36-273. Powers and duties

A. The department may:

1. Use monies in the disease control research fund established by section 36-274 to contract with individuals, organizations, corporations and institutions, public or private, in this state for any projects or services that the department determines may advance research into the causes, the epidemiology and diagnosis, the formulation of cures, the medically accepted treatment or the prevention of diseases, including new drug discovery and development, and for acquired immune deficiency syndrome reporting and surveillance. Public monies in the disease control research fund shall not be used for capital construction projects.

2. Enter into research and development agreements, royalty agreements, development agreements, licensing agreements and profit sharing agreements concerning the research, development and production of new products developed or to be developed through department-funded research.

3. Accept or receive monies from any source, including restricted or unrestricted gifts and contributions from individuals, foundations, corporations and other organizations and institutions.

4. Obtain expert services to assist in evaluating requests and proposals.

5. Request cooperation from any state agency for the purposes of this article.

6. Provide information and technical assistance to other jurisdictions and agencies.

7. Subject to title 41, chapter 4, article 4, employ personnel needed to carry out the duties of this article.

B. The department shall:

1. Review and evaluate proposals or requests for projects or services.

2. Establish a mechanism to review the contracts awarded to ensure that the monies are used in accordance with the proposals approved by the department.

3. Prepare and submit a report on or before January 15 of each year to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives that describes the projects or services proposed to the department pursuant to this article, the projects or services for which the department has awarded a contract and the amount of monies necessary for each proposal, the cost of each proposal for which a contract was awarded, the names and addresses of the recipients of each contract and the purpose for which each contract was made. The department shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.