No. CS/HB 497
Filed under Healthcare.
Neurofibromatosis Research Grants; Creates Neurofibromatosis Disease Grant Program within DOH; provides purpose program; requires, subject to appropriation, program to award certain grants; provides requirements for grant applications; requires Rare Disease Advisory Council & peer review panels to establish & follow specified guidelines; prohibits members of council & panels from participating in certain discussions & decisions; authorizes certain appropriation funds to be carried forward.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDThe Department of Health gets a new grant program funding neurofibromatosis research and cures. Any Florida university or established research institute can apply, and all qualified investigators compete on equal footing regardless of where they work.
Nothing is guaranteed, though: the program only awards grants if the Legislature separately appropriates the money. Independent peer reviewers score each proposal on scientific merit before the department decides who gets funded.
Council and review-panel members are barred from weighing in on any proposal tied to a firm or agency they work for, sit on the board of, or have a contract with, guarding against conflicts of interest.
Money the program has already committed to a grant contract, but hasn't yet paid out, can roll over for up to five years instead of reverting to the state's general fund at year's end.
AIA new grant program is established inside the Department of Health with the specific purpose of funding research and cures for neurofibromatosis through a competitive, peer-reviewed process.
AIAny university or established research institute in the state may apply, and every qualified investigator gets the same access and opportunity to compete for the money regardless of which institution they are affiliated with.
AIA member of the Rare Disease Advisory Council or a peer review panel may not take part in discussing or deciding any research proposal from a firm, entity, or agency they are associated with as a board member, employee, or contractor.
AIThe program does not come with its own funding. It can only award grants for scientific and clinical research if the Legislature separately appropriates money for it in the budget.
AIThe department must appoint panels of independent, scientifically qualified reviewers, separate from department staff, to score the scientific merit of each grant proposal before funding decisions are made.
AIAppropriated funds that are already obligated by contract or committed to be spent by June 30 do not have to revert to general revenue at fiscal year end; they can carry forward for up to five years.