Bill Text: FL S1624 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Higher Education
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-28 - Referred to Education Postsecondary; Appropriations Committee on Higher Education; Fiscal Policy [S1624 Detail]
Download: Florida-2025-S1624-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1624
By Senator Calatayud
38-00772A-25 20251624__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to higher education; amending s.
3 11.51, F.S.; authorizing the Office of Program Policy
4 Analysis and Government Accountability to develop
5 contracts or agreements with institutions in the State
6 University System for a specified purpose; amending s.
7 251.001, F.S.; providing tuition assistance to active
8 members of the Florida State Guard; amending s.
9 288.036, F.S.; revising the duties of the Office of
10 Ocean Economy; amending s. 381.853, F.S.; specifying
11 that the President of the University of Florida
12 appoints the members of the scientific advisory
13 council within the Florida Center for Brain Tumor
14 Research; amending s. 413.407, F.S.; revising the
15 qualifications for members of the Assistive Technology
16 Advisory Council; increasing the maximum term length
17 for such members; amending s. 446.032, F.S.; revising
18 the date by which the Department of Education is
19 required to publish an annual report on apprenticeship
20 and preapprenticeship programs; amending s. 446.041,
21 F.S.; requiring the department to take into account
22 underrepresented groups in administering the
23 apprenticeship training program, rather than minority
24 and gender diversity; amending s. 1000.05, F.S.;
25 renaming the Florida Educational Equity Act as the
26 “Florida Educational Equality Act”; changing the term
27 “gender” to “sex”; requiring public schools and
28 Florida College System institutions to develop and
29 implement methods and strategies to increase
30 participation of underrepresented students, rather
31 than students with certain characteristics, in certain
32 programs and courses; requiring the Commissioner of
33 Education and the State Board of Education to utilize
34 their authority to enforce compliance; amending s.
35 1000.21, F.S.; renaming Hillsborough Community College
36 as “Hillsborough State College”; amending s. 1001.706,
37 F.S.; deleting a requirement that state universities
38 provide student access to certain information;
39 amending s. 1001.7065, F.S.; revising academic
40 standards for the preeminent state research university
41 program to include a specified average Classic
42 Learning Test score; amending s. 1004.0971, F.S.;
43 revising the definition of the term “emergency opioid
44 antagonist”; amending s. 1004.933, F.S.; authorizing
45 an institution to enter into an agreement with an
46 online provider for the adult education or career
47 instruction portion of the Graduation Alternative to
48 Traditional Education (GATE) Program; removing the age
49 limit for enrollment in the program; clarifying that
50 students are not required to enroll in adult secondary
51 and career education coursework simultaneously;
52 amending s. 1006.73, F.S.; revising reporting
53 requirements relating to the Florida Postsecondary
54 Academic Library Network; amending s. 1007.34, F.S.;
55 expanding the scope of the college reach-out program
56 to all low-income educationally disadvantaged and
57 underrepresented students regardless of minority
58 status; amending s. 1007.35, F.S.; revising
59 legislative findings; renaming the Florida Partnership
60 for Minority and Underrepresented Student Achievement
61 as the “Florida Partnership for Underrepresented
62 Student Achievement”; revising the purposes and duties
63 of the partnership to focus on all underrepresented
64 students regardless of minority status; revising
65 duties of the partnership; amending s. 1009.21, F.S.;
66 defining the term “nonresident online student” for
67 purposes of determining resident status for tuition
68 purposes; amending s. 1009.23, F.S.; authorizing the
69 Florida College System to allocate a portion of
70 financial aid fees to assist underrepresented
71 students, rather than students who are members of a
72 targeted gender or ethnic minority population;
73 amending s. 1009.24, F.S.; requiring that the out-of
74 state fee for nonresident online students at state
75 universities be based on market rates and exceed the
76 university’s current out-of-state fee; amending s.
77 1009.26, F.S.; repealing a specified fee waiver;
78 amending s. 1009.536, F.S.; clarifying the required
79 minimum cumulative weighted grade point average for
80 the Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award; authorizing
81 students to apply for a Florida Gold Seal CAPE
82 Scholars award within a specified timeframe before or
83 after completing the GATE Program; amending s.
84 1009.897, F.S.; requiring institutions receiving funds
85 through the Prepping Institutions, Programs,
86 Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing
87 Education Fund to allocate funding to health care
88 related programs; amending s. 1011.804, F.S.;
89 authorizing certain institutions to apply for and use
90 grant funds under the GATE Startup Grant Program for
91 specified purposes; amending s. 1013.46, F.S.;
92 deleting a provision relating to set asides for
93 construction contracts with minority business
94 enterprises; amending s. 1007.27, F.S.; conforming a
95 provision to changes made by the act; providing an
96 effective date.
97
98 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
99
100 Section 1. Subsection (5) is added to section 11.51,
101 Florida Statutes, to read:
102 11.51 Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
103 Accountability.—
104 (5) The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
105 Accountability may develop contracts or agreements with
106 institutions in the State University System to use the expertise
107 of state university faculty and research staff to provide
108 assistance in analysis and evaluative research.
109 Section 2. Subsection (9) of section 251.001, Florida
110 Statutes, is amended to read:
111 251.001 Florida State Guard Act.—
112 (9) REIMBURSEMENT, BENEFIT, AND COMPENSATION.—
113 (a) The division shall reimburse members of the Florida
114 State Guard for per diem and travel expenses incurred to attend
115 required training or in the course of active service as provided
116 in s. 112.061.
117 (b) Members of the Florida State Guard may be compensated
118 for time spent training or in the course of active service at
119 rates established by the director, subject to appropriation.
120 (c) A member of the Florida State Guard may not make any
121 purchase or enter into any contract or agreement for purchases
122 or services as a charge against the state without the authority
123 of the director.
124 (d) As a benefit to the active members of the Florida State
125 Guard, subject to approval by the director of the Division of
126 the State Guard, each state university and Florida College
127 System institution shall waive tuition and fees for active
128 members of the Florida State Guard to enroll for up to 6 credit
129 hours of courses per term on a space-available basis.
130 Section 3. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 288.036,
131 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
132 288.036 Ocean economy development.—
133 (3) The Office of Ocean Economy shall:
134 (a) Develop and undertake activities and strategies with a
135 focus on research and development, technological innovation,
136 emerging industries, strategic business recruitment, public and
137 private funding opportunities, and workforce training and
138 education to promote and stimulate the ocean economy.
139 (b)1. Collaborate Foster relationships and coordinate with
140 state universities, private universities, career centers, and
141 Florida College System institutions, including the College of
142 the Florida Keys, to periodically survey surveying the
143 development of academic research relating to the ocean economy
144 across all disciplines and facilitating the transfer of
145 innovative technology into marketable goods and services. The
146 office shall encourage collaboration between state universities
147 and Florida College System institutions that have overlapping
148 areas of academic research.
149 2. Include and update on the office’s website information
150 related to:
151 a. An inventory of current research and current
152 collaborations, including contact information; and
153 b. Any available resources for research and technology
154 development, including financial opportunities.
155 (c) Collaborate with relevant industries to identify
156 economic challenges that may be solved through innovation in the
157 ocean economy, including commercializing or otherwise
158 facilitating public access to academic research and resources,
159 removing governmental barriers, strengthening the workforce, and
160 maximizing access to financial or other opportunities for growth
161 and development.
162 (d) Develop and facilitate a pipeline for innovative ideas
163 and strategies to be created, developed, researched,
164 commercialized, and financed. This includes promotion and
165 coordination of industry collaboration, academic research,
166 accelerator programs, training and technical assistance, and
167 startup or second-stage funding opportunities.
168 (e) Maintain and update on the office’s website:
169 1. Reports and data on the number, growth, and average
170 wages of jobs included in the ocean economy; the impacts on the
171 number, growth, and development of businesses in the ocean
172 economy; and the collaboration, transition, or adoption of
173 innovation and research into new, viable ideas employed in the
174 ocean economy.
175 2. A current inventory of programs related to the ocean
176 economy, an evaluation of additional opportunities to earn
177 credentials, and the institutions or training providers where
178 such credentials may be earned.
179 (f) Educate other state and local entities on the interests
180 of the ocean economy and how such entities may positively
181 address environmental issues while simultaneously considering
182 the economic impact of their policies.
183 (g) Communicate the state’s role as an integral component
184 of the ocean economy by promoting the state on national and
185 international platforms and other appropriate forums as the
186 premier destination for convening on pertinent subject matters.
187 (h) Collaborate with public and private educational and
188 industry organizations to make recommendations:
189 1. For strengthening employment opportunities in:
190 a. Commercial fishing;
191 b. Fisheries and aquaculture, marine and freshwater;
192 c. Processing and preserving fish, crustaceans, and
193 mollusks;
194 d. Shipbuilding and repair; and
195 e. Shipping, water transport such as sea and coastal and
196 inland water transportation of both freight and passengers,
197 ports, and related services and support activities.
198 2. Regarding the expansion of existing maritime programs
199 and the addition of new programs and strategies for a public
200 awareness campaign.
201 3. To increase the availability of dual enrollment,
202 preapprenticeship and apprenticeship, and work-study programs at
203 both public and private institutions.
204 4. For aligning the regulatory framework for fishing and
205 boat operations with the demand for personnel through
206 consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
207 (4) By August 1, 2025, and each August 1 thereafter, the
208 office shall provide to the Board of Governors, the Governor,
209 the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
210 Representatives and post on its website a detailed report on
211 demonstrating the economic benefits of the office and the
212 development of emerging ocean economy industries. By August 1,
213 2026, the report must include the recommendations in paragraph
214 (3)(h).
215 Section 4. Subsection (4) of section 381.853, Florida
216 Statutes, is amended to read:
217 381.853 Florida Center for Brain Tumor Research.—
218 (4) There is established within the center a scientific
219 advisory council that includes biomedical researchers,
220 physicians, clinicians, and representatives from public and
221 private universities and hospitals. The council shall meet at
222 least annually.
223 (a) The council shall consist of members appointed by the
224 President of the University of Florida, in consultation with the
225 dean of the University of Florida College of Medicine:
226 1. Two members from the Florida Center for Brain Tumor
227 Research within the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain
228 Institute of the University of Florida appointed by the
229 Governor.
230 2. Two members from The Scripps Research Institute, one of
231 whom must have expertise in basic brain tumor research,
232 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
233 3. Two members from other public and private universities
234 and institutions directly involved in brain tumor research
235 appointed by the President of the Senate.
236 4. One member from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville who is
237 directly involved in the treatment of brain tumor patients or
238 who has expertise in basic brain tumor research appointed by the
239 State Surgeon General.
240 5. Two members from the Cleveland Clinic in Florida who are
241 directly involved in basic brain tumor research appointed by the
242 Governor.
243 6. One member from the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and
244 Research Institute who is directly involved in the treatment of
245 brain tumor patients or who has expertise in basic brain tumor
246 research appointed by the Speaker of the House of
247 Representatives.
248 7. One member from the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando
249 who is directly involved in the treatment of brain tumor
250 patients or who has expertise in basic brain tumor research
251 appointed by the President of the Senate.
252 (b) Council members shall serve staggered 4-year terms.
253 (c) Council members shall serve without compensation, and
254 each organization represented shall cover all expenses of its
255 representative.
256 Section 5. Paragraphs (d) and (f) of subsection (1) of
257 section 413.407, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
258 413.407 Assistive Technology Advisory Council.—There is
259 created the Assistive Technology Advisory Council, responsible
260 for ensuring consumer involvement in the creation, application,
261 and distribution of technology-related assistance to and for
262 persons who have disabilities. The council shall fulfill its
263 responsibilities through statewide policy development, state and
264 federal legislative initiatives, advocacy at the state and
265 federal levels, planning of statewide resource allocations,
266 policy-level management, and reviews of consumer responsiveness
267 and the adequacy of program service delivery and by performing
268 the functions listed in this section.
269 (1)
270 (d) Members of the council must be geographically
271 representative of the state and reflect the diversity of the
272 state’s population with respect to race, ethnicity, gender, age,
273 type of disability, and type of disability-related services and
274 devices received.
275 (f)1. Each member of the council shall serve for a term of
276 not more than 5 3 years, except that a member appointed to fill
277 a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which
278 a predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder
279 of such term.
280 2. A member of the council may not serve more than two
281 consecutive terms; however, any appointment under subparagraph
282 1., if for less than 18 months, is not considered a term for the
283 purposes of this section.
284 3. A member who has served two consecutive terms and has
285 been retired from the council for at least 3 years may be
286 reappointed to the council on the same basis as a new member.
287 Section 6. Subsection (2) of section 446.032, Florida
288 Statutes, is amended to read:
289 446.032 General duties of the department for apprenticeship
290 training.—The department shall:
291 (2) By November 30 September 1 of each year, publish an
292 annual report on apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs.
293 The report must be published on the department’s website and, at
294 a minimum, include all of the following:
295 (a) A list of registered apprenticeship and
296 preapprenticeship programs, sorted by local educational agency,
297 as defined in s. 1004.02(18), and apprenticeship sponsor, under
298 s. 446.071.
299 (b) A detailed summary of each local educational agency’s
300 expenditure of funds for apprenticeship and preapprenticeship
301 programs, including:
302 1. The total amount of funds received for apprenticeship
303 and preapprenticeship programs.
304 2. The total amount of funds allocated by training
305 provider, program, and occupation.
306 3. The total amount of funds expended for administrative
307 costs by training provider, program, and occupation.
308 4. The total amount of funds expended for instructional
309 costs by training provider, program, and occupation.
310 (c) The number of apprentices and preapprentices per trade
311 and occupation.
312 (d) The percentage of apprentices and preapprentices who
313 complete their respective programs in the appropriate timeframe.
314 (e) Information and resources related to applications for
315 new apprenticeship programs and technical assistance and
316 requirements for potential applicants.
317 (f) Documentation of activities conducted by the department
318 to promote apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs through
319 public engagement, community-based partnerships, and other
320 initiatives and the outcomes of such activities and their impact
321 on establishing or expanding apprenticeship and
322 preapprenticeship programs.
323 (g) Retention and completion rates of participants
324 disaggregated by training provider, program, and occupation.
325 (h) Wage progression of participants as demonstrated by
326 starting, exit, and postapprenticeship wages at 1 and 5 years
327 after participants exit the program.
328 Section 7. Subsection (12) of section 446.041, Florida
329 Statutes, is amended to read:
330 446.041 Duties of the department.—The department shall:
331 (12) Ensure that underrepresented groups minority and
332 gender diversity are considered in administering this program.
333 Section 8. Subsection (1), paragraph (d) of subsection (2),
334 paragraph (e) of subsection (3), subsection (5), and subsection
335 (7) of section 1000.05, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
336 1000.05 Discrimination against students and employees in
337 the Florida K-20 public education system prohibited; equality of
338 access required.—
339 (1) This section may be cited as the “Florida Educational
340 Equality Equity Act.”
341 (2)
342 (d) Students may be separated by sex for a single-sex
343 single-gender program, for any portion of a class that deals
344 with human reproduction, or during participation in bodily
345 contact sports. For the purpose of this section, bodily contact
346 sports include wrestling, boxing, rugby, ice hockey, football,
347 basketball, and other sports in which the purpose or major
348 activity involves bodily contact.
349 (3)
350 (e) A public school or Florida College System institution
351 may provide separate toilet, locker room, and shower facilities
352 on the basis of sex gender, but such facilities shall be
353 comparable to such facilities provided for students of the other
354 sex.
355 (5) Public schools and Florida College System institutions
356 shall develop and implement methods and strategies to increase
357 the participation of underrepresented students of a particular
358 race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or marital status
359 in programs and courses in which students of that particular
360 race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or marital status
361 have been traditionally underrepresented, including, but not
362 limited to, mathematics, science, computer technology,
363 electronics, communications technology, engineering, and career
364 education.
365 (7) The functions of the Office of Equal Educational
366 Opportunity of the Department of Education shall include, but
367 are not limited to:
368 (a) Requiring all district school boards and Florida
369 College System institution boards of trustees to develop and
370 submit plans for the implementation of this section to the
371 Department of Education.
372 (b) Conducting periodic reviews of school districts and
373 Florida College System institutions to determine compliance with
374 this section and, after a finding that a school district or a
375 Florida College System institution is not in compliance with
376 this section, notifying the entity of the steps that it must
377 take to attain compliance and performing followup monitoring.
378 (c) Providing technical assistance, including assisting
379 school districts or Florida College System institutions in
380 identifying unlawful discrimination and instructing them in
381 remedies for correction and prevention of such discrimination
382 and performing followup monitoring.
383 (d) Conducting studies of the effectiveness of methods and
384 strategies designed to increase the participation of students in
385 programs and courses in which students of a particular race,
386 color, national origin, sex, disability, or marital status have
387 been traditionally underrepresented and monitoring the success
388 of students in such programs or courses, including performing
389 followup monitoring.
390 (e) Requiring all district school boards and Florida
391 College System institution boards of trustees to submit data and
392 information necessary to determine compliance with this section.
393 The Commissioner of Education shall prescribe the format and the
394 date for submission of such data and any other educational
395 equity data. If any board does not submit the required
396 compliance data or other required educational equity data by the
397 prescribed date, the commissioner shall notify the board of this
398 fact and, if the board does not take appropriate action to
399 immediately submit the required report, the State Board of
400 Education shall impose monetary sanctions.
401 (f) Based upon rules of the State Board of Education,
402 developing and implementing enforcement mechanisms with
403 appropriate penalties to ensure that public K-12 schools and
404 Florida College System institutions comply with Title IX of the
405 Education Amendments of 1972 and subsection (3) of this section.
406 However, the State Board of Education may not force a public
407 school or Florida College System institution to conduct, nor
408 penalize such entity for not conducting, a program of athletic
409 activity or athletic scholarship for female athletes unless it
410 is an athletic activity approved for women by a recognized
411 association whose purpose is to promote athletics and a
412 conference or league exists to promote interscholastic or
413 intercollegiate competition for women in that athletic activity.
414 (g) Reporting to The Commissioner of Education any district
415 school board or Florida College System institution board of
416 trustees found to be out of compliance with rules of the State
417 Board of Education adopted as required by paragraph (f) or
418 paragraph (3)(d). To penalize the board, the State Board of
419 Education shall:
420 1. Declare the school district or Florida College System
421 institution ineligible for competitive state grants.
422 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.192, direct the
423 Chief Financial Officer to withhold general revenue funds
424 sufficient to obtain compliance from the school district or
425 Florida College System institution.
426
427 The school district or Florida College System institution shall
428 remain ineligible and the funds shall not be paid until the
429 institution comes into compliance or the State Board of
430 Education approves a plan for compliance.
431
432 The Commissioner of Education and the State Board of Education
433 shall use their authority under s. 1008.32 to enforce compliance
434 with this subsection.
435 Section 9. Paragraph (j) of subsection (5) of section
436 1000.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
437 1000.21 Systemwide definitions.—As used in the Florida
438 Early Learning-20 Education Code:
439 (5) “Florida College System institution” except as
440 otherwise specifically provided, includes all of the following
441 public postsecondary educational institutions in the Florida
442 College System and any branch campuses, centers, or other
443 affiliates of the institution:
444 (j) Hillsborough State Community College, which serves
445 Hillsborough County.
446 Section 10. Paragraph (d) of subsection (5) of section
447 1001.706, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
448 1001.706 Powers and duties of the Board of Governors.—
449 (5) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO ACCOUNTABILITY.—
450 (d) The Board of Governors shall annually require a state
451 university prior to registration to provide each enrolled
452 student electronic access to the economic security report of
453 employment and earning outcomes prepared by the Department of
454 Commerce pursuant to s. 445.07. In addition, the Board of
455 Governors shall require a state university to provide each
456 student electronic access to the following information each year
457 prior to registration using the data described in s. 1008.39:
458 1. The top 25 percent of degrees reported by the university
459 in terms of highest full-time job placement and highest average
460 annualized earnings in the year after earning the degree.
461 2. The bottom 10 percent of degrees reported by the
462 university in terms of lowest full-time job placement and lowest
463 average annualized earnings in the year after earning the
464 degree.
465 Section 11. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
466 1001.7065, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
467 1001.7065 Preeminent state research universities program.—
468 (2) ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH EXCELLENCE STANDARDS.—The
469 following academic and research excellence standards are
470 established for the preeminent state research universities
471 program and shall be reported annually in the Board of Governors
472 Accountability Plan:
473 (a) An average weighted grade point average of 4.0 or
474 higher on a 4.0 scale and an average SAT score of 1200 or higher
475 on a 1600-point scale or an average ACT score of 25 or higher on
476 a 36 score scale, using the latest published national
477 concordance table developed jointly by the College Board and
478 ACT, Inc., or an average Classic Learning Test score of 83 or
479 higher on a 120 score scale, for fall semester incoming
480 freshmen, as reported annually.
481 Section 12. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
482 1004.0971, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
483 1004.0971 Emergency opioid antagonists in Florida College
484 System institution and state university housing.—
485 (1) As used in this section, the term:
486 (b) “Emergency opioid antagonist” means a naloxone
487 hydrochloride or any similarly acting drug that blocks the
488 effects of opioids administered from outside the body and that
489 is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration
490 for the treatment of an opioid overdose.
491 Section 13. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) and paragraph
492 (b) of subsection (4) of section 1004.933, Florida Statutes, are
493 amended to read:
494 1004.933 Graduation Alternative to Traditional Education
495 (GATE) Program.—
496 (3) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
497 (b) “Institution” means any a school district career center
498 established under s. 1001.44, a charter technical career center
499 established under s. 1002.34, or a Florida College System
500 institution identified in s. 1000.21. Any such institution may
501 enter into an agreement with an online provider for the adult
502 education or career instruction portion of the program if such
503 provider offers instructional content and services that align
504 with the state career and adult education curriculum frameworks.
505 (4) PAYMENT WAIVER; ELIGIBILITY.—
506 (b) To be eligible for participation in the GATE Program, a
507 student must:
508 1. Not have earned a standard high school diploma pursuant
509 to s. 1003.4282 or a high school equivalency diploma pursuant to
510 s. 1003.435 before enrolling in the GATE Program;
511 2. Have been withdrawn from high school;
512 3. Be a resident of this state as defined in s. 1009.21(1);
513 4. Be at least 16 to 21 years of age at the time of initial
514 enrollment, provided that a student who is 16 or 17 years of age
515 has withdrawn from school enrollment pursuant to the
516 requirements and safeguards in s. 1003.21(1)(c);
517 5. Select the adult secondary education program and career
518 education program of his or her choice at the time of admission
519 to the GATE Program, provided that the career education program
520 is included on the Master Credentials List under s. 445.004(4).
521 The student is not required to enroll in adult secondary and
522 career education program coursework simultaneously. The student
523 may not change the requested pathway after enrollment, except
524 that, if necessary for the student, the student may enroll in an
525 adult basic education program prior to enrolling in the adult
526 secondary education program;
527 6. Maintain a 2.0 GPA for career and technical education
528 coursework; and
529 7. Notwithstanding s. 1003.435(4), complete the programs
530 under subparagraph 5. within 3 years after his or her initial
531 enrollment unless the institution determines that an extension
532 is warranted due to extenuating circumstances.
533 Section 14. Subsections (5) and (7) of section 1006.73,
534 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
535 1006.73 Florida Postsecondary Academic Library Network.—
536 (5) REPORTING.—
537 (a) By December 31 each year, the host entity shall submit
538 a report to the Chancellors of the State University System and
539 the Florida College System regarding the implementation and
540 operation of all components described in this section,
541 including, but not limited to, all of the following:
542 (a)1. Usage information collected under paragraph (2)(c).
543 (b)2. Information and associated costs relating to the
544 services and functions of the program.
545 (c)3. The implementation and operation of the automated
546 library services.
547 (d)4. The number and value of grants awarded under
548 paragraph (4)(d) and the distribution of those funds.
549 5. The number and types of courses placed in the Student
550 Open Access Resources Repository.
551 6. Information on the utilization of the Student Open
552 Access Resources Repository and utilization of open educational
553 resources in course sections, by Florida College System
554 institution and state university.
555 (b) The Chancellors will provide an annual report on the
556 performance of the host entity in delivering the services and
557 any recommendations for changes needed to this section to the
558 Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House
559 of Representatives, the Board of Governors, and the State Board
560 of Education. The Board of Governors and the Department of
561 Education shall include any necessary funding increases in their
562 annual legislative budget requests.
563 (7) RECOMMENDATION ON OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO BE
564 INCLUDED WITHIN THE FLORIDA POSTSECONDARY ACADEMIC LIBRARY
565 NETWORK.—By June 1, 2022, the Commissioner of Education and the
566 Chancellor of the Board of Governors shall provide a joint
567 recommendation for a process by which school district career
568 centers operated under s. 1001.44 and charter technical career
569 centers under s. 1002.34 would access appropriate postsecondary
570 distance learning, student support services and library assets
571 described in this section. The recommendation must include an
572 analysis of the resources necessary to expand access and assets
573 to centers and their students.
574 Section 15. Paragraph (d) of subsection (5) and paragraph
575 (c) of subsection (7) of section 1007.34, Florida Statutes, are
576 amended to read:
577 1007.34 College reach-out program.—
578 (5) In selecting proposals for approval, the State Board of
579 Education shall give preference to:
580 (d) A program that includes innovative approaches, provides
581 a great variety of activities, and includes a large percentage
582 of low-income educationally disadvantaged and underrepresented
583 minority students in the college reach-out program.
584 (7) A proposal must contain the following information:
585 (c) An identification of existing programs for enhancing
586 the academic performance of minority and low-income
587 educationally disadvantaged and underrepresented students for
588 enrollment in postsecondary education.
589 Section 16. Section 1007.35, Florida Statutes, is amended
590 to read:
591 1007.35 Florida Partnership for Minority and
592 Underrepresented Student Achievement.—
593 (1) This section may be referred to by the popular name the
594 “Florida Partnership for Minority and Underrepresented Student
595 Achievement Act.”
596 (2)(a) The Legislature recognizes the importance of not
597 only access to college but also success in college for all
598 students. It is the intent of the Legislature that every student
599 enrolled in a public secondary school has access to high
600 quality, rigorous academics, with a particular focus on access
601 to advanced courses. The Legislature also recognizes the
602 importance of other career pathways, such as vocational and
603 trade schools, and the importance of incentivizing the
604 availability of high school programs to prepare students for
605 those career paths.
606 (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide
607 assistance to all public secondary schools, with a primary focus
608 on low-performing middle and high schools.
609 (c) It is the intent of the Legislature that the
610 partnership created in this section accomplish its mission
611 primarily through strengthening the content knowledge of
612 teachers and providing instructional resources, including
613 materials and strategies, which enable teachers to provide
614 instruction to students who have diverse learning styles.
615 (3) There is created the Florida Partnership for Minority
616 and Underrepresented Student Achievement. The Department of
617 Education may contract for operation of the partnership.
618 (4) The mission of the partnership is to prepare, inspire,
619 and connect students to postsecondary success and opportunity,
620 with a particular focus on minority students and students who
621 are underrepresented in postsecondary education.
622 (5) Each public high school, including, but not limited to,
623 schools and alternative sites and centers of the Department of
624 Juvenile Justice, shall provide for the administration of the
625 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
626 (PSAT/NMSQT), or the PreACT to all enrolled 10th grade students.
627 However, a written notice shall be provided to each parent which
628 must include the opportunity to exempt his or her child from
629 taking the PSAT/NMSQT or the PreACT.
630 (a) Test results will provide each high school with a
631 database of student assessment data which certified school
632 counselors will use to identify students who are prepared or who
633 need additional work to be prepared to enroll and be successful
634 in advanced high school courses.
635 (b) Funding for the PSAT/NMSQT or the PreACT for all 10th
636 grade students shall be contingent upon annual funding in the
637 General Appropriations Act.
638 (c) Public school districts must choose either the
639 PSAT/NMSQT or the PreACT for districtwide administration.
640 (6) The partnership shall:
641 (a) Provide teacher training and professional learning to
642 enable teachers of advanced courses to have the necessary
643 content knowledge and instructional skills to prepare students
644 for success on assessments developed pursuant to s. 1007.27(2)
645 and mastery of postsecondary general education core courses.
646 (b) Provide to middle school teachers and administrators
647 professional learning that will enable them to educate middle
648 school students at the level necessary to prepare the students
649 to enter high school ready to participate in advanced courses.
650 (c) Provide teacher training and materials that are aligned
651 with the state standards and are consistent with best theory and
652 practice regarding multiple learning styles and research on
653 learning, instructional strategies, instructional design, and
654 classroom assessment. Curriculum materials must be based on
655 current, accepted, and essential academic knowledge.
656 (d) Provide assessment of individual strengths and
657 weaknesses as related to potential success in advanced courses
658 and readiness for college.
659 (b)(e) Provide college entrance exam preparation through a
660 variety of means that may include, but are not limited to,
661 training teachers to provide courses at schools; training
662 community organizations to provide courses at community centers,
663 faith-based organizations, and businesses; and providing online
664 courses.
665 (f) Consider ways to incorporate Florida College System
666 institutions in the mission of preparing all students for
667 postsecondary success.
668 (c)(g) Provide a plan for communication and coordination of
669 efforts with the Florida Virtual School’s provision of online
670 advanced courses.
671 (d)(h) Work with school districts to identify minority and
672 underrepresented students for participation in advanced courses.
673 (e)(i) Work with school districts to provide information to
674 students and parents that explains available opportunities for
675 students to take advanced courses and that explains enrollment
676 procedures that students must follow to enroll in such courses.
677 Such information must also explain the value of such courses as
678 they relate to:
679 1. Preparing the student for postsecondary level
680 coursework.
681 2. Enabling the student to gain access to postsecondary
682 education opportunities.
683 3. Qualifying for scholarships and other financial aid
684 opportunities.
685 (f)(j) Provide information to students, parents, teachers,
686 counselors, administrators, districts, Florida College System
687 institutions, and state universities regarding PSAT/NMSQT or the
688 PreACT administration, including, but not limited to:
689 1. Test administration dates and times.
690 2. That participation in the PSAT/NMSQT or the PreACT is
691 open to all 10th grade students.
692 3. The value of such tests in providing diagnostic feedback
693 on student skills.
694 4. The value of student scores in predicting the
695 probability of success on advanced course examinations.
696 (k) Cooperate with the department to provide information to
697 administrators, teachers, and counselors, whenever possible,
698 about partnership activities, opportunities, and priorities.
699 (g)(l) Partner with the Florida College System institutions
700 and state universities identified by the State Board of
701 Education and Board of Governors pursuant to s. 1007.25(3) to
702 develop advanced courses and provide teacher training.
703 (7) By May 31 of each year, the Department of Education
704 shall approve a plan of delivery of services for the subsequent
705 academic year.
706 (8)(a) By September 30 of each year, the partnership shall
707 submit to the department a report that contains an evaluation of
708 the effectiveness of the delivered services and activities.
709 Activities and services must be evaluated on their effectiveness
710 at raising student achievement and increasing the number of AP
711 or other advanced course examinations in low-performing middle
712 and high schools. Other indicators that must be addressed in the
713 evaluation report include the number of middle and high school
714 teachers trained; the effectiveness of the training; measures of
715 postsecondary readiness of the students affected by the program;
716 levels of participation in 10th grade PSAT/NMSQT or the PreACT
717 testing; and measures of student, parent, and teacher awareness
718 of and satisfaction with the services of the partnership.
719 (b) The department shall contribute to the evaluation
720 process by providing access, consistent with s. 119.071(5)(a),
721 to student and teacher information necessary to match against
722 databases containing teacher professional learning data and
723 databases containing assessment data for the PSAT/NMSQT, SAT,
724 ACT, PreACT, AP, and other appropriate measures. The department
725 shall also provide student-level data on student progress from
726 middle school through high school and into college and the
727 workforce, if available, in order to support longitudinal
728 studies. The partnership shall analyze and report student
729 performance data in a manner that protects the rights of
730 students and parents as required in 20 U.S.C. s. 1232g and s.
731 1002.22.
732 (9)(a) Funding for the partnership shall be contingent upon
733 annual funding in the General Appropriations Act.
734 (b) The participating partner, if one is chosen, is
735 required to match at least one-third of the allocation provided
736 to the partnership in the General Appropriations Act in
737 materials and services to the program.
738 (10) Nothing in this section shall prohibit any
739 organization from partnering with the state to improve the
740 college readiness of students.
741 Section 17. Present paragraphs (e), (f), and (g) of
742 subsection (1) of section 1009.21, Florida Statutes, are
743 redesignated as paragraphs (f), (g), and (h), respectively, and
744 a new paragraph (e) is added to that subsection, to read:
745 1009.21 Determination of resident status for tuition
746 purposes.—Students shall be classified as residents or
747 nonresidents for the purpose of assessing tuition in
748 postsecondary educational programs offered by charter technical
749 career centers or career centers operated by school districts,
750 in Florida College System institutions, and in state
751 universities.
752 (1) As used in this section, the term:
753 (e) “Nonresident online student” means a person who is
754 admitted to a Florida College System institution or state
755 university as an online student and does not qualify for in
756 state tuition or fee rates.
757 Section 18. Paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of section
758 1009.23, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
759 1009.23 Florida College System institution student fees.—
760 (8)(c) Up to 25 percent or $600,000, whichever is greater,
761 of the financial aid fees collected may be used to assist
762 students who demonstrate academic merit; who participate in
763 athletics, public service, cultural arts, and other
764 extracurricular programs as determined by the institution; or
765 who are identified as members of an underrepresented a targeted
766 gender or ethnic minority population. The financial aid fee
767 revenues allocated for athletic scholarships and any fee
768 exemptions provided to athletes pursuant to s. 1009.25(2) must
769 be distributed equitably as required by s. 1000.05(3)(d). A
770 minimum of 75 percent of the balance of these funds for new
771 awards shall be used to provide financial aid based on absolute
772 need, and the remainder of the funds shall be used for academic
773 merit purposes and other purposes approved by the boards of
774 trustees. Such other purposes shall include the payment of child
775 care fees for students with financial need. The State Board of
776 Education shall develop criteria for making financial aid
777 awards. Each college shall report annually to the Department of
778 Education on the revenue collected pursuant to this paragraph,
779 the amount carried forward, the criteria used to make awards,
780 the amount and number of awards for each criterion, and a
781 delineation of the distribution of such awards. The report shall
782 include an assessment by category of the financial need of every
783 student who receives an award, regardless of the purpose for
784 which the award is received. Awards that are based on financial
785 need shall be distributed in accordance with a nationally
786 recognized system of need analysis approved by the State Board
787 of Education. An award for academic merit requires a minimum
788 overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or the
789 equivalent for both initial receipt of the award and renewal of
790 the award.
791 Section 19. Present paragraphs (b) through (e) of
792 subsection (4) of section 1009.24, Florida Statutes, are
793 redesignated as paragraphs (c) through (f), respectively, and a
794 new paragraph (b) is added to that subsection, to read:
795 1009.24 State university student fees.—
796 (4)
797 (b) The out-of-state fee for nonresident online students as
798 defined in s. 1009.21(1)(e) must be based on market rates and
799 must exceed the university’s regular out-of-state fee.
800 Section 20. Subsection (20) of section 1009.26, Florida
801 Statutes, is amended to read:
802 1009.26 Fee waivers.—
803 (20)(a) Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, a state
804 university shall waive the out-of-state fee for a student who:
805 1. Has a grandparent who is a legal resident as defined in
806 s. 1009.21(1). For purposes of this subsection, the term
807 “grandparent” means a person who has a legal relationship to a
808 student’s parent as the natural or adoptive parent or legal
809 guardian of the student’s parent.
810 2. Earns a high school diploma comparable to a Florida
811 standard high school diploma, or its equivalent, or completes a
812 home education program.
813 3.a. Achieves an SAT combined score no lower than the 89th
814 national percentile on the SAT;
815 b. Achieves an ACT score concordant to the required SAT
816 score in sub-subparagraph a., using the latest published
817 national concordance table developed jointly by the College
818 Board and ACT, Inc.; or
819 c. If a state university accepts the Classic Learning Test
820 (CLT) for admission purposes, achieves a CLT score concordant to
821 the required SAT score specified in sub-subparagraph a., using
822 the latest published scoring comparison developed by Classic
823 Learning Initiatives.
824 4. Beginning with students who initially enroll in the 2022
825 fall academic term and thereafter, enrolls as a full-time
826 undergraduate student at a state university in the fall academic
827 term immediately following high school graduation.
828 (b) The waiver under this subsection is applicable for up
829 to 110 percent of the number of required credit hours of the
830 degree program for which the student is enrolled.
831 (c) Before waiving the out-of-state fee, the state
832 university shall require the student or the student’s parent, if
833 the student is a dependent child, to provide a written
834 declaration pursuant to s. 92.525(2) attesting to the student’s
835 familial relationship to a grandparent who is a legal resident
836 and any other corroborating documentation required by regulation
837 of the Board of Governors. A state university is not required to
838 independently verify the statements contained in each
839 declaration if the signatory declares it to be true under the
840 penalties of perjury as required by s. 92.525(2). However, the
841 state university may refer any signed declaration suspected of
842 containing fraudulent representations to law enforcement.
843 (d) Each state university annually shall report to the
844 Board of Governors the number and value of all fee waivers
845 granted under this subsection during the previous 12-month
846 period.
847 (e) Beginning with students who initially enroll for the
848 2022-2023 academic year or thereafter, a state university shall,
849 within the nonresident student enrollment systemwide, prioritize
850 the enrollment of a student who is granted a fee waiver under
851 this subsection over an out-of-state student who is not eligible
852 for an out-of-state fee waiver if the students have
853 substantially similar academic and other credentials used in
854 determining admission to the state university.
855 (f) Fee waivers granted pursuant to this subsection may not
856 exceed 350 students systemwide each academic year.
857 (g) The Board of Governors shall adopt regulations to
858 administer this subsection.
859 Section 21. Subsection (2) of section 1009.536, Florida
860 Statutes, is amended, and subsection (6) is added to that
861 section, to read:
862 1009.536 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars and Florida
863 Gold Seal CAPE Scholars awards.—The Florida Gold Seal Vocational
864 Scholars award and the Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award are
865 created within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program to
866 recognize and reward academic achievement and career preparation
867 by high school students who wish to continue their education.
868 (2) A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal CAPE
869 Scholars award if he or she meets the general eligibility
870 requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program,
871 and the student:
872 (a) Earns a minimum of 3 5 postsecondary credit hours
873 through CAPE industry certifications approved pursuant to s.
874 1008.44 which articulate for college credit; and
875 (b) Earns a minimum cumulative weighted grade point average
876 of 2.5, as calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, on all subjects
877 required for a standard high school diploma, excluding elective
878 courses; and
879 (c) Completes at least 30 hours of volunteer service or,
880 beginning with a high school student graduating in the 2022-2023
881 academic year and thereafter, 100 hours of paid work, approved
882 by the district school board, the administrators of a nonpublic
883 school, or the Department of Education for home education
884 program students, or 100 hours of a combination of both.
885 Eligible paid work completed on or after June 27, 2022, shall be
886 included in a student’s total required paid work hours. The
887 student may identify a social or civic issue or a professional
888 area that interests him or her and develop a plan for his or her
889 personal involvement in addressing the issue or learning about
890 the area. The student must, through papers or other
891 presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or her experience.
892 Such volunteer service or paid work may include, but is not
893 limited to, a business or governmental internship, work for a
894 nonprofit community service organization, or activities on
895 behalf of a candidate for public office. The hours of volunteer
896 service or paid work must be documented in writing, and the
897 document must be signed by the student, the student’s parent or
898 guardian, and a representative of the organization for which the
899 student performed the volunteer service or paid work.
900 (6) Before or within 3 months after completion of the GATE
901 Program as provided in s. 1004.933, a student may apply for the
902 Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award.
903 Section 22. Present subsection (4) of section 1009.897,
904 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (5), and a new
905 subsection (4) is added to that section, to read:
906 1009.897 Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and
907 Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE)
908 Fund.—
909 (4) Each institution that receives funds through the
910 PIPELINE Fund shall allocate the funds to its health care
911 industry-related programs.
912 Section 23. Subsections (3) and (6) of section 1011.804,
913 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
914 1011.804 GATE Startup Grant Program.—
915 (3) The department may solicit proposals from institutions
916 without programs that meet the requirements of s. 1004.933(2).
917 Such institutions must be located in or serve a rural area of
918 opportunity as designated by the Governor. Additionally,
919 institutions that meet program requirements and are located in
920 or serve a rural area of opportunity may apply for grant funds
921 specifically for marketing and outreach efforts to expand
922 student participation in the GATE Program.
923 (6) Grant funds may be used for planning activities and
924 other expenses associated with the creation of the GATE Program,
925 such as expenses related to program instruction, instructional
926 equipment, supplies, instructional personnel, and student
927 services, and outreach and marketing efforts to recruit and
928 enroll eligible students. Institutions with existing programs
929 that meet the requirements of s. 1004.933(2) and that are
930 located in or serve a rural area of opportunity may apply for
931 grant funds exclusively for marketing and outreach purposes to
932 expand student participation in the GATE Program. Grant funds
933 may not be used for indirect costs. Grant recipients must submit
934 an annual report in a format prescribed by the department. The
935 department shall consolidate such annual reports and include the
936 reports in the report required by s. 1004.933(5).
937 Section 24. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
938 1013.46, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
939 1013.46 Advertising and awarding contracts;
940 prequalification of contractor.—
941 (1)
942 (c) As an option, any county, municipality, or board may
943 set aside up to 10 percent of the total amount of funds
944 allocated for the purpose of entering into construction capital
945 project contracts with minority business enterprises, as defined
946 in s. 287.094. Such contracts shall be competitively bid only
947 among minority business enterprises. The set-aside shall be used
948 to redress present effects of past discriminatory practices and
949 shall be subject to periodic reassessment to account for
950 changing needs and circumstances.
951 Section 25. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
952 1007.27, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
953 1007.27 Articulated acceleration mechanisms.—
954 (1)
955 (b) The State Board of Education and the Board of Governors
956 shall identify Florida College System institutions and state
957 universities to develop courses that align with s. 1007.25 for
958 students in secondary education and provide the training
959 required under s. 1007.35(6).
960 Section 26. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
