HB 1449

CS

CHAMBER ACTION

1	The Health Care Appropriations Committee recommends the
2	following:
3	Council/Committee Substitute
4	Remove the entire bill and insert:
5	A bill to be entitled
6	An act relating to brain tumor research; creating s.
7	381.853, F.S.; providing legislative findings and intent;
8	requiring the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain
9	Institute of the University of Florida to develop and
10	maintain a brain tumor registry; providing that
11	individuals may choose not to be listed in the registry;
12	establishing the Florida Center for Brain Tumor Research
13	within the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain
14	Institute of the University of Florida; providing purpose
15	and goal of the center; providing for a competitive grant
16	process for awarding certain funds; requiring the center
17	to hold an annual brain tumor biomedical technology
18	summit; providing for clinical trials and collaboration
19	between certain entities; requiring the center to submit
20	an annual report to the Governor, Legislature, and
21	Secretary of Health; providing for funding; establishing a
22	scientific advisory council and providing for membership,
23	terms of office, meetings, and compensation; providing an
24	appropriation; providing an effective date.
25
26	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
27
28	Section 1.  Section 381.853, Florida Statutes, is created
29	to read:
30	381.853  Florida Center for Brain Tumor Research.--
31	(1)  The Legislature finds that each year an estimated
32	190,000 citizens of the United States are diagnosed with
33	cancerous and noncancerous brain tumors and that biomedical
34	research is the key to finding cures for these tumors. The
35	Legislature further finds that, although brain tumor research is
36	being conducted throughout the state, there is a lack of
37	coordinated efforts among researchers and health care providers.
38	Therefore, the Legislature finds that there is a significant
39	need for a coordinated effort to achieve the goal of curing
40	brain tumors. The Legislature further finds that the biomedical
41	technology sector meets the criteria of a high-impact sector,
42	pursuant to s. 288.108(6), having a high importance to the
43	state's economy with a significant potential for growth and
44	contribution to our universities and quality of life.
45	(2)  It is the intent of the Legislature to establish a
46	coordinated effort among the state's public and private
47	universities and hospitals and the biomedical industry to
48	discover brain tumor cures and develop brain tumor treatment
49	modalities. Moreover, it is the intent of the Legislature to
50	expand the state's economy by attracting biomedical researchers
51	and research companies to the state.
52	(3)  The Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute
53	of the University of Florida shall work with other institutions
54	and organizations to develop and maintain a brain tumor registry
55	that is an automated, electronic, and centralized database of
56	individuals with brain tumors. The individual, or the parent or
57	guardian of the individual if the individual is a minor, may
58	refuse to participate in the brain tumor registry by signing a
59	form obtained from the department or from the health care
60	practitioner or entity that provides brain tumor care or
61	treatment which indicates that the individual does not wish to
62	be included in the registry. The decision to not participate in
63	the registry must be noted in the registry.
64	(4)  The Florida Center for Brain Tumor Research is
65	established within the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain
66	Institute of the University of Florida.
67	(a)  The purpose of the center is to foster collaboration
68	with brain cancer research organizations and other institutions,
69	provide a central repository for brain tumor biopsies from
70	individuals throughout the state, improve and monitor brain
71	tumor biomedical research programs within the state, facilitate
72	funding opportunities, and foster improved technology transfer
73	of brain tumor research findings into clinical trials and
74	widespread public use.
75	(b)  The goal of the center is to find cures for brain
76	tumors.
77	(c)  Funds specifically appropriated by the Legislature for
78	peer-reviewed brain tumor research shall be awarded using a
79	competitive grant process developed by the center.
80	(d)  The center shall hold an annual brain tumor biomedical
81	technology summit in the state to which scientists conducting
82	basic peer-reviewed scientific research from the state's public
83	and private universities, teaching hospitals, and for-profit and
84	nonprofit institutions are invited to share biomedical research
85	findings in order to expedite the discovery of cures. Summit
86	attendees shall cover the costs of such attendance or obtain
87	sponsorship for such attendance.
88	(e)  The center shall encourage clinical trials in the
89	state on research that holds the promise of curing brain tumors.
90	The center shall facilitate the formation of partnerships
91	between researchers, physicians, clinicians, and hospitals for
92	the purpose of sharing new techniques and new research findings
93	and coordinating the voluntary donation of brain tumor biopsies.
94	(f)  The center shall facilitate the formation of
95	partnerships between researchers, physicians, clinicians, and
96	hospitals in the state.
97	(g)  The center shall submit an annual report to the
98	Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House
99	of Representatives, and the Secretary of Health no later than
100	January 15 that contains recommendations for legislative changes
101	necessary to foster a positive climate for the pursuit of brain
102	tumor research and the development of treatment modalities in
103	the state.
104	(h)  The center shall be funded through private, state, and
105	federal sources.
106	(5)  There is established within the center a scientific
107	advisory council that includes biomedical researchers,
108	physicians, clinicians, and representatives from public and
109	private universities and hospitals. The council shall meet at
110	least annually.
111	(a)  The council shall consist of:
112	1.  Two members from the Florida Center for Brain Tumor
113	Research within the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain
114	Institute of the University of Florida appointed by the
115	Governor.
116	2.  Two members from the Scripps Research Institute, one of
117	whom must have expertise in basic brain tumor research,
118	appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
119	3.  Two members from other public and private universities
120	and institutions directly involved in brain tumor research
121	appointed by the President of the Senate.
122	4.  Two physicians directly involved in the treatment of
123	brain tumor patients appointed by the Secretary of Health.
124	(b)  Council members shall serve staggered 4-year terms.
125	(c)  Council members shall serve without compensation, and
126	each organization represented shall cover all expenses of its
127	representative.
128	Section 2.  The sum of $500,000 is appropriated from the
129	General Revenue Fund to the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight
130	Brain Institute of the University of Florida for the 2006-2007
131	fiscal year. The level of funding for brain tumor research and
132	the procurement of brain tumor biopsies shall be commensurate
133	with the level of funding provided.
134	Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.