Sacramento Standard

Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) announced that her bill, Senate Bill 1172, was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. SB 1172 will extend the tax donation checkoffs for the California Breast Cancer Research Fund (CBCRF) and the California Cancer Research Fund (CCRF) until January 1, 2032. These funds provide essential resources to advance research on breast cancer and other forms of cancer.

"It has been an honor to author this impactful legislation and work alongside the American Cancer Society Action Network and the University of California Office of the President in our shared commitment to advancing cancer research,” said Senator Shannon Grove.

By extending the tax donation checkoffs for these funds, vital resources are provided to combat cancer and impact many Californians' lives. With SB 1172 becoming law, a strong message is sent that California is committed to fighting for a world without cancer.

“On behalf of cancer advocates across California, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) would like to applaud the Governor for signing SB 1172," said Autumn Ogden-Smith, ACS CAN California Government Relations Director. "Cancer remains a leading cause of death in California. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women. The CBCRF and CCRF are vital tools being used to try to prevent, treat, and cure cancer. Ensuring both funds remain on state tax forms is critical in continuing ACS CAN's mission of reducing the cancer burden for everyone in our state. We are grateful to Senator Shannon Grove for championing this important measure."

“The University of California is proud to administer these important programs and distribute these funds to researchers to support high-impact cancer and breast cancer research,” said Jennifer Chase, Legislative Director at the University of California Office of the President. “We are thankful to Senator Grove and Governor Newsom for extending these tax donation checkoffs and allowing taxpayer donations to fund innovative research that catalyzes cancer breakthroughs.”

These two funds are administered by the California Breast Cancer Research Program and the UC Cancer Research Coordinating Committee in the UC Office of the President. The CBCRP was established by the 1993 Breast Cancer Act and is responsible for administering funding for breast cancer research in California. Over the past six years, CBCRF raised over $2.7 million through voluntary tax check-off boxes on state tax forms.

Similarly, CCRF, established in 2008, has provided significant resources for researching causes and treatments of cancer, expanding community-based education on cancer, and providing culturally sensitive prevention activities targeted toward communities disproportionately at risk or afflicted by cancer. The CCRF tax check-off generated over $2.9 million over six years.

Historically, both CBCRF and CCRF have ranked among the top seven voluntary contribution funds receiving donations through tax checkoff programs. Without SB 1172's passage, both funds would have been eliminated from state tax forms next year.

SB 1172 will extend these two voluntary income tax check-off programs and continue providing critical funding for breast cancer research as well as broader cancer research and education efforts.

Governor Newsom signed SB 1172 into law on July 15, 2024.