Bill Text: FL H0657 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Pub. Rec./Biomedical Research

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 2-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-06 - Laid on Table, refer to CS/SB 1856 -HJ 1116 [H0657 Detail]

Download: Florida-2012-H0657-Introduced.html

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HB 657

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to public records; amending s.
3	215.5602, F.S., relating to the James and Esther King
4	Biomedical Research Program; providing an exemption
5	from public records and public meetings requirements
6	for peer review panels meeting to review certain grant
7	proposals; amending s. 381.922, F.S., relating to the
8	William G. "Bill" Bankhead, Jr., and David Coley
9	Cancer Research Program; providing an exemption from
10	public records and public meetings requirements for
11	peer review panels meeting to review certain grant
12	proposals; providing a statement of public necessity;
13	providing a contingent effective date.
14
15	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
16
17	Section 1.  Subsection (7) of section 215.5602, Florida
18	Statutes, is amended to read:
19	215.5602  James and Esther King Biomedical Research
20	Program.-
21	(7)  The council and the peer review panel shall establish
22	and follow rigorous guidelines for ethical conduct and adhere to
23	a strict policy with regard to conflict of interest. A member of
24	the council or panel may not participate in any council or panel
25	discussion or decision with respect to a research proposal by
26	any firm, entity, or agency with which the member is associated
27	as a member of the governing body or as an employee, or with
28	which the member has entered into a contractual arrangement.
29	Meetings of the council are and the peer review panels shall be
30	subject to the provisions of chapter 119, s. 286.011, and s. 24,
31	Art. I of the State Constitution.
32	Section 2.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
33	381.922, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
34	381.922  William G. "Bill" Bankhead, Jr., and David Coley
35	Cancer Research Program.-
36	(3)
37	(c)  The council and the peer review panel shall establish
38	and follow rigorous guidelines for ethical conduct and adhere to
39	a strict policy with regard to conflicts of interest. A member
40	of the council or panel may not participate in any council or
41	panel discussion or decision with respect to a research proposal
42	by any firm, entity, or agency with which the member is
43	associated as a member of the governing body or as an employee
44	or with which the member has entered into a contractual
45	arrangement. Meetings of the council and the peer review panels
46	are subject to chapter 119, s. 286.011, and s. 24, Art. I of the
47	State Constitution.
48	Section 3.  The Legislature finds that it is a public
49	necessity that information discussed by a peer review panel
50	regarding the funding of a biomedical grant proposal be made
51	confidential and exempt from the requirements of s. 119.07(1),
52	Florida Statutes, and s. 24(a), Article I of the State
53	Constitution. The Legislature further finds that maintaining
54	confidentiality is a hallmark of scientific peer review when
55	awarding grants, is practiced by the National Science Foundation
56	and the National Institutes of Health, and allows for candid
57	exchanges between reviewers critiquing proposals submitted for
58	funding. The Legislature further finds that maintaining the
59	confidentiality of meetings of scientific peer review panels
60	serves a public good by ensuring that decisions are based upon
61	merit without bias or undue influence.
62	Section 4.  This act shall take effect on the same date
63	that HB 655 or similar legislation takes effect, if such
64	legislation is adopted in the same legislative session or an
65	extension thereof and becomes law.

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