SECTIONS 120480 - California Statutes

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE

SECTION 120480

120480. (a) Funds appropriated in the Budget Act of 1998, and any
other appropriations, to the State Department of Health Services for
the purpose of valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) vaccine research
shall be used to continue and expand the current research effort
being conducted by the Valley Fever Vaccine Project.
(b) The department shall augment and amend the existing contract
to support research into the development of a vaccine to protect
against valley fever. The department may contract on a sole source
basis with a nonprofit organization that has provided funding for
vaccine research on valley fever. The contract shall require the
organization to distribute research grants to support research
efforts that are likely to advance the effort to develop a vaccine.
This contract shall not be subject to review by the Department of
General Services.
(c) The contractor shall establish an advisory group consisting of
persons with relevant expertise in the fields of mycology and
vaccine development and a representative from the department. The
advisory group shall approve grants for those whose research is
likely to advance the effort to develop a safe and effective vaccine.
The contractor shall seek advice from the appropriate agencies in
the National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies with
experience in supporting vaccine research when reviewing the research
of those receiving funds under this section. Funding awards shall be
made so as to complement financial support provided by the federal
government.
(d) The contractor shall provide the department with periodic
status reports on the progress of the researchers receiving funds
pursuant to this section. The department shall review progress
reports from the contractor describing the research progress and
plans for future funding.
(e) The contract shall require that funding is provided on the
condition that, if a valley fever vaccine is developed and
successfully marketed, the state shall be reimbursed for the cost of
grants made under this section in proportion to the state's
contribution to the research and development effort.