The Florida Senate

381.7353  Reducing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: Closing the Gap grant program; administration; department duties.--

(1)  The Reducing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: Closing the Gap grant program shall be administered by the Department of Health.

(2)  The department shall:

(a)  Publicize the availability of funds and establish an application process for submitting a grant proposal.

(b)  Provide technical assistance and training, including a statewide meeting promoting best practice programs, as requested, to grant recipients.

(c)  Develop uniform data reporting requirements for the purpose of evaluating the performance of the grant recipients and demonstrating improved health outcomes.

(d)  Develop a monitoring process to evaluate progress toward meeting grant objectives.

(e)  Coordinate with existing community-based programs, such as chronic disease community intervention programs, cancer prevention and control programs, diabetes control programs, the Healthy Start program, the Florida KidCare Program, the HIV/AIDS program, immunization programs, and other related programs at the state and local levels, to avoid duplication of effort and promote consistency.

(3)  Pursuant to s. 20.43(6), the secretary may appoint an ad hoc advisory committee to: examine areas where public awareness, public education, research, and coordination regarding racial and ethnic health outcome disparities are lacking; consider access and transportation issues which contribute to health status disparities; and make recommendations for closing gaps in health outcomes and increasing the public's awareness and understanding of health disparities that exist between racial and ethnic populations.

History.--s. 29, ch. 2000-256.