Florida Senate - 2026                                     SB 816
       
       
        
       By Senator Bradley
       
       
       
       
       
       6-01133-26                                             2026816__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to diabetes research; creating s.
    3         1004.562, F.S.; establishing the University of Florida
    4         Diabetes Institute within the University of Florida
    5         College of Medicine; providing the purpose of the
    6         institute; providing requirements for the institute;
    7         authorizing the institute to administer statewide
    8         pilot programs; requiring the institute to maintain a
    9         secure repository for deidentified data; authorizing
   10         the institute to share deidentified data under certain
   11         conditions; authorizing the institute to convene a
   12         consortium; providing requirements for the consortium;
   13         authorizing the consortium to solicit funding from
   14         certain sources for certain purposes; requiring the
   15         institute to provide a report to the Governor and the
   16         Legislature beginning on a specified date and annually
   17         thereafter; providing requirements for the report;
   18         providing construction; providing an effective date.
   19          
   20  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   21  
   22         Section 1. Section 1004.562, Florida Statutes, is created
   23  to read:
   24         1004.562 University of Florida Diabetes Institute.—
   25         (1) The University of Florida Diabetes Institute is
   26  established within the University of Florida College of Medicine
   27  as a resource for diabetes research, screening, prevention,
   28  treatment, and education. The purpose of the institute is to
   29  advance scientific discovery, improve prevention and clinical
   30  care, and promote education and outreach related to all forms of
   31  diabetes, including type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes,
   32  gestational diabetes, and related metabolic conditions.
   33         (2) The institute shall do all of the following:
   34         (a) Conduct research to understand the causes, mechanisms,
   35  and potential cures for diabetes, including autoimmune, genetic,
   36  and environmental factors.
   37         (b) Develop advanced prevention, diagnostic, and treatment
   38  strategies to reduce the incidence and complications of diabetes
   39  in children and adults.
   40         (c) Provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary clinical care
   41  to individuals living with diabetes, including patient and
   42  family education, nutrition counseling, mental health support,
   43  and disease management resources.
   44         (d) Train and educate health care professionals, including
   45  physicians, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, and scientists, to
   46  expand expertise in diabetes care and research.
   47         (e) Establish collaborations with state universities,
   48  medical centers, patient advocacy groups, community
   49  organizations, and government agencies to enhance care and
   50  accelerate progress toward diabetes prevention and cures.
   51         (f) Engage in community-based outreach and education
   52  programs to increase awareness, reduce disparities in diabetes
   53  outcomes, and promote healthier lifestyles.
   54         (3)(a) The institute may establish and administer statewide
   55  pilot programs, including, but not limited to, population-based
   56  diabetes screening, prevention initiatives, and technology
   57  driven management tools.
   58         (b) The institute shall maintain a secure data repository
   59  to collect, store, and analyze deidentified data for the purpose
   60  of advancing diabetes research, prevention, and care.
   61         (c) The institute may provide deidentified data, pursuant
   62  to data-sharing agreements, to research collaborators to support
   63  ongoing and future scientific investigations.
   64         (4)(a) The institute may convene a statewide diabetes
   65  research and care consortium composed of clinical and academic
   66  experts, health care providers, and patient representatives to
   67  coordinate research, share expertise, and develop innovative
   68  care models.
   69         (b) The consortium shall, upon being convened, be
   70  administered at the institute under the direction of the
   71  institute’s executive leadership.
   72         (c) The consortium may solicit funding from public,
   73  nonprofit, and private sources to expand programs, research
   74  initiatives, and community services.
   75         (5) Beginning October 15, 2027, and annually thereafter,
   76  the institute shall provide a report to the Governor, the
   77  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
   78  Representatives which includes all of the following:
   79         (a) Research projects and findings.
   80         (b) Clinical services provided and patient outcomes.
   81         (c) Community outreach and prevention initiatives.
   82         (d) Recommendations for future initiatives.
   83         (6) This section shall be implemented to the extent of
   84  appropriations provided in the annual General Appropriations Act
   85  or from other available funds.
   86         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.