House Bill 1015
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Florida House of Representatives - 2000 HB 1015
By Representative Minton
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to marine biotechnology
3 research and industry development; establishing
4 the Florida Marine Biotechnology Research and
5 Development Program; providing purpose;
6 providing for program administration; requiring
7 an annual report; providing for program focus
8 areas; providing for award of funds to projects
9 on a competitive basis; providing for annual
10 appropriations for a specified period; limiting
11 administrative expenses; providing long-term
12 goal of the program; providing an
13 appropriation; providing an effective date.
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15 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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17 Section 1. Florida Marine Biotechnology Research and
18 Development Program.--
19 (1) There is established a Florida Marine
20 Biotechnology Research and Development Program. The program
21 shall establish partnerships among research scientists in
22 Florida universities and research laboratories and the marine
23 biotechnology industry for the purpose of promoting commerce,
24 creating jobs, and benefiting from potential commercial
25 opportunities in Florida. The Director of the Florida Marine
26 Research Institute and the Director of the Florida Sea Grant
27 College Program shall jointly administer the program, with
28 input from a steering committee appointed by both directors.
29 The steering committee shall include a member from each of the
30 following: University of Florida, Florida Atlantic
31 University, Florida State University, University of South
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Florida House of Representatives - 2000 HB 1015
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1 Florida, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc., Mote
2 Marine Laboratory, Florida Marine Research Institute, and
3 BIO+Florida. The steering committee shall determine the
4 research priorities that shall be used to request project
5 proposals to be selected and funded using funds as provided in
6 this act. The Florida Marine Research Institute and the
7 Florida Sea Grant College Program shall make a joint report to
8 the Legislature on the progress of the program by July 1 of
9 each year that the program is funded.
10 (2) The Florida Marine Biotechnology Research and
11 Development Program shall focus on the following
12 areas: aquaculture, marine animal health, marine natural
13 products, biofilm/bioadhesion, bioremediation, and marine
14 ecology.
15 (3)(a) Funds appropriated for this program shall be
16 awarded to projects based on competition as determined by a
17 scientific peer review process, which may include the advice
18 of a nationwide panel of experts. Review criteria shall
19 include project rationale, scientific merit, potential
20 applications, industrial sponsorship, and investigator
21 qualifications. All universities, public research
22 laboratories, and private nonprofit research laboratories in
23 Florida shall be eligible to compete for funding based on the
24 submission of proposals and selection by the competitive
25 process. The program is intended to continue for a total of 5
26 years, with an annual appropriation each year. Projects
27 initiated using funds under this act shall require that the
28 annual appropriations be spent over a 30-month period.
29 (b) The Florida Marine Research Institute and the
30 Florida Sea Grant College Program shall disburse all funds on
31 a competitive basis. Projects funded within the Florida Marine
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Florida House of Representatives - 2000 HB 1015
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1 Research Institute shall receive funds appropriated under this
2 act directly from the institute. Funds awarded to universities
3 and private nonprofit research laboratories shall be
4 transferred by the Florida Marine Research Institute by
5 contract through the Florida Sea Grant College Program.
6 (c) All projects should promote public and private
7 partnerships where possible. The Florida Marine Research
8 Institute and the Florida Sea Grant College Program shall use
9 no more than $25,000 each of each annual appropriation for
10 technical administration of the program. Up to $16,000 of each
11 annual appropriation may be used by the Florida Sea Grant
12 College Program for the expenses of the peer review process
13 and technical panel.
14 (4) The long-term goal of the program shall be the
15 creation of products and processes that will advance the
16 marine biotechnology industry in Florida, which industry will
17 create new, clean, high-technology businesses, will provide
18 high-paying jobs, and will create training opportunities that
19 will keep Florida-trained students in Florida.
20 (5) Contractual services procured under this section
21 are not subject to the provisions of s. 287.057, Florida
22 Statutes.
23 Section 2. There is hereby appropriated from the
24 General Revenue fund to the Florida Marine Research Institute
25 for fiscal year 2000-2001 the sum of $2 million for
26 implementation of the first year of the program described in
27 this act.
28 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2000.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 2000 HB 1015
541-159-00
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2 HOUSE SUMMARY
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Creates the Florida Marine Biotechnology Research and
4 Development Program to establish partnerships among
university research scientists and marine biotechnology
5 industry and to fund research projects that will advance
the marine biotechnology industry in Florida. Provides
6 for administration by the Directors of the Florida Marine
Research Institute and the Florida Sea Grant College
7 Program. Requires an annual report to the Legislature.
Specifies focus areas of the program. Provides for award
8 of funds to projects on a competitive basis. Provides for
annual funding for a 5-year period, and limits annual
9 administrative expenses. Provides an appropriation.
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