Amendment Text: An act relating to biomedical research; creating the James and Esther King Center for Universal Research to Eradicate Disease; providing intent and duties; creating an advisory council; amending s. 215.5602, F.S.; expanding the long-term goals and funding of the Florida Biomedical Research Program to include the cure of specified diseases; creating the Florida Cancer Research Cooperative; providing for a board of directors; providing the cooperative's mission and duties; providing for construction of the act in pari materia with laws enacted during the 2003 Regular Session of the Legislature; providing an effective date.

HOUSE AMENDMENT

Bill No. HB 0107A

A bill to be entitled

An act relating to biomedical research; creating the James

and Esther King Center for Universal Research to Eradicate

Disease; providing intent and duties; creating an advisory

council; amending s. 215.5602, F.S.; expanding the long-

term goals and funding of the Florida Biomedical Research

Program to include the cure of specified diseases;

creating the Florida Cancer Research Cooperative;

providing for a board of directors; providing the

cooperative's mission and duties; providing for

construction of the act in pari materia with laws enacted

during the 2003 Regular Session of the Legislature;

providing an effective date.

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

Section 1. James and Esther King Center for Universal

Research to Eradicate Disease.--

(1) The Legislature finds that an estimated 128 million

Americans suffer from acute, chronic, and degenerative diseases

and that biomedical research is the key to finding cures for

these diseases that negatively affect all Floridians. The

Legislature further finds that, while there is much research

being conducted throughout this state and throughout the world,

there is a lack of coordination of efforts among researchers.

The Legislature, therefore, finds that there is a significant

need for a coordinated effort if the goal of curing disease is

to be achieved. Moreover, the Legislature finds that the

biomedical technology sector meets the criteria of a high-impact

sector, pursuant to section 288.108, Florida Statutes, having a

high importance to this state's economy with a significant

potential for growth and contribution to our universities and

quality of life.

(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that Florida

strive to become the nation's leader in biomedical research and

commit itself to being the state to find cures for the most

deadly and widespread diseases. It is further the intent of the

Legislature that there be a coordinated effort among the state's

public and private universities and the biomedical industry to

discover such cures. Moreover, it is the intent of the

Legislature to expand the state economy by attracting biomedical

researchers and research companies to this state.

(3) There is established the James and Esther King Center

for Universal Research to Eradicate Disease, which shall be

known as the "CURED."

(a) The purpose of the center is to coordinate, improve,

expand, and monitor all biomedical research programs within the

state, facilitate funding opportunities, and foster improved

technology transfer of research findings into clinical trials

and widespread public use.

(b) The goal of the center is to find cures for diseases

such as cancer, heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and

neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy,

and Parkinson's disease.

summit in Florida to which biomedical researchers, biomedical

technology companies, business incubators, pharmaceutical

manufacturers, and others around the nation and world are

invited to share biomedical research findings in order to

expedite the discovery of cures. Summit attendees will be

required to cover the costs of such attendance or obtain

sponsorship for such attendance.

(d) The center shall encourage clinical trials in this

state on research that holds promise of curing a disease or

condition. The center shall facilitate partnerships between

researchers, treating physicians, and community hospitals for

the purpose of sharing new techniques and new research findings,

as well as coordinating voluntary donations to ensure an

adequate supply of adult stem cells or cord blood.

(e) The center shall also encourage the discovery and

production in Florida of vaccines that prevent disease.

(f) The center shall monitor the supply and demand needs

of researchers relating to stem cell research and other types of

human tissue research. If the center determines that there is a

need for increased donation of human tissue, it shall notify

hospitals licensed pursuant to chapter 395, Florida Statutes,

that have entered into partnership agreements with research

institutes conducting stem cell research located in the same

geographic region as the researchers demanding the stem cells or

other tissues. Such hospitals shall then implement programs that

encourage voluntary donations of cord blood or other needed

adult tissue.

(g) The center shall be funded through private, state, and

federal sources.

(h) The center shall serve as a registry of all known

biomedical grant opportunities and may assist any public or

private biomedical research program in this state in preparing

grant requests.

(i) The center shall maintain a website with links to

peer-reviewed biomedical research. The website shall also

contain a list of all known biomedical research being conducted

in Florida and shall facilitate communication among researchers

and other interested parties.

(j) The center shall submit an annual report to the

Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the

House of Representatives no later than January 15 which contains

recommendations for legislative change necessary to foster a

positive climate for biomedical research in this state.

(k) The duties of the center may be outsourced to a

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private entity or state university.

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(4) There is established within the center an advisory

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council which shall meet at least annually.

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(a) The council shall consist of the members of the board

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of directors of the Florida Research Consortium and at least one

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representative from:

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1. The Emerging Technology Commission.

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2. Enterprise Florida, Inc.

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3. BioFlorida.

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4. The Florida Biomedical Research Advisory Council.

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5. The Florida Medical Foundation.

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6. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

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(b) Members of the council shall serve without

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compensation and each organization represented shall cover all

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expenses of its representative.

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Section 2. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1),

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subsection (2), and paragraph (f) of subsection (10) of section

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215.5602, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

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215.5602 Florida Biomedical Research Program.--

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(1) There is established within the Department of Health

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the Florida Biomedical Research Program funded by the proceeds

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of the Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund pursuant to s. 215.5601. The

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purpose of the Florida Biomedical Research Program is to provide

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an annual and perpetual source of funding in order to support

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research initiatives that address the health care problems of

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Floridians in the areas of tobacco-related cancer,

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cardiovascular disease, stroke, and pulmonary disease. The long-

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term goals of the program are to:

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(a) Improve the health of Floridians by researching better

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prevention, diagnoses, ~~and~~ treatments, and curesfor cancer,

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cardiovascular disease, stroke, and pulmonary disease.

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(b) Expand the foundation of biomedical knowledge relating

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to the prevention, diagnosis, ~~and~~ treatment, and cureof

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diseases related to tobacco use, including cancer,

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cardiovascular disease, stroke, and pulmonary disease.

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(2) Funds appropriated for the Florida Biomedical Research

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Program shall be used exclusively for the award of grants and

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fellowships as established in this section; for research

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relating to the prevention, diagnosis, ~~and~~ treatment, and cure

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of diseases related to tobacco use, including cancer,

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cardiovascular disease, stroke, and pulmonary disease; and for

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expenses incurred in the administration of this section.

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Priority shall be granted to research designed to prevent or

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cure disease.

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(10) The council shall submit an annual progress report on

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the state of biomedical research in this state to the Governor,

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the Secretary of Health, the President of the Senate, and the

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Speaker of the House of Representatives by February 1. The

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report must include:

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(f) Progress in the prevention, diagnosis, ~~and~~ treatment,

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and cureof diseases related to tobacco use, including cancer,

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cardiovascular disease, stroke, and pulmonary disease.

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Section 3. Florida Cancer Research Cooperative.--

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(1) Effective July 1, 2003, the Florida Cancer Research

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Cooperative is established for the purpose of making the State

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of Florida a world class center for cancer research.

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(2)(a) A not-for-profit corporation, acting as an

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instrumentality of the Florida Dialogue on Cancer, shall be

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organized for the purpose of governing the affairs of the

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cooperative.

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(b) The Florida Cancer Research Cooperative, Inc., may

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create not-for-profit corporate subsidiaries to fulfill its

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mission. The not-for-profit corporation and its subsidiaries are

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authorized to receive, hold, invest, and administer property and

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any moneys acquired from private, local, state, and federal

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sources, as well as technical and professional income generated

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or derived from the mission-related activities of the

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cooperative.

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managed by a board of directors which shall consist of:

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1. The Secretary of the Department of Health or his or her

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designee;

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2. The Chief Executive Officer of the H. Lee Moffitt

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Cancer Center or his or her designee;

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3. The President of the University of Florida Shands

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Cancer Center or his or her designee;

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4. The Chief Executive Officer of the University of Miami

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Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center or his or her designee;

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5. The Chief Executive Officer of the Mayo Clinic,

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Jacksonville, or his or her designee;

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6. The Chief Executive Officer of the American Cancer

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Society, Florida Division, or his or her designee;

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7. The President of the American Cancer Society, Florida

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Division, Board of Directors or his or her designee;

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8. The President of the Florida Society of Clinical

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Oncology or his or her designee;

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9. The Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Florida,

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Inc., or his or her designee;

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10. Three representatives from large Florida hospitals or

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institutions, not delineated in subparagraphs 1. through 6.,

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that treat a large volume of cancer patients. One shall be

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appointed by the Governor, one shall be appointed by the Speaker

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of the House of Representatives, and one shall be appointed by

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the President of the Senate;

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11. Three representatives from community-based, statewide

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organizations serving populations that experience cancer

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disparities, one of whom shall be appointed by the Governor, one

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of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of

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Representatives, and one of whom shall be appointed by the

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President of the Senate;

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12. One member of the Florida House of Representatives, to

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be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

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13. One member of the Florida Senate, to be appointed by

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the President of the Senate;

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14. Three university presidents, one of whom shall be

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appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be appointed by the

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Speaker of the House of Representatives, and one of whom shall

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be appointed by the President of the Senate; and

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15. Five representatives from other statewide public

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health organizations whose missions include public education and

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the eradication of cancer, three of whom shall be appointed by

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the Governor, one of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of

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the House of Representatives, and one of whom shall be appointed

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by the President of the Senate.

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(d) Appointments made by the Speaker of the House of

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Representatives and the President of the Senate pursuant to

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paragraph (c) shall be for 2-year terms, concurrent with the

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bienniums in which they serve as presiding officers.

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(e) Appointments made by the Governor pursuant to

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paragraph (c) shall be for 2-year terms, although the Governor

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may reappoint directors.

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(f) Members of the board of directors of the not-for-

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profit corporation or any subsidiaries shall serve without

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compensation.

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(3) The cooperative shall issue an annual report to the

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Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the

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President of the Senate, by December 15 of each year, with

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policy and funding recommendations regarding cancer research

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capacity in Florida and related issues.

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Section 4. Florida Cancer Research Cooperative; mission

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and duties.--

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(1) The cooperative shall develop and centralize the

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processes and shared services for expanding cancer research in

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Florida through:

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(a) Support through bioinformatics, in order to create a

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cancer informatics infrastructure that enhances information and

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resource exchange and integration through researchers working in

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diverse disciplines to facilitate the full spectrum of cancer

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investigations;

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(b) Technical coordination, business development, and

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support of intellectual property;

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network as contemplated in section 1; and

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(d) Other multidisciplinary research support activities.

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(2) The cooperative shall work in concert with the Center

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for Universal Research to Eradicate Disease created in section 1

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to ensure that the goals of the center are advanced.

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Section 5. If any law amended by this act was also amended

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by a law enacted at the 2003 Regular Session of the Legislature,

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such laws shall be construed as if they had been enacted at the

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same session of the Legislature, and full effect shall be given

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to each if possible.

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Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.