Senate Bill 2044c1

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.



    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2044

    By the Committee on Fiscal Policy and Senator Thomas





    309-2071-99

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the tobacco lawsuit

  3         settlement; providing an appropriation to the

  4         Department of Health for disbursement to

  5         specified counties to reimburse them for

  6         tobacco-related medical costs; providing an

  7         effective date.

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  9         WHEREAS, Florida has received an historic and

10  substantial settlement from the nation's tobacco companies,

11  and

12         WHEREAS, the funds from that settlement have been

13  placed in the control of the Legislature, and

14         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate has taken the position that

15  these funds shall be used to provide, among other things,

16  health services for persons suffering from tobacco-related

17  illnesses, and

18         WHEREAS, rural counties with populations of fewer than

19  75,000 have expended large sums of taxpayer dollars for the

20  purpose of treating indigent patients suffering from

21  tobacco-related illnesses, and

22         WHEREAS, reimbursement for such treatment is a

23  legitimate expenditure of the tobacco settlement funds

24  according to the Florida Senate, NOW, THEREFORE,

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

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28         Section 1.  The sum of $2 million from nonrecurring

29  tobacco settlement trust funds is appropriated to the

30  Department of Health for the purpose of reimbursing rural

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    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2044
    309-2071-99




  1  counties for expenditures associated with treating indigent

  2  patients suffering from tobacco-related illnesses.

  3         Section 2.  The Department of Health is directed to

  4  disburse funds appropriated pursuant to this act to the

  5  counties in the amounts listed below for Fiscal Year

  6  1999-2000:

  7           County                              Amount

  8           Baker                              $37,000

  9           Bradford                           $33,000

10           Calhoun                            $35,500

11           Columbia                          $157,000

12           DeSoto                             $74,000

13           Dixie                              $39,500

14           Flagler                            $59,500

15           Franklin                           $22,000

16           Gadsden                           $100,000

17           Gilchrist                           $7,500

18           Glades                             $14,000

19           Gulf                               $21,500

20           Hamilton                           $31,000

21           Hardee                             $37,000

22           Hendry                             $77,000

23           Holmes                             $61,000

24           Jackson                           $145,500

25           Jefferson                          $17,500

26           Lafayette                           $4,500

27           Levy                               $76,000

28           Liberty                             $7,000

29           Madison                            $51,000

30           Nassau                             $83,000

31           Okeechobee                        $122,500

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    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2044
    309-2071-99




  1           Putnam                            $260,500

  2           Sumter                             $90,000

  3           Suwannee                           $97,000

  4           Taylor                             $76,000

  5           Union                              $14,000

  6           Wakulla                            $35,500

  7           Walton                             $77,000

  8           Washington                         $36,500

  9         Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 1999.

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11          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
12                             SB 2044

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14  Provides an appropriation of $2 million from non-recurring
    tobacco settlement trust funds to the Department of Health to
15  reimburse rural counties for expenditures associated with
    treating indigent patients suffering from tobacco-related
16  illnesses.

17  Directs the Department of Health to disburse funds
    appropriated to the counties pursuant to the amounts specified
18  in law for Fiscal Year 1999-2000.

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