HB 227

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to prescription drug abuse; creating
3	the Florida Statewide Task Force on Prescription Drug
4	Abuse and Newborns; providing legislative intent;
5	providing for purposes, membership, meetings, and
6	duties of the task force; providing for reimbursement
7	for per diem and travel expenses; requiring a report
8	to the Legislature; providing an effective date.
9
10	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
11
12	Section 1.  Florida Statewide Task Force on Prescription
13	Drug Abuse and Newborns.-
14	(1)  The Legislature declares that the purpose of this act
15	is to create a task force to examine and analyze the emerging
16	problem of Neonatal Withdrawal Syndrome, as it pertains to
17	prescription drugs.
18	(2)(a)  The Florida Statewide Task Force on Prescription
19	Drug Abuse and Newborns, a task force as defined in s. 20.03(8),
20	Florida Statutes, is created within the Department of Legal
21	Affairs. The task force is created for the express purpose of
22	researching the impact of prescription drug use and Neonatal
23	Withdrawal Syndrome, evaluating effective strategies for
24	treatment and prevention, and providing policy recommendations
25	to the Legislature.
26	(b)  The task force shall consist of the following members
27	or their designees:
28	1.  The Attorney General, who shall serve as chair.
29	2.  The State Surgeon General, who shall serve as vice
30	chair.
31	3.  The Secretary of Children and Family Services.
32	4.  The Secretary of Health Care Administration.
33	5.  The executive director of the Department of Law
34	Enforcement.
35	6.  A Senator appointed by the President of the Senate.
36	7.  A Member appointed by the Speaker of the House of
37	Representatives.
38	8.  A representative from the Florida Medical Association.
39	9.  A representative from the Florida Hospital Association.
40	10.  A representative from an addiction and recovery
41	association, appointed by the Attorney General.
42	(c)  Members of the task force may be reimbursed for per
43	diem and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061, Florida
44	Statutes.
45	(d)  The Department of Legal Affairs shall provide the task
46	force with staff necessary to assist the task force in the
47	performance of its duties.
48	(3)  The task force shall hold its organizational session
49	by May 1, 2012. Thereafter, the task force shall meet at least
50	four times per year. Additional meetings may be held if the
51	chair determines that extraordinary circumstances require an
52	additional meeting. A majority of the members of the task force
53	constitutes a quorum.
54	(4)  The task force shall:
55	(a)  Collect and organize data concerning the nature and
56	extent of Neonatal Withdrawal Syndrome from prescription drugs
57	in the state.
58	(b)  Collect and organize data concerning the costs
59	associated with treating expectant mothers and newborns
60	suffering from prescription drug withdrawal.
61	(c)  Identify available federal, state, and local programs
62	that provide services to mothers who abuse prescription drugs
63	and newborns with Neonatal Withdrawal Syndrome.
64	(d)  Evaluate approaches to increase public awareness of
65	dangers associated with prescription drug abuse, particularly
66	with regard to women, expectant mothers, and newborns.
67	(5)  The task force shall submit a report on its findings
68	to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
69	Representatives by January 15, 2013.
70	Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

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