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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to transitional services for young adults

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with disabilities; creating a health care transition

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services task force within the Department of Health;

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providing legislative intent; providing for membership,

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duties, and responsibilities of the task force; providing

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for reimbursement of members for expenses; requiring the

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Legislature to allocate funds to the task force; requiring

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the task force to assess the need for health care

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transition services and provide a report to the Governor

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and the Legislature; creating the Don Davis Health and

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Transition Services Program of Jacksonville; assigning the

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program for administrative purposes to the Children's

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Medical Services Network within the Department of Health;

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providing purposes of the program; describing

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participating service providers and the services that they

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are to provide; providing for an evaluation of the

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program; providing an appropriation; providing an

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effective date.

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

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     Section 1. Health Care Transition Services Task Force for

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Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities; membership, duties, and

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responsibilities.--

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     (1) The Department of Health shall create a statewide

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Health Care Transition Services Task Force for Youth and Young

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Adults with Disabilities. It is the intent of the Legislature

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that the task force assess the need for health care transition

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services for youth with disabilities, develop strategies to

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ensure successful transition from the pediatric to the adult

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health care system, and identify existing and potential funding

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sources. The task force shall be composed of 13 members. The task

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force shall have representatives from at least three geographic

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areas in the state, representing rural, suburban, and urban

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areas.

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     (2) The task force shall be composed of the following

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persons:

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     (a) The director of the Division of Children's Medical

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Services Network within the Department of Health or his or her

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designee.

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     (b) A representative from the children's health care

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medical community.

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     (c) A representative from the adult health care medical

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community.

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     (d) The director of the Agency for Persons with

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Disabilities or his or her designee.

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     (e) Two representatives of associations that advocate for

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persons who have chronic medical conditions or disabilities, such

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as the American Diabetes Association, the Sickle Cell Foundation,

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the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, United Cerebral Palsy, the Spina

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Bifida Association, or the Down Syndrome Association.

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     (f) Two young adults who have chronic health problems or

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developmental disabilities or a family member.

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     (g) The deputy commissioner of the Division of Vocational

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Rehabilitation within the Department of Education or his or her

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designee.

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     (h) The Commissioner of Education or his or her designee.

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     (i) The Secretary of Health Care Administration or his or

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her designee.

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     (j) A person appointed by the President of the Senate.

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     (k) A person appointed by the Speaker of the House of

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Representatives.

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     (3) The director of the Division of Children's Medical

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Services Network or his or her designee shall be the chairperson

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of the task force. The Department of Health shall provide staff

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support to the task force. Task force members shall serve without

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compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem and

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travel expenses incurred as provided in s. 112.061, Florida

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Statutes, in carrying out their duties. Members who are public

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officers or employees shall be reimbursed through the budget

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entity through which they are compensated.

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     (4) The task force shall:

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     (a) Convene by August 31, 2008.

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     (b) Obtain input from key stakeholders, community

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stakeholders, public agencies, the medical practice community,

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and youth who have chronic special health care needs and

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disabilities and their families to assess the need for health

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care transition services and to identify barriers that impede

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access to comprehensive medical treatment and health care for

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youth and young adults who have chronic special health care needs

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and disabilities.

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     (c) Develop a statewide plan to promote the development of

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health care transition services. The plan should put forth

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different models that accommodate the geographic and cultural

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diversity in the state and that are adapted to the local needs of

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communities and to local health services delivery systems.

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Furthermore, the plan should promote the integration of health

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care transition services with transition programs for education,

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vocation, and independent living.

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     (d) Identify common or comparable performance measures for

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all entities that serve the needs for health care transition

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services of youth and young adults who have chronic special

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health care needs and disabilities.

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     (e) Collect and disseminate information concerning best

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practices in health care transition services for youth and young

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adults who have chronic special health care needs and

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disabilities.

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     (f) Identify existing and potential funding sources to

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create health care transition services within communities.

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     (5) The Legislature shall allocate up to $100,000 to offset

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expenses incurred by the activities of the task force. The task

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force shall present a final report of its findings and

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recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and

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the Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 1, 2009.

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     Section 2. The Don Davis Health and Transition Services

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Program of Jacksonville; creation; purposes; participating

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agencies and services provided; evaluation.--

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     (1) The Don Davis Health and Transition Services Program of

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Jacksonville is created for the purpose of assisting adolescents

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and young adults who have special needs relating to health care

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and educational and vocational services in making a smooth

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transition from the child health care and educational system to

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the adult health care system and to employment. For

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administrative purposes, the program shall be located in the

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Division of Children's Medical Services Network within the

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Department of Health.

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     (2) The program shall provide services for persons who are

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14 through 26 years of age residing in Baker, Clay, Duval,

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Nassau, and St. Johns Counties and who have chronic special

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health care needs or developmental disabilities.

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     (3) The following elements must be in place in order to

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ensure the success of the Don Davis Health and Transition

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Services Program of Jacksonville:

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     (a) A consultative partnership between adult and pediatric

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health care providers in a major medical health care organization

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or academic medical setting for the purpose of training and

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transferring adolescents and young adults to adult health care

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services.

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     (b) A primary care clinic established in a major medical

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health care organization for the purpose of fostering the

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partnership between adult and pediatric health care providers.

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     (c) Community-based health care services that are provided

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pursuant to agreements with major health care organizations or

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academic medical centers for purposes of providing consultation

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concerning the management of special health care needs.

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     (d) Community-based support organizations that can provide

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assistance with services such as supported living and employment,

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health insurance, and support services to maintain the young

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adult in the community.

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     (4) The following services shall be offered to individuals

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who are enrolled in the Don Davis Health and Transition Services

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Program of Jacksonville:

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     (a) An assessment of health needs, educational and

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vocational status and needs, and health insurance status.

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     (b) In coordination with the educational system, community-

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based organizations, and the vocational system, a plan for

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transition which includes adult health services, education,

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habilitative services, independent living, adult employment, and

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health insurance.

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     (c) A medical home that provides for coordinated and

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multidisciplinary care and focuses on engaging adult health care

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providers in the care and treatment of the adolescent or young

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adult.

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     (d) Self-management of specific health conditions,

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preventive health services, and the use of primary care and

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specialty health care services.

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     (5) The Don Davis Health and Transition Services Program of

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Jacksonville shall be codirected by two physicians having

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experience in pediatric and adult health care. A project

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coordinator shall assist the physicians in developing and

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implementing the program. A nurse coordinator shall provide care

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coordination services. Other staff may be included in order to

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provide a full range of health and transition services.

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     (6) The Don Davis Health and Transition Services Program of

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Jacksonville shall conduct an evaluation that is formative and

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cumulative and must include program process and outcome measures

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as well as client outcomes. The results of the evaluation may be

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used to improve and develop other health and transition programs

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statewide.

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     Section 3. The sum of $650,000 is appropriated from the

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General Revenue Fund to the Division of Children's Medical

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Services Network within the Department of Health for operational

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and expansion costs during the 2008-2009 fiscal year.

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     Section 4.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.