March 2004

Florida gets first public chiro college

Florida Governor Jeb Bush has signed into law Senate Bill 2002, legislation creating that includes the authorization and funding to establish the nation’s first public chiropractic college at Florida State University. The bill was approved previously by both the Florida Senate and House of Representatives in the opening days of Florida’s annual 60-day legislative session. The college is believed to be the first state-supported chiropractic college in the nation.

Senate Majority Leader Dennis L. Jones, DC, (R-Treasure Island) and House Health Care Committee Chairman Rep. Frank Farkas, DC, (R-St. Petersburg) were both on hand for the signing ceremony this morning. Jones and Farkas, both chiropractic physicians and former presidents of the Florida Chiropractic Association, were instrumental in helping steer the issue through its legislative course over the past five years. They were flanked at the signing by the bill’s prime sponsors, Sen. Durell Peaden, (R-Crestview), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, and Bruce Kyle (R-Ft. Myers), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, as well as Senate President Jim King (R-Jacksonville.)

Creation of the college has a been a 20-year project of the Florida Chiropractic Association (FCA) and a life-long dream of the association’s long time CEO, now its CEO Emeritus, Ed Williams, D.C. “We always believed chiropractic students should have the same options those in other professions have always enjoyed. Finally, they now have the choice of a public education,” Williams said.

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

Source: Florida Chiropractic Association

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