Florida Senate - 2009                                    SB 2390
       
       
       
       By Senator Peaden
       
       
       
       
       2-01869-09                                            20092390__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to state agency governance; amending
    3         s. 20.42, F.S.; revising the qualifications for the
    4         Secretary of Health Care Administration at the Agency
    5         for Health Care Administration; amending s. 20.43,
    6         F.S.; revising the qualifications for the State
    7         Surgeon General at the Department of Health; providing
    8         an effective date.
    9  
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Subsection (2) of section 20.42, Florida
   13  Statutes, is amended to read:
   14         20.42 Agency for Health Care Administration.—
   15         (2) The head of the department is the Secretary of Health
   16  Care Administration, who shall be appointed by the Governor,
   17  subject to confirmation by the Senate, and who must be a
   18  licensed health care practitioner as provided in s. 456.001(4).
   19  The secretary shall serve at the pleasure of and report to the
   20  Governor.
   21         Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
   22  20.43, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   23         20.43 Department of Health.—There is created a Department
   24  of Health.
   25         (2)(a) The head of the Department of Health is the State
   26  Surgeon General and State Health Officer. The State Surgeon
   27  General must be a physician licensed health care practitioner as
   28  provided in s. 456.001(4) under chapter 458 or chapter 459 who
   29  has advanced training or extensive experience in public health
   30  administration. The State Surgeon General is appointed by the
   31  Governor subject to confirmation by the Senate. The State
   32  Surgeon General serves at the pleasure of the Governor. The
   33  State Surgeon General shall serve as the leading voice on
   34  wellness and disease prevention efforts, including the promotion
   35  of healthful lifestyles, immunization practices, health
   36  literacy, and the assessment and promotion of the physician and
   37  health care workforce in order to meet the health care needs of
   38  the state. The State Surgeon General shall focus on advocating
   39  healthy lifestyles, developing public health policy, and
   40  building collaborative partnerships with schools, businesses,
   41  health care practitioners, community-based organizations, and
   42  public and private institutions in order to promote health
   43  literacy and optimum quality of life for all Floridians.
   44         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.