Downloads
CS/HB 655 — Biomedical Research
by Health and Human Services Committee and Rep. Coley (CS/SB 616 by Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee and Senator Flores)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Health Regulation Committee (HR)
This bill revises provisions related to the James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program (King Program) and the William G. “Bill” Bankhead, Jr., and David Coley Cancer Research Program (Bankhead-Coley Program).
The bill:
- Carries forward for 2 additional years (from 3 to 5 years) the balance of any appropriation from the Biomedical Research Trust Fund, which is obligated but not disbursed;
- Renames a member of the Biomedical Research Advisory Council (Council) and the advisory council of the Florida Center for Universal Research to Eradicate Disease;
- Allows the Speaker of the House of Representatives to choose a member of the Council from a comprehensive cardiovascular program with experience in biomedical research approved by the American College of Cardiology;
- Staggers the terms of service for members of the Council;
- Removes the Council’s responsibility for developing, supervising, and consulting in the appointment of research peer review panels;
- Clarifies conflict of interest provisions concerning members of the council and peer review panels;
- Removes provisions regarding the public’s access to the meetings of certain peer review panels;
- Exempts grant programs under the purview of the Council from the Administrative Procedures Act;
- Consolidates the Council’s annual reporting requirement, so that submission of the report covering the programs under its purview, including the King Program and the Bankhead-Coley Program, is due by December 15; and
- Makes the consideration of certain types of applications for grants by the Department of Health discretionary.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2012.
Vote: Senate 38-0; House 116-0