SB 782 – This act creates a one dollar check-off on the Missouri individual income tax form and a two dollar check-off on the corporate income tax form. The money designated for the check-off will be deposited into the Lupus Revolving Research Trust Fund, which is created in this act and which shall be administered by the Department of Health and Senior Services. The fund shall be a dedicated fund, and upon appropriation, money in the fund shall be used solely as provided under this act. The check-off is primarily for taxpayers who are to receive a refund. However, taxpayers who owe taxes may also contribute to the fund and any taxpayer may elect to contribute more that the one or two-dollar amount. The Director of Revenue shall deposit at least monthly all contributions designated by individuals under this act to the state treasurer for deposit to the fund.
This act also establishes in the Department of Health and Senior Services a Lupus Research Enhancement Program through which the department shall make grants to state academic medical institutions in this state that currently conduct or have an interest in conducting basic and clinical, social, translational, technological, epidemiological, and behavioral research on Lupus.
In establishing its research priorities, the department shall consult with the Lupus Research Advisory Council which is also created under this act and established within the department in order to consider a broad range of cross-disciplinary lupus research. The list of members and the duties of the council are delineated under the act but shall include reviewing submitted applications for grants from the lupus revolving research trust fund and offering recommendations, consulting with leading health organizations on Lupus research, and submitting on or before December thirty-first of each year a report to the general assembly on grants made, grants in progress, program accomplishments, and future program directions.
The provisions of this act will automatically sunset six years from the effective date of the act.
This act is substantially similar to HB 1666 (2012).
ADRIANE CROUSE