Senate Bill S6736

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S6736

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing an
AIDS research initiative, and providing for its duties


 PURPOSE :
To support AIDS research designed to improve the public health,
provide patients with access to new therapies, support
research-community collaborations and enhance economic development
across the state.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :
Section 1 adds § 2777-a, entitled AIDS research initiative, to the
public health law. Subdivision one of § 2777-a requires that the
initiative dispense peer-reviewed, merit-based HIV/AIDS related
research grants to not-for-profit institutions and collaborating
community-based organizations.  Subdivision two of § 2777-a requires
the initiative to prioritize research that is timely, innovative and
targeted to the unique characteristics of the AIDS epidemic in this
state.  Subdivision three of § 2777-a requires that the initiative
focus on infection trends, prevention strategies, treatments for those
living with HIV, basic clinical science and behavioral/social science.
Subdivision four of § 2777-a requires that the initiative support
partnerships between research institutions and community-based
              

organizations serving communities of color and other high-need
populations.  Section 2 makes the act effective immediately.

 EXISTING LAW :
Article 27-E of the Public Health Law: The Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome Institute

 JUSTIFICATION :
As of September 2007, New York State has over 112,000 people living
with HIV/AIDS, more than any other state in the nation. Research shows
that every HIV infection results in a lifetime medical care cost of
over $300,000. Despite this fact, federal research funding has
plateaued, and New York's share of federal research funding has
declined. The result is less patient access to cutting-edge
experimental therapies, and the weakening of New York's clinical and
social research capacity.

As New York has done with stem cell research, an investment in AIDS
research makes good public health and economic sense. This bill would
re-establish a state role in this important work, relying in part on
the guidance of the existing state AIDS Research Advisory Council.
The proposed research program would focus on the particular needs of
New York's epidemic, establish collaborations between researchers and
community-based providers, and target research capable of generating
additional federal or private research funding. A similar program in
California, established in 1983, has generated $5 in federal and
private research dollars for every $1 the state invests. That program
has given California research institutions an advantage when competing
for federal research dollars, to the detriment of New York patients
and researchers.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
2007-2008:  S.6972

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
$500,000

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
Immediate.