The Florida Senate

381.0404  Center for Health Technologies.--

(1)(a)  There is hereby established the Center for Health Technologies, to be located at and administered by a statutory teaching hospital located in Dade County and hereafter referred to as the administrator.

(b)  The purpose of the center is to encourage the development and growth of the health sciences in the state, with an emphasis on technologies which will help to prevent illness and reduce health care costs; to assist coordination between and with educational institutions, health care providers, and persons engaged in research and development of health care products; to provide services to persons and incipient firms engaged in the incubation of health care products; to assist in technology transfer; and to establish academic laboratories, libraries, and other resource facilities to be shared among the center's constituents.

(2)  The objectives of the center will be to:

(a)  Maintain a database of all resources to encourage linkages and promote the activities of its constituents.

(b)  Provide a network of shared facilities and technical services such as, but not restricted to:

1.  Physical, chemical, and biological testing.

2.  Electronic, mechanical, and process design.

3.  Engineering documentation.

4.  Professional training and continuing education.

(c)  Incubate small companies by offering them access to:

1.  Affordable physical space.

2.  Administrative, managerial, and financial services.

3.  Seed and venture capital.

4.  Business planning and legal services.

(d)  Promote technology transfer, cooperative research and development, and commercialization among local businesses and industrial firms, the universities, hospitals, and local government.

(e)  Initiate or coordinate large grant applications by linking local resources.

(3)(a)  In carrying out the purposes and objectives of the center, the administrator is authorized to engage managers, administrators, analysts, and employees in all disciplines; to engage consultants, advisers, attorneys, accountants, actuaries, engineers, and educators of all disciplines; and to enter into contracts for management of the center with persons, firms, and corporations, both profit and nonprofit, including, but not limited to, a nonprofit corporation which is organized for the purpose of carrying out the objectives and purposes of the center. In all instances, the administrator is authorized to pay reasonable compensation for the performance of such services, subject to compliance with this act and state law governing the expenditure of public funds.

(b)  The administrator is further authorized to apply for and accept gifts, grants, and contributions in cash and in kind given in furtherance of the purposes and objectives of the center from all lawful donors and to establish an account or accounts at financial institutions qualified to do business within the state, which accounts may or need not bear interest as determined appropriate.

(4)  The administrator shall submit a report on an annual basis to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate providing an accounting of expenditures and progress on research and development programs.

History.--s. 10, ch. 89-354; s. 13, ch. 89-527; s. 50, ch. 91-297.

Note.--Former s. 381.504.