Florida Senate - 2025                                    SB 1800
       
       
        
       By Senator Calatayud
       
       
       
       
       
       38-01506A-25                                          20251800__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to Parkinson’s disease research
    3         funding; creating s. 381.992, F.S.; providing a short
    4         title; establishing the Parkinson’s Disease Research
    5         Program; providing the purpose of the program;
    6         requiring the Department of Health to create a
    7         specified registry; providing for coverage of
    8         specified testing; providing for funding and
    9         allocations; requiring the Department of Health to
   10         establish the Parkinson’s Disease Research Advisory
   11         Board; providing requirements for board membership and
   12         duties; providing for future legislative review and
   13         repeal of the advisory board; requiring grant
   14         recipients to annually submit a specified report to
   15         the department; providing an effective date.
   16  
   17         WHEREAS, Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological
   18  disorder affecting approximately one million Americans, with an
   19  estimated 90,000 new diagnoses each year, and
   20         WHEREAS, there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s
   21  disease, and innovative research is essential to advance
   22  therapies, improve patient outcomes, and alleviate the burden of
   23  this disease, NOW, THEREFORE,
   24  
   25  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   26  
   27         Section 1. Section 381.992, Florida Statutes, is created to
   28  read:
   29         381.992 Parkinson’s disease research.—
   30         (1) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the
   31  “Parkinson’s Disease Research Fund Act.”
   32         (2) PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT AND REGISTRY.—
   33         (a) The Parkinson’s Disease Research Program is established
   34  within the Department of Health.
   35         (b) The program shall support innovative research and
   36  provide caregiver assistance as described in this section.
   37         (c) The Department of Health shall create a Parkinson’s
   38  Disease Research Program Registry of individuals served by the
   39  program.
   40         (3) AVAILABILITY OF COVERAGE.—A health plan as defined in
   41  s. 408.7057(1) shall cover the costs of Parkinson’s disease
   42  biomarker testing for individuals under this program.
   43         (4) FUNDING AND ALLOCATION.—
   44         (a) The Legislature shall appropriate funds from the
   45  General Revenue Fund to the program for fiscal year 2025-2026.
   46         (b) The funds shall be allocated through grants as follows:
   47         1. Twenty million dollars shall be awarded through
   48  competitive grants to state universities, research institutions,
   49  and medical centers actively engaged in Parkinson’s disease
   50  research with priority given to innovative therapies and
   51  projects aimed at finding a cure.
   52         2. Five million dollars shall be used to establish and
   53  expand programs that support caregivers of individuals living
   54  with Parkinson’s disease, including respite care, training, and
   55  mental health resources.
   56         (5) ADMINISTRATION AND OVERSIGHT.—The Department of Health
   57  shall establish the Parkinson’s Disease Research Advisory Board,
   58  an advisory body, as defined in s. 20.03, to oversee the
   59  administration of the program.
   60         (a) The advisory board shall consist of representatives
   61  from:
   62         1. Leading research institutions in the state.
   63         2. Parkinson’s disease advocacy organizations.
   64         3. Caregiver support groups.
   65         4. The medical community specializing in neurological
   66  diseases.
   67         (b) The advisory board shall establish guidelines for grant
   68  applications, selection criteria, and reporting requirements to
   69  ensure transparency and accountability.
   70         (c) In accordance with s. 20.052(8), this subsection is
   71  repealed October 2, 2028, unless reviewed and saved from repeal
   72  through reenactment by the Legislature.
   73         (6) REPORTING.—Recipients of grant funds shall submit an
   74  annual report to the Department of Health detailing all of the
   75  following:
   76         (a) The progress of funded research.
   77         (b) Outcomes and measurable impacts of caregiver support
   78  programs.
   79         (c) Any additional recommendations for improving the
   80  effectiveness of the program.
   81         Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2025.