104170. (a) The Human Leukocyte Antigen Testing Fund is hereby established in the State Treasury, to be administered by the State Department of Health Services. Moneys in the fund shall be subject to appropriation in the annual Budget Act, and shall be used to pay the costs of blood collection and human leukocyte antigen typing, also referred to as histocompatibility locus antigen (HLA) testing, for A, B, and DR antigens for use in bone marrow transplantation by California blood centers under contract with the federal National Marrow Donor Program provided for pursuant to Public Law 101-302.
(b) Moneys in the fund may only be expended if the individual being tested completes and signs an informed consent form authorizing the use of test results for participation in the federal program referred to in subdivision (a). The form shall require a declaration from the donor as to whether he or she has health plan benefits that would cover the cost of HLA testing. Moneys in the fund shall not be used to pay for the testing of a health plan enrollee if the health plan covers the cost of HLA testing for the enrollee.
(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 159, Sec. 132. Effective January 1, 2002.)