S 1060

Florida Senate - 2026  SB 1060
By Senator Rodriguez
40-00931A-26  20261060__
1A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to the neurofibromatosis research
3grants; creating s. 381.994, F.S.; creating the
4Neurofibromatosis Disease Grant Program within the
5Department of Health; providing the purpose of the
6program; providing that, subject to legislative
7appropriation, the program award grants for certain
8purposes; specifying entities that are eligible to
9apply for grants under the program; allowing certain
10grant proposals to receive preference in the awarding
11of grants; requiring the department to award grants
12after consulting with the Rare Disease Advisory
13Council; specifying the types of applications that may
14be considered for grant funding; requiring the
15department to appoint peer review panels to review the
16scientific merit of grant applications and establish
17their priority scores; requiring the council to
18consider the priority scores in determining which
19proposals are recommended for grant funding under the
20program; requiring the council and peer review panels
21to establish and follow certain guidelines when
22performing their duties under the program; prohibiting
23members of the council or peer review panels from
24participating in discussions or decisions if there are
25certain conflicts of interest; authorizing certain
26appropriated funds to be carried forward under certain
27circumstances; providing an effective date.
28
29Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
30
31Section 1. Section 381.994, Florida Statutes, is created to
32read:
33381.994Neurofibromatosis Disease Grant Program.—
34(1)(a)There is created within the Department of Health the
35Neurofibromatosis Disease Grant Program. The purpose of the
36program is to advance the progress of research and cures for
37neurofibromatosis by awarding grants through a competitive,
38peer-reviewed process.
39(b)Subject to an annual recurring appropriation of $5
40million by the Legislature, the program shall award grants for
41scientific and clinical research to further the search for new
42diagnostics, treatments, and cures for neurofibromatosis.
43(2)(a) Applications for grants for neurofibromatosis
44disease research may be submitted by any university or
45established research institute in this state. All qualified
46investigators in this state, regardless of institutional
47affiliation, shall have equal access and opportunity to compete
48for the research funding. Preference may be given to grant
49proposals that foster collaboration among institutions,
50researchers, and community practitioners, as such proposals
51support the advancement of treatments and cures of
52neurofibromatosis through basic or applied research. Grants
53shall be awarded by the department, after consultation with the
54Rare Disease Advisory Council under s. 381.99, on the basis of
55scientific merit, as determined by the competitive, peer
56reviewed process to ensure objectivity, consistency, and high
57quality. The following types of applications may be considered
58for funding:
591. Investigator-initiated research grants.
602. Institutional research grants.
613. Collaborative research grants, including those that
62advance the finding of treatment and cures through basic or
63applied research.
64(b) To ensure appropriate and fair evaluation of grant
65applications based on scientific merit, the department shall
66appoint peer review panels of independent, scientifically
67qualified individuals to review the scientific merit of each
68proposal and establish its priority score. The priority scores
69shall be forwarded to the council and must be considered in
70determining which proposals are recommended for funding.
71(3) For purposes of performing their duties under this
72section, the Rare Disease Advisory Council and the peer review
73panels shall establish and follow rigorous guidelines for
74ethical conduct and adhere to a strict policy with regard to
75conflicts of interest. A member of the council or panel may not
76participate in any discussion or decision of the council or
77panel with respect to a research proposal by any firm, entity,
78or agency with which the member is associated as a member of the
79governing body or as an employee or with which the member has
80entered into a contractual arrangement.
81(4) Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351,
82the balance of any appropriation from the General Revenue Fund
83for the Neurofibromatosis Disease Grant Program which is not
84disbursed but is obligated pursuant to contract or committed to
85be expended by June 30 of the fiscal year in which the funds are
86appropriated may be carried forward for up to 5 years after the
87effective date of the original appropriation.
88Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.