The Florida Senate

Assess the public health status and needs of the state through statewide data collection and other appropriate means, with special attention to future needs that may result from population growth, technological advancements, new societal priorities, or other changes.

Formulate general policies affecting the public health of the state.

Administer and enforce laws and rules relating to sanitation, control of communicable diseases, illnesses and hazards to health among humans and from animals to humans, and the general health of the people of the state.

Cooperate with and accept assistance from federal, state, and local officials for the prevention and suppression of communicable and other diseases, illnesses, injuries, and hazards to human health.

Declare, enforce, modify, and abolish quarantine of persons, animals, and premises as the circumstances indicate for controlling communicable diseases or providing protection from unsafe conditions that pose a threat to public health, except as provided in ss. 384.28 and 392.545-392.60.

Provide for a thorough investigation and study of the incidence, causes, modes of propagation and transmission, and means of prevention, control, and cure of diseases, illnesses, and hazards to human health.

Provide for the dissemination of information to the public relative to the prevention, control, and cure of diseases, illnesses, and hazards to human health. The department shall conduct a workshop before issuing any health alert or advisory relating to food-borne illness or communicable disease in public lodging or food service establishments in order to inform persons, trade associations, and businesses of the risk to public health and to seek the input of affected persons, trade associations, and businesses on the best methods of informing and protecting the public, except in an emergency, in which case the workshop must be held within 14 days after the issuance of the emergency alert or advisory.

Act as registrar of vital statistics.

Cooperate with and assist federal health officials in enforcing public health laws and regulations.

Cooperate with other departments, local officials, and private boards and organizations for the improvement and preservation of the public health.

Maintain a statewide injury-prevention program.

Adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of law conferring duties upon it. This subsection does not authorize the department to require a permit or license unless such requirement is specifically provided by law.

Manage and coordinate emergency preparedness and disaster response functions to: investigate and control the spread of disease; coordinate the availability and staffing of special needs shelters; support patient evacuation; ensure the safety of food and drugs; provide critical incident stress debriefing; and provide surveillance and control of radiological, chemical, biological, and other environmental hazards.

Perform any other duties prescribed by law.