The California Legislature mandated the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) in Health and Safety Code Section 125118 to develop a comprehensive set of guidelines, which would fully address the ethical, legal, and social aspects of stem cell research as well as ensure the systematic monitoring and reporting of human stem cell research activity in California that is not fully funded by Proposition 71 money granted through the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) (Senate Bill 322, Chapter 506, Statutes of 2003; Senate Bill 1260, Chapter 483, Statutes of 2006). To fulfill this intent, a diverse group of 13 national and international specialists were enlisted to serve on a Human Stem Cell Research (HSCR) Advisory Committee established to advise the Department in the development of statewide guidelines for human stem cell research and the update of these guidelines.

The California Department of Public Health will monitor human stem cell research conducted within the State by collecting reporting forms from all Stem Cell Research Oversight (SCRO) Committees overseeing human embryonic stem cell research that is not fully funded by CIRM. CDPH will also monitor all research projects that are using assisted oocyte production (AOP) to harvest human eggs for research by collecting reporting forms from review committees overseeing research involving human oocyte retrieval for research or the development of medical therapies.