Bill creates Stem Cell Clinic Advisory Group

Sacramento - California is a longtime leader in biotechnology and stem cell research.  Prop 71, approved by voters in 2004, created the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and authorized $3 billion in funding for stem cell research. As a result, significant advancements in stem cell research and treatments have been realized. Unfortunately, not all stem cell clinics are adhering to the expected high standards of review within the industry and, as a result, patients have been subjected to unscrupulous, sometimes harmful practices. AB 617 will address those entities by creating a Stem Cell Clinic Regulation Advisory Group.

“California has been a leader in the research and development of stem cell therapies,” said Speaker pro Tem Kevin Mullin. “As a result of California’s leadership, doctors have used stem cells to treat patients with cancer and disorders of the blood and immune system and other conditions.”

“Today Governor Newsom took the bold step of ordering a moratorium on the death penalty in California. As a longtime opponent of the death penalty, I support this action, especially in light of evidence that the death penalty has not reduced the number of homicides or other serious crimes.

Sacramento – Assembly Speaker pro Tem Kevin Mullin has introduced AB 1168 requiring emergency dispatch/call centers statewide to implement text to 9-1-1 services so the deaf and hard of hearing have equal access to emergency services.

“As someone who is hard of hearing, I believe it is critical that we expand the ways people access 9-1-1 in an emergency,” said Speaker pro Tem Mullin. “California companies are creating cutting edge technology on a daily basis and I believe we have the capability to launch Text to 9-1-1 statewide by 2021.”

California Would Join Nearly Half the States in the Country

Sacramento – Assembly Speaker pro Tem Kevin Mullin continues to advocate for 17 year-old primary voting and he is not alone.  Currently, there are 23 states plus the District of Columbia that allow 17 year olds to vote in Presidential primaries, provided they will be 18 by the time of the General Election.

“I find it hard to believe that the state of California is behind 23 other states when it comes to this important issue,” Mullin said. “Studies have shown that voting is habit forming and it is a habit worth encouraging.  If a voter is going to eligible to vote in a General Election, why wouldn’t we want to allow them to also have a say in who they will be voting for in that election?”

Sacramento – Today, Assembly Speaker pro Tem Kevin Mullin introduced AB 214 which would reinstate funding that could be leveraged and utilized to attract private investment for spinal cord injury research grants at California research institutions.

“I am very excited to be working with Roman Reed and many other advocates to restore state funding for the Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act,” Mullin stated. “Sadly, efforts to continue this funding stream that expired in 2011 have failed and critical research in this area has suffered. The absence of state funds has limited the programs ability to attract private investment, limiting the work being done.”