Gene synthesis providers.

Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to establish an advisory committee to advise the Legislature and the Governor on human cloning and other issues relating to human biotechnology. This bill would require the department to develop a process, with input from the International Gene Synthesis Consortium (IGSC) and industry stakeholders, to verify that gene synthesis providers and manufacturers of gene synthesis equipment adhere to customer and sequence screening protocols that are equivalent to, or stronger than, the IGSC's Harmonized Screening Protocol. Beginning January 1, 2025, the bill would require a gene synthesis provider and manufacturer of gene synthesis equipment operating in California to be a current member of the IGSC or verified by the department as adhering to the prescribed proper screening protocols. The bill would, beginning January 1, 2022, authorize the department to charge a fee in an amount not to exceed the department's reasonable costs to establish and administer the verification process, as specified. The bill would also require, beginning January 1, 2025, any entity that is the recipient of state resources to purchase gene synthesis products from a gene synthesis provider, and gene synthesis equipment from a manufacturer of gene synthesis equipment, only if they are a current member of the IGSC or verified by the department, as specified. The bill would impose specified penalties on gene synthesis providers and manufacturers of gene synthesis equipment for failure to comply with those requirements, and would require the department to develop an appeals process to address appeals on the imposition of those penalties.