The Florida Senate

381.98  The Florida Public Health Foundation, Inc.; establishment; purpose; mission; duties; board of directors.--

(1)  The Florida Public Health Foundation, Inc., referred to in this section as "the corporation," is established for the purpose of disseminating breakthrough findings in biomedical research and promoting health awareness in this state and providing services to the Department of Health.

(2)  The corporation's mission includes disseminating information about innovative biomedical research and clinical trials in this state as well as making Floridians and their treatment providers aware of specified diseases and conditions and available methods of preventing, diagnosing, treating, and curing those diseases and conditions.

(3)  The purpose and objective of the corporation shall be to operate exclusively for charitable, scientific, and educational purposes; to protect and improve the health and well-being of Florida's people and environment through partnerships committed to program innovation, education, applied research, and policy development; and to engage in charitable programs dedicated to improving the health of Floridians.

(4)  The corporation shall be established as a not-for-profit entity qualifying under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The corporation may receive, hold, invest, and administer property and any moneys acquired from private, local, state, and federal sources, as well as technical and professional income generated or derived from the mission-related activities of the corporation. The corporation shall have all of the powers conferred upon corporations organized under chapter 617.

(5)  The corporation's duties include procuring funds necessary for accomplishing the purpose and mission of the corporation. The corporation shall strive to complement, supplement, and enhance the missions of the various organizations, entities, and departments represented on its board by serving as the lead corporation in the state for promoting public health awareness.

(6)  The affairs of the corporation shall be managed by an executive director appointed by a board of directors consisting of:

(a)  The ¹State Surgeon General or his or her designee.

(b)  A former member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate.

(c)  A former member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(d)  A representative of the American Heart Association.

(e)  A representative of the American Cancer Society, Florida Division, Inc.

(f)  A representative of the American Lung Association of Florida.

(g)  A representative of the American Diabetes Association, South Coastal Region.

(h)  A representative of the Alzheimer's Association.

(i)  A representative of the Epilepsy Foundation.

(j)  A representative of the National Parkinson Foundation.

(k)  A representative of the March of Dimes, Florida Chapter.

(l)  A representative of the Arthritis Foundation, Florida Chapter.

(m)  A representative of the American Liver Foundation.

(n)  A representative of the Florida Council for Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.

(o)  A representative of the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association.

(p)  A representative of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

(q)  A representative of the Florida Public Health Association.

(r)  A representative of the Florida Association of County Health Officers.

(s)  A public health academician selected by the State Health Officer.

(t)  A representative of the Florida Academy of Family Physicians.

(u)  Three consumers who have demonstrated an interest in protecting the public health appointed by the Florida Public Health Association.

(v)  A representative of the Florida Association of Health Plans.

(7)  Members of the board of directors shall serve for 2-year terms and shall serve without compensation. Each organization represented on the board of directors shall cover the expenses of its representative.

(8)  The corporation, in consultation with the Department of Health and the Florida Center for Universal Research to Eradicate Disease, shall facilitate communication between biomedical researchers and health care providers each month according to the health awareness schedule established by the Florida Public Health Foundation, Inc., in order to ensure ongoing dialogue between researchers, treatment providers, and the department.

(9)  The corporation and the Department of Health shall enter into partnerships with providers of continuing education for health care practitioners, including, but not limited to, hospitals and state and local medical organizations, to ensure that practitioners are aware of the most recent and complete diagnostic and treatment tools.

(10)  The corporation may provide personnel to the Department of Health for the purpose of performing duties and responsibilities outlined in private and public grants received by the Department of Health. These personnel are not state employees and are not entitled to retirement credit and other benefits provided to state employees under chapters 110 and 112. These personnel shall perform services pursuant to an agreement between the corporation and the Department of Health.

(11)  The corporation may purchase goods, services, and property for use by the Department of Health. These purchases are not subject to the provisions of chapters 253, 255, and 287, nor to the control or direction of the Department of Environmental Protection or the Department of Management Services.

(12)  The corporation shall provide an annual report concerning its activities and finances to the Florida Center for Universal Research to Eradicate Disease and shall provide copies of the annual report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

History.--s. 12, ch. 2004-2; s. 9, ch. 2006-182.

¹Note.--Chapter 2007-40 redesignated the Secretary of Health as the State Surgeon General.