News
2014 Session Summary
2014 Legislative Session Update
Wednesday, June 11th
Governor Scott Signs Budget - ACS CAN Priority Appropriations Approved
Last week, Governor Rick Scott signed the state budget for the new fiscal year beginning July 1st, and it includes funding for all three of the ACS CAN Florida Division's legislative priorities:
Mary Brogan Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program – The program will receive $1.8 million in state funding, the highest amount ever provided by the legislature. This marks the third year in a row that Florida has invested its own dollars to augment the federal screening program for medically-underserved women.
Biomedical Research - The King and Bankhead-Coley Programs will receive $10 million each for FY 2014-15 for a total of $20 million for Florida’s competitively bid, peer-reviewed programs. A number of institutions engaged in cancer research in Florida also received direct funding for a total of $35.3 million allocated specifically for biomedical research. Additionally, $60 million will be provided to Florida-based cancer centers to help those institutions either preserve or attain their NCI designation. In sum, a total of $95.3 million will be invested in cancer treatment and research for the coming year.
Tobacco Prevention and Education - The program will receive $66.6 million for FY 2014-15, with all contracts awarded through the state to now include performance measures and measurable outcomes based upon the Centers for Disease Control’s best practices.
We are grateful to the Governor and Legislature for their leadership in funding these mission critical programs that will help reduce cancer incidence and mortality in our state. Most of all, thank you for your unwavering commitment to our mission, and for the important role YOU played in a highly successful legislative session.
Please continue to keep tabs on our state and federal legislative priorities by visiting
www.fightcancer.org/florida and by following us on Twitter at @ACSCAN_Florida.
Yours in the Fight,
Heather
Heather Youmans
Florida Government Relations Director
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network