FL H1023

Amends Florida's comprehensive statewide tobacco education and use prevention program by defining "best practices" as those established by the CDC and restructuring program components to include state/community interventions, health communication, cessation interventions, surveillance/evaluation, and administration/management.

Revises the Tobacco Education and Use Prevention Advisory Council from 23 members, making the State Surgeon General's designee (Deputy Secretary or Director of Division of Health Access and Tobacco) the chairperson and requiring compliance with public meetings laws and state ethics requirements.

Transfers contract and grant award authority from the State Surgeon General to the Department of Health, which shall use a competitive peer review process for awards in program components and exempts the grant award process from Chapter 287 procurement requirements and protest procedures.

Permits the department to advance funds to governmental entities and not-for-profit corporations for program startup and contracted services, not to exceed expected cash needs for the initial 3 months, with any interest income returned or applied against the agency's obligation.

Removes obsolete provisions including the mandatory AHEC smoking-cessation initiative requirement and school/college of medicine eligibility restrictions, while maintaining core funding for county health departments on a per capita basis.