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