2988 Gov. Bush Signs SB 2002 Into Law
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Dynamic Chiropractic – April 22, 2004, Vol. 22, Issue 09

Gov. Bush Signs SB 2002 Into Law

By Editorial Staff
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - On March 11, Governor Jeb Bush signed Senate Bill 2002, legislation that establishes a variety of new health care initiatives, including the formation of a chiropractic college at Florida State University (FSU).1 The chiropractic program at FSU will be only the second such program offered at a public university, following in the footsteps of the University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic (UBCC), which was established in 1990 and CCE-accredited in 1994.2

Senate Majority Leader Dennis L.

Jones, DC, and House Health Care Committee Chairman Rep. Frank Farkas, DC, both of whom were instrumental in helping the bill progress through the Florida legislature, attended the signing ceremony, along with the bill's primary sponsors: Sen. Durell Peaden, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services; Rep. Bruce Kyle, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee; and Senate President Jim King.

"This is certainly a momentous day for the chiropractic profession and for the citizens of our state," enthused Sen. Jones. "Today, we are beginning a proud new chapter in our history as we embark on an exciting new era of scientific-based education and research at one of the nation's pre-eminent research institutions."

The Florida Chiropractic Association (FCA) actively promoted the creation of a chiropractic college at FSU since joining with the Lincoln Chiropractic Education and Research Foundation to fund a "super-endowed" research chair at FSU in the late 1990s. Utilizing seed money from the foundation, the FCA ran a two-year campaign to raise the million-dollar endowment (ultimately matched with an additional $750,000 from the state) to establish the Lincoln Eminent Scholar Chair in Chiropractic and Biomechanics.3

From that point, the FCA and its lobbying team worked with state legislators to have the measure introduced into the Florida legislature. The rest, as they say, is history.

"There were a few bumps along the way, but we never gave up hope," commented FCA CEO Debbie Brown. "Today, we have a long list of legislators, staff, chiropractic leaders, educators and others to thank for helping to achieve this success. This has been one incredible group effort - and it will be one incredible celebration heard around the world."

References

  1. Florida legislature approves funding for chiropractic college at FSU. Dynamic Chiropractic, April 8, 2004. www.chiroweb.com/archives/22/08/06.html.
  2. CCE accreditation for University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic. Dynamic Chiropractic, July 29, 1994. www.chiroweb.com/archives/12/16/06.html.
  3. Florida Chiropractic Association: 2004 legislative session updates. March 11, 2004.

Dynamic Chiropractic editorial staff members research, investigate and write articles for the publication on an ongoing basis. To contact the Editorial Department or submit an article of your own for consideration, email .

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