HB 1803

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to the Women's Health Strategy; amending
3	s. 20.43, F.S.; establishing the Officer of Women's Health
4	Strategy in the Department of Health; creating s.
5	381.04015, F.S.; providing legislative intent; providing
6	the duties of the Officer of Women's Health Strategy;
7	requiring an annual report to the Governor and Legislature
8	with policy recommendations for implementing the Women's
9	Health Strategy; requiring consideration of women's health
10	issues and gender in state policy, planning, and
11	budgeting; providing for responsibility and coordination;
12	providing an appropriation; providing an effective date.
13
14	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16	Section 1.  Subsection (2) of section 20.43, Florida
17	Statutes, is amended to read:
18	20.43  Department of Health.--There is created a Department
19	of Health.
20	(2)(a)  The head of the Department of Health is the
21	Secretary of Health and State Health Officer. The secretary must
22	be a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 who has
23	advanced training or extensive experience in public health
24	administration. The secretary is appointed by the Governor
25	subject to confirmation by the Senate. The secretary serves at
26	the pleasure of the Governor.
27	(b)  The Officer of Women's Health Strategy is established
28	within the Department of Health and shall report directly to the
29	secretary.
30	Section 2.  Section 381.04015, Florida Statutes, is created
31	to read:
32	381.04015  Women's Health Strategy; legislative intent;
33	duties of Officer of Women's Health Strategy; other state agency
34	duties.--
35	(1)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--The Legislature recognizes that
36	the health care needs of women are gender specific and that
37	public policy must take into account the distinct
38	characteristics of women's health issues. Priority shall be
39	given to improve the overall health status of women through
40	research and education on women's health issues. The Legislature
41	recognizes the importance of understanding why there are such
42	large differences between how women and men experience certain
43	diseases and also recognizes that biomedical research is the key
44	to finding these answers. Such research has important
45	implications for both women and men in terms of clinical
46	practice and disease prevention and manifestation. The
47	Legislature recognizes that as the state's population continues
48	to age and life expectancy for women continues to rise, it is of
49	the utmost importance for the Legislature to encourage effective
50	medical research on long-term health issues for women and to
51	educate elder women about the importance of participating in
52	medical studies. The Legislature finds and declares that the
53	design and delivery of health care services and the medical
54	education of health care practitioners shall be directed by the
55	principle that health care needs are gender specific.
56	(2)  DUTIES.--The Officer of Women's Health Strategy in the
57	Department of Health shall:
58	(a)  Ensure that the state's policies and programs are
59	responsive to sex and gender differences and to women's health
60	needs across the life span.
61	(b)  Organize an interagency Committee for Women's Health
62	for the purpose of integrating women's health programs in
63	current operating and service delivery structures and setting
64	priorities for women's health. Such committee shall be comprised
65	of the heads or directors of state agencies with programs
66	affecting women's health, including, but not limited to, the
67	Department of Health, the Agency for Health Care Administration,
68	the Department of Education, the Department of Elderly Affairs,
69	the Department of Corrections, the Office of Insurance
70	Regulation of the Department of Financial Services, and the
71	Department of Juvenile Justice.
72	(c)  Assess the health status of women in the state through
73	the collection and review of health data and trends.
74	(d)  Review the state's insurance code as it relates to
75	women's health issues.
76	(e)  Work with medical school curriculum committees to
77	develop course requirements on women's health and promote
78	clinical practice guidelines specific to women.
79	(f)  Organize statewide Women's Health Month activities.
80	(g)  Coordinate a Governor's statewide conference on
81	women's health, cosponsored by the agencies participating in the
82	Committee for Women's Health and other private organizations and
83	entities impacting women's health in the state.
84	(h)  Promote research, treatment, and collaboration on
85	women's health issues at universities and medical centers in the
86	state.
87	(i)  Promote employer incentives for wellness programs
88	targeting women's health programs.
89	(j)  Serve as the primary state resource for women's health
90	information.
91	(k)  Develop a statewide women's health plan emphasizing
92	collaborative approaches to meeting the health needs of women.
93	The plan shall:
94	1.  Identify activities designed to reduce the number of
95	premature deaths in women, including:
96	a.  Providing specific strategies for reducing the
97	mortality rate of women.
98	b.  Listing conditions that may cause or contribute to
99	disease in women and the best methods by which to identify,
100	control, and prevent these conditions from developing.
101	c.  Identifying the best methods for ensuring an increase
102	in the percentage of women in the state who receive diagnostic
103	and screening testing.
104	2.  Provide for increasing research and appropriate funding
105	at institutions in the state studying disease in women.
106	3.  Provide recommendations for the development of practice
107	guidelines for addressing disease in women.
108	4.  Provide recommendations for reducing health disparities
109	among women in all races and ethnic groups.
110	5.  Coordinate with existing program plans that address
111	women's health issues.
112	(l)  Promote clinical practice guidelines specific to
113	women.
114	(m)  Serve as the state's liaison with other states and
115	federal agencies and programs to develop best practices in
116	women's health.
117	(n)  Develop a statewide, web-based clearinghouse on
118	women's health issues and resources.
119	(o)  Promote public awareness campaigns and education on
120	the health needs of women.
121	(p)  By January 15 of each year, provide the Governor, the
122	President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
123	Representatives a report with policy recommendations for
124	implementing the provisions of this section.
125	(3)  DUTIES OF OTHER STATE AGENCIES.--
126	(a)  Women's health issues shall be taken into
127	consideration in the annual budget planning of the Department of
128	Health, the Agency for Health Care Administration, and the
129	Department of Elderly Affairs.
130	(b)  The inclusion of gender considerations and
131	differential impact shall be one of the criteria when assessing
132	research and demonstration proposals for which state funding is
133	being sought from the Department of Health, the Agency for
134	Health Care Administration, and the Department of Elderly
135	Affairs.
136	(c)  Boards or advisory bodies that fall under the purview
137	of the Department of Health, the Agency for Health Care
138	Administration, and the Department of Elderly Affairs shall be
139	encouraged to seek equal representation of women and men and the
140	inclusion of persons who are knowledgeable and sensitive to
141	gender and diversity issues.
142	(4)  RESPONSIBILITY AND COORDINATION.--The officer and the
143	department shall direct and carry out the Women's Health
144	Strategy established under this section in accordance with the
145	requirements of this section and may work with the Executive
146	Office of the Governor and other state agencies to carry out
147	their duties and responsibilities under this section.
148	Section 3.  Effective July 1, 2004, there is appropriated
149	the sum of $150,000 from the General Revenue Fund, and one full-
150	time equivalent position is authorized, for the Department of
151	Health to implement the establishment of the Officer of Women's
152	Health Strategy by this act.
153	Section 4.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2004.

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