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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to the Newborn Screening Program Task

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Force; creating the task force and providing the purpose

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of the task force; providing for appointment of members;

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providing for a chairperson; providing meeting

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requirements; specifying service without compensation, but

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providing for reimbursement of per diem and travel

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expenses; providing for staff support; providing duties

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and responsibilities; requiring the task force to prepare

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a gap analysis study; requiring the task force to submit a

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review and recommended plan to the Governor, the

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Legislature, and the State Surgeon General by a specified

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date; providing an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1. (1) There is created the Newborn Screening

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Program Task Force within the Division of Children's Medical

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Services Network of the Department of Health. This task force is

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created to conduct a study that identifies strengths and

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weaknesses and provides a strategic planning component of the

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Newborn Screening Laboratory and followup programs.

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     (2) The task force shall consist of all members of the

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Genetics and Newborn Screening Advisory Council and invited

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consultants. The chair of the Genetics and Newborn Screening

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Advisory Council shall serve as the chair of the task force.

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     (3) All decisions of the task force shall be by majority

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vote of the members present at a duly convened meeting of the

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task force. All meetings and records of the task force are

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subject to the requirements of s. 24(a), Art. I of the State

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Constitution.

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     (4) Members of the task force shall serve without

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compensation, but are entitled to receive reimbursement for

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travel and per diem expenses as provided in s. 112.061, Florida

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Statutes.

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     (5) Staff of the Division of Children's Medical Services

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Network shall be assigned by the director to provide support to

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the task force.

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     (6) The task force shall review the Newborn Screening

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Laboratory and followup programs for strengths and weaknesses.

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All necessary research shall be completed by October 31, 2008.

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Based on the research, the task force shall prepare a gap

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analysis study that includes, but need not be limited to, service

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delivery on a disease-specific basis, provider availability,

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information technology, management and care, and quality

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assurance of diagnostic and follow-up systems. The gap analysis

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study shall define the ideal program. The task force shall submit

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the gap analysis study and its review and recommended plan to the

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Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House

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of Representatives, and the State Surgeon General by December 1,

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2008.

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     (7) The task force must hold its initial meeting by August

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1, 2008. The task force shall terminate upon the submission of

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the final study.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.