Florida Senate - 2012                                     SB 402
       
       
       
       By Senator Negron
       
       
       
       
       28-00337-12                                            2012402__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to prescription drug abuse; creating
    3         the Statewide Task Force on Prescription Drug Abuse
    4         and Newborns; providing a purpose; providing
    5         membership of the task force; providing for
    6         reimbursement of per diem and travel expenses for
    7         members of the task force; requiring that the
    8         Department of Legal Affairs provide the task force
    9         with necessary staff; specifying a date for the task
   10         force’s organizational session; providing meeting
   11         times; providing the duties of the task force;
   12         requiring that the task force submit a report to the
   13         Legislature; providing an effective date.
   14  
   15  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   16  
   17         Section 1. Statewide Task Force on Prescription Drug Abuse
   18  and Newborns.—
   19         (1)The Legislature declares that the purpose of this act
   20  is to create a task force to examine and analyze the emerging
   21  problem of neonatal withdrawal syndrome as it pertains to
   22  prescription drugs.
   23         (2)(a)There is created within the Department of Legal
   24  Affairs the Statewide Task Force on Prescription Drug Abuse and
   25  Newborns, a task force as defined in s. 20.03, Florida Statutes.
   26  The task force is created for the express purpose of researching
   27  the impact of prescription drug use and neonatal withdrawal
   28  syndrome, evaluating effective strategies for treatment and
   29  prevention, and providing policy recommendations to the
   30  Legislature.
   31         (b)The task force shall consist of the following members,
   32  or his or her designee:
   33         1. The Attorney General who shall serve as chair.
   34         2. The Surgeon General who shall serve as vice chair.
   35         3. The Secretary of Children and Family Services.
   36         4. The Secretary of Health Care Administration.
   37         5. The executive director of the Department of Law
   38  Enforcement.
   39         6. A legislator appointed by the President of the Senate.
   40         7. A legislator appointed by the Speaker of the House of
   41  Representatives.
   42         8. A representative from the Florida Medical Association.
   43         9. A representative from the Florida Hospital Association.
   44         10. A representative, appointed by the Attorney General,
   45  from an addiction and recovery association.
   46         (c)Members of the task force are entitled to receive
   47  reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses pursuant to s.
   48  112.061, Florida Statutes.
   49         (d) The Department of Legal Affairs shall provide the task
   50  force with staff necessary to assist the task force in the
   51  performance of its duties.
   52         (3)The task force shall hold its organizational session by
   53  May 1, 2012. Thereafter, the task force shall meet at least four
   54  times per year. Additional meetings may be held if the chair
   55  determines that extraordinary circumstances require an
   56  additional meeting. A majority of the members of the task force
   57  constitutes a quorum.
   58         (4) The task force shall:
   59         (a)Collect and organize data concerning the nature and
   60  extent of neonatal withdrawal syndrome from prescription drugs
   61  in this state;
   62         (b) Collect and organize data concerning the costs
   63  associated with treating expectant mothers and newborns
   64  suffering from withdrawal from prescription drugs;
   65         (c)Identify available federal, state, and local programs
   66  that provide services to mothers who abuse prescription drugs
   67  and newborns who have neonatal withdrawal syndrome; and
   68         (d)Evaluate methods to increase public awareness of the
   69  dangers associated with prescription drug abuse, particularly to
   70  women, expectant mothers, and newborns.
   71         (5)The task force shall submit a report of its
   72  recommendations to the President of the Senate and the Speaker
   73  of the House of Representatives by January 15, 2013.
   74         Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.