are 318 encouraged to consult with your primary care provider 319 before undergoing any stem cell therapy. 320 321 (b) The notice required under paragraph (a) must be clearly 322 legible and in a type size no smaller than the largest type size 323 used in the advertisement. 324 (6)(a) A physician who conducts stem cell therapy pursuant 325 to this section shall obtain a signed consent form from the 326 patient before performing the stem cell therapy. 327 (b) The consent form must be signed by the patient or, if 328 the patient is not legally competent, the patient’s 329 representative and must state all of the following in language 330 the patient or his or her representative may reasonably be 331 expected to understand: 332 1. The nature and character of the proposed treatment. 333 2. That the proposed stem cell therapy has not yet been 334 approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. 335 3. The anticipated results of the proposed treatment. 336 4. The recognized serious possible risks, complications, 337 and anticipated benefits involved in the treatment and in the 338 recognized possible alternative forms of treatment, including 339 nontreatment. 340 5. That the patient is encouraged to consult with his or 341 her primary care provider before undergoing any stem cell 342 therapy. 343 (7) This section does not apply to the following: 344 (a) A physician who has obtained approval for an 345 investigational new drug or device from the United States Food 346 and Drug Administration for the use of human cells, tissues, or 347 cellular or tissue-based products; or 348 (b) A physician who performs stem cell therapy under an 349 employment or other contract on behalf of an institution 350 certified or accredited by any of the following: 351 1. The Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular 352 Therapy. 353 2. The Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network. 354 3. The Association for the Advancement of Blood and 355 Biotherapies. 356 4. An entity with expertise in stem cell therapy as 357 determined by the department. 358 (8) A violation of this section may subject the physician 359 to disciplinary action by the board. 360 (9) A physician who willfully performs, or actively 361 participates in, the following commits a felony of the third 362 degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 363 775.084, and is subject to disciplinary action under this 364 chapter and s. 456.072: 365 (a) Treatment or research using human cells or tissues 366 derived from a fetus or an embryo after an abortion; or 367 (b) The sale, manufacture, or distribution of computer 368 products created using human cells, tissues, or cellular or 369 tissue-based products. 370 (10) The board may adopt rules necessary to implement this 371 section. 372 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.