HB 0845 2003
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to biomedical research; creating s.
3	215.5605, F.S.; creating the Center for Universal Research
4	to Eradicate Disease; providing intent and duties;
5	creating an advisory council; amending s. 215.5602, F.S.;
6	expanding the long-term goals and funding of the Florida
7	Biomedical Research Program to include the cure of
8	specified diseases; providing an effective date.
9
10	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
11
12	Section 1. Section 215.5605, Florida Statutes, is created
13	to read:
14	215.5605 Center for Universal Research to Eradicate
15	Disease.
16	(1) The Legislature finds that an estimated 128 million
17	Americans suffer from acute, chronic, and degenerative diseases
18	and that biomedical research is the key to finding cures for
19	these diseases that negatively affect all Floridians. The
20	Legislature further finds that, while there is much research
21	being conducted throughout this state and throughout the world,
22	there is a lack of coordination of efforts among researchers.
23	The Legislature, therefore, finds that there is a significant
24	need for a coordinated effort if the goal of curing disease is
25	to be achieved. Moreover, the Legislature finds that the
26	biomedical technology sector meets the criteria of a high-impact
27	sector, pursuant to s. 288.108, having a high importance to this
28	state’s economy with a significant potential for growth and
29	contribution to our universities and quality of life.
30	(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that Florida
31	strive to become the nation’s leader in biomedical research and
32	commit itself to being the state to find cures for the most
33	deadly and widespread diseases. It is further the intent of the
34	Legislature that there be a coordinated effort among the state’s
35	public and private universities and the biomedical industry to
36	discover such cures. Moreover, it is the intent of the
37	Legislature to grow the state economy by attracting biomedical
38	researchers and research companies to this state.
39	(3) There is established the Center for Universal Research
40	to Eradicate Disease, which shall be known as the “CURED.”
41	(a) The purpose of the center is to coordinate, improve,
42	expand, and monitor all biomedical research programs within the
43	state, facilitate funding opportunities, and foster improved
44	technology transfer of research findings into clinical trials
45	and widespread public use.
46	(b) The goal of the center is to find cures for diseases
47	such as cancer, heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and
48	neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy,
49	and Parkinson’s disease.
50	(c) The center shall hold an annual biomedical technology
51	summit in Florida to which biomedical researchers, biomedical
52	technology companies, business incubators, pharmaceutical
53	manufacturers, and others around the nation and world are
54	invited to share biomedical research findings in order to
55	expedite the discovery of cures. Summit attendees will be
56	required to cover the costs of such attendance or obtain
57	sponsorship for such attendance.
58	(d) The center shall encourage clinical trials in this
59	state on research that holds promise of curing a disease or
60	condition. The center shall facilitate partnerships between
61	researchers, treating physicians, and community hospitals for
62	the purpose of sharing new techniques and new research findings,
63	as well as coordinating voluntary donations to ensure an
64	adequate supply of adult stem cells, cord blood, or other
65	tissues needed for biomedical research.
66	(e) The center shall also encourage the discovery and
67	production in Florida of vaccines that prevent disease.
68	(f) The center shall monitor the supply and demand needs
69	of researchers relating to stem cell research and other types of
70	human tissue research. If the center determines that there is a
71	need for increased donation of human tissue, it shall notify
72	hospitals licensed pursuant to chapter 395 that have entered
73	into partnership agreements with research institutes conducting
74	stem cell research located in the same geographic region as the
75	researchers demanding the stem cells or other tissues. Such
76	hospitals shall then implement programs that encourage voluntary
77	donations of cord blood or other needed tissues.
78	(g) The center shall be funded through private, state, and
79	federal sources.
80	(h) The center shall serve as a registry of all known
81	biomedical grant opportunities and may assist any public or
82	private biomedical research program in this state in preparing
83	grant requests.
84	(i) The center shall maintain a website with links to
85	peer-reviewed biomedical research. The website shall also
86	contain a list of all known biomedical research being conducted
87	in Florida and shall facilitate communication among researchers
88	and other interested parties.
89	(j) The center shall submit an annual report to the
90	Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
91	House of Representatives no later than January 15 which contains
92	recommendations for legislative change necessary to foster a
93	positive climate for biomedical research in this state.
94	(k) The duties of the center may be outsourced to a
95	private entity or state university.
96	(4) There is established within the center an advisory
97	council which shall meet at least annually.
98	(a) The council shall consist of the members of the board
99	of directors of the Florida Research Consortium and at least one
100	representative from:
101	1. The Emerging Technology Commission.
102	2. Enterprise Florida, Inc.
103	3. BioFlorida.
104	4. The Florida Biomedical Research Advisory Council.
105	5. The Florida Medical Foundation.
106	6. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.
107	(b) Members of the council shall serve without
108	compensation and each organization represented shall cover all
109	expenses of its representative.
110	Section 2. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1),
111	subsection (2), and paragraph (f) of subsection (10) of section
112	215.5602, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
113	215.5602 Florida Biomedical Research Program.--
114	(1) There is established within the Department of Health
115	the Florida Biomedical Research Program funded by the proceeds
116	of the Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund pursuant to s. 215.5601. The
117	purpose of the Florida Biomedical Research Program is to provide
118	an annual and perpetual source of funding in order to support
119	research initiatives that address the health care problems of
120	Floridians in the areas of tobacco-related cancer,
121	cardiovascular disease, stroke, and pulmonary disease. The long-
122	term goals of the program are to:
123	(a) Improve the health of Floridians by researching better
124	prevention, diagnoses, and treatments, and curesfor cancer,
125	cardiovascular disease, stroke, and pulmonary disease.
126	(b) Expand the foundation of biomedical knowledge relating
127	to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, and cureof
128	diseases related to tobacco use, including cancer,
129	cardiovascular disease, stroke, and pulmonary disease.
130	(2) Funds appropriated for the Florida Biomedical Research
131	Program shall be used exclusively for the award of grants and
132	fellowships as established in this section; for research
133	relating to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, and cure
134	of diseases related to tobacco use, including cancer,
135	cardiovascular disease, stroke, and pulmonary disease; and for
136	expenses incurred in the administration of this section.
137	Priority shall be granted to research designed to prevent or
138	cure disease.
139	(10) The council shall submit an annual progress report on
140	the state of biomedical research in this state to the Governor,
141	the Secretary of Health, the President of the Senate, and the
142	Speaker of the House of Representatives by February 1. The
143	report must include:
144	(f) Progress in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment,
145	and cureof diseases related to tobacco use, including cancer,
146	cardiovascular disease, stroke, and pulmonary disease.
147	Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.