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.