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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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task force to assess the need for health care transition

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services and provide a report to the Governor and the

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Legislature; providing an 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.--

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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 14 members and shall

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have representatives from at least three geographic areas in the

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state, representing rural, suburban, and urban 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 who shall be the chairperson of the task force.

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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 of such young

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adults.

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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) The Secretary of Children and Family Services or his or

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her designee.

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

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

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Representatives.

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     (3) The Department of Health shall provide staff support to

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the task force. Task force members who are not public officers or

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employees shall serve without compensation, but are entitled to

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reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses incurred as

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provided in s. 112.061, Florida Statutes, in carrying out their

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duties, which shall be paid by the Department of Health. Members

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who are public officers or employees shall be reimbursed by the

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budget 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 task force shall present a final report of its

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findings and recommendations to the Governor, the President of

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the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by

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January 1, 2009, and shall expire upon the submission of the

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report.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.