| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to the Officer of Women's Health Strategy; |
| 3 | amending s. 20.43, F.S.; establishing the Officer of |
| 4 | Women's Health Strategy in the Department of Health; |
| 5 | providing the duties of such officer; requiring an annual |
| 6 | report to the Governor and Legislature; requiring |
| 7 | consideration of women's health issues and gender in state |
| 8 | policy, planning, and budgeting; providing an effective |
| 9 | date. |
| 10 |
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| 11 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 12 |
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| 13 | Section 1. Subsection (2) of section 20.43, Florida |
| 14 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 15 | 20.43 Department of Health.--There is created a Department |
| 16 | of Health. |
| 17 | (2)(a) The head of the Department of Health is the |
| 18 | Secretary of Health and State Health Officer. The secretary must |
| 19 | be a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 who has |
| 20 | advanced training or extensive experience in public health |
| 21 | administration. The secretary is appointed by the Governor |
| 22 | subject to confirmation by the Senate. The secretary serves at |
| 23 | the pleasure of the Governor. |
| 24 | (b) The Officer of Women's Health Strategy is established |
| 25 | within the Department of Health. |
| 26 | 1. The officer shall: |
| 27 | a. Ensure that the state's policies and programs are |
| 28 | responsive to sex and gender differences and to women's health |
| 29 | needs. |
| 30 | b. Increase knowledge and understanding of women's health |
| 31 | and women's health needs. |
| 32 | c. Support the provision of effective health services to |
| 33 | women. |
| 34 | d. Promote good health through preventive measures and the |
| 35 | reduction of risk factors that most imperil the health of women. |
| 36 | e. Apply, as a matter of standard practice, gender-based |
| 37 | analysis to programs and policies in the areas of the state's |
| 38 | health care system. |
| 39 | f. Provide for the development of tools, methods, and |
| 40 | training materials to assist in implementing the gender-impact |
| 41 | assessments across the state and to orient senior managers to |
| 42 | the requirements of this practice. |
| 43 | g. Consult with women's organizations and health |
| 44 | organizations interested in women's health on key policy issues. |
| 45 | h. Develop a plan to mobilize interdepartmental |
| 46 | collaboration in identifying objectives and initiatives that |
| 47 | will address socioeconomic issues of women related to health. |
| 48 | i. Address gender considerations in departmental work on |
| 49 | children to ensure that the distinct issues of girls and boys |
| 50 | will be taken into consideration in policies and programs. |
| 51 | j. Address gender considerations in departmental work on |
| 52 | the health and health system impacts of aging. |
| 53 | k. By January 15 of each year, provide the Governor, |
| 54 | President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of |
| 55 | Representatives a report with policy recommendations for |
| 56 | implementing the provisions of this paragraph. |
| 57 | 2. Women's health issues shall be taken into consideration |
| 58 | in the annual budget planning of the Department of Health, the |
| 59 | Agency for Health Care Administration, the Department of |
| 60 | Education, and the Department of Elderly Affairs. |
| 61 | 3. The inclusion of gender considerations and differential |
| 62 | impact shall be one of the criteria when assessing research and |
| 63 | demonstration proposals for which state funding is being sought. |
| 64 | 4. Boards or advisory bodies that fall under the purview |
| 65 | of the Department of Health and the Department of Elderly |
| 66 | Affairs shall be encouraged to seek equal representation of |
| 67 | women and men and the inclusion of persons who are knowledgeable |
| 68 | and sensitive to gender and diversity issues. |
| 69 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2004. |