Senate Bill sb2142
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Florida Senate - 2003 (Corrected Copy) SB 2142
By Senators Webster, Klein and Fasano
9-1427-03 See HB 845
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to biomedical research;
3 creating s. 215.5605, F.S.; creating the Center
4 for Universal Research to Eradicate Disease;
5 providing intent and duties; creating an
6 advisory council; amending s. 215.5602, F.S.;
7 expanding the long-term goals and funding of
8 the Florida Biomedical Research Program to
9 include the cure of specified diseases;
10 providing an effective date.
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12 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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14 Section 1. Section 215.5605, Florida Statutes, is
15 created to read:
16 215.5605 Center for Universal Research to Eradicate
17 Disease.
18 (1) The Legislature finds that an estimated 128
19 million Americans suffer from acute, chronic, and degenerative
20 diseases and that biomedical research is the key to finding
21 cures for these diseases that negatively affect all
22 Floridians. The Legislature further finds that, while there is
23 much research being conducted throughout this state and
24 throughout the world, there is a lack of coordination of
25 efforts among researchers. The Legislature, therefore, finds
26 that there is a significant need for a coordinated effort if
27 the goal of curing disease is to be achieved. Moreover, the
28 Legislature finds that the biomedical technology sector meets
29 the criteria of a high-impact sector, pursuant to s. 288.108,
30 having a high importance to this state's economy with a
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Florida Senate - 2003 (Corrected Copy) SB 2142
9-1427-03 See HB 845
1 significant potential for growth and contribution to our
2 universities and quality of life.
3 (2) It is the intent of the Legislature that Florida
4 strive to become the nation's leader in biomedical research
5 and commit itself to being the state to find cures for the
6 most deadly and widespread diseases. It is further the intent
7 of the Legislature that there be a coordinated effort among
8 the state's public and private universities and the biomedical
9 industry to discover such cures. Moreover, it is the intent of
10 the Legislature to expand the state economy by attracting
11 biomedical researchers and research companies to this state.
12 (3) There is established the Center for Universal
13 Research to Eradicate Disease, which shall be known as the
14 "CURED."
15 (a) The purpose of the center is to coordinate,
16 improve, expand, and monitor all biomedical research programs
17 within the state, facilitate funding opportunities, and foster
18 improved technology transfer of research findings into
19 clinical trials and widespread public use.
20 (b) The goal of the center is to find cures for
21 diseases such as cancer, heart disease, lung disease,
22 diabetes, and neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's
23 disease, epilepsy, and Parkinson's disease.
24 (c) The center shall hold an annual biomedical
25 technology summit in Florida to which biomedical researchers,
26 biomedical technology companies, business incubators,
27 pharmaceutical manufacturers, and others around the nation and
28 world are invited to share biomedical research findings in
29 order to expedite the discovery of cures. Summit attendees
30 will be required to cover the costs of such attendance or
31 obtain sponsorship for such attendance.
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Florida Senate - 2003 (Corrected Copy) SB 2142
9-1427-03 See HB 845
1 (d) The center shall encourage clinical trials in this
2 state on research that holds promise of curing a disease or
3 condition. The center shall facilitate partnerships between
4 researchers, treating physicians, and community hospitals for
5 the purpose of sharing new techniques and new research
6 findings, as well as coordinating voluntary donations to
7 ensure an adequate supply of adult stem cells, cord blood, and
8 other tissues needed for biomedical research.
9 (e) The center shall also encourage the discovery and
10 production in Florida of vaccines that prevent disease.
11 (f) The center shall monitor the supply and demand
12 needs of researchers relating to stem cell research and other
13 types of human tissue research. If the center determines that
14 there is a need for increased donation of human tissue, it
15 shall notify hospitals licensed pursuant to chapter 395 that
16 have entered into partnership agreements with research
17 institutes conducting stem cell research located in the same
18 geographic region as the researchers demanding the stem cells
19 or other tissues. Such hospitals shall then implement programs
20 that encourage voluntary donations of cord blood or other
21 needed tissues.
22 (g) The center shall be funded through private, state,
23 and federal sources.
24 (h) The center shall serve as a registry of all known
25 biomedical grant opportunities and may assist any public or
26 private biomedical research program in this state in preparing
27 grant requests.
28 (i) The center shall maintain a website with links to
29 peer-reviewed biomedical research. The website shall also
30 contain a list of all known biomedical research being
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Florida Senate - 2003 (Corrected Copy) SB 2142
9-1427-03 See HB 845
1 conducted in Florida and shall facilitate communication among
2 researchers and other interested parties.
3 (j) The center shall submit an annual report to the
4 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
5 House of Representatives no later than January 15 which
6 contains recommendations for legislative change necessary to
7 foster a positive climate for biomedical research in this
8 state.
9 (k) The duties of the center may be outsourced to a
10 private entity or state university.
11 (4) There is established within the center an advisory
12 council which shall meet at least annually.
13 (a) The council shall consist of the members of the
14 board of directors of the Florida Research Consortium and at
15 least one representative from:
16 1. The Emerging Technology Commission.
17 2. Enterprise Florida, Inc.
18 3. BioFlorida.
19 4. The Florida Biomedical Research Advisory Council.
20 5. The Florida Medical Foundation.
21 6. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of
22 America.
23 (b) Members of the council shall serve without
24 compensation and each organization represented shall cover all
25 expenses of its representative.
26 Section 2. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1),
27 subsection (2), and paragraph (f) of subsection (10) of
28 section 215.5602, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
29 215.5602 Florida Biomedical Research Program.--
30 (1) There is established within the Department of
31 Health the Florida Biomedical Research Program funded by the
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Florida Senate - 2003 (Corrected Copy) SB 2142
9-1427-03 See HB 845
1 proceeds of the Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund pursuant to s.
2 215.5601. The purpose of the Florida Biomedical Research
3 Program is to provide an annual and perpetual source of
4 funding in order to support research initiatives that address
5 the health care problems of Floridians in the areas of
6 tobacco-related cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and
7 pulmonary disease. The long-term goals of the program are to:
8 (a) Improve the health of Floridians by researching
9 better prevention, diagnoses, and treatments, and cures for
10 cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and pulmonary disease.
11 (b) Expand the foundation of biomedical knowledge
12 relating to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, and cure
13 of diseases related to tobacco use, including cancer,
14 cardiovascular disease, stroke, and pulmonary disease.
15 (2) Funds appropriated for the Florida Biomedical
16 Research Program shall be used exclusively for the award of
17 grants and fellowships as established in this section; for
18 research relating to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment,
19 and cure of diseases related to tobacco use, including cancer,
20 cardiovascular disease, stroke, and pulmonary disease; and for
21 expenses incurred in the administration of this section.
22 Priority shall be granted to research designed to prevent or
23 cure disease.
24 (10) The council shall submit an annual progress
25 report on the state of biomedical research in this state to
26 the Governor, the Secretary of Health, the President of the
27 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by
28 February 1. The report must include:
29 (f) Progress in the prevention, diagnosis, and
30 treatment, and cure of diseases related to tobacco use,
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Florida Senate - 2003 (Corrected Copy) SB 2142
9-1427-03 See HB 845
1 including cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and
2 pulmonary disease.
3 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.
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