Ban on funding human cloning goes to House

A bill prohibiting the use of public funds to clone humans or perform research that results in the destruction of human embryos cleared the House Public Health Welfare and Labor Committee on Thursday.

Rep. Karilyn Brown, R-Sherwood, the sponsor of House Bill 1399, said state law already prohibits such cloning and research, but “there is a lot of concern” that state funds could be used to pay for those activities outside the state.

Human cloning, including cloning embryos for research, was banned in the state under Act 607 of 2003.

HB1399 would apply to any funds collected or received by state and local government institutions.

The committee recommended passage of the bill in a voice vote, with no members dissenting. It next goes to the full House.