SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1409

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 9, 2021

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1409.

      As amended by the committee, this bill establishes the “New Jersey State Commission on Cancer Research Charitable Contribution Check-Off Fund” and provides for a designation on the State gross income tax return that will permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to the fund to support cancer research projects that are approved by the New Jersey State Commission on Cancer Research.  All taxpayer contributions will be provided to the commission.  The bill does not permit any amount to be retained by the State from contribution amounts to cover administrative costs of the tax return check-off.  The commission currently receives funding from more narrow and specific funding sources including: State appropriations from taxpayer donations from three more specific charitable check-offs on the State gross income tax return (Breast Cancer Research Fund, N.J.S.A.54A:9-25.8, Prostate Cancer Research Fund, N.J.S.A.54A:9-25.22, and Lung Cancer Research Fund, N.J.S.A.54A:9-25.27); proceeds from Conquer Cancer license plate sales, N.J.S.A.39:3-27.90, and private donations.

      The voluntary contributions under this bill will allow for more general taxpayer support for approved scientific research projects which focus on the genetic, biochemical, viral, microbiological, and environmental causes of cancer, and may include, but are not limited to, behavioral, socio-economic, demographic, and psychosocial research or research into methods of clinical treatment; or which focuses on pain management and palliative care for persons diagnosed with cancer.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amendments make a change to the bill’s title to correct a statutory citation to correct an issue with punctuation and syntax.