Senate Bill sb1500

    Florida Senate - 2007                                  SB 1500

    By Senator Ring





    32-639-07

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to lupus; providing legislative

  3         intent; requiring the southeast Florida chapter

  4         of the Lupus Foundation of America to establish

  5         lupus life centers; providing requirements for

  6         the centers; requiring the chapter to establish

  7         an advisory council; providing requirements for

  8         the members of the advisory council;

  9         authorizing the Department of Health to

10         contract with the chapter; providing an

11         effective date.

12  

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

14  

15         Section 1.  Lupus Life Centers Program.--

16         (1)  It is the intent of the Legislature to reduce the

17  billions of dollars expended annually in social security

18  disability, Medicare, Medicaid, and private payments on behalf

19  of lupus patients by providing prevention and supportive

20  services and public education concerning early detection in 11

21  high-incidence counties in southeast Florida, which are

22  Brevard, Broward, Collier, Miami-Dade, Hendry, Indian River,

23  Martin, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie

24  Counties.

25         (2)  The southeast Florida chapter of the Lupus

26  Foundation of America shall expand its services by

27  establishing a Lupus Life Center in Miami-Dade, Broward, and

28  Palm Beach Counties using professional staff that provides, in

29  an eleven-county area, educational training and supportive

30  services to individuals who have lupus and their families. The

31  center shall also provide public education by offering

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    Florida Senate - 2007                                  SB 1500
    32-639-07




 1  seminars and continuing education for social services and

 2  medical professionals and shall operate a toll-free telephone

 3  number that may be accessed by patients throughout the state.

 4         (3)  The southeast Florida chapter of the Lupus

 5  Foundation of America shall establish an advisory council

 6  consisting of at least 14 members which shall monitor and

 7  provide guidance to the lupus life centers. The council shall

 8  include the directors of the health departments of Broward

 9  County, Miami-Dade County, and Palm Beach County or their

10  designees and at least one professional from each county being

11  served by the lupus life centers.

12         (4)  The Department of Health may contract with the

13  southeast Florida chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America

14  to administer this section.

15         Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

16  law.

17  

18            *****************************************

19                          SENATE SUMMARY

20    Requires the southeast Florida chapter of the Lupus
      Foundation of America to establish lupus life centers.
21    Provides requirements for the centers. Requires the
      chapter to establish an advisory council. Provides
22    requirements for the membership of the advisory council.
      Authorizes the Department of Health to contract with the
23    chapter.

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