An Act concerning voluntary contributions through gross income tax returns to support pediatric cancer research, supplementing chapter 9 of Title 54A of the New Jersey Statutes and supplementing and amending P.L.1983, c.6 (C.52:9U-1 et seq.).

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. (New section) a. There is established in the Department of the Treasury a special fund to be known as the "New Jersey Pediatric Cancer Research Fund."

b. Each taxpayer shall have the opportunity to indicate on the taxpayer's New Jersey gross income tax return that a portion of the taxpayer's refund or an enclosed contribution shall be deposited in the special fund.

c. Any costs incurred by the Division of Taxation for collection or administration attributable to this act may be deducted from receipts collected pursuant to this act, as determined by the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury. The State Treasurer shall deposit net contributions collected pursuant to this section to the "New Jersey Pediatric Cancer Research Fund."

d. The Legislature shall annually appropriate all funds deposited in the "New Jersey Pediatric Cancer Research Fund" established pursuant to this section to the New Jersey State Commission on Cancer Research, established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1983, c.6 (C.52:9U-4) for pediatric cancer research projects. As used in this subsection "pediatric cancer research project" means a scientific research project, which is approved by the commission and which focuses on the causes, prevention, education, screening, treatment or cure of pediatric cancer and may include, but is not limited to, basic, clinical, and epidemiologic research.

2. (New section) The New Jersey State Commission on Cancer Research shall solicit, receive, evaluate and approve applications of qualifying research institutions for grants from the "New Jersey Pediatric Cancer Research Fund," established pursuant to section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), to conduct research relating to the causes, prevention, education, screening, treatment and cure of pediatric cancer. As used in this section, "qualified research institution" may include academic medical institutions, State or local government agencies, public or private organizations within New Jersey, and any other institution approved by the commission, which is conducting a pediatric cancer research project.

3. Section 8 of P.L.1983, c.6 (C.52:9U-8) is amended to read as follows:

8. $1,000,000.00 shall be appropriated annually from the Cancer Research Fund established by P.L.1982, c.40 (C.54:40A-8 et al.) to effectuate the purposes of this act, except that only $500,000.00 shall be appropriated from the fund in fiscal year 1982-1983. The full amount of the annual appropriation from the Cancer Research Fund mandated by this section to effectuate the purposes of this act shall be made notwithstanding any monies received by taxpayer voluntary contribution through gross income tax return to any cancer research fund designated for a specific type or category of cancer by State law.

(cf: P.L.1983, c.6, s.8)

4. This act shall take effect immediately and apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1 next following enactment.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes the "New Jersey Pediatric Cancer Research Fund" and provides for a designation on the State gross income tax return that will permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to the fund to support pediatric cancer research projects that are approved by the New Jersey State Commission on Cancer Research.

The incidence of pediatric cancer is ever increasing, and its impact on society and the families of those affected, devastating, yet surprisingly little progress is being made toward uncovering the causes of childhood cancer and finding new and targeted therapies. Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children under the age of 15 in the United States, and every year, approximately 13,500 children and adolescents under age 20 are diagnosed with cancer. More children lose their battle with cancer each year than to AIDS, asthma, cystic fibrosis and diabetes combined. The majority of those children that survive childhood cancer go on to experience chronic medical problems as a result of their treatment, detracting from their quality of life and diminishing their ability to contribute fully to society.

Pediatric cancer encompasses multiple types and subtypes of cancers, the causes of which are largely unknown. Unlike certain adult cancers, pediatric cancer is not strongly linked to lifestyle and strikes randomly, across all ethnic groups, socioeconomic class and geographic regions. Currently, less than 5 percent of federal funding for cancer research is dedicated specifically to understanding and seeking cures for pediatric cancer, and only two drugs specifically targeting childhood cancer have been approved in the past 20 years.

This bill is in honor of Aaron Newton, a young boy in West Milford, who recovered from cancer and whose parents, Kerrie and Scott, advocate for awareness surrounding childhood cancer.