As part of BioFlorida's state legislative advocacy plan, the firm of Metz, Husband and Daughton, P.A. is coordinating legislator education meetings. Meetings will take place thruout the state for BioFlorida members and state legislators located in the BioFlorida member's geographic region. These efforts are designed to provide legislators with an opportunity to learn about the issues important to the bioscience companies located in their home district.
 
The first meeting was held September 1st at Steelgate, Inc. in East Bradenton, FL. The second meeting will be held September 24th at 2:00 PM at Claro Scientific located in St. Petersburg. If you're interested in participating in this meeting, please contact Wendy Hedrick at (850) 205-9000 or wendy.hedrick@metzlaw.com. We will notify our members when more meetings are scheduled.
 
Our efforts to provide venues where our members can interact with state legislators follows BioFlorida's 2009 advocacy plan.

The Legislature increased the current cigarette excise tax by $1.00 per pack and imposed a $1.00 per ounce surcharge on other tobacco products. The surcharge is expected to generate more than $90 million in revenue for the state, of which $50 million will be used to increase funding for biomedical research programs. The 2009-2010 fiscal year budget for the state also includes funding in the amount of $25 million each for the Jim and Esther King and Bankhead-Coley Biomedical Research Programs.
 
Education

Legislation by Senator Ken Pruitt and Representative Will Weatherford allows every state university to charge a supplemental fee for undergraduate education, if approved by the Board of Governors of the State University System. Seventy percent of the supplemental fee will be used to enhance undergraduate education and 30%, or the equivalent amount from private sources, will be used to provide financial aid to undergraduate students who exhibit financial need.
 
Economic Development

The Legislature also approved an omnibus economic development bill that made numerous technical changes to Florida's incentive programs to improve monitoring, oversight and reporting requirements. The legislation authorizes the Florida Opportunity Fund to make direct investments, including loans, to early-stage Florida businesses and infrastructure projects. We expect life sciences businesses based in Florida to benefit from these incentive programs.
 
BioFlorida has an active Government Affairs Committee chaired by Les Croland. Please contact Les if you'd like to join the Committee at lcroland@eapdlaw.com. 

Wednesday, November 4
1:00 PM- 4:30 PM
Enrollment is limited! Additional fee $299
 
Biotech scientists, key managers & service providers will benefit.

 

AGENDA
:: Improve Bottom-Line Leadership Performance
:: Identify Leadership Strengths & Weaknesses
:: Clarify Goals, Priorities, Expectations, Opportunities
:: Improve Essential One-On-One Skills
:: Improve Group & Team Communications
:: Increase Partnering Effectiveness
:: Apply Seminar Insights
:: Click here to learn about the seminar leader

 

 

October 12-14, 2009
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

 

AdvaMed 2009's world-class program is designed with panels to engage attendees and examine the latest issues and topics that MedTech professionals need to know. The AdvaMed 2009 program features more than 45 educational panels. The 75-minute panels are organized into the following tracks:

 

TRACKS
:: 21st Century Healthcare
:: Business Development & Finance
:: Compliance Best Practices
:: Emerging Company Issues
:: Executive Workshops
:: Hot Technologies: The Latest in MedTech

:: InHealth Symposium

:: Legal & Intellectual Property

:: Quality
:: Regulatory
:: Reimbursement