HB 7011

1
A reviser's bill to be entitled
2An act relating to the Florida Statutes; amending ss.
31000.01, 1000.02, 1000.04, 1000.05, 1000.06, 1000.07,
41000.21, 1001.02, 1001.03, 1001.10, 1001.11, 1001.20,
51001.27, 1001.271, 1001.28, 1001.43, 1001.60, 1001.61,
61001.62, 1001.63, 1001.64, 1001.65, 1001.705, 1001.706,
71002.20, 1002.21, 1002.33, 1002.34, 1002.41, 1002.45,
81003.03, 1003.41, 1003.4156, 1003.433, 1003.435, 1003.49,
91003.51, 1003.52, 1004.02, 1004.03, 1004.04, 1004.05,
101004.06, 1004.07, 1004.085, 1004.095, 1004.226, 1004.645,
111004.648, 1004.65, 1004.66, 1004.67, 1004.68, 1004.70,
121004.71, 1004.725, 1004.726, 1004.74, 1004.75, 1004.77,
131004.78, 1004.79, 1004.80, 1004.81, 1004.86, 1004.91,
141004.92, 1004.93, 1004.94, 1004.95, 1004.97, 1004.98,
151004.99, 1005.21, 1006.15, 1006.17, 1006.50, 1006.51,
161006.55, 1006.60, 1006.62, 1006.63, 1006.65, 1006.68,
171006.70, 1006.71, 1006.72, 1007.21, 1007.22, 1007.23,
181007.235, 1007.24, 1007.25, 1007.2615, 1007.262, 1007.263,
191007.264, 1007.265, 1007.27, 1007.271, 1007.272, 1007.28,
201007.33, 1007.34, 1007.35, 1008.30, 1008.31, 1008.32,
211008.345, 1008.385, 1008.405, 1008.41, 1008.42, 1008.43,
221008.45, 1009.21, 1009.22, 1009.23, 1009.25, 1009.26,
231009.265, 1009.27, 1009.28, 1009.285, 1009.286, 1009.29,
241009.40, 1009.42, 1009.44, 1009.50, 1009.505, 1009.533,
251009.535, 1009.55, 1009.56, 1009.60, 1009.605, 1009.65,
261009.67, 1009.70, 1009.72, 1009.77, 1009.89, 1009.891,
271009.97, 1009.971, 1009.98, 1009.981, 1010.01, 1010.02,
281010.03, 1010.04, 1010.06, 1010.07, 1010.08, 1010.09,
291010.11, 1010.22, 1010.23, 1010.30, 1010.33, 1010.34,
301010.58, 1011.01, 1011.011, 1011.012, 1011.30, 1011.31,
311011.32, 1011.51, 1011.62, 1011.68, 1011.75, 1011.80,
321011.801, 1011.81, 1011.82, 1011.83, 1011.84, 1011.85,
331011.86, 1012.01, 1012.35, 1012.56, 1012.80, 1012.81,
341012.82, 1012.83, 1012.84, 1012.85, 1012.855, 1012.86,
351012.865, 1012.87, 1012.875, 1012.88, 1012.885, 1012.98,
361013.01, 1013.02, 1013.03, 1013.12, 1013.13, 1013.19,
371013.23, 1013.231, 1013.25, 1013.27, 1013.28, 1013.31,
381013.36, 1013.37, 1013.371, 1013.40, 1013.44, 1013.51,
391013.52, 1013.60, 1013.64, 1013.65, and 1013.81, F.S., to
40conform to the directive in section 21 of chapter 2010-70,
41Laws of Florida, to prepare a reviser's bill for
42consideration by the 2011 Regular Session of the
43Legislature to substitute the term "Florida College System
44Institution" for the terms "Florida college," "community
45college," and "junior college" where those terms appear in
46the Florida K-20 Education Code; providing an effective
47date.
48
49Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
50
51     Section 1.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section
521000.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
53     1000.01  The Florida K-20 education system; technical
54provisions.-
55     (5)  EDUCATION GOVERNANCE TRANSFERS.-
56     (b)  All rules of the State Board of Education, the
57Commissioner of Education, and the Department of Education, and
58all rules of the district school boards, the Florida College
59System institution community college boards of trustees, and the
60state university boards of trustees, in effect on January 2,
612003, remain in effect until specifically amended or repealed in
62the manner provided by law.
63     Section 2.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section
641000.02, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
65     1000.02  Policy and guiding principles for the Florida K-20
66education system.-
67     (1)  It is the policy of the Legislature:
68     (e)  To provide for the decentralization of authority to
69the schools, Florida College System institutions community
70colleges, universities, and other education institutions that
71deliver educational services to the public.
72     Section 3.  Section 1000.04, Florida Statutes, is amended
73to read:
74     1000.04  Components for the delivery of public education
75within the Florida K-20 education system.-Florida's K-20
76education system provides for the delivery of public education
77through publicly supported and controlled K-12 schools, Florida
78College System institutions community colleges, state
79universities and other postsecondary educational institutions,
80other educational institutions, and other educational services
81as provided or authorized by the Constitution and laws of the
82state.
83     (1)  PUBLIC K-12 SCHOOLS.-The public K-12 schools include
84charter schools and consist of kindergarten classes; elementary,
85middle, and high school grades and special classes; school
86district virtual instruction programs; workforce education;
87career centers; adult, part-time, and evening schools, courses,
88or classes, as authorized by law to be operated under the
89control of district school boards; and lab schools operated
90under the control of state universities.
91     (2)  PUBLIC POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.-Public
92postsecondary educational institutions include workforce
93education; Florida College System institutions community
94colleges; colleges; state universities; and all other state-
95supported postsecondary educational institutions that are
96authorized and established by law.
97     (3)  FLORIDA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND THE BLIND.-The Florida
98School for the Deaf and the Blind is a component of the delivery
99of public education within Florida's K-20 education system.
100     (4)  THE FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL.-The Florida Virtual School
101is a component of the delivery of public education within
102Florida's K-20 education system.
103     Section 4.  Paragraphs (d) and (e) of subsection (3),
104subsection (4), paragraph (a) of subsection (5), and paragraphs
105(a), (b), (c), (e), (f), and (g) of subsection (6) of section
1061000.05, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
107     1000.05  Discrimination against students and employees in
108the Florida K-20 public education system prohibited; equality of
109access required.-
110     (3)
111     (d)  A public K-20 educational institution which operates
112or sponsors interscholastic, intercollegiate, club, or
113intramural athletics shall provide equal athletic opportunity
114for members of both genders.
115     1.  The Board of Governors shall determine whether equal
116opportunities are available at state universities.
117     2.  The Commissioner of Education shall determine whether
118equal opportunities are available in school districts and
119Florida College System institutions community colleges. In
120determining whether equal opportunities are available in school
121districts and Florida College System institutions community
122colleges, the Commissioner of Education shall consider, among
123other factors:
124     a.  Whether the selection of sports and levels of
125competition effectively accommodate the interests and abilities
126of members of both genders.
127     b.  The provision of equipment and supplies.
128     c.  Scheduling of games and practice times.
129     d.  Travel and per diem allowances.
130     e.  Opportunities to receive coaching and academic
131tutoring.
132     f.  Assignment and compensation of coaches and tutors.
133     g.  Provision of locker room, practice, and competitive
134facilities.
135     h.  Provision of medical and training facilities and
136services.
137     i.  Provision of housing and dining facilities and
138services.
139     j.  Publicity.
140
141Unequal aggregate expenditures for members of each gender or
142unequal expenditures for male and female teams if a public
143school or Florida College System institution community college
144operates or sponsors separate teams do not constitute
145nonimplementation of this subsection, but the Commissioner of
146Education shall consider the failure to provide necessary funds
147for teams for one gender in assessing equality of opportunity
148for members of each gender.
149     (e)  A public school or Florida College System institution
150community college may provide separate toilet, locker room, and
151shower facilities on the basis of gender, but such facilities
152shall be comparable to such facilities provided for students of
153the other gender.
154     (4)  Public schools and Florida College System institutions
155community colleges shall develop and implement methods and
156strategies to increase the participation of students of a
157particular race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability,
158or marital status in programs and courses in which students of
159that particular race, ethnicity, national origin, gender,
160disability, or marital status have been traditionally
161underrepresented, including, but not limited to, mathematics,
162science, computer technology, electronics, communications
163technology, engineering, and career education.
164     (5)(a)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
165implement this section as it relates to school districts and
166Florida College System institutions community colleges.
167     (6)  The functions of the Office of Equal Educational
168Opportunity of the Department of Education shall include, but
169are not limited to:
170     (a)  Requiring all district school boards and Florida
171College System institution community college boards of trustees
172to develop and submit plans for the implementation of this
173section to the Department of Education.
174     (b)  Conducting periodic reviews of school districts and
175Florida College System institutions community colleges to
176determine compliance with this section and, after a finding that
177a school district or a Florida College System institution
178community college is not in compliance with this section,
179notifying the entity of the steps that it must take to attain
180compliance and performing followup monitoring.
181     (c)  Providing technical assistance, including assisting
182school districts or Florida College System institutions
183community colleges in identifying unlawful discrimination and
184instructing them in remedies for correction and prevention of
185such discrimination and performing followup monitoring.
186     (e)  Requiring all district school boards and Florida
187College System institution community college boards of trustees
188to submit data and information necessary to determine compliance
189with this section. The Commissioner of Education shall prescribe
190the format and the date for submission of such data and any
191other educational equity data. If any board does not submit the
192required compliance data or other required educational equity
193data by the prescribed date, the commissioner shall notify the
194board of this fact and, if the board does not take appropriate
195action to immediately submit the required report, the State
196Board of Education shall impose monetary sanctions.
197     (f)  Based upon rules of the State Board of Education,
198developing and implementing enforcement mechanisms with
199appropriate penalties to ensure that public K-12 schools and
200Florida College System institutions community colleges comply
201with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and subsection
202(3) of this section. However, the State Board of Education may
203not force a public school or Florida College System institution
204community college to conduct, nor penalize such entity for not
205conducting, a program of athletic activity or athletic
206scholarship for female athletes unless it is an athletic
207activity approved for women by a recognized association whose
208purpose is to promote athletics and a conference or league
209exists to promote interscholastic or intercollegiate competition
210for women in that athletic activity.
211     (g)  Reporting to the Commissioner of Education any
212district school board or Florida College System institution
213community college board of trustees found to be out of
214compliance with rules of the State Board of Education adopted as
215required by paragraph (f) or paragraph (3)(d). To penalize the
216board, the State Board of Education shall:
217     1.  Declare the school district or Florida College System
218institution community college ineligible for competitive state
219grants.
220     2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.192, direct
221the Chief Financial Officer to withhold general revenue funds
222sufficient to obtain compliance from the school district or
223Florida College System institution community college.
224
225The school district or Florida College System institution
226community college shall remain ineligible and the funds shall
227not be paid until the institution comes into compliance or the
228State Board of Education approves a plan for compliance.
229     Section 5.  Subsection (2) of section 1000.06, Florida
230Statutes, is amended to read:
231     1000.06  Display of flags.-
232     (2)  Each public K-20 educational institution that is
233provided or authorized by the Constitution and laws of Florida
234shall display daily in each classroom the flag of the United
235States. The flag must be made in the United States, must be at
236least 2 feet by 3 feet, and must be properly displayed in
237accordance with Title 4 U.S.C. Each educational institution
238shall acquire the necessary number of flags to implement the
239provisions of this subsection. The principal, director, or
240president of each educational institution shall attempt to
241acquire the flags through donations or fundraising for 1 year
242prior to securing other funding sources or allocating funds for
243the purchase of flags. The president of each state university or
244Florida College System institution community college must
245present to the governing board of the institution the results of
246donations and fundraising activities relating to the acquisition
247of flags prior to requesting the governing board to approve a
248funding source for the purchase of flags. A flag must be
249displayed in each classroom pursuant to this subsection no later
250than August 1, 2005.
251     Section 6.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
2521000.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
253     1000.07  Florida Business and Education Collaborative.-
254     (2)  The Florida Business and Education Collaborative is
255established as a state-level advisory group to the Governor; the
256Legislature; the State Board of Education; the Board of
257Governors of the State University System; boards of independent
258colleges, universities, and career schools; and other interested
259parties.
260     (a)  Members of the collaborative shall be appointed by the
261Governor and shall include state business leaders; state
262legislative members; representative leaders of state and
263nonpublic community colleges, colleges, universities, career
264schools, and workforce education institutions and entities; and
265national education and economic development policy leaders.
266     Section 7.  Subsection (3) of section 1000.21, Florida
267Statutes, is amended to read:
268     1000.21  Systemwide definitions.-As used in the Florida K-
26920 Education Code:
270     (3)  "Florida College System institution Florida college"
271or "community college," except as otherwise specifically
272provided, includes all of the following public postsecondary
273educational institutions in the Florida College System and any
274branch campuses, centers, or other affiliates of the
275institution:
276     (a)  Brevard Community College, which serves Brevard
277County.
278     (b)  Broward College, which serves Broward County.
279     (c)  College of Central Florida, which serves Citrus, Levy,
280and Marion Counties.
281     (d)  Chipola College, which serves Calhoun, Holmes,
282Jackson, Liberty, and Washington Counties.
283     (e)  Daytona State College, which serves Flagler and
284Volusia Counties.
285     (f)  Edison State College, which serves Charlotte, Collier,
286Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties.
287     (g)  Florida State College at Jacksonville, which serves
288Duval and Nassau Counties.
289     (h)  Florida Keys Community College, which serves Monroe
290County.
291     (i)  Gulf Coast Community College, which serves Bay,
292Franklin, and Gulf Counties.
293     (j)  Hillsborough Community College, which serves
294Hillsborough County.
295     (k)  Indian River State College, which serves Indian River,
296Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie Counties.
297     (l)  Florida Gateway College, which serves Baker, Columbia,
298Dixie, Gilchrist, and Union Counties.
299     (m)  Lake-Sumter Community College, which serves Lake and
300Sumter Counties.
301     (n)  State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, which
302serves Manatee and Sarasota Counties.
303     (o)  Miami Dade College, which serves Miami-Dade County.
304     (p)  North Florida Community College, which serves
305Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, and Taylor
306Counties.
307     (q)  Northwest Florida State College, which serves Okaloosa
308and Walton Counties.
309     (r)  Palm Beach State College, which serves Palm Beach
310County.
311     (s)  Pasco-Hernando Community College, which serves
312Hernando and Pasco Counties.
313     (t)  Pensacola Junior College, which serves Escambia and
314Santa Rosa Counties.
315     (u)  Polk State College, which serves Polk County.
316     (v)  St. Johns River Community College, which serves Clay,
317Putnam, and St. Johns Counties.
318     (w)  St. Petersburg College, which serves Pinellas County.
319     (x)  Santa Fe College, which serves Alachua and Bradford
320Counties.
321     (y)  Seminole State College of Florida, which serves
322Seminole County.
323     (z)  South Florida Community College, which serves DeSoto,
324Hardee, and Highlands Counties.
325     (aa)  Tallahassee Community College, which serves Gadsden,
326Leon, and Wakulla Counties.
327     (bb)  Valencia Community College, which serves Orange and
328Osceola Counties.
329     Section 8.  Paragraph (u) of subsection (2), paragraph (a)
330of subsection (3), paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and
331(g) of subsection (4), and subsections (5) and (6) of section
3321001.02, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
333     1001.02  General powers of State Board of Education.-
334     (2)  The State Board of Education has the following duties:
335     (u)  To adopt criteria and implementation plans for future
336growth issues, such as new Florida College System institutions
337community colleges and Florida College System institution
338community college campus mergers, and to provide for cooperative
339agreements between and within public and private education
340sectors.
341     (3)(a)  The State Board of Education shall adopt a
342strategic plan that specifies goals and objectives for the
343state's public schools and Florida College System institutions
344community colleges. The plan shall be formulated in conjunction
345with plans of the Board of Governors in order to provide for the
346roles of the universities and Florida College System
347institutions community colleges to be coordinated to best meet
348state needs and reflect cost-effective use of state resources.
349The strategic plan must clarify mission statements and identify
350degree programs to be offered at each Florida College System
351institution community college in accordance with the objectives
352provided in this subsection. The strategic plan must cover a
353period of 5 years, with modification of the program lists after
3542 years. Development of each 5-year plan must be coordinated
355with and initiated after completion of the master plan. The
356strategic plans must specifically include programs and
357procedures for responding to the educational needs of teachers
358and students in the public schools of this state. The state
359board shall submit a report to the President of the Senate and
360the Speaker of the House of Representatives upon modification of
361the plan.
362     (4)  The State Board of Education shall:
363     (a)  Provide for each Florida College System institution
364community college to offer educational training and service
365programs designed to meet the needs of both students and the
366communities served.
367     (b)  Specify, by rule, procedures to be used by the Florida
368College System institution community college boards of trustees
369in the annual evaluations of presidents and review the
370evaluations of presidents by the boards of trustees.
371     (c)  Establish, in conjunction with the Board of Governors,
372an effective information system that will provide composite data
373concerning the Florida College System institutions community
374colleges and state universities and ensure that special analyses
375and studies concerning the institutions are conducted, as
376necessary, for provision of accurate and cost-effective
377information concerning the institutions.
378     (d)  Establish criteria for making recommendations for
379modifying district boundary lines for Florida College System
380institutions community colleges.
381     (e)  Establish criteria for making recommendations
382concerning all proposals for the establishment of additional
383centers or campuses for Florida College System institutions
384community colleges.
385     (f)  Examine the annual administrative review of each
386Florida College System institution community college.
387     (g)  Specify, by rule, the college credit courses that may
388be taken by Florida College System institution community college
389students concurrently enrolled in college-preparatory
390instruction.
391     (5)  The State Board of Education is responsible for
392reviewing and administering the state program of support for the
393Florida College System institutions community colleges and,
394subject to existing law, shall establish the tuition and out-of-
395state fees for college-preparatory instruction and for credit
396instruction that may be counted toward an associate in arts
397degree, an associate in applied science degree, or an associate
398in science degree.
399     (6)  The State Board of Education shall prescribe minimum
400standards, definitions, and guidelines for Florida College
401System institutions community colleges that will ensure the
402quality of education, coordination among the Florida College
403System institutions community colleges and state universities,
404and efficient progress toward accomplishing the Florida College
405System institution community college mission. At a minimum,
406these rules must address:
407     (a)  Personnel.
408     (b)  Contracting.
409     (c)  Program offerings and classification, including
410college-level communication and computation skills associated
411with successful performance in college and with tests and other
412assessment procedures that measure student achievement of those
413skills. The performance measures must provide that students
414moving from one level of education to the next acquire the
415necessary competencies for that level.
416     (d)  Provisions for curriculum development, graduation
417requirements, college calendars, and program service areas.
418These provisions must include rules that:
419     1.  Provide for the award of an associate in arts degree to
420a student who successfully completes 60 semester credit hours at
421the Florida College System institution community college.
422     2.  Require all of the credits accepted for the associate
423in arts degree to be in the statewide course numbering system as
424credits toward a baccalaureate degree offered by a state
425university or a Florida College System institution community
426college.
427     3.  Require no more than 36 semester credit hours in
428general education courses in the subject areas of communication,
429mathematics, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences.
430
431The rules should encourage Florida College System institutions
432community colleges to enter into agreements with state
433universities that allow Florida College System institution
434community college students to complete upper-division-level
435courses at a Florida College System institution community
436college. An agreement may provide for concurrent enrollment at
437the Florida College System institution community college and the
438state university and may authorize the Florida College System
439institution community college to offer an upper-division-level
440course or distance learning.
441     (e)  Student admissions, conduct and discipline,
442nonclassroom activities, and fees.
443     (f)  Budgeting.
444     (g)  Business and financial matters.
445     (h)  Student services.
446     (i)  Reports, surveys, and information systems, including
447forms and dates of submission.
448     Section 9.  Subsections (10), (13), and (15) of section
4491001.03, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
450     1001.03  Specific powers of State Board of Education.-
451     (10)  COMMON PLACEMENT TESTING FOR PUBLIC POSTSECONDARY
452EDUCATION.-The State Board of Education, in conjunction with the
453Board of Governors, shall develop and implement a common
454placement test to assess the basic computation and communication
455skills of students who intend to enter a degree program at any
456Florida College System institution community college or state
457university.
458     (13)  CYCLIC REVIEW OF POSTSECONDARY ACADEMIC PROGRAMS.-The
459State Board of Education shall provide for the cyclic review of
460all academic programs in Florida College System institutions
461community colleges at least every 7 years. Program reviews shall
462document how individual academic programs are achieving stated
463student learning and program objectives within the context of
464the institution's mission. The results of the program reviews
465shall inform strategic planning, program development, and
466budgeting decisions at the institutional level.
467     (15)   FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM INSTITUTION COMMUNITY COLLEGE
468BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAMS.-The State Board of Education
469shall provide for the review and approval of proposals by
470Florida College System institutions community colleges to offer
471baccalaureate degree programs pursuant to s. 1007.33. A Florida
472College System institution community college, as defined in s.
4731000.21, that is approved to offer baccalaureate degrees
474pursuant to s. 1007.33 remains under the authority of the State
475Board of Education and the Florida College System institution's
476community college's board of trustees.
477     Section 10.  Paragraph (k) of subsection (6) of section
4781001.10, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
479     1001.10  Commissioner of Education; general powers and
480duties.-
481     (6)  Additionally, the commissioner has the following
482general powers and duties:
483     (k)  To implement a program of school improvement and
484education accountability designed to provide all students the
485opportunity to make adequate learning gains in each year of
486school as provided by statute and State Board of Education rule
487based upon the achievement of the state education goals,
488recognizing the following:
489     1.  The district school board is responsible for school and
490student performance.
491     2.  The individual school is the unit for education
492accountability.
493     3.  The Florida College System institution community
494college board of trustees is responsible for Florida College
495System institution community college performance and student
496performance.
497     Section 11.  Paragraphs (d) and (e) of subsection (1) of
498section 1001.11, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
499     1001.11  Commissioner of Education; other duties.-
500     (1)  The Commissioner of Education must independently
501perform the following duties:
502     (d)  Integrally work with the boards of trustees of the
503Florida College System institutions community colleges.
504     (e)  Monitor the activities of the State Board of Education
505and provide information related to current and pending policies
506to the members of the boards of trustees of the Florida College
507System institutions community colleges and state universities.
508     Section 12.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (4) of section
5091001.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
510     1001.20  Department under direction of state board.-
511     (4)  The Department of Education shall establish the
512following offices within the Office of the Commissioner of
513Education which shall coordinate their activities with all other
514divisions and offices:
515     (e)  Office of Inspector General.-Organized using existing
516resources and funds and responsible for promoting
517accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness and detecting
518fraud and abuse within school districts, the Florida School for
519the Deaf and the Blind, and Florida College System institutions
520community colleges in Florida. If the Commissioner of Education
521determines that a district school board, the Board of Trustees
522for the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, or a Florida
523College System institution community college board of trustees
524is unwilling or unable to address substantiated allegations made
525by any person relating to waste, fraud, or financial
526mismanagement within the school district, the Florida School for
527the Deaf and the Blind, or the Florida College System
528institution community college, the office shall conduct,
529coordinate, or request investigations into such substantiated
530allegations. The office shall have access to all information and
531personnel necessary to perform its duties and shall have all of
532its current powers, duties, and responsibilities authorized in
533s. 20.055.
534     Section 13.  Subsection (2) and paragraphs (b) and (c) of
535subsection (3) of section 1001.27, Florida Statutes, are amended
536to read:
537     1001.27  State satellite network.-
538     (2)  The network shall consist of compatible satellite
539receiving equipment at public educational institutions in each
540of the 28 Florida College System institution community college
541regions.
542     (3)  The department, in consultation with the Department of
543Management Services, shall implement the provisions of this
544section and coordinate the network. Specifically, the department
545shall:
546     (b)  Acquire by competitive sealed bid and place
547appropriate receiving equipment in those Florida College System
548institution community college regions of the state in which such
549equipment is presently not available at a public postsecondary
550educational institution.
551     (c)  Develop an implementation plan that provides for
552designation of a site in each Florida College System institution
553community college region for inclusion in the initial network.
554Criteria for selection shall include:
555     1.  Accessibility to a substantial portion of the
556population of the region.
557     2.  Demonstrated institutional commitment to support and
558encourage use of the network both within the region and
559statewide.
560     3.  Willingness to complement state support with matching
561institutional resources.
562     4.  Evidence of cooperation and coordinated planning with
563other postsecondary educational institutions in the region.
564     5.  Availability of existing telecommunications equipment
565which is compatible or adaptable for use in the network.
566     Section 14.  Section 1001.271, Florida Statutes, is amended
567to read:
568     1001.271  Florida Information Resource Network.-Upon
569requisition by school districts, Florida College System
570institutions community colleges, universities, or other eligible
571users of the Florida Information Resource Network, the
572Commissioner of Education shall purchase the nondiscounted
573portion of Internet access services, including, but not limited
574to, circuits, encryption, content filtering, support, and any
575other services needed for the effective and efficient operation
576of the network. For the 2009-2010 fiscal year, each school
577district, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, and the
578regional educational consortia eligible for the e-rate must
579submit a requisition to the Commissioner of Education for at
580least the same level of Internet access services used through
581the Florida Information Resource Network contract in the 2008-
5822009 fiscal year. Each user shall identify in its requisition
583the source of funds from which the commissioner is to make
584payments.
585     Section 15.  Section 1001.28, Florida Statutes, is amended
586to read:
587     1001.28  Distance learning duties.-The duties of the
588Department of Education concerning distance learning include,
589but are not limited to, the duty to:
590     (1)  Facilitate the implementation of a statewide
591coordinated system and resource system for cost-efficient
592advanced telecommunications services and distance education
593which will increase overall student access to education.
594     (2)  Coordinate the use of existing resources, including,
595but not limited to, the state's satellite transponders, the
596Florida Information Resource Network (FIRN), the Florida
597Knowledge Network, and distance learning initiatives.
598     (3)  Assist in the coordination of the utilization of the
599production and uplink capabilities available through Florida's
600public television stations, eligible facilities, independent
601colleges and universities, private firms, and others as needed.
602     (4)  Seek the assistance and cooperation of Florida's cable
603television providers in the implementation of the statewide
604advanced telecommunications services and distance learning
605network.
606     (5)  Seek the assistance and cooperation of Florida's
607telecommunications carriers to provide affordable student access
608to advanced telecommunications services and to distance
609learning.
610     (6)  Coordinate partnerships for development, acquisition,
611use, and distribution of distance learning.
612     (7)  Secure and administer funding for programs and
613activities for distance learning from federal, state, local, and
614private sources and from fees derived from services and
615materials.
616     (8)  Manage the state's satellite transponder resources and
617enter into lease agreements to maximize the use of available
618transponder time. All net revenue realized through the leasing
619of available transponder time, after deducting the costs of
620performing the management function, shall be recycled to support
621the public education distance learning in this state based upon
622an allocation formula of one-third to the Department of
623Education, one-third to Florida College System institutions
624community colleges, and one-third to state universities.
625     (9)  Hire appropriate staff which may include a position
626that shall be exempt from part II of chapter 110 and is included
627in the Senior Management Service in accordance with s. 110.205.
628
629Nothing in this section shall be construed to abrogate,
630supersede, alter, or amend the powers and duties of any state
631agency, district school board, Florida College System
632institution community college board of trustees, university
633board of trustees, the Board of Governors, or the State Board of
634Education.
635     Section 16.  Subsection (13) of section 1001.43, Florida
636Statutes, is amended to read:
637     1001.43  Supplemental powers and duties of district school
638board.-The district school board may exercise the following
639supplemental powers and duties as authorized by this code or
640State Board of Education rule.
641     (13)  COOPERATION WITH FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM INSTITUTIONS
642COMMUNITY COLLEGES.-The district school board shall work with
643the Florida College System institutions community colleges in
644the district to ensure that the Florida College System
645institution community college students have access to remedial
646education.
647     Section 17.  Subsection (2) of section 1001.60, Florida
648Statutes, is amended to read:
649     1001.60  Florida College System.-
650     (2)  FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM.-There shall be a single
651Florida College System comprised of the Florida College System
652institutions colleges identified in s. 1000.21(3). A Florida
653College System institution college may not offer graduate degree
654programs.
655     (a)  The programs and services offered by Florida College
656System institutions colleges in providing associate and
657baccalaureate degrees shall be delivered in a cost-effective
658manner that demonstrates substantial savings to the student and
659to the state over the cost of providing the degree at a state
660university.
661     (b)1.  With the approval of its district board of trustees,
662a Florida College System institution college may change the
663institution's name set forth in s. 1000.21(3) and use the
664designation "college" or "state college" if it has been
665authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees pursuant to s. 1007.33
666and has been accredited as a baccalaureate-degree-granting
667institution by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern
668Association of Colleges and Schools.
669     2.  With the approval of its district board of trustees, a
670Florida College System institution college that does not meet
671the criteria in subparagraph 1. may request approval from the
672State Board of Education to change the institution's name set
673forth in s. 1000.21(3) and use the designation "college." The
674State Board of Education may approve the request if the Florida
675College System institution college enters into an agreement with
676the State Board of Education to do the following:
677     a.  Maintain as its primary mission responsibility for
678responding to community needs for postsecondary academic
679education and career degree education as prescribed in s.
6801004.65(5).
681     b.  Maintain an open-door admissions policy for associate-
682level degree programs and workforce education programs.
683     c.  Continue to provide outreach to underserved
684populations.
685     d.  Continue to provide remedial education.
686     e.  Comply with all provisions of the statewide
687articulation agreement that relate to 2-year and 4-year public
688degree-granting institutions as adopted by the State Board of
689Education pursuant to s. 1007.23.
690     (c)  A district board of trustees that approves a change to
691the name of an institution under paragraph (b) must seek
692statutory codification of such name change in s. 1000.21(3)
693during the next regular legislative session.
694     (d)  A Florida College System institution college may not
695use the designation "university."
696     Section 18.  Section 1001.61, Florida Statutes, is amended
697to read:
698     1001.61  Florida College System institution Community
699college boards of trustees; membership.-
700     (1) Florida College System institution Community college
701boards of trustees shall be comprised of five members when a
702Florida College System institution community college district is
703confined to one school board district; seven members when a
704Florida College System institution community college district is
705confined to one school board district and the board of trustees
706so elects; and not more than nine members when the district
707contains two or more school board districts, as provided by
708rules of the State Board of Education. However, Florida State
709College at Jacksonville shall have an odd number of trustees.
710     (2)  Trustees shall be appointed by the Governor and
711confirmed by the Senate in regular session.
712     (3)  Members of the board of trustees shall receive no
713compensation but may receive reimbursement for expenses as
714provided in s. 112.061.
715     (4)  At its first regular meeting after July 1 of each
716year, each Florida College System institution community college
717board of trustees shall organize by electing a chair, whose duty
718as such is to preside at all meetings of the board, to call
719special meetings thereof, and to attest to actions of the board,
720and a vice chair, whose duty as such is to act as chair during
721the absence or disability of the elected chair. It is the
722further duty of the chair of each board of trustees to notify
723the Governor, in writing, whenever a board member fails to
724attend three consecutive regular board meetings in any one
725fiscal year, which absences may be grounds for removal.
726     (5)  A Florida College System institution community college
727president shall serve as the executive officer and corporate
728secretary of the board of trustees and shall be responsible to
729the board of trustees for setting the agenda for meetings of the
730board of trustees in consultation with the chair. The president
731also serves as the chief administrative officer of the Florida
732College System institution community college, and all the
733components of the institution and all aspects of its operation
734are responsible to the board of trustees through the president.
735     Section 19.  Section 1001.62, Florida Statutes, is amended
736to read:
737     1001.62  Transfer of benefits arising under local or
738special acts.-All local or special acts in force on July 1,
7391968, that provide benefits for a Florida College System
740institution community college through a district school board
741shall continue in full force and effect, and such benefits shall
742be transmitted to the Florida College System institution
743community college board of trustees.
744     Section 20.  Section 1001.63, Florida Statutes, is amended
745to read:
746     1001.63   Florida College System institution Community
747college board of trustees; board of trustees to constitute a
748corporation.-Each Florida College System institution community
749college board of trustees is constituted a body corporate by the
750name of "The District Board of Trustees of ...(name of Florida
751College System institution community college)..., Florida" with
752all the powers and duties of a body corporate, including the
753power to adopt a corporate seal, to contract and be contracted
754with, to sue or be sued, to plead and be impleaded in all courts
755of law or equity, and to give and receive donations. In all
756suits against a board of trustees, service of process shall be
757made on the chair of the board of trustees or, in the absence of
758the chair, the corporate secretary or designee of the chair.
759     Section 21.  Section 1001.64, Florida Statutes, is amended
760to read:
761     1001.64   Florida College System institution Community
762college boards of trustees; powers and duties.-
763     (1)  The boards of trustees shall be responsible for cost-
764effective policy decisions appropriate to the Florida College
765System institution's community college's mission, the
766implementation and maintenance of high-quality education
767programs within law and rules of the State Board of Education,
768the measurement of performance, the reporting of information,
769and the provision of input regarding state policy, budgeting,
770and education standards.
771     (2)  Each board of trustees is vested with the
772responsibility to govern its respective Florida College System
773institution community college and with such necessary authority
774as is needed for the proper operation and improvement thereof in
775accordance with rules of the State Board of Education.
776     (3)  A board of trustees shall have the power to take
777action without a recommendation from the president and shall
778have the power to require the president to deliver to the board
779of trustees all data and information required by the board of
780trustees in the performance of its duties.
781     (4)(a)  The board of trustees, after considering
782recommendations submitted by the Florida College System
783institution community college president, may adopt rules
784pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the
785provisions of law conferring duties upon it. These rules may
786supplement those prescribed by the State Board of Education if
787they will contribute to the more orderly and efficient operation
788of Florida College System institutions community colleges.
789     (b)  Each board of trustees is specifically authorized to
790adopt rules, procedures, and policies, consistent with law and
791rules of the State Board of Education, related to its mission
792and responsibilities as set forth in s. 1004.65, its governance,
793personnel, budget and finance, administration, programs,
794curriculum and instruction, buildings and grounds, travel and
795purchasing, technology, students, contracts and grants, or
796college property.
797     (5)  Each board of trustees shall have responsibility for
798the use, maintenance, protection, and control of Florida College
799System institution community college owned or Florida College
800System institution community college controlled buildings and
801grounds, property and equipment, name, trademarks and other
802proprietary marks, and the financial and other resources of the
803Florida College System institution community college. Such
804authority may include placing restrictions on activities and on
805access to facilities, firearms, food, tobacco, alcoholic
806beverages, distribution of printed materials, commercial
807solicitation, animals, and sound.
808     (6)  Each board of trustees has responsibility for the
809establishment and discontinuance of program and course offerings
810in accordance with law and rule; provision for instructional and
811noninstructional community services, location of classes, and
812services provided; and dissemination of information concerning
813such programs and services. New programs must be approved
814pursuant to s. 1004.03.
815     (7)  Each board of trustees has responsibility for:
816ensuring that students have access to general education courses
817as identified in rule; requiring no more than 60 semester hours
818of degree program coursework, including 36 semester hours of
819general education coursework, for an associate in arts degree;
820notifying students that earned hours in excess of 60 semester
821hours may not be accepted by state universities; notifying
822students of unique program prerequisites; and ensuring that
823degree program coursework beyond general education coursework is
824consistent with degree program prerequisite requirements adopted
825pursuant to s. 1007.25(5).
826     (8)  Each board of trustees has authority for policies
827related to students, enrollment of students, student records,
828student activities, financial assistance, and other student
829services.
830     (a)  Each board of trustees shall govern admission of
831students pursuant to s. 1007.263 and rules of the State Board of
832Education. A board of trustees may establish additional
833admissions criteria, which shall be included in the district
834interinstitutional articulation agreement developed according to
835s. 1007.235, to ensure student readiness for postsecondary
836instruction. Each board of trustees may consider the past
837actions of any person applying for admission or enrollment and
838may deny admission or enrollment to an applicant because of
839misconduct if determined to be in the best interest of the
840Florida College System institution community college.
841     (b)  Each board of trustees shall adopt rules establishing
842student performance standards for the award of degrees and
843certificates pursuant to s. 1004.68.
844     (c)  Boards of trustees are authorized to establish
845intrainstitutional and interinstitutional programs to maximize
846articulation pursuant to s. 1007.22.
847     (d)  Boards of trustees shall identify their core
848curricula, which shall include courses required by the State
849Board of Education, pursuant to the provisions of s. 1007.25(6).
850     (e)  Each board of trustees must adopt a written antihazing
851policy, provide a program for the enforcement of such rules, and
852adopt appropriate penalties for violations of such rules
853pursuant to the provisions of s. 1006.63.
854     (f)  Each board of trustees may establish a uniform code of
855conduct and appropriate penalties for violation of its rules by
856students and student organizations, including rules governing
857student academic honesty. Such penalties, unless otherwise
858provided by law, may include fines, the withholding of diplomas
859or transcripts pending compliance with rules or payment of
860fines, and the imposition of probation, suspension, or
861dismissal.
862     (g)  Each board of trustees pursuant to s. 1006.53 shall
863adopt a policy in accordance with rules of the State Board of
864Education that reasonably accommodates the religious observance,
865practice, and belief of individual students in regard to
866admissions, class attendance, and the scheduling of examinations
867and work assignments.
868     (9)  A board of trustees may contract with the board of
869trustees of a state university for the Florida College System
870institution community college to provide college-preparatory
871instruction on the state university campus.
872     (10)  Each board of trustees shall establish fees pursuant
873to ss. 1009.22, 1009.23, 1009.25, 1009.26, and 1009.27.
874     (11)  Each board of trustees shall submit an institutional
875budget request, including a request for fixed capital outlay,
876and an operating budget to the State Board of Education for
877approval in accordance with guidelines established by the State
878Board of Education.
879     (12)  Each board of trustees shall account for expenditures
880of all state, local, federal and other funds in the manner
881described by the Department of Education.
882     (13)  Each board of trustees is responsible for the uses
883for the proceeds of academic improvement trust funds pursuant to
884s. 1011.85.
885     (14)  Each board of trustees shall develop a strategic plan
886specifying institutional goals and objectives for the Florida
887College System institution community college for recommendation
888to the State Board of Education.
889     (15)  Each board of trustees shall develop an
890accountability plan pursuant to s. 1008.45.
891     (16)  Each board of trustees must expend performance funds
892provided for workforce education pursuant to the provisions of
893s. 1011.80.
894     (17)  Each board of trustees is accountable for performance
895in certificate career education and diploma programs pursuant to
896s. 1008.43.
897     (18)  Each board of trustees shall establish the personnel
898program for all employees of the Florida College System
899institution community college, including the president, pursuant
900to the provisions of chapter 1012 and rules and guidelines of
901the State Board of Education, including: compensation and other
902conditions of employment; recruitment and selection;
903nonreappointment; standards for performance and conduct;
904evaluation; benefits and hours of work; leave policies;
905recognition; inventions and work products; travel; learning
906opportunities; exchange programs; academic freedom and
907responsibility; promotion; assignment; demotion; transfer;
908ethical obligations and conflict of interest; restrictive
909covenants; disciplinary actions; complaints; appeals and
910grievance procedures; and separation and termination from
911employment.
912     (19)  Each board of trustees shall appoint, suspend, or
913remove the president of the Florida College System institution
914community college. The board of trustees may appoint a search
915committee. The board of trustees shall conduct annual
916evaluations of the president in accordance with rules of the
917State Board of Education and submit such evaluations to the
918State Board of Education for review. The evaluation must address
919the achievement of the performance goals established by the
920accountability process implemented pursuant to s. 1008.45 and
921the performance of the president in achieving the annual and
922long-term goals and objectives established in the Florida
923College System institution's community college's employment
924accountability program implemented pursuant to s. 1012.86.
925     (20)  Each board of trustees is authorized to enter into
926contracts to provide a State Community College System Optional
927Retirement Program pursuant to s. 1012.875 and to enter into
928consortia with other boards of trustees for this purpose.
929     (21)  Each board of trustees is authorized to purchase
930annuities for its Florida College System institution community
931college personnel who have 25 or more years of creditable
932service and who have reached age 55 and have applied for
933retirement under the Florida Retirement System pursuant to the
934provisions of s. 1012.87.
935     (22)  A board of trustees may defray all costs of defending
936civil actions against officers, employees, or agents of the
937board of trustees pursuant to s. 1012.85.
938     (23)  Each board of trustees has authority for risk
939management, safety, security, and law enforcement operations.
940Each board of trustees is authorized to employ personnel,
941including police officers pursuant to s. 1012.88, to carry out
942the duties imposed by this subsection.
943     (24)  Each board of trustees shall provide rules governing
944parking and the direction and flow of traffic within campus
945boundaries. Except for sworn law enforcement personnel, persons
946employed to enforce campus parking rules have no authority to
947arrest or issue citations for moving traffic violations. The
948board of trustees may adopt a uniform code of appropriate
949penalties for violations. Such penalties, unless otherwise
950provided by law, may include the levying of fines, the
951withholding of diplomas or transcripts pending compliance with
952rules or payment of fines, and the imposition of probation,
953suspension, or dismissal. Moneys collected from parking rule
954infractions shall be deposited in appropriate funds at each
955Florida College System institution community college for student
956financial aid purposes.
957     (25)  Each board of trustees constitutes the contracting
958agent of the Florida College System institution community
959college. It may when acting as a body make contracts, sue, and
960be sued in the name of the board of trustees. In any suit, a
961change in personnel of the board of trustees shall not abate the
962suit, which shall proceed as if such change had not taken place.
963     (26)  Each board of trustees is authorized to contract for
964the purchase, sale, lease, license, or acquisition in any
965manner, including purchase by installment or lease-purchase
966contract which may provide for the payment of interest on the
967unpaid portion of the purchase price and for the granting of a
968security interest in the items purchased, subject to the
969provisions of subsection (38) and ss. 1009.22 and 1009.23, of
970goods, materials, equipment, and services required by the
971Florida College System institution community college. The board
972of trustees may choose to consolidate equipment contracts under
973master equipment financing agreements made pursuant to s.
974287.064.
975     (27)  Each board of trustees shall be responsible for
976managing and protecting real and personal property acquired or
977held in trust for use by and for the benefit of such Florida
978College System institution community college. To that end, any
979board of trustees is authorized to be self-insured, to enter
980into risk management programs, or to purchase insurance for
981whatever coverage it may choose, or to have any combination
982thereof, in anticipation of any loss, damage, or destruction. A
983board of trustees may contract for self-insurance services
984pursuant to s. 1004.725.
985     (28)  Each board of trustees is authorized to enter into
986agreements for, and accept, credit card, charge card, and debit
987card payments as compensation for goods, services, tuition, and
988fees. Each Florida College System institution community college
989is further authorized to establish accounts in credit card,
990charge card, and debit card banks for the deposit of sales
991invoices.
992     (29)  Each board of trustees may provide incubator
993facilities to eligible small business concerns pursuant to s.
9941004.79.
995     (30)  Each board of trustees may establish a technology
996transfer center for the purpose of providing institutional
997support to local business and industry and governmental agencies
998in the application of new research in technology pursuant to the
999provisions of s. 1004.78.
1000     (31)  Each board of trustees may establish economic
1001development centers for the purpose of serving as liaisons
1002between Florida College System institutions community colleges
1003and the business sector pursuant to the provisions of s.
10041004.80.
1005     (32)  Each board of trustees may establish a child
1006development training center pursuant to s. 1004.81.
1007     (33)  Each board of trustees is authorized to develop and
1008produce work products relating to educational endeavors that are
1009subject to trademark, copyright, or patent statutes pursuant to
1010chapter 1004.
1011     (34)  Each board of trustees shall administer the
1012facilities program pursuant to chapter 1013, including but not
1013limited to: the construction of public educational and ancillary
1014plants; the acquisition and disposal of property; compliance
1015with building and life safety codes; submission of data and
1016information relating to facilities and construction; use of
1017buildings and grounds; establishment of safety and sanitation
1018programs for the protection of building occupants; and site
1019planning and selection.
1020     (35)  Each board of trustees may exercise the right of
1021eminent domain pursuant to the provisions of chapter 1013.
1022     (36)  Each board of trustees may enter into lease-purchase
1023arrangements with private individuals or corporations for
1024necessary grounds and buildings for Florida College System
1025institution community college purposes, other than dormitories,
1026or for buildings other than dormitories to be erected for
1027Florida College System institution community college purposes.
1028Such arrangements shall be paid from capital outlay and debt
1029service funds as provided by s. 1011.84(2), with terms not to
1030exceed 30 years at a stipulated rate. The provisions of such
1031contracts, including building plans, are subject to approval by
1032the Department of Education, and no such contract may be entered
1033into without such approval.
1034     (37)  Each board of trustees may purchase, acquire,
1035receive, hold, own, manage, lease, sell, dispose of, and convey
1036title to real property, in the best interests of the Florida
1037College System institution community college.
1038     (38)  Each board of trustees is authorized to enter into
1039short-term loans and installment, lease-purchase, and other
1040financing contracts for a term of not more than 5 years,
1041including renewals, extensions, and refundings. Payments on
1042short-term loans and installment, lease-purchase, and other
1043financing contracts pursuant to this subsection shall be subject
1044to annual appropriation by the board of trustees. Each board of
1045trustees is authorized to borrow funds and incur long-term debt,
1046including promissory notes, installment sales agreements, lease-
1047purchase agreements, certificates of participation, and other
1048similar long-term financing arrangements, only as specifically
1049provided in ss. 1009.22(6) and (9) and 1009.23(11) and (12). At
1050the option of the board of trustees, bonds issued pursuant to
1051ss. 1009.22(6) and (9) and 1009.23(11) and (12) may be secured
1052by a combination of revenues authorized to be pledged to bonds
1053pursuant to such subsections. Revenue bonds may not be secured
1054by or paid from, directly or indirectly, tuition, financial aid
1055fees, the Florida College System Community College Program Fund,
1056or any other operating revenues of a Florida College System
1057institution community college. Lease-purchase agreements may be
1058secured by a combination of revenues as specifically authorized
1059pursuant to ss. 1009.22(7) and 1009.23(10).
1060     (39)  Each board of trustees shall prescribe conditions for
1061direct-support organizations to be certified and to use Florida
1062College System institution community college property and
1063services. Conditions relating to certification must provide for
1064audit review and oversight by the board of trustees.
1065     (40)  Each board of trustees may adopt policies pursuant to
1066s. 1010.02 that provide procedures for transferring to the
1067direct-support organization of that Florida College System
1068institution community college for administration by such
1069organization contributions made to the Florida College System
1070institution community college.
1071     (41)  The board of trustees shall exert every effort to
1072collect all delinquent accounts pursuant to s. 1010.03.
1073     (42)  Each board of trustees shall implement a plan, in
1074accordance with guidelines of the State Board of Education, for
1075working on a regular basis with the other Florida College System
1076institution community college boards of trustees,
1077representatives of the university boards of trustees, and
1078representatives of the district school boards to achieve the
1079goals of the seamless education system.
1080     (43)  Each board of trustees has responsibility for
1081compliance with state and federal laws, rules, regulations, and
1082requirements.
1083     (44)  Each board of trustees may adopt rules, procedures,
1084and policies related to institutional governance,
1085administration, and management in order to promote orderly and
1086efficient operation, including, but not limited to, financial
1087management, budget management, physical plant management, and
1088property management.
1089     (45)  Each board of trustees may adopt rules and procedures
1090related to data or technology, including, but not limited to,
1091information systems, communications systems, computer hardware
1092and software, and networks.
1093     (46)  Each board of trustees may consider the past actions
1094of any person applying for employment and may deny employment to
1095a person because of misconduct if determined to be in the best
1096interest of the Florida College System institution community
1097college.
1098     (47)  A board of trustees may not enter into an employment
1099contract that requires the Florida College System institution
1100community college to pay a Florida College System institution
1101community college president an amount from state funds in excess
1102of 1 year of the president's annual salary for termination,
1103buyout, or any other type of contract settlement. This
1104subsection does not prohibit the payment of leave and benefits
1105accrued by the president in accordance with the Florida College
1106System institution's community college's leave and benefits
1107policies before the contract terminates.
1108     Section 22.  Section 1001.65, Florida Statutes, is amended
1109to read:
1110     1001.65  Florida College System institution Community
1111college presidents; powers and duties.-The president is the
1112chief executive officer of the Florida College System
1113institution community college, shall be corporate secretary of
1114the Florida College System institution community college board
1115of trustees, and is responsible for the operation and
1116administration of the Florida College System institution
1117community college. Each Florida College System institution
1118community college president shall:
1119     (1)  Recommend the adoption of rules, as appropriate, to
1120the Florida College System institution community college board
1121of trustees to implement provisions of law governing the
1122operation and administration of the Florida College System
1123institution community college, which shall include the specific
1124powers and duties enumerated in this section. Such rules shall
1125be consistent with law, the mission of the Florida College
1126System institution community college and the rules and policies
1127of the State Board of Education.
1128     (2)  Prepare a budget request and an operating budget
1129pursuant to s. 1011.30 for approval by the Florida College
1130System institution community college board of trustees at such
1131time and in such format as the State Board of Education may
1132prescribe.
1133     (3)  Establish and implement policies and procedures to
1134recruit, appoint, transfer, promote, compensate, evaluate,
1135reward, demote, discipline, and remove personnel, within law and
1136rules of the State Board of Education and in accordance with
1137rules or policies approved by the Florida College System
1138institution community college board of trustees.
1139     (4)  Govern admissions, subject to law and rules or
1140policies of the Florida College System institution community
1141college board of trustees and the State Board of Education.
1142     (5)  Approve, execute, and administer contracts for and on
1143behalf of the Florida College System institution community
1144college board of trustees for licenses; the acquisition or
1145provision of commodities, goods, equipment, and services; leases
1146of real and personal property; and planning and construction to
1147be rendered to or by the Florida College System institution
1148community college, provided such contracts are within law and
1149guidelines of the State Board of Education and in conformance
1150with policies of the Florida College System institution
1151community college board of trustees, and are for the
1152implementation of approved programs of the Florida College
1153System institution community college.
1154     (6)  Act for the Florida College System institution
1155community college board of trustees as custodian of all Florida
1156College System institution community college property and
1157financial resources. The authority vested in the Florida College
1158System institution community college president under this
1159subsection includes the authority to prioritize the use of
1160Florida College System institution community college space,
1161property, equipment, and resources and the authority to impose
1162charges for the use of those items.
1163     (7)  Establish the internal academic calendar of the
1164Florida College System institution community college within
1165general guidelines of the State Board of Education.
1166     (8)  Administer the Florida College System institution's
1167community college's program of intercollegiate athletics.
1168     (9)  Recommend to the board of trustees the establishment
1169and termination of programs within the approved role and scope
1170of the Florida College System institution community college.
1171     (10)  Award degrees.
1172     (11)  Recommend to the board of trustees a schedule of
1173tuition and fees to be charged by the Florida College System
1174institution community college, within law and rules of the State
1175Board of Education.
1176     (12)  Organize the Florida College System institution
1177community college to efficiently and effectively achieve the
1178goals of the Florida College System institution community
1179college.
1180     (13)  Review periodically the operations of the Florida
1181College System institution community college in order to
1182determine how effectively and efficiently the Florida College
1183System institution community college is being administered and
1184whether it is meeting the goals of its strategic plan adopted by
1185the State Board of Education.
1186     (14)  Enter into agreements for student exchange programs
1187that involve students at the Florida College System institution
1188community college and students in other institutions of higher
1189learning.
1190     (15)  Approve the internal procedures of student government
1191organizations and provide purchasing, contracting, and budgetary
1192review processes for these organizations.
1193     (16)  Ensure compliance with federal and state laws, rules,
1194regulations, and other requirements that are applicable to the
1195Florida College System institution community college.
1196     (17)  Maintain all data and information pertaining to the
1197operation of the Florida College System institution community
1198college, and report on the attainment by the Florida College
1199System institution community college of institutional and
1200statewide performance accountability goals.
1201     (18)  Certify to the department a project's compliance with
1202the requirements for expenditure of PECO funds prior to release
1203of funds pursuant to the provisions of chapter 1013.
1204     (19)  Provide to the law enforcement agency and fire
1205department that has jurisdiction over the Florida College System
1206institution community college a copy of the floor plans and
1207other relevant documents for each educational facility as
1208defined in s. 1013.01(6). After the initial submission of the
1209floor plans and other relevant documents, the Florida College
1210System institution community college president shall submit, by
1211October 1 of each year, revised floor plans and other relevant
1212documents for each educational facility that was modified during
1213the preceding year.
1214     (20)  Establish a committee to consider requests for
1215waivers from the provisions of s. 1008.29 and approve or
1216disapprove the committee's recommendations.
1217     (21)  Develop and implement jointly with school
1218superintendents a comprehensive articulated acceleration
1219program, including a comprehensive interinstitutional
1220articulation agreement, for the students enrolled in their
1221respective school districts and service areas pursuant to the
1222provisions of s. 1007.235.
1223     (22)  Have authority, after notice to the student of the
1224charges and after a hearing thereon, to expel, suspend, or
1225otherwise discipline any student who is found to have violated
1226any law, ordinance, or rule or regulation of the State Board of
1227Education or of the board of trustees of the Florida College
1228System institution community college pursuant to the provisions
1229of s. 1006.62.
1230     (23)  Submit an annual employment accountability plan to
1231the Department of Education pursuant to the provisions of s.
12321012.86.
1233     (24)  Annually evaluate, or have a designee annually
1234evaluate, each department chairperson, dean, provost, and vice
1235president in achieving the annual and long-term goals and
1236objectives of the Florida College System institution's community
1237college's employment accountability plan.
1238     (25)  Have vested with the president or the president's
1239designee the authority that is vested with the Florida College
1240System institution community college.
1241     Section 23.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
12421001.705, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1243     1001.705  Responsibility for the State University System
1244under s. 7, Art. IX of the State Constitution.-
1245     (2)  CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE
1246STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.-In accordance with s. 7, Art. IX of the
1247State Constitution, the Board of Governors of the State
1248University System has the duty to operate, regulate, control,
1249and be fully responsible for the management of the whole
1250publicly funded State University System and the board, or the
1251board's designee, has responsibility for:
1252     (b)  Defining the articulation of each constituent
1253university in conjunction with the Legislature's authority over
1254the public schools and Florida College System institutions
1255community colleges.
1256     Section 24.  Subsection (9) of section 1001.706, Florida
1257Statutes, is amended to read:
1258     1001.706  Powers and duties of the Board of Governors.-
1259     (9)  COOPERATION WITH OTHER BOARDS.-The Board of Governors
1260shall implement a plan for working on a regular basis with the
1261State Board of Education, the Commission for Independent
1262Education, the university boards of trustees, representatives of
1263the Florida College System institution community college boards
1264of trustees, representatives of the private colleges and
1265universities, and representatives of the district school boards
1266to achieve a seamless education system.
1267     Section 25.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (19) of section
12681002.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1269     1002.20  K-12 student and parent rights.-Parents of public
1270school students must receive accurate and timely information
1271regarding their child's academic progress and must be informed
1272of ways they can help their child to succeed in school. K-12
1273students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory
1274rights including, but not limited to, the following:
1275     (19)  INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS.-
1276     (d)  Dual enrollment students.-Instructional materials
1277purchased by a district school board or Florida College System
1278institution community college board of trustees on behalf of
1279public school dual enrollment students shall be made available
1280to the dual enrollment students free of charge, in accordance
1281with the provisions of s. 1007.271(14) and (15).
1282     Section 26.  Subsections (4) and (5) of section 1002.21,
1283Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1284     1002.21  Postsecondary student and parent rights.-
1285     (4)  STUDENT HANDBOOKS.-Each state university and Florida
1286College System institution community college shall provide its
1287students with an up-to-date student handbook that includes
1288student rights and responsibilities, appeals processes available
1289to students, contact persons available to help students, student
1290conduct code, and information regarding HIV and AIDS, in
1291accordance with the provisions of s. 1006.50.
1292     (5)  STUDENT OMBUDSMAN OFFICE.-Each state university and
1293Florida College System institution community college shall
1294maintain a student ombudsman office and established procedures
1295for students to appeal to the office regarding decisions about
1296the student's access to courses and credit granted toward the
1297student's degree, in accordance with the provisions of s.
12981006.51.
1299     Section 27.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) and paragraph
1300(c) of subsection (18) of section 1002.33, Florida Statutes, are
1301amended to read:
1302     1002.33  Charter schools.-
1303     (5)  SPONSOR; DUTIES.-
1304     (b)  Sponsor duties.-
1305     1.a.  The sponsor shall monitor and review the charter
1306school in its progress toward the goals established in the
1307charter.
1308     b.  The sponsor shall monitor the revenues and expenditures
1309of the charter school and perform the duties provided in s.
13101002.345.
1311     c.  The sponsor may approve a charter for a charter school
1312before the applicant has identified space, equipment, or
1313personnel, if the applicant indicates approval is necessary for
1314it to raise working funds.
1315     d.  The sponsor's policies shall not apply to a charter
1316school unless mutually agreed to by both the sponsor and the
1317charter school.
1318     e.  The sponsor shall ensure that the charter is innovative
1319and consistent with the state education goals established by s.
13201000.03(5).
1321     f.  The sponsor shall ensure that the charter school
1322participates in the state's education accountability system. If
1323a charter school falls short of performance measures included in
1324the approved charter, the sponsor shall report such shortcomings
1325to the Department of Education.
1326     g.  The sponsor shall not be liable for civil damages under
1327state law for personal injury, property damage, or death
1328resulting from an act or omission of an officer, employee,
1329agent, or governing body of the charter school.
1330     h.  The sponsor shall not be liable for civil damages under
1331state law for any employment actions taken by an officer,
1332employee, agent, or governing body of the charter school.
1333     i.  The sponsor's duties to monitor the charter school
1334shall not constitute the basis for a private cause of action.
1335     j.  The sponsor shall not impose additional reporting
1336requirements on a charter school without providing reasonable
1337and specific justification in writing to the charter school.
1338     2.  Immunity for the sponsor of a charter school under
1339subparagraph 1. applies only with respect to acts or omissions
1340not under the sponsor's direct authority as described in this
1341section.
1342     3.  This paragraph does not waive a district school board's
1343sovereign immunity.
1344     4.  A Florida College System institution community college
1345may work with the school district or school districts in its
1346designated service area to develop charter schools that offer
1347secondary education. These charter schools must include an
1348option for students to receive an associate degree upon high
1349school graduation. District school boards shall cooperate with
1350and assist the Florida College System institution community
1351college on the charter application. Florida College System
1352institution Community college applications for charter schools
1353are not subject to the time deadlines outlined in subsection (6)
1354and may be approved by the district school board at any time
1355during the year. Florida College System institutions Community
1356colleges may not report FTE for any students who receive FTE
1357funding through the Florida Education Finance Program.
1358     (18)  FACILITIES.-
1359     (c)  Any facility, or portion thereof, used to house a
1360charter school whose charter has been approved by the sponsor
1361and the governing board, pursuant to subsection (7), shall be
1362exempt from ad valorem taxes pursuant to s. 196.1983. Library,
1363community service, museum, performing arts, theatre, cinema,
1364church, Florida College System institution community college,
1365college, and university facilities may provide space to charter
1366schools within their facilities under their preexisting zoning
1367and land use designations.
1368     Section 28.  Subsections (1), (3), (4), (5), (6), (8), and
1369(9), paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (11), paragraphs (e),
1370(g), and (h) of subsection (12), and subsections (14) and (16)
1371of section 1002.34, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1372     1002.34  Charter technical career centers.-
1373     (1)  AUTHORIZATION.-The Legislature finds that the
1374establishment of charter technical career centers can assist in
1375promoting advances and innovations in workforce preparation and
1376economic development. A charter technical career center may
1377provide a learning environment that better serves the needs of a
1378specific population group or a group of occupations, thus
1379promoting diversity and choices within the public education and
1380public postsecondary technical education community in this
1381state. Therefore, the creation of such centers is authorized as
1382part of the state's program of public education. A charter
1383technical career center may be formed by creating a new school
1384or converting an existing school district or Florida College
1385System institution community college program to charter
1386technical status.
1387     (3)  DEFINITIONS.-As used in this section, the term:
1388     (a)  "Charter technical career center" or "center" means a
1389public school or a public technical center operated under a
1390charter granted by a district school board or Florida College
1391System institution community college board of trustees or a
1392consortium, including one or more district school boards and
1393Florida College System institution community college boards of
1394trustees, that includes the district in which the facility is
1395located, that is nonsectarian in its programs, admission
1396policies, employment practices, and operations, and is managed
1397by a board of directors.
1398     (b)  "Sponsor" means a district school board, a Florida
1399College System institution community college board of trustees,
1400or a consortium of one or more of each.
1401     (4)  CHARTER.-A sponsor may designate centers as provided
1402in this section. An application to establish a center may be
1403submitted by a sponsor or another organization that is
1404determined, by rule of the State Board of Education, to be
1405appropriate. However, an independent school is not eligible for
1406status as a center. The charter must be signed by the governing
1407body of the center and the sponsor and must be approved by the
1408district school board and Florida College System institution
1409community college board of trustees in whose geographic region
1410the facility is located. If a charter technical career center is
1411established by the conversion to charter status of a public
1412technical center formerly governed by a district school board,
1413the charter status of that center takes precedence in any
1414question of governance. The governance of the center or of any
1415program within the center remains with its board of directors
1416unless the board agrees to a change in governance or its charter
1417is revoked as provided in subsection (15). Such a conversion
1418charter technical career center is not affected by a change in
1419the governance of public technical centers or of programs within
1420other centers that are or have been governed by district school
1421boards. A charter technical career center, or any program within
1422such a center, that was governed by a district school board and
1423transferred to a Florida College System institution community
1424college prior to the effective date of this act is not affected
1425by this provision. An applicant who wishes to establish a center
1426must submit to the district school board or Florida College
1427System institution community college board of trustees, or a
1428consortium of one or more of each, an application on a form
1429developed by the Department of Education which includes:
1430     (a)  The name of the proposed center.
1431     (b)  The proposed structure of the center, including a list
1432of proposed members of the board of directors or a description
1433of the qualifications for and method of their appointment or
1434election.
1435     (c)  The workforce development goals of the center, the
1436curriculum to be offered, and the outcomes and the methods of
1437assessing the extent to which the outcomes are met.
1438     (d)  The admissions policy and criteria for evaluating the
1439admission of students.
1440     (e)  A description of the staff responsibilities and the
1441proposed qualifications of the teaching staff.
1442     (f)  A description of the procedures to be implemented to
1443ensure significant involvement of representatives of business
1444and industry in the operation of the center.
1445     (g)  A method for determining whether a student has
1446satisfied the requirements for graduation specified in s.
14471003.43 and for completion of a postsecondary certificate or
1448degree.
1449     (h)  A method for granting secondary and postsecondary
1450diplomas, certificates, and degrees.
1451     (i)  A description of and address for the physical facility
1452in which the center will be located.
1453     (j)  A method for resolving conflicts between the governing
1454body of the center and the sponsor and between consortium
1455members, if applicable.
1456     (k)  A method for reporting student data as required by law
1457and rule.
1458     (l)  A statement that the applicant has participated in the
1459training provided by the Department of Education.
1460     (m)  The identity of all relatives employed by the charter
1461technical career center who are related to the center owner,
1462president, chairperson of the governing board of directors,
1463superintendent, governing board member, principal, assistant
1464principal, or any other person employed by the center who has
1465equivalent decisionmaking authority. As used in this paragraph,
1466the term "relative" means father, mother, son, daughter,
1467brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece,
1468husband, wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law,
1469daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather,
1470stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half
1471brother, or half sister.
1472     (n)  Other information required by the district school
1473board or Florida College System institution community college
1474board of trustees.
1475
1476Students at a center must meet the same testing and academic
1477performance standards as those established by law and rule for
1478students at public schools and public technical centers. The
1479students must also meet any additional assessment indicators
1480that are included within the charter approved by the district
1481school board or Florida College System institution community
1482college board of trustees.
1483     (5)  APPLICATION.-An application to establish a center must
1484be submitted by February 1 of the year preceding the school year
1485in which the center will begin operation. The sponsor must
1486review the application using an evaluation instrument developed
1487by the Department of Education and make a final decision on
1488whether to approve the application and grant the charter by
1489March 1, and may condition the granting of a charter on the
1490center's taking certain actions or maintaining certain
1491conditions. Such actions and conditions must be provided to the
1492applicant in writing. The district school board or Florida
1493College System institution community college board of trustees
1494is not required to issue a charter to any person.
1495     (6)  SPONSOR.-A district school board or Florida College
1496System institution community college board of trustees or a
1497consortium of one or more of each may sponsor a center in the
1498county in which the board has jurisdiction.
1499     (a)  A sponsor must review all applications for centers
1500received through at least February 1 of each calendar year for
1501centers to be opened at the beginning of the sponsor's next
1502school year. A sponsor may receive applications later than this
1503date if it so chooses. To facilitate an accurate budget
1504projection process, a sponsor shall be held harmless for FTE
1505students who are not included in the FTE projection due to
1506approval of applications after the FTE projection deadline. A
1507sponsor must, by a majority vote, approve or deny an application
1508no later than 60 days after the application is received. If an
1509application is denied, the sponsor must, within 10 days, notify
1510the applicant in writing of the specific reasons for denial,
1511which must be based upon good cause. Upon approval of a charter
1512application, the initial startup must be consistent with the
1513beginning of the public school or Florida College System
1514institution community college calendar for the district in which
1515the charter is granted, unless the sponsor allows a waiver of
1516this provision for good cause.
1517     (b)  An applicant may appeal any denial of its application
1518to the State Board of Education within 30 days after the
1519sponsor's denial and shall notify the sponsor of its appeal. Any
1520response of the sponsor must be submitted to the state board
1521within 30 days after notification of the appeal. The State Board
1522of Education must, by majority vote, accept or reject the
1523decision of the sponsor no later than 60 days after an appeal is
1524filed, pursuant to State Board of Education rule. The State
1525Board of Education may reject an appeal for failure to comply
1526with procedural rules governing the appeals process, and the
1527rejection must describe the submission errors. The appellant may
1528have up to 15 days after notice of rejection to resubmit an
1529appeal. An application for appeal submitted after a rejection is
1530timely if the original appeal was filed within 30 days after the
1531sponsor's denial. The State Board of Education shall remand the
1532application to the sponsor with a written recommendation that
1533the sponsor approve or deny the application, consistent with the
1534state board's decision. The decision of the State Board of
1535Education is not subject to the provisions of chapter 120.
1536     (c)  The sponsor must act upon the recommendation of the
1537State Board of Education within 30 days after it is received,
1538unless the sponsor determines by competent substantial evidence
1539that approving the state board's recommendation would be
1540contrary to law or the best interests of the students or the
1541community. The sponsor must notify the applicant in writing
1542concerning the specific reasons for its failure to follow the
1543state board's recommendation. The sponsor's action on the state
1544board's recommendation is a final action, subject to judicial
1545review.
1546     (d)1.  The Department of Education shall offer or arrange
1547for training and technical assistance to applicants in
1548developing business plans and estimating costs and income. This
1549assistance shall address estimating startup costs, projecting
1550enrollment, and identifying the types and amounts of state and
1551federal financial assistance the center may be eligible to
1552receive. The training shall include instruction in accurate
1553financial planning and good business practices.
1554     2.  An applicant must participate in the training provided
1555by the Department of Education before filing an application. The
1556Department of Education may provide technical assistance to an
1557applicant upon written request.
1558     (e)  The terms and conditions for the operation of a center
1559must be agreed to by the sponsor and the applicant in a written
1560contract. The sponsor may not impose unreasonable requirements
1561that violate the intent of giving centers greater flexibility to
1562meet educational goals. The applicant and sponsor must reach an
1563agreement on the provisions of the contract or the application
1564is deemed denied.
1565     (f)  The sponsor shall monitor and review the center's
1566progress toward charter goals and shall monitor the center's
1567revenues and expenditures. The sponsor shall perform the duties
1568provided in s. 1002.345.
1569     (8)  ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.-A center must be open to all
1570students as space is available and may not discriminate in
1571admissions policies or practices on the basis of an individual's
1572physical disability or proficiency in English or on any other
1573basis that would be unlawful if practiced by a public school or
1574a Florida College System institution community college. A center
1575may establish reasonable criteria by which to evaluate
1576prospective students, which criteria must be outlined in the
1577charter.
1578     (9)  FACILITIES.-A center may be located in any suitable
1579location, including part of an existing public school or Florida
1580College System institution community college building, space
1581provided on a public worksite, or a public building. A center's
1582facilities must comply with the State Uniform Building Code for
1583Public Educational Facilities Construction adopted pursuant to
1584s. 1013.37, or with applicable state minimum building codes
1585pursuant to chapter 553, and state minimum fire protection codes
1586pursuant to s. 633.025, adopted by the authority in whose
1587jurisdiction the facility is located. If K-12 public school
1588funds are used for construction, the facility must remain on the
1589local school district's Florida Inventory of School Houses
1590(FISH) school building inventory of the district school board
1591and must revert to the district school board if the consortium
1592dissolves and the program is discontinued. If Florida College
1593System institution community college public school funds are
1594used for construction, the facility must remain on the local
1595Florida College System institution's community college's
1596facilities inventory and must revert to the local Florida
1597College System institution community college board of trustees
1598if the consortium dissolves and the program is discontinued. The
1599additional student capacity created by the addition of the
1600center to the local school district's FISH may not be calculated
1601in the permanent student capacity for the purpose of determining
1602need or eligibility for state capital outlay funds while the
1603facility is used as a center. If the construction of the center
1604is funded jointly by K-12 public school funds and Florida
1605College System institution community college funds, the
1606sponsoring entities must agree, before granting the charter, on
1607the appropriate owner and terms of transfer of the facility if
1608the charter is dissolved.
1609     (11)  FUNDING.-
1610     (b)  Each district school board and Florida College System
1611institution community college that sponsors a charter technical
1612career center shall pay directly to the center an amount stated
1613in the charter. State funding shall be generated for the center
1614for its student enrollment and program outcomes as provided in
1615law. A center is eligible for funding from workforce education
1616funds, the Florida Education Finance Program, and the Florida
1617College System Community College Program Fund, depending upon
1618the programs conducted by the center.
1619     (c)  A center may receive other state and federal aid,
1620grants, and revenue through the district school board or Florida
1621College System institution community college board of trustees.
1622     (12)  EMPLOYEES OF A CENTER.-
1623     (e)  As a public employer, a center may participate in:
1624     1.  The Florida Retirement System upon application and
1625approval as a "covered group" under s. 121.021(34). If a center
1626participates in the Florida Retirement System, its employees are
1627compulsory members of the Florida Retirement System.
1628     2.  The State Community College System Optional Retirement
1629Program pursuant to s. 1012.875(2), if the charter is granted by
1630a Florida College System institution community college that
1631participates in the optional retirement program and meets the
1632eligibility criteria of s. 121.051(2)(c).
1633     (g)  A public school or Florida College System institution
1634community college teacher or administrator may take a leave of
1635absence to accept employment in a charter technical career
1636center upon the approval of the school district or Florida
1637College System institution community college.
1638     (h)  An employee who is on a leave of absence under this
1639section may retain seniority accrued in that school district or
1640Florida College System institution community college and may
1641continue to be covered by the benefit programs of that district
1642or Florida College System institution community college if the
1643center and the district school board or Florida College System
1644institution community college board of trustees agree to this
1645arrangement and its financing.
1646     (14)  ACCOUNTABILITY.-Each center must submit a report to
1647the participating district school board or Florida College
1648System institution community college board of trustees by August
16491 of each year. The report must be in such form as the sponsor
1650prescribes and must include:
1651     (a)  A discussion of progress made toward the achievement
1652of the goals outlined in the center's charter.
1653     (b)  A financial statement setting forth by appropriate
1654categories the revenue and expenditures for the previous school
1655year.
1656     (16)  TRANSPORTATION.-The center may provide
1657transportation, pursuant to chapter 1006, through a contract
1658with the district school board or the Florida College System
1659institution community college board of trustees, a private
1660provider, or parents of students. The center must ensure that
1661transportation is not a barrier to equal access for all students
1662in grades K-12 residing within a reasonable distance of the
1663facility.
1664     Section 29.  Subsection (7) of section 1002.41, Florida
1665Statutes, is amended to read:
1666     1002.41  Home education programs.-
1667     (7)  Home education students are eligible for admission to
1668Florida College System institutions community colleges in
1669accordance with the provisions of s. 1007.263.
1670     Section 30.  Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1),
1671paragraph (a) of subsection (2), and paragraph (c) of subsection
1672(7) of section 1002.45, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1673     1002.45  School district virtual instruction programs.-
1674     (1)  PROGRAM.-
1675     (a)  For purposes of this section, the term:
1676     1.  "Approved provider" means a provider that is approved
1677by the Department of Education under subsection (2), the Florida
1678Virtual School, a franchise of the Florida Virtual School, or a
1679Florida College System institution community college.
1680     2.  "Virtual instruction program" means a program of
1681instruction provided in an interactive learning environment
1682created through technology in which students are separated from
1683their teachers by time or space, or both, and in which a
1684Florida-certified teacher under chapter 1012 is responsible for
1685at least:
1686     a.  Fifty percent of the direct instruction to students in
1687kindergarten through grade 5; or
1688     b.  Eighty percent of the direct instruction to students in
1689grades 6 through 12.
1690     (b)  Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, each school
1691district shall provide eligible students within its boundaries
1692the option of participating in a virtual instruction program.
1693The purpose of the program is to make instruction available to
1694students using online and distance learning technology in the
1695nontraditional classroom. The program shall be:
1696     1.  Full-time for students enrolled in kindergarten through
1697grade 12.
1698     2.  Full-time or part-time for students in grades 9 through
169912 who are enrolled in dropout prevention and academic
1700intervention programs under s. 1003.53, Department of Juvenile
1701Justice education programs under s. 1003.52, core-curricula
1702courses to meet class size requirements under s. 1003.03, or
1703Florida College System institutions community colleges under
1704this section.
1705     (2)  PROVIDER QUALIFICATIONS.-
1706     (a)  The department shall annually provide school districts
1707with a list of providers approved to offer virtual instruction
1708programs. To be approved by the department, a provider must
1709document that it:
1710     1.  Is nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies,
1711employment practices, and operations;
1712     2.  Complies with the antidiscrimination provisions of s.
17131000.05;
1714     3.  Locates an administrative office or offices in this
1715state, requires its administrative staff to be state residents,
1716requires all instructional staff to be Florida-certified
1717teachers under chapter 1012, and conducts background screenings
1718for all employees or contracted personnel, as required by s.
17191012.32, using state and national criminal history records;
1720     4.  Possesses prior, successful experience offering online
1721courses to elementary, middle, or high school students;
1722     5.  Is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges
1723and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement, the
1724North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School
1725Improvement, the Middle States Association of Colleges and
1726Schools Commission on Elementary Schools and Commission on
1727Secondary Schools, the New England Association of Schools and
1728Colleges, the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, the
1729Western Association of Schools and Colleges, or the Commission
1730on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation; and
1731     6.  If the provider is a Florida College System institution
1732community college, employs instructors who meet the
1733certification requirements for instructional staff under chapter
17341012.
1735     (7)  FUNDING.-
1736     (c)  A Florida College System institution community college
1737provider may not report students who are served in a school
1738district virtual instruction program for funding under the
1739Florida College System Community College Program Fund.
1740     Section 31.  Paragraph (f) of subsection (3) of section
17411003.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1742     1003.03  Maximum class size.-
1743     (3)  IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS.-District school boards must
1744consider, but are not limited to, implementing the following
1745items in order to meet the constitutional class size maximums
1746described in subsection (1):
1747     (f)  Use joint-use facilities through partnerships with
1748Florida College System institutions community colleges, state
1749universities, and private colleges and universities. Joint-use
1750facilities available for use as K-12 classrooms that do not meet
1751the K-12 State Regulations for Educational Facilities in the
1752Florida Building Code may be used at the discretion of the
1753district school board provided that such facilities meet all
1754other health, life, safety, and fire codes.
1755     Section 32.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
17561003.41, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1757     1003.41  Sunshine State Standards.-
1758     (3)
1759     (b)  The commissioner shall submit the proposed standards
1760for review and comment by Florida educators, school
1761administrators, representatives of Florida College System
1762institutions community colleges and state universities who have
1763expertise in the content knowledge and skills necessary to
1764prepare a student for postsecondary education, and leaders in
1765business and industry. The commissioner, after considering any
1766comments and making any revisions to the proposed standards,
1767shall submit the standards for written evaluation by renowned
1768experts on K-12 curricular standards and content.
1769     Section 33.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
17701003.4156, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1771     1003.4156  General requirements for middle grades
1772promotion.-
1773     (1)  Beginning with students entering grade 6 in the 2006-
17742007 school year, promotion from a school composed of middle
1775grades 6, 7, and 8 requires that:
1776     (a)  The student must successfully complete academic
1777courses as follows:
1778     1.  Three middle school or higher courses in English. These
1779courses shall emphasize literature, composition, and technical
1780text.
1781     2.  Three middle school or higher courses in mathematics.
1782Each middle school must offer at least one high school level
1783mathematics course for which students may earn high school
1784credit. Successful completion of a high school level Algebra I
1785or geometry course is not contingent upon the student's
1786performance on the end-of-course assessment required under s.
17871008.22(3)(c)2.a.(I). However, beginning with the 2011-2012
1788school year, to earn high school credit for an Algebra I course,
1789a middle school student must pass the Algebra I end-of-course
1790assessment, and beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, to
1791earn high school credit for a geometry course, a middle school
1792student must pass the geometry end-of-course assessment.
1793     3.  Three middle school or higher courses in social
1794studies, one semester of which must include the study of state
1795and federal government and civics education. Beginning with
1796students entering grade 6 in the 2012-2013 school year, one of
1797these courses must be at least a one-semester civics education
1798course that a student successfully completes in accordance with
1799s. 1008.22(3)(c) and that includes the roles and
1800responsibilities of federal, state, and local governments; the
1801structures and functions of the legislative, executive, and
1802judicial branches of government; and the meaning and
1803significance of historic documents, such as the Articles of
1804Confederation, the Declaration of Independence, and the
1805Constitution of the United States.
1806     4.  Three middle school or higher courses in science.
1807Successful completion of a high school level Biology I course is
1808not contingent upon the student's performance on the end-of-
1809course assessment required under s. 1008.22(3)(c)2.a.(II).
1810However, beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, to earn high
1811school credit for a Biology I course, a middle school student
1812must pass the Biology I end-of-course assessment.
1813     5.  One course in career and education planning to be
1814completed in 7th or 8th grade. The course may be taught by any
1815member of the instructional staff; must include career
1816exploration using Florida CHOICES or a comparable cost-effective
1817program; must include educational planning using the online
1818student advising system known as Florida Academic Counseling and
1819Tracking for Students at the Internet website FACTS.org; and
1820shall result in the completion of a personalized academic and
1821career plan. The required personalized academic and career plan
1822must inform students of high school graduation requirements,
1823high school assessment and college entrance test requirements,
1824Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program requirements, state
1825university and Florida College System institution admission
1826requirements, and programs through which a high school student
1827can earn college credit, including Advanced Placement,
1828International Baccalaureate, Advanced International Certificate
1829of Education, dual enrollment, career academy opportunities, and
1830courses that lead to national industry certification.
1831
1832Each school must hold a parent meeting either in the evening or
1833on a weekend to inform parents about the course curriculum and
1834activities. Each student shall complete an electronic personal
1835education plan that must be signed by the student; the student's
1836instructor, guidance counselor, or academic advisor; and the
1837student's parent. The Department of Education shall develop
1838course frameworks and professional development materials for the
1839career exploration and education planning course. The course may
1840be implemented as a stand-alone course or integrated into
1841another course or courses. The Commissioner of Education shall
1842collect longitudinal high school course enrollment data by
1843student ethnicity in order to analyze course-taking patterns.
1844     Section 34.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
18451003.433, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1846     1003.433  Learning opportunities for out-of-state and out-
1847of-country transfer students and students needing additional
1848instruction to meet high school graduation requirements.-
1849     (2)  Students who have met all requirements for the
1850standard high school diploma except for passage of the grade 10
1851FCAT or an alternate assessment by the end of grade 12 must be
1852provided the following learning opportunities:
1853     (b)  Upon receipt of a certificate of completion, be
1854allowed to take the College Placement Test and be admitted to
1855remedial or credit courses at a Florida College System
1856institution state community college, as appropriate.
1857     Section 35.  Subsection (5) and paragraph (a) of subsection
1858(6) of section 1003.435, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1859     1003.435  High school equivalency diploma program.-
1860     (5)  Each district school board shall develop, in
1861cooperation with the area Florida College System institution
1862community college board of trustees, a plan for the provision of
1863advanced instruction for those students who attain satisfactory
1864performance on the high school equivalency examination or the
1865subject area examinations or who demonstrate through other means
1866a readiness to engage in postsecondary-level academic work. The
1867plan shall include provisions for the equitable distribution of
1868generated funds to cover personnel, maintenance, and other costs
1869of offering the advanced instruction. Priority shall be given to
1870programs of advanced instruction offered in high school
1871facilities.
1872     (6)(a)  All high school equivalency diplomas issued under
1873the provisions of this section shall have equal status with
1874other high school diplomas for all state purposes, including
1875admission to any state university or Florida College System
1876institution community college.
1877     Section 36.  Subsection (1) of section 1003.49, Florida
1878Statutes, is amended to read:
1879     1003.49  Graduation and promotion requirements for publicly
1880operated schools.-
1881     (1)  Each state or local public agency, including the
1882Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of
1883Corrections, the boards of trustees of universities and Florida
1884College System institutions community colleges, and the Board of
1885Trustees of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, which
1886agency is authorized to operate educational programs for
1887students at any level of grades kindergarten through 12 shall be
1888subject to all applicable requirements of ss. 1003.43, 1008.23,
1889and 1008.25. Within the content of these cited statutes each
1890such state or local public agency or entity shall be considered
1891a "district school board."
1892     Section 37.  Subsection (4) of section 1003.51, Florida
1893Statutes, is amended to read:
1894     1003.51  Other public educational services.-
1895     (4)  The Department of Education shall ensure that district
1896school boards notify students in juvenile justice residential or
1897nonresidential facilities who attain the age of 16 years of the
1898provisions of law regarding compulsory school attendance and
1899make available the option of enrolling in a program to attain a
1900Florida high school diploma by taking the general educational
1901development test prior to release from the facility. District
1902school boards or Florida College System institutions community
1903colleges, or both, shall waive GED testing fees for youth in
1904Department of Juvenile Justice residential programs and shall,
1905upon request, designate schools operating for the purpose of
1906providing educational services to youth in Department of
1907Juvenile Justice programs as GED testing centers, subject to GED
1908testing center requirements. The administrative fees for the
1909general education development test required by the Department of
1910Education are the responsibility of district school boards and
1911may be required of providers by contractual agreement.
1912     Section 38.  Subsections (6) and (22) of section 1003.52,
1913Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1914     1003.52  Educational services in Department of Juvenile
1915Justice programs.-
1916     (6)  Participation in the program by students of compulsory
1917school-attendance age as provided for in s. 1003.21 shall be
1918mandatory. All students of noncompulsory school-attendance age
1919who have not received a high school diploma or its equivalent
1920shall participate in the educational program, unless the student
1921files a formal declaration of his or her intent to terminate
1922school enrollment as described in s. 1003.21 and is afforded the
1923opportunity to take the general educational development test and
1924attain a Florida high school diploma prior to release from a
1925facility. A youth who has received a high school diploma or its
1926equivalent and is not employed shall participate in workforce
1927development or other career or technical education or Florida
1928College System institution community college or university
1929courses while in the program, subject to available funding.
1930     (22)  The Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department
1931of Education, in consultation with Workforce Florida, Inc., the
1932statewide Workforce Development Youth Council, district school
1933boards, Florida College System institutions community colleges,
1934providers, and others, shall jointly develop a multiagency plan
1935for career education which describes the funding, curriculum,
1936transfer of credits, goals, and outcome measures for career
1937education programming in juvenile commitment facilities,
1938pursuant to s. 985.622. The plan must be reviewed annually.
1939     Section 39.  Subsections (8), (18), (19), (20), and (23) of
1940section 1004.02, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1941     1004.02  Definitions.-As used in this chapter:
1942     (8)  "Applied technology diploma program" means a course of
1943study that is part of a technical degree program, is less than
194460 credit hours, and leads to employment in a specific
1945occupation. An applied technology diploma program may consist of
1946either technical credit or college credit. A public school
1947district may offer an applied technology diploma program only as
1948technical credit, with college credit awarded to a student upon
1949articulation to a Florida College System institution community
1950college. Statewide articulation among public schools and Florida
1951College System institutions community colleges is guaranteed by
1952s. 1007.23, and is subject to guidelines and standards adopted
1953by the State Board of Education pursuant to ss. 1007.24 and
19541007.25.
1955     (18)  "Lifelong learning" means a noncredit course or
1956activity offered by a school district or Florida College System
1957institution community college that seeks to address community
1958social and economic issues related to health and human
1959relations, government, parenting, consumer economics, and senior
1960citizens.
1961     (19)  "Local educational agency" means a Florida College
1962System institution community college or school district.
1963     (20)  "Local sponsor" means a district school board,
1964Florida College System institution community college board of
1965trustees, public library, other public entity, or private
1966nonprofit entity, or any combination of these entities, that
1967provides adult literacy instruction.
1968     (23)  "Career education planning region" means the
1969geographic area in which career or adult education is provided.
1970Each career region is contiguous with one of the 28 Florida
1971College System institution community college service areas.
1972     Section 40.  Subsection (2) of section 1004.03, Florida
1973Statutes, is amended to read:
1974     1004.03  Program approval.-
1975     (2)  The State Board of Education shall establish criteria
1976for the approval of new programs at Florida College System
1977institutions community colleges, which criteria include, but are
1978not limited to, the following:
1979     (a)  New programs may not be approved unless the same
1980objectives cannot be met through use of educational technology.
1981     (b)  Unnecessary duplication of programs offered by
1982independent institutions shall be avoided.
1983     (c)  Cooperative programs, particularly within regions,
1984should be encouraged.
1985     (d)  New programs may be approved only if they are
1986consistent with the state master plan adopted by the State Board
1987of Education.
1988     Section 41.  Subsections (9), (10), and (11) of section
19891004.04, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1990     1004.04  Public accountability and state approval for
1991teacher preparation programs.-
1992     (9)  FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM INSTITUTIONS COMMUNITY
1993COLLEGES.-To the extent practical, postsecondary educational
1994institutions offering teacher preparation programs shall
1995establish articulation agreements on a core of liberal arts
1996courses and introductory professional courses with field
1997experience components which shall be offered at Florida College
1998System institutions community colleges.
1999     (10)  SHORT-TERM EXPERIENCES AS TEACHER ASSISTANTS.-
2000Postsecondary institutions offering teacher preparation programs
2001and Florida College System institutions community colleges, in
2002collaboration with school districts, may develop and implement a
2003program to provide short-term experiences as teacher assistants
2004prior to beginning a teacher preparation program or alternative
2005certification program. The program shall serve individuals with
2006baccalaureate degrees who are interested in the teaching
2007profession. This experience may be accepted for use in teacher
2008preparation programs and competency-based alternative
2009certification programs, where applicable.
2010     (11)  PRETEACHER AND TEACHER EDUCATION PILOT PROGRAMS.-
2011State universities and Florida College System institutions
2012community colleges may establish preteacher education and
2013teacher education pilot programs to encourage promising minority
2014students to prepare for a career in education. These pilot
2015programs shall be designed to recruit and provide additional
2016academic, clinical, and counseling support for students whom the
2017institution judges to be potentially successful teacher
2018education candidates, but who may not meet teacher education
2019program admission standards. Priority consideration shall be
2020given to those pilot programs that are jointly submitted by
2021Florida College System institutions community colleges and state
2022universities.
2023     (a)  These pilot programs shall be approved by the State
2024Board of Education and shall be designed to provide help and
2025support for program participants during the preteacher education
2026period of general academic preparation at a Florida College
2027System institution community college or state university and
2028during professional preparation in a state-approved teacher
2029education program. Emphasis shall be placed on development of
2030the basic skills needed by successful teachers.
2031     (b)  State universities and Florida College System
2032institutions community colleges may admit into the pilot program
2033those incoming students who demonstrate an interest in teaching
2034as a career, but who may not meet the requirements for entrance
2035into an approved teacher education program.
2036     1.  Flexibility may be given to colleges of education to
2037develop and market innovative teacher training programs directed
2038at specific target groups such as graduates from the colleges of
2039arts and sciences, employed education paraprofessionals,
2040substitute teachers, early federal retirees, and nontraditional
2041college students. Programs must be submitted to the State Board
2042of Education for approval.
2043     2.  Academically successful graduates in the fields of
2044liberal arts and science may be encouraged to embark upon a
2045career in education.
2046     3.  Models may be developed to provide a positive initial
2047experience in teaching in order to encourage retention. Priority
2048should be given to models that encourage minority graduates.
2049     (c)  In order to be certified, a graduate from a pilot
2050program shall meet all requirements for teacher certification
2051specified by s. 1012.56. Should a graduate of a pilot program
2052not meet the requirements of s. 1012.56, that person shall not
2053be included in the calculations required by paragraph (5)(a) and
2054State Board of Education rules for continued program approval,
2055or in the statutes used by the State Board of Education in
2056deciding which teacher education programs to approve.
2057     (d)  Institutions participating in the pilot program shall
2058submit an annual report evaluating the success of the program to
2059the Commissioner of Education by March 1 of each year. The
2060report shall include, at a minimum, the number of pilot program
2061participants, including the number participating in general
2062education and the number admitted to approved teacher education
2063programs, the number of pilot program graduates, and the number
2064of pilot program graduates who met the requirements of s.
20651012.56. The commissioner shall consider the number of
2066participants recruited, the number of graduates, and the number
2067of graduates successfully meeting the requirements of s. 1012.56
2068reported by each institution, and shall make an annual
2069recommendation to the State Board of Education regarding the
2070institution's continued participation in the pilot program.
2071     Section 42.  Subsection (1) of section 1004.05, Florida
2072Statutes, is amended to read:
2073     1004.05  Substance abuse training programs.-
2074     (1)  Each state university and Florida College System
2075institution community college may develop courses designed for
2076public school teachers, counselors, physicians, law enforcement
2077personnel, and other professionals to assist them in recognizing
2078symptoms of substance abuse impairment and identifying
2079appropriate service providers for referral and treatment.
2080     Section 43.  Section 1004.06, Florida Statutes, is amended
2081to read:
2082     1004.06  Prohibited expenditures.-No Florida College System
2083institution community college, state university, Florida College
2084System institution community college direct-support
2085organization, or state university direct-support organization
2086shall expend any funds, regardless of source, to purchase
2087membership in, or goods and services from, any organization that
2088discriminates on the basis of race, national origin, gender, or
2089religion.
2090     Section 44.  Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section
20911004.07, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
2092     1004.07  Student withdrawal from courses due to military
2093service; effect.-
2094     (1)  Each district school board, Florida College System
2095institution community college board of trustees, and state
2096university board of trustees shall establish policies regarding
2097currently enrolled students who are called to, or enlist in,
2098active military service.
2099     (2)  Such policies shall provide that any student enrolled
2100in a postsecondary course or courses at a career center, a
2101Florida College System institution public community college, a
2102public college, or a state university shall not incur academic
2103or financial penalties by virtue of performing military service
2104on behalf of our country. Such student shall be permitted the
2105option of either completing the course or courses at a later
2106date without penalty or withdrawing from the course or courses
2107with a full refund of fees paid. If the student chooses to
2108withdraw, the student's record shall reflect that the withdrawal
2109is due to active military service.
2110     (3)  Policies of district school boards and Florida College
2111System institution community college boards of trustees shall be
2112established by rule and pursuant to guidelines of the State
2113Board of Education.
2114     Section 45.  Subsections (1), (3), and (4) of section
21151004.085, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
2116     1004.085  Textbook affordability.-
2117     (1)  No employee of a Florida College System institution
2118community college or state university may demand or receive any
2119payment, loan, subscription, advance, deposit of money, service,
2120or anything of value, present or promised, in exchange for
2121requiring students to purchase a specific textbook for
2122coursework or instruction.
2123     (3)  Florida College System institutions Community colleges
2124and state universities shall post on their websites, as early as
2125is feasible, but not less than 30 days prior to the first day of
2126class for each term, a list of each textbook required for each
2127course offered at the institution during the upcoming term. The
2128posted list must include the International Standard Book Number
2129(ISBN) for each required textbook or other identifying
2130information, which must include, at a minimum, all of the
2131following: the title, all authors listed, publishers, edition
2132number, copyright date, published date, and other relevant
2133information necessary to identify the specific textbook or
2134textbooks required for each course. The State Board of Education
2135and the Board of Governors shall include in the policies,
2136procedures, and guidelines adopted under subsection (4) certain
2137limited exceptions to this notification requirement for classes
2138added after the notification deadline.
2139     (4)   The State Board of Education and the Board of
2140Governors each shall adopt policies, procedures, and guidelines
2141for implementation by Florida College System institutions
2142community colleges and state universities, respectively, that
2143further efforts to minimize the cost of textbooks for students
2144attending such institutions while maintaining the quality of
2145education and academic freedom. The policies, procedures, and
2146guidelines shall provide for the following:
2147     (a)  That textbook adoptions are made with sufficient lead
2148time to bookstores so as to confirm availability of the
2149requested materials and, where possible, ensure maximum
2150availability of used books.
2151     (b)  That, in the textbook adoption process, the intent to
2152use all items ordered, particularly each individual item sold as
2153part of a bundled package, is confirmed by the course instructor
2154or the academic department offering the course before the
2155adoption is finalized.
2156     (c)  That a course instructor or the academic department
2157offering the course determines, before a textbook is adopted,
2158the extent to which a new edition differs significantly and
2159substantively from earlier versions and the value of changing to
2160a new edition or the extent to which an open-access textbook may
2161exist and be used.
2162     (d)  That the establishment of policies shall address the
2163availability of required textbooks to students otherwise unable
2164to afford the cost, including consideration of the extent to
2165which an open-access textbook may be used.
2166     (e)  That course instructors and academic departments are
2167encouraged to participate in the development, adaptation, and
2168review of open-access textbooks and, in particular, open-access
2169textbooks for high-demand general education courses.
2170     Section 46.  Section 1004.095, Florida Statutes, is amended
2171to read:
2172     1004.095  Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps; military
2173recruiters; access to Florida College System institution
2174community college and state university campuses.-
2175     (1)  A Florida College System institution community college
2176or state university may not ban any branch of the United States
2177Armed Forces from establishing, maintaining, or operating a unit
2178of the Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps at the college or
2179university.
2180     (2)(a)  A Florida College System institution community
2181college or state university shall grant military recruiters of
2182the United States Armed Forces and United States Department of
2183Homeland Security the same access to the college's or
2184university's students, and to campus facilities and grounds,
2185which the college or university grants to other employers.
2186     (b)  A Florida College System institution community college
2187or state university shall, to the extent required in 10 U.S.C.
2188s. 983(b)(2), grant military recruiters access to the names,
2189addresses, telephone listings, dates and places of birth, levels
2190of education, academic majors, degrees received, and most recent
2191educational institutions enrolled in by the college's or
2192university's students.
2193     Section 47.  Paragraphs (b) and (e) of subsection (3) and
2194paragraph (b) of subsection (6) of section 1004.226, Florida
2195Statutes, are amended to read:
2196     1004.226  The 21st Century Technology, Research, and
2197Scholarship Enhancement Act.-
2198     (3)  DEFINITIONS.-As used in this section, the term:
2199     (b)  "Applicant" means any state university, private
2200university located in this state, or any private or public
2201research center, Florida College System institution community
2202college, or training center in this state which coordinates with
2203a state university for purposes of this act.
2204     (e)  "Florida College System institution Community college"
2205means a Florida College System institution public community
2206college in this state as defined in s. 1000.21.
2207     (6)  CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.-
2208     (b)  The following entities are eligible to submit
2209proposals for a center of excellence:
2210     1.  Any state university.
2211     2.  Any private university.
2212     3.  The H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research
2213Institute.
2214     4.  The Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition,
2215Inc.
2216     5.  Any Florida College System institution community
2217college, training center, or other public or private research
2218center in the state which coordinates with a state university
2219for purposes of this act.
2220     Section 48.  Section 1004.645, Florida Statutes, is amended
2221to read:
2222     1004.645  Florida Center for Reading Research.-There is
2223created at the Florida State University, the Florida Center for
2224Reading Research (FCRR). The center shall include two outreach
2225centers, one at a Florida College System institution in central
2226Florida community college and one at a south Florida state
2227university. The center and the outreach centers, under the
2228center's leadership, shall:
2229     (1)  Provide technical assistance and support to all school
2230districts and schools in this state in the implementation of
2231evidence-based literacy instruction, assessments, programs, and
2232professional development.
2233     (2)  Conduct applied research that will have an immediate
2234impact on policy and practices related to literacy instruction
2235and assessment in this state with an emphasis on struggling
2236readers and reading in the content area strategies and methods
2237for secondary teachers.
2238     (3)  Conduct basic research on reading, reading growth,
2239reading assessment, and reading instruction which will
2240contribute to scientific knowledge about reading.
2241     (4)  Collaborate with the Just Read! Florida Office and
2242school districts in the development of frameworks for
2243comprehensive reading intervention courses for possible use in
2244middle schools and secondary schools.
2245     (5)  Collaborate with the Just Read! Florida Office and
2246school districts in the development of frameworks for
2247professional development activities, using multiple delivery
2248methods for teaching reading in the content area.
2249     (6)  Disseminate information about research-based practices
2250related to literacy instruction, assessment, and programs for
2251students in preschool through grade 12.
2252     (7)  Collect, manage, and report on assessment information
2253from screening, progress monitoring, and outcome assessments
2254through the Florida Progress Monitoring and Reporting Network.
2255The network is a statewide resource that is operated to provide
2256valid and timely reading assessment data for parents, teachers,
2257principals, and district-level and state-level staff in the
2258management of instruction at the individual, classroom, and
2259school levels.
2260     Section 49.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (9) of section
22611004.648, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2262     1004.648  Florida Energy Systems Consortium.-
2263     (9)  Through collaborative research and development across
2264the State University System and the industry, the goal of the
2265consortium is to become a world leader in energy research,
2266education, technology, and energy systems analysis. In so doing,
2267the consortium shall:
2268     (d)  Develop education and outreach programs to prepare a
2269qualified energy workforce and informed public. Specifically,
2270the faculty associated with the consortium shall coordinate a
2271statewide workforce development initiative focusing on college-
2272level degrees, technician training, and public and commercial
2273sectors awareness. The consortium shall develop specific
2274programs targeted at preparing graduates who have a background
2275in energy, continuing education courses for technical and
2276nontechnical professionals, and modules, laboratories, and
2277courses to be shared among the universities. Additionally, the
2278consortium shall work with the Florida Community College System
2279using the Florida Advanced Technological Education Center for
2280the coordination and design of industry-specific training
2281programs for technicians.
2282     Section 50.  Section 1004.65, Florida Statutes, is amended
2283to read:
2284     1004.65  Florida College System institutions colleges;
2285governance, mission, and responsibilities.-
2286     (1)  Each Florida College System institution shall be
2287governed by a district board of trustees under statutory
2288authority and rules of the State Board of Education.
2289     (2)  Each Florida College System institution district
2290shall:
2291     (a)  Consist of the county or counties served by the
2292Florida College System institution pursuant to s. 1000.21(3).
2293     (b)  Be an independent, separate, legal entity created for
2294the operation of a Florida College System institution.
2295     (3)  Florida College System institutions colleges are
2296locally based and governed entities with statutory and funding
2297ties to state government. As such, the mission for Florida
2298College System institutions colleges reflects a commitment to be
2299responsive to local educational needs and challenges. In
2300achieving this mission, Florida College System institutions
2301colleges strive to maintain sufficient local authority and
2302flexibility while preserving appropriate legal accountability to
2303the state.
2304     (4)  As comprehensive institutions, Florida College System
2305institutions colleges shall provide high-quality, affordable
2306education and training opportunities, shall foster a climate of
2307excellence, and shall provide opportunities to all while
2308combining high standards with an open-door admission policy for
2309lower-division programs. Florida College System institutions
2310colleges shall, as open-access institutions, serve all who can
2311benefit, without regard to age, race, gender, creed, or ethnic
2312or economic background, while emphasizing the achievement of
2313social and educational equity so that all can be prepared for
2314full participation in society.
2315     (5)  The primary mission and responsibility of Florida
2316College System institutions colleges is responding to community
2317needs for postsecondary academic education and career degree
2318education. This mission and responsibility includes being
2319responsible for:
2320     (a)  Providing lower level undergraduate instruction and
2321awarding associate degrees.
2322     (b)  Preparing students directly for careers requiring less
2323than baccalaureate degrees. This may include preparing for job
2324entry, supplementing of skills and knowledge, and responding to
2325needs in new areas of technology. Career education in a Florida
2326College System institution shall consist of career certificates,
2327credit courses leading to associate in science degrees and
2328associate in applied science degrees, and other programs in
2329fields requiring substantial academic work, background, or
2330qualifications. A Florida College System institution may offer
2331career education programs in fields having lesser academic or
2332technical requirements.
2333     (c)  Providing student development services, including
2334assessment, student tracking, support for disabled students,
2335advisement, counseling, financial aid, career development, and
2336remedial and tutorial services, to ensure student success.
2337     (d)  Promoting economic development for the state within
2338each Florida College System institution district through the
2339provision of special programs, including, but not limited to,
2340the:
2341     1.  Enterprise Florida-related programs.
2342     2.  Technology transfer centers.
2343     3.  Economic development centers.
2344     4.  Workforce literacy programs.
2345     (e)  Providing dual enrollment instruction.
2346     (f)  Providing upper level instruction and awarding
2347baccalaureate degrees as specifically authorized by law.
2348     (6)  A separate and secondary role for Florida College
2349System institutions colleges includes the offering of programs
2350in:
2351     (a)  Community services that are not directly related to
2352academic or occupational advancement.
2353     (b)  Adult education services, including adult basic
2354education, adult general education, adult secondary education,
2355and General Educational Development test instruction.
2356     (c)  Recreational and leisure services.
2357     (7)  Funding for Florida College System institutions
2358colleges shall reflect their mission as follows:
2359     (a)  Postsecondary academic and career education programs
2360and adult general education programs shall have first priority
2361in Florida College System institution funding.
2362     (b)  Community service programs shall be presented to the
2363Legislature with rationale for state funding. The Legislature
2364may identify priority areas for use of these funds.
2365     (c)  The resources of a Florida College System institution,
2366including staff, faculty, land, and facilities, shall not be
2367used to support the establishment of a new independent nonpublic
2368educational institution. If any institution uses resources for
2369such purpose, the Division of Florida Colleges shall notify the
2370President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
2371Representatives.
2372     (8)  Florida College System institutions colleges are
2373authorized to:
2374     (a)  Offer such programs and courses as are necessary to
2375fulfill their mission.
2376     (b)  Grant associate in arts degrees, associate in science
2377degrees, associate in applied science degrees, certificates,
2378awards, and diplomas.
2379     (c)  Make provisions for the General Educational
2380Development test.
2381     (d)  Provide access to and award baccalaureate degrees in
2382accordance with law.
2383
2384Authority to offer one or more baccalaureate degree programs
2385does not alter the governance relationship of the Florida
2386College System institution with its district board of trustees
2387or the State Board of Education.
2388     Section 51.  Section 1004.66, Florida Statutes, is amended
2389to read:
2390     1004.66  "Florida College System institution," "community
2391college," and "junior college" used interchangeably.-Whenever
2392the terms "Florida College System institution," "community
2393college," and "junior college" appear in the Florida Statutes in
2394reference to a tax-supported institution, they shall be
2395construed identically.
2396     Section 52.  Section 1004.67, Florida Statutes, is amended
2397to read:
2398     1004.67  Florida College System institutions Community
2399colleges; legislative intent.-It is the legislative intent that
2400Florida College System institutions community colleges,
2401constituted as political subdivisions of the state, continue to
2402be operated by Florida College System institution community
2403college boards of trustees as provided in s. 1001.63 and that no
2404department, bureau, division, agency, or subdivision of the
2405state exercise any responsibility and authority to operate any
2406Florida College System institution community college of the
2407state except as specifically provided by law or rules of the
2408State Board of Education.
2409     Section 53.  Section 1004.68, Florida Statutes, is amended
2410to read:
2411     1004.68  Florida College System institution Community
2412college; degrees and certificates; tests for certain skills.-
2413     (1)  Each Florida College System institution community
2414college board of trustees shall adopt rules establishing student
2415performance standards for the award of degrees and certificates.
2416     (2)  Each Florida College System institution community
2417college board of trustees shall require the use of scores on
2418tests for college-level communication and computation skills
2419provided in s. 1008.345(7) as a condition for graduation with an
2420associate in arts degree.
2421     Section 54.  Section 1004.70, Florida Statutes, is amended
2422to read:
2423     1004.70  Florida College System institution Community
2424college direct-support organizations.-
2425     (1)  DEFINITIONS.-For the purposes of this section:
2426     (a)  "Florida College System institution Community college
2427direct-support organization" means an organization that is:
2428     1.  A Florida corporation not for profit, incorporated
2429under the provisions of chapter 617 and approved by the
2430Department of State.
2431     2.  Organized and operated exclusively to receive, hold,
2432invest, and administer property and to make expenditures to, or
2433for the benefit of, a Florida College System institution
2434community college in this state.
2435     3.  An organization that the Florida College System
2436institution community college board of trustees, after review,
2437has certified to be operating in a manner consistent with the
2438goals of the Florida College System institution community
2439college and in the best interest of the state. Any organization
2440that is denied certification by the board of trustees may not
2441use the name of the Florida College System institution community
2442college that it serves.
2443     (b)  "Personal services" includes full-time or part-time
2444personnel as well as payroll processing.
2445     (2)  BOARD OF DIRECTORS.-The chair of the board of trustees
2446shall appoint a representative to the board of directors and the
2447executive committee of each direct-support organization
2448established under this section, including those established
2449before July 1, 1998. The president of the Florida College System
2450institution community college for which the direct-support
2451organization is established, or the president's designee, shall
2452also serve on the board of directors and the executive committee
2453of the direct-support organization, including any direct-support
2454organization established before July 1, 1998.
2455     (3)  USE OF PROPERTY.-
2456     (a)  The board of trustees is authorized to permit the use
2457of property, facilities, and personal services at any Florida
2458College System institution community college by any Florida
2459College System institution community college direct-support
2460organization, subject to the provisions of this section.
2461     (b)  The board of trustees is authorized to prescribe by
2462rule any condition with which a Florida College System
2463institution community college direct-support organization must
2464comply in order to use property, facilities, or personal
2465services at any Florida College System institution community
2466college.
2467     (c)  The board of trustees may not permit the use of
2468property, facilities, or personal services at any Florida
2469College System institution community college by any Florida
2470College System institution community college direct-support
2471organization that does not provide equal employment
2472opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, national
2473origin, gender, age, or religion.
2474     (4)  ACTIVITIES; RESTRICTIONS.-
2475     (a)  A direct-support organization may, at the request of
2476the board of trustees, provide residency opportunities on or
2477near campus for students.
2478     (b)  A direct-support organization that constructs
2479facilities for use by a Florida College System institution
2480community college or its students must comply with all
2481requirements of law relating to the construction of facilities
2482by a Florida College System institution community college,
2483including requirements for competitive bidding.
2484     (c)  Any transaction or agreement between one direct-
2485support organization and another direct-support organization or
2486between a direct-support organization and a center of technology
2487innovation designated under s. 1004.77 must be approved by the
2488board of trustees.
2489     (d)  A Florida College System institution community college
2490direct-support organization is prohibited from giving, either
2491directly or indirectly, any gift to a political committee or
2492committee of continuous existence as defined in s. 106.011 for
2493any purpose other than those certified by a majority roll call
2494vote of the governing board of the direct-support organization
2495at a regularly scheduled meeting as being directly related to
2496the educational mission of the Florida College System
2497institution community college.
2498     (e)  A Florida College System institution community college
2499board of trustees must authorize all debt, including lease-
2500purchase agreements, incurred by a direct-support organization.
2501Authorization for approval of short-term loans and lease-
2502purchase agreements for a term of not more than 5 years,
2503including renewals, extensions, and refundings, for goods,
2504materials, equipment, and services may be delegated by the board
2505of trustees to the board of directors of the direct-support
2506organization. Trustees shall evaluate proposals for debt
2507according to guidelines issued by the Division of Florida
2508Colleges. Revenues of the Florida College System institution
2509community college may not be pledged to debt issued by direct-
2510support organizations.
2511     (5)  ANNUAL BUDGETS AND REPORTS.-Each direct-support
2512organization shall submit to the board of trustees its federal
2513Internal Revenue Service Application for Recognition of
2514Exemption form (Form 1023) and its federal Internal Revenue
2515Service Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax form (Form
2516990).
2517     (6)  ANNUAL AUDIT.-Each direct-support organization shall
2518provide for an annual financial audit in accordance with rules
2519adopted by the Auditor General pursuant to s. 11.45(8). The
2520annual audit report must be submitted, within 9 months after the
2521end of the fiscal year, to the Auditor General, the State Board
2522of Education, and the board of trustees for review. The board of
2523trustees, the Auditor General, and the Office of Program Policy
2524Analysis and Government Accountability may require and receive
2525from the organization or from its independent auditor any detail
2526or supplemental data relative to the operation of the
2527organization. The identity of donors who desire to remain
2528anonymous shall be protected, and that anonymity shall be
2529maintained in the auditor's report. All records of the
2530organization, other than the auditor's report, any information
2531necessary for the auditor's report, any information related to
2532the expenditure of funds, and any supplemental data requested by
2533the board of trustees, the Auditor General, and the Office of
2534Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, shall be
2535confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1).
2536     Section 55.  Section 1004.71, Florida Statutes, is amended
2537to read:
2538     1004.71  Statewide Florida College System institution
2539community college direct-support organizations.-
2540     (1)  DEFINITIONS.-For the purposes of this section:
2541     (a)  "Statewide Florida College System institution
2542community college direct-support organization" means an
2543organization that is:
2544     1.  A Florida corporation not for profit, incorporated
2545under the provisions of chapter 617 and approved by the
2546Department of State.
2547     2.  Organized and operated exclusively to receive, hold,
2548invest, and administer property and to make expenditures to, or
2549for the benefit of, the Florida College System institutions
2550community colleges in this state.
2551     3.  An organization that the State Board of Education,
2552after review, has certified to be operating in a manner
2553consistent with the goals of the Florida College System
2554institutions community colleges and in the best interest of the
2555state.
2556     (b)  "Personal services" includes full-time or part-time
2557personnel as well as payroll processing.
2558     (2)  BOARD OF DIRECTORS.-The chair of the State Board of
2559Education may appoint a representative to the board of directors
2560and the executive committee of any statewide, direct-support
2561organization established under this section or s. 1004.70. The
2562chair of the State Board of Education, or the chair's designee,
2563shall also serve on the board of directors and the executive
2564committee of any direct-support organization established to
2565benefit Florida College System institutions the community
2566colleges of Florida.
2567     (3)  USE OF PROPERTY.-
2568     (a)  The State Board of Education may permit the use of
2569property, facilities, and personal services of the Department of
2570Education by any statewide Florida College System institution
2571community college direct-support organization, subject to the
2572provisions of this section.
2573     (b)  The State Board of Education may prescribe by rule any
2574condition with which a statewide Florida College System
2575institution community college direct-support organization must
2576comply in order to use property, facilities, or personal
2577services of the Department of Education.
2578     (c)  The State Board of Education may not permit the use of
2579property, facilities, or personal services of the Department of
2580Education by any statewide Florida College System institution
2581community college direct-support organization that does not
2582provide equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless
2583of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or religion.
2584     (4)  RESTRICTIONS.-
2585     (a)  A statewide, direct-support organization may not use
2586public funds to acquire, construct, maintain, or operate any
2587facilities.
2588     (b)  Any transaction or agreement between a statewide,
2589direct-support organization and any other direct-support
2590organization or between a statewide, direct-support organization
2591and a center of technology innovation designated under s.
25921004.77 must be approved by the State Board of Education.
2593     (c)  A statewide Florida College System institution
2594community college direct-support organization is prohibited from
2595giving, either directly or indirectly, any gift to a political
2596committee or committee of continuous existence as defined in s.
2597106.011 for any purpose other than those certified by a majority
2598roll call vote of the governing board of the direct-support
2599organization at a regularly scheduled meeting as being directly
2600related to the educational mission of the State Board of
2601Education.
2602     (5)  ANNUAL BUDGETS AND REPORTS.-Each direct-support
2603organization shall submit to the State Board of Education its
2604federal Internal Revenue Service Application for Recognition of
2605Exemption form (Form 1023) and its federal Internal Revenue
2606Service Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax form (Form
2607990).
2608     (6)  ANNUAL AUDIT.-A statewide Florida College System
2609institution community college direct-support organization shall
2610provide for an annual financial audit in accordance with s.
26111004.70. The identity of a donor or prospective donor who
2612desires to remain anonymous and all information identifying such
2613donor or prospective donor are confidential and exempt from the
2614provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State
2615Constitution. Such anonymity shall be maintained in the
2616auditor's report.
2617     Section 56.  Subsection (1) of section 1004.725, Florida
2618Statutes, is amended to read:
2619     1004.725  Expenditures for self-insurance services; special
2620account.-
2621     (1)  The Florida College System institution community
2622college boards of trustees, singly or collectively, are
2623authorized to contract with an administrator or service company
2624approved pursuant to chapter 626 to provide self-insurance
2625services, including, but not limited to, the evaluation,
2626settlement, and payment of self-insurance claims on behalf of
2627the board of trustees or a consortium of boards of trustees.
2628     Section 57.  Section 1004.726, Florida Statutes, is amended
2629to read:
2630     1004.726  Trademarks, copyrights, or patents.-Each Florida
2631College System institution community college board of trustees
2632may develop and produce work products relating to educational
2633endeavors that are subject to trademark, copyright, or patent
2634statutes. To this end, the board of trustees shall consider the
2635relative contribution by the personnel employed in the
2636development of such work products and shall enter into binding
2637agreements with such personnel, organizations, corporations, or
2638government entities, which agreements shall establish the
2639percentage of ownership of such trademarks, copyrights, or
2640patents. Any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, the
2641board of trustees may in its own name:
2642     (1)  Perform all things necessary to secure letters of
2643patent, copyrights, and trademarks on any such work products and
2644enforce its rights therein.
2645     (2)  License, lease, assign, or otherwise give written
2646consent to any person, firm, or corporation for the manufacture
2647or use of its work products on a royalty basis or for such other
2648consideration as the board of trustees deems proper.
2649     (3)  Take any action necessary, including legal action, to
2650protect its work products against improper or unlawful use of
2651infringement.
2652     (4)  Enforce the collection of any sums due the board of
2653trustees for the manufacture or use of its work products by any
2654other party.
2655     (5)  Sell any of its work products and execute all
2656instruments necessary to consummate any such sale.
2657     (6)  Do all other acts necessary and proper for the
2658execution of powers and duties provided by this section.
2659     Section 58.  Subsection (4) of section 1004.74, Florida
2660Statutes, is amended to read:
2661     1004.74  Florida School of the Arts.-
2662     (4)  The Council for the Florida School of the Arts shall
2663be established to advise the Florida College System institution
2664community college district board of trustees on matters
2665pertaining to the operation of the school. The council shall
2666consist of nine members, appointed by the Commissioner of
2667Education for 4-year terms. A member may serve three terms and
2668may serve until replaced.
2669     Section 59.  Subsections (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) of
2670section 1004.75, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
2671     1004.75  Training school consolidation pilot projects.-
2672     (2)  EXISTING PUBLIC CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING PROGRAMS.-
2673Notwithstanding ss. 1001.31, 1001.33, and 1007.25, or any other
2674provision of law to the contrary, criminal justice training
2675programs in the pilot counties will transfer to Florida College
2676System institutions community colleges, effective July 1, 1999,
2677at which time responsibility for the provision of basic recruit,
2678advanced, career development, and continuing training courses
2679and programs offered in public criminal justice training
2680programs and for the operation of existing public criminal
2681justice training programs will be shifted from the school
2682district to the Florida College System institution community
2683college in whose service area the public criminal justice
2684training program is located. Certification of the program
2685granted by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training
2686Commission will be transferred to the respective Florida College
2687System institution community college and the college must
2688continue to meet the requirements of the commission.
2689     (3)  FACILITIES.-
2690     (a)  Criminal justice training program educational
2691facilities, educational plants, and related equipment as defined
2692in s. 1013.01(6) and (7) which are owned by the state and paid
2693for with only state funds shall be transferred to the Florida
2694College System institution community college, except that, if
2695such an educational facility or educational plant or part of
2696such facility or plant is used for other purposes in addition to
2697public criminal justice training, the Criminal Justice Standards
2698and Training Commission shall mediate the transfer or a suitable
2699multiuse arrangement.
2700     (b)  Criminal justice training program educational
2701facilities, educational plants, and related equipment as defined
2702in s. 1013.01(6) and (7) which are owned by the school district
2703and paid for in whole or in part with local tax funds shall be
2704leased to the Florida College System institution community
2705college. However, if such an educational facility or educational
2706plant, or part of such facility or plant, is used for other
2707purposes in addition to public criminal justice training, the
2708Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission shall mediate
2709a suitable lease agreement. If a school district and a Florida
2710College System institution community college cannot agree on the
2711terms and conditions of the lease agreement, the Criminal
2712Justice Standards and Training Commission shall finalize the
2713agreement and report its decision to the Legislature. The
2714Department of Education, Office of Educational Facilities, shall
2715conduct an analysis, by December 31, 1999, to determine the
2716amount of local tax contribution used in the construction of a
2717school-district-owned criminal justice training program,
2718educational facility, or educational plant affected by the
2719transfer. This analysis shall be used to establish a purchase
2720price for the facility or plant. The Florida College System
2721institution community college board of trustees may make a
2722legislative budget request through the State Board of Education
2723to purchase the facility or plant, or it may continue to lease
2724the facility or plant.
2725     (4)  PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.-Each pilot training center will
2726be regional in nature, as defined by the Criminal Justice
2727Standards and Training Commission. Each Florida College System
2728institution community college with responsibility for a public
2729criminal justice training program must:
2730     (a)  Establish a pilot training center advisory committee
2731made up of professionals from the field of each training program
2732included in the pilot project.
2733     (b)  Provide certificate and noncredit options for students
2734and training components of the pilot training center that so
2735require.
2736     (c)  Develop an articulation agreement with state
2737universities to facilitate the transfer of graduates of a
2738Florida College System institution community college degree
2739training program to the upper division of a state university
2740with a corresponding program.
2741     (5)  STAFFING.-The Florida College System institution
2742community college board of trustees may provide for school
2743district public criminal justice training staff employed in
2744full-time budgeted positions to be transferred into the Florida
2745College System institution community college personnel system at
2746the same rate of salary. Retirement and leave provisions will be
2747transferred according to law.
2748     (6)  FUNDING.-The Department of Education shall shift funds
2749generated by students in the pilot training centers established
2750by this section, including workforce development recurring and
2751nonrecurring funds, from the appropriate school district to the
2752respective Florida College System institution community college.
2753The Florida College System institution community college shall
2754qualify for future facilities funding upon transfer of the
2755facility.
2756     (a)  Consistent with s. 1011.62(8), school districts that
2757transfer programs will receive an amount equal to 15 percent of
2758the funding generated for the program under the FEFP in 1996-
27591997.
2760     (b)  Reflecting the lower program costs in Florida College
2761System institutions community colleges, notwithstanding the
2762funding generated in paragraph (a), Florida College System
2763institutions community colleges will receive 90 percent of the
2764funding generated for the program under the FEFP in 1996-1997.
2765The school district will retain the remaining 10 percent.
2766     (c)  Notwithstanding ss. 1009.22(3)(a) and 1011.80(5)(a),
2767or any other provision of law to the contrary, fees for
2768continuing workforce education for public law enforcement
2769officers at these pilot centers shall not exceed 25 percent of
2770the cost of the course, and state funding shall not under any
2771circumstances exceed 50 percent of the cost of the course.
2772     Section 60.  Subsections (1) and (2), paragraphs (a) and
2773(b) of subsection (4), subsection (5), and paragraphs (b), (c),
2774and (d) of subsection (7) of section 1004.77, Florida Statutes,
2775are amended to read:
2776     1004.77  Centers of technology innovation.-
2777     (1)  The State Board of Education may designate centers of
2778technology innovation at single Florida College System
2779institutions community colleges, consortia of Florida College
2780System institutions community colleges, or consortia of Florida
2781College System institutions community colleges with other
2782educational institutions. The state board shall adopt rules
2783necessary to implement the provisions of this section. The state
2784board shall cooperate with the Workforce Florida, Inc., in the
2785designation of the centers as it relates to the centers of
2786applied technology.
2787     (2)  Centers shall be designated when a Florida College
2788System institution community college or consortia provides
2789evidence that it has developed expertise in one or more
2790specialized technologies. To be designated, the Florida College
2791System institution community college or consortia must provide
2792benefits to the state, which may include, but are not limited
2793to:
2794     (a)  Curriculum development.
2795     (b)  Faculty development.
2796     (c)  Research, testing, and technology transfer.
2797     (d)  Instructional equipment and materials identification
2798and development.
2799     (e)  Partnerships with industries dependent upon staying
2800current in the related technologies and in the development of
2801workforce capabilities.
2802     (f)  Partnerships with industries needing to convert their
2803existing technology base to other technologies in order to
2804continue conducting business in Florida, including converting
2805defense-related technologies to other technologies.
2806     (4)  Centers may provide instruction, as follows:
2807     (a)  To students enrolled in the Florida College System
2808institution community college, especially for purposes of
2809providing training for technicians in areas that support the
2810employers involved in the technology specialization.
2811     (b)  To students enrolled at the undergraduate and graduate
2812level in a university, college, or Florida College System
2813institution community college which is a member of the
2814designated consortia. Such enrollment shall be funded by the
2815enrolling institution.
2816     (5)  The State Board of Education shall give priority in
2817the designation of centers to those Florida College System
2818institutions community colleges that specialize in technology in
2819environmental areas and in areas related to target industries of
2820Enterprise Florida, Inc. Priority in designation shall also be
2821given to Florida College System institutions community colleges
2822that develop new and improved manufacturing techniques and
2823related business practices.
2824     (7)  Each center shall have a board of directors with at
2825least five members who shall be appointed by the district board
2826of trustees. The board of directors is responsible for
2827overseeing the operation of the center, approval of the annual
2828budget, and setting policy to guide the director in the
2829operation of the center. The board of directors shall consist of
2830at least the following:
2831     (b)  The vice president of academic affairs, or the
2832equivalent, of the Florida College System institution community
2833college.
2834     (c)  The vice president of business affairs, or the
2835equivalent, of the Florida College System institution community
2836college.
2837     (d)  Two members designated by the president of the Florida
2838College System institution community college.
2839     Section 61.  Section 1004.78, Florida Statutes, is amended
2840to read:
2841     1004.78  Technology transfer centers at Florida College
2842System institutions community colleges.-
2843     (1)  Each Florida College System institution community
2844college may establish a technology transfer center for the
2845purpose of providing institutional support to local business and
2846industry and governmental agencies in the application of new
2847research in technology. The primary responsibilities of such
2848centers may include: identifying technology research developed
2849by universities, research institutions, businesses, industries,
2850the United States Armed Forces, and other state or federal
2851governmental agencies; determining and demonstrating the
2852application of technologies; training workers to integrate
2853advanced equipment and production processes; and determining for
2854business and industry the feasibility and efficiency of
2855accommodating advanced technologies.
2856     (2)  The Florida College System institution community
2857college board of trustees shall set such policies to regulate
2858the activities of the technology transfer center as it may
2859consider necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section
2860and to administer the programs of the center in a manner which
2861assures efficiency and effectiveness, producing the maximum
2862benefit for the educational programs and maximum service to the
2863state. To this end, materials that relate to methods of
2864manufacture or production, potential trade secrets, potentially
2865patentable material, actual trade secrets, business
2866transactions, or proprietary information received, generated,
2867ascertained, or discovered during the course of activities
2868conducted within the Florida College System institutions
2869community colleges shall be confidential and exempt from the
2870provisions of s. 119.07(1), except that a Florida College System
2871institution community college shall make available upon request
2872the title and description of a project, the name of the
2873investigator, and the amount and source of funding provided for
2874such project.
2875     (3)  A technology transfer center created under the
2876provisions of this section shall be under the supervision of the
2877board of trustees of that Florida College System institution
2878community college, which is authorized to appoint a director; to
2879employ full-time and part-time staff, research personnel, and
2880professional services; to employ on a part-time basis personnel
2881of the Florida College System institution community college; and
2882to employ temporary employees whose salaries are paid entirely
2883from the permanent technology transfer fund or from that fund in
2884combination with other nonstate sources, with such positions
2885being exempt from the requirements of the Florida Statutes
2886relating to salaries, except that no such appointment shall be
2887made for a total period of longer than 1 year.
2888     (4)  The board of trustees of the Florida College System
2889institution community college in which a technology transfer
2890center is created, or its designee, may negotiate, enter into,
2891and execute contracts; solicit and accept grants and donations;
2892and fix and collect fees, other payments, and donations that may
2893accrue by reason thereof for technology transfer activities. The
2894board of trustees or its designee may negotiate, enter into, and
2895execute contracts on a cost-reimbursement basis and may provide
2896temporary financing of such costs prior to reimbursement from
2897moneys on deposit in the technology transfer fund, except as may
2898be prohibited elsewhere by law.
2899     (5)  A technology transfer center shall be financed from
2900the Academic Improvement Program or from moneys of a Florida
2901College System institution community college which are on
2902deposit or received for use in the activities conducted in the
2903center. Such moneys shall be deposited by the Florida College
2904System institution community college in a permanent technology
2905transfer fund in a depository or depositories approved for the
2906deposit of state funds and shall be accounted for and disbursed
2907subject to audit by the Auditor General.
2908     (6)  The fund balance in any existing research trust fund
2909of a Florida College System institution community college at the
2910time a technology transfer center is created shall be
2911transferred to a permanent technology transfer fund established
2912for the Florida College System institution community college,
2913and thereafter the fund balance of the technology transfer fund
2914at the end of any fiscal period may be used during any
2915succeeding period pursuant to this section.
2916     (7)  Moneys deposited in the permanent technology transfer
2917fund of a Florida College System institution community college
2918shall be disbursed in accordance with the terms of the contract,
2919grant, or donation under which they are received. Moneys
2920received for overhead or indirect costs and other moneys not
2921required for the payment of direct costs shall be applied to the
2922cost of operating the technology transfer center.
2923     (8)  All purchases of a technology transfer center shall be
2924made in accordance with the policies and procedures of the
2925Florida College System institution community college.
2926     (9)  The Florida College System institution community
2927college board of trustees may authorize the construction,
2928alteration, or remodeling of buildings when the funds used are
2929derived entirely from the technology transfer fund of a Florida
2930College System institution community college or from that fund
2931in combination with other nonstate sources, provided that such
2932construction, alteration, or remodeling is for use exclusively
2933by the center. It also may authorize the acquisition of real
2934property when the cost is entirely from said funds. Title to all
2935real property shall vest in the board of trustees.
2936     (10)  The State Board of Education may award grants to
2937Florida College System institutions community colleges, or
2938consortia of public and private colleges and universities and
2939other public and private entities, for the purpose of supporting
2940the objectives of this section. Grants awarded pursuant to this
2941subsection shall be in accordance with rules of the State Board
2942of Education. Such rules shall include the following provisions:
2943     (a)  The number of centers established with state funds
2944provided expressly for the purpose of technology transfer shall
2945be limited, but shall be geographically located to maximize
2946public access to center resources and services.
2947     (b)  Grants to centers funded with state revenues
2948appropriated specifically for technology transfer activities
2949shall be reviewed and approved by the State Board of Education
2950using proposal solicitation, evaluation, and selection
2951procedures established by the state board in consultation with
2952Enterprise Florida, Inc. Such procedures may include designation
2953of specific areas or applications of technology as priorities
2954for the receipt of funding.
2955     (c)  Priority for the receipt of state funds appropriated
2956specifically for the purpose of technology transfer shall be
2957given to grant proposals developed jointly by Florida College
2958System institutions community colleges and public and private
2959colleges and universities.
2960     (11)  Each technology transfer center established under the
2961provisions of this section shall establish a technology transfer
2962center advisory committee. Each committee shall include
2963representatives of a university or universities conducting
2964research in the area of specialty of the center. Other members
2965shall be determined by the Florida College System institution
2966community college board of trustees.
2967     Section 62.  Section 1004.79, Florida Statutes, is amended
2968to read:
2969     1004.79  Incubator facilities for small business concerns.-
2970     (1)  Each Florida College System institution community
2971college established pursuant to s. 1004.02(2) may provide
2972incubator facilities to eligible small business concerns. As
2973used in this section, "small business concern" shall be defined
2974as an independently owned and operated business concern
2975incorporated in Florida which is not an affiliate or a
2976subsidiary of a business dominant in its field of operation, and
2977which employs 25 or fewer full-time employees. "Incubator
2978facility" shall be defined as a facility in which small business
2979concerns share common space, equipment, and support personnel
2980and through which such concerns have access to professional
2981consultants for advice related to the technical and business
2982aspects of conducting a commercial enterprise. The Florida
2983College System institution community college board of trustees
2984shall authorize concerns for inclusion in the incubator
2985facility.
2986     (2)  Each Florida College System institution community
2987college that provides an incubator facility shall provide the
2988following:
2989     (a)  Management and maintenance of the incubator facility.
2990     (b)  Secretarial and other support personnel, equipment,
2991and utilities.
2992     (c)  Mechanisms to assist with the acquisition of
2993technical, management, and entrepreneurial expertise to resident
2994and other local small business concerns.
2995     (3)  The incubator facility and any improvements to the
2996facility shall be owned or leased by the Florida College System
2997institution community college. The Florida College System
2998institution community college may charge residents of the
2999facility all or part of the cost for facilities, utilities, and
3000support personnel and equipment. No small business concern shall
3001reside in the incubator facility for more than 5 calendar years.
3002The state shall not be liable for any act or failure to act of
3003any small business concern residing in an incubator facility
3004pursuant to this section or of any such concern benefiting from
3005the incubator facilities program.
3006     (4)  Florida College System institutions Community colleges
3007are encouraged to establish incubator facilities through which
3008emerging small businesses supportive of spaceport endeavors and
3009other high-technology enterprises may be served.
3010     (5)  Florida College System institutions Community colleges
3011are encouraged to establish incubator facilities through which
3012emerging small businesses supportive of development of content
3013and technology for digital broadband media and digital
3014broadcasting may be served.
3015     Section 63.  Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section
30161004.80, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3017     1004.80  Economic development centers.-
3018     (1)  Florida College System institutions Community colleges
3019may establish economic development centers for the purpose of
3020serving as liaisons between Florida College System institutions
3021community colleges and the business sector. The responsibilities
3022of each center shall include:
3023     (a)  Promoting the economic well-being of businesses and
3024industries.
3025     (b)  Coordinating, with chambers of commerce, government
3026agencies, district school boards, and other organizations,
3027efforts to provide educational programs which promote economic
3028development, including, but not limited to, business incubators,
3029industrial development and research parks, industry recruitment
3030efforts, publication of business research and resource guides,
3031and sponsorship of workshops, conferences, seminars, and
3032consultation services.
3033     (2)  The board of trustees of a Florida College System
3034institution community college in which an economic development
3035center is created, or its designee, may negotiate, enter into,
3036and execute contracts; solicit and accept grants and donations;
3037and fix and collect fees, other payments, and donations that may
3038accrue by reason of activities of the center and its staff.
3039     (3)  Economic development centers shall operate under
3040policies and procedures established by the Florida College
3041System institution community college board of trustees.
3042     Section 64.  Section 1004.81, Florida Statutes, is amended
3043to read:
3044     1004.81  Establishment of child development training
3045centers at Florida College System institutions community
3046colleges.-
3047     (1)  The Legislature recognizes the importance of preschool
3048developmental education and the need for adult students with
3049limited economic resources to have access to high-quality,
3050affordable child care at variable hours for their children. It
3051is therefore the intent of the Legislature that Florida College
3052System institutions community colleges provide high-quality,
3053affordable child care to the children of adult students enrolled
3054in Florida College System institutions community colleges. The
3055primary purpose of these child development training centers is
3056to provide affordable child care for children of adult students,
3057particularly those who demonstrate financial need, as well as
3058for employees and staff of the institution. Further, the child
3059development training centers are intended to provide both
3060preschool instruction to the children and clinical experiences
3061for prospective child care and early childhood instructional and
3062administrative personnel. A secondary mission of the centers
3063shall be to provide instruction in parenting skills for the
3064clients of the center as well as for the community.
3065     (2)  In consultation with the student government
3066association or a recognized student group representing the
3067student body, a Florida College System institution community
3068college board of trustees may establish a child development
3069training center in accordance with this section. Each child
3070development training center shall be a child care center
3071established to provide child care during the day and at variable
3072hours, including evenings and weekends, for the children of
3073students. Emphasis should be placed on serving students who
3074demonstrate financial need as defined by the board of trustees.
3075At least 50 percent of the child care slots must be made
3076available to students, and financially needy students, as
3077defined by the board of trustees, shall receive child care slots
3078first. The center may serve the children of staff, employees,
3079and faculty; however, a designated number of child care slots
3080shall not be allocated for employees. Whenever possible, the
3081center shall be located on the campus of the Florida College
3082System institution community college. However, the board may
3083elect to provide child care services for students through
3084alternative mechanisms, which may include contracting with
3085private providers.
3086     (3)  There shall be a board of directors of each child
3087development training center, consisting of the president or his
3088or her designee, the student government president or his or her
3089designee, the chair of the department participating in the
3090center or his or her designee, and one parent for each 25
3091children enrolled in the center, elected by the parents of the
3092children enrolled in the center. There shall be a director of
3093each center, selected by the board of directors of the center.
3094The director shall be an ex officio, nonvoting member of the
3095board. The board of trustees shall establish local policies and
3096perform local oversight and operational guidance for the center.
3097     (4)  Each center may charge fees for the care and services
3098it provides. Each board of trustees shall establish mechanisms
3099to facilitate access to center services for students with
3100financial need, which shall include a sliding fee scale and
3101other methods adopted by the board of trustees to reduce or
3102defray payment of fees for students. The board of trustees is
3103authorized to seek and receive grants and other resources to
3104support the operation of the child development center.
3105     (5)  In addition to revenues derived from child care fees
3106charged to parents and other external resources, each child
3107development training center may be funded by a portion of funds
3108from the student activity and service fee authorized by s.
31091009.23(7) and the capital improvement fee authorized by s.
31101009.23(11). Florida College System institutions Community
3111colleges are authorized to transfer funds as necessary from the
3112Florida College System institution's community college's general
3113fund to support the operation of the child development training
3114center.
3115     (6)  This section does not preclude the continuation of or
3116in any way affect child care centers operated by Florida College
3117System institutions community colleges that were established by
3118the district board of trustees prior to July 1, 1994.
3119     Section 65.  Paragraph (g) of subsection (1) of section
31201004.86, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3121     1004.86  Florida Center for Mathematics and Science
3122Education Research.-
3123     (1)  The Department of Education shall contract with a
3124competitively selected public or private university to create
3125and operate the Florida Center for Mathematics and Science
3126Education Research. The purpose of the center is increasing
3127student achievement in mathematics and science, with an emphasis
3128on K-12 education. The center shall:
3129     (g)  Establish partnerships with public and private
3130universities, Florida College System institutions community
3131colleges, school districts, and other appropriate entities to
3132further increase student achievement in mathematics and science.
3133     Section 66.  Subsection (1) of section 1004.91, Florida
3134Statutes, is amended to read:
3135     1004.91  Career-preparatory instruction.-
3136     (1)  The State Board of Education shall adopt, by rule,
3137standards of basic skill mastery for certificate career
3138education programs. Each school district and Florida College
3139System institution community college that conducts programs that
3140confer career credit shall provide career-preparatory
3141instruction through which students receive the basic skills
3142instruction required pursuant to this section.
3143     Section 67.  Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1004.92,
3144Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3145     1004.92  Purpose and responsibilities for career
3146education.-
3147     (1)  The purpose of career education is to enable students
3148who complete career programs to attain and sustain employment
3149and realize economic self-sufficiency. The purpose of this
3150section is to identify issues related to career education for
3151which school boards and Florida College System institution
3152community college boards of trustees are accountable. It is the
3153intent of the Legislature that the standards articulated in
3154subsection (2) be considered in the development of
3155accountability standards for public schools pursuant to ss.
31561000.03, 1001.42(18), and 1008.345 and for Florida College
3157System institutions community colleges pursuant to s. 1008.45.
3158     (2)(a)  School board, superintendent, and career center,
3159and Florida College System institution community college board
3160of trustees and president, accountability for career education
3161programs includes, but is not limited to:
3162     1.  Student demonstration of the academic skills necessary
3163to enter an occupation.
3164     2.  Student preparation to enter an occupation in an entry-
3165level position or continue postsecondary study.
3166     3.  Career program articulation with other corresponding
3167postsecondary programs and job training experiences.
3168     4.  Employer satisfaction with the performance of students
3169who complete career education or reach occupational completion
3170points.
3171     5.  Student completion, placement, and retention rates
3172pursuant to s. 1008.43.
3173     (b)  Department of Education accountability for career
3174education includes, but is not limited to:
3175     1.  The provision of timely, accurate technical assistance
3176to school districts and Florida College System institutions
3177community colleges.
3178     2.  The provision of timely, accurate information to the
3179State Board of Education, the Legislature, and the public.
3180     3.  The development of policies, rules, and procedures that
3181facilitate institutional attainment of the accountability
3182standards and coordinate the efforts of all divisions within the
3183department.
3184     4.  The development of program standards and industry-
3185driven benchmarks for career, adult, and community education
3186programs, which must be updated every 3 years. The standards
3187must include career, academic, and workplace skills; viability
3188of distance learning for instruction; and work/learn cycles that
3189are responsive to business and industry.
3190     5.  Overseeing school district and Florida College System
3191institution community college compliance with the provisions of
3192this chapter.
3193     6.  Ensuring that the educational outcomes for the
3194technical component of career programs are uniform and designed
3195to provide a graduate who is capable of entering the workforce
3196on an equally competitive basis regardless of the institution of
3197choice.
3198     Section 68.  Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (3),
3199paragraphs (d) and (e) of subsection (4), and subsections (6)
3200and (7) of section 1004.93, Florida Statutes, are amended to
3201read:
3202     1004.93  Adult general education.-
3203     (3)(a)  Each district school board or Florida College
3204System institution community college board of trustees shall
3205negotiate with the regional workforce board for basic and
3206functional literacy skills assessments for participants in the
3207welfare transition employment and training programs. Such
3208assessments shall be conducted at a site mutually acceptable to
3209the district school board or Florida College System institution
3210community college board of trustees and the regional workforce
3211board.
3212     (b)  State employees who are employed in local or regional
3213offices of state agencies shall inform clients of the
3214availability of adult basic and secondary programs in the
3215region. The identities of clients who do not possess high school
3216diplomas or who demonstrate skills below the level of functional
3217literacy shall be conveyed, with their consent, to the local
3218school district or Florida College System institution community
3219college, or both.
3220     (4)
3221     (d)  Expenditures for college-preparatory and lifelong
3222learning students shall be reported separately. Allocations for
3223college-preparatory courses shall be based on proportional full-
3224time equivalent enrollment. Program review results shall be
3225included in the determination of subsequent allocations. A
3226student shall be funded to enroll in the same college-
3227preparatory class within a skill area only twice, after which
3228time the student shall pay 100 percent of the full cost of
3229instruction to support the continuous enrollment of that student
3230in the same class; however, students who withdraw or fail a
3231class due to extenuating circumstances may be granted an
3232exception only once for each class, provided approval is granted
3233according to policy established by the board of trustees. Each
3234Florida College System institution community college shall have
3235the authority to review and reduce payment for increased fees
3236due to continued enrollment in a college-preparatory class on an
3237individual basis contingent upon the student's financial
3238hardship, pursuant to definitions and fee levels established by
3239the State Board of Education. College-preparatory and lifelong
3240learning courses do not generate credit toward an associate or
3241baccalaureate degree.
3242     (e)  A district school board or a Florida College System
3243institution community college board of trustees may negotiate a
3244contract with the regional workforce board for specialized
3245services for participants in the welfare transition program,
3246beyond what is routinely provided for the general public, to be
3247funded by the regional workforce board.
3248     (6)  The commissioner shall recommend the level of funding
3249for public school and Florida College System institution
3250community college adult education within the legislative budget
3251request and make other recommendations and reports considered
3252necessary or required by rules of the State Board of Education.
3253     (7)  Buildings, land, equipment, and other property owned
3254by a district school board or Florida College System institution
3255community college board of trustees may be used for the conduct
3256of the adult education program. Buildings, land, equipment, and
3257other property owned or leased by cooperating public or private
3258agencies, organizations, or institutions may also be used for
3259the purposes of this section.
3260     Section 69.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and subsection
3261(4) of section 1004.94, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3262     1004.94  Adult literacy.-
3263     (1)(a)  An adult, individualized literacy instruction
3264program is created for adults who possess literacy skills below
3265the ninth grade level. The purpose of the program is to provide
3266self-paced, competency-based, individualized tutorial
3267instruction. The commissioner shall administer this section in
3268coordination with Florida College System institution community
3269college boards of trustees, local school boards, and the
3270Division of Library and Information Services of the Department
3271of State.
3272     (4)(a)  The commissioner shall submit a state adult
3273literacy plan to the State Board of Education to serve as a
3274reference for district school boards and Florida College System
3275institutions community colleges boards of trustees to increase
3276adult literacy in their service areas as prescribed in the
3277agency functional plan of the Department of Education. The plan
3278must include, at a minimum:
3279     1.  Policies and objectives for adult literacy programs,
3280including evaluative criteria.
3281     2.  Strategies for coordinating adult literacy activities
3282with programs and services provided by other state and local
3283nonprofit agencies, as well as strategies for maximizing other
3284funding, resources, and expertise.
3285     3.  Procedures for identifying, recruiting, and retaining
3286adults who possess literacy skills below the ninth grade level.
3287     4.  Sources of relevant demographic information and methods
3288of projecting the number of adults who possess literacy skills
3289below the ninth grade level.
3290     5.  Acceptable methods of demonstrating compliance with the
3291provisions of this section.
3292     6.  Guidelines for the development and implementation of
3293local adult literacy plans. At a minimum, such guidelines must
3294address:
3295     a.  The recruitment and preparation of volunteer tutors.
3296     b.  Interagency and intraagency cooperation and
3297coordination, especially with public libraries and other
3298sponsors of literacy programs.
3299     c.  Desirable learning environments, including class size.
3300     d.  Program evaluation standards.
3301     e.  Methods for identifying, recruiting, and retaining
3302adults in literacy programs.
3303     f.  Adult literacy through family literacy and workforce
3304literacy programs.
3305     (b)  Every 3 years, the district school board or Florida
3306College System institution community college board of trustees
3307shall develop and maintain a local adult literacy plan.
3308     Section 70.  Subsection (1) of section 1004.95, Florida
3309Statutes, is amended to read:
3310     1004.95  Adult literacy centers.-
3311     (1)  The Commissioner of Education shall select Florida
3312College System institutions community colleges and public school
3313districts to establish and operate adult literacy centers to
3314complement existing public and private instructional adult
3315literacy programs. The centers shall identify, contact, counsel,
3316and refer persons considered to be lacking basic or functional
3317literacy skills or competencies related to prose, document, and
3318quantitative literacy skills to the appropriate private and
3319public agencies, including human service agencies. The centers
3320may not duplicate or supplant the existing services provided by
3321public and private agencies operating within the district.
3322     Section 71.  Subsection (2), paragraph (a) of subsection
3323(3), and subsections (4) and (6) of section 1004.97, Florida
3324Statutes, are amended to read:
3325     1004.97  Florida Literacy Corps.-
3326     (2)  There is created a Florida Literacy Corps to be
3327administered by the Department of Education pursuant to this
3328section and rules of the State Board of Education. Participating
3329students earn college credit for tutoring adults who do not
3330possess basic or functional literacy skills pursuant to an
3331agreement between the institution in which the student is
3332enrolled and the district school board, Florida College System
3333institution community college board of trustees, public library,
3334or nonprofit organization offering literacy instruction to
3335adults pursuant to s. 1004.94. The district school board,
3336Florida College System institution community college board of
3337trustees, public library, or nonprofit organization is solely
3338responsible for providing literacy programs and instructing
3339participating postsecondary students.
3340     (3)  In order to be eligible to participate in the Florida
3341Literacy Corps, a student must:
3342     (a)  Be enrolled in an eligible state university or Florida
3343College System institution community college at least half time
3344and be in good standing, as defined by the institution.
3345     (4)  In order to be eligible to participate in the Florida
3346Literacy Corps, a state university or Florida College System
3347institution community college must:
3348     (a)  Establish one or more undergraduate or graduate
3349courses, or both, in which participating students may earn a
3350maximum of 3 credit hours per semester, and a maximum of 6
3351credit hours over two or more semesters, by tutoring adults who
3352do not possess basic or functional literacy skills. The
3353institution shall establish such courses in the common course
3354designation and numbering system. The courses must require
3355students to complete instruction for prospective tutors, tutor
3356adults for at least 25 hours per semester for each hour of
3357credit awarded, and satisfy any other requirements imposed by
3358the institution.
3359     (b)  Submit a proposal to the Department of Education for
3360review and approval. The proposal must include, but is not
3361limited to:
3362     1.  Identification of the school district, Florida College
3363System institution community college, public library, or
3364nonprofit organization with which participating students will be
3365working.
3366     2.  Demonstration of the need for literacy tutors by the
3367school district, Florida College System institution community
3368college, public library, or nonprofit organization.
3369     3.  Demonstration of commitment by the public school,
3370Florida College System institution community college, public
3371library, or nonprofit organization to provide instruction for
3372tutors.
3373     4.  Description of the literacy program.
3374     5.  Demonstration of student interest in program
3375participation.
3376     6.  Designation of one or more faculty to conduct the
3377Florida Literacy Corps course and identification of the
3378qualifications of such faculty.
3379     (6)  Each participating state university and Florida
3380College System institution community college shall submit an
3381annual report to the Commissioner of Education which includes,
3382but is not limited to:
3383     (a)  The number of hours of tutoring conducted by
3384participating students.
3385     (b)  The number of students enrolled in the courses.
3386     (c)  The number of students who successfully complete the
3387courses.
3388     (d)  An evaluation of the tutors' effectiveness as judged
3389by the participating school district, Florida College System
3390institution community college, public library, or nonprofit
3391organization. The department shall develop a common evaluation
3392form for this purpose.
3393     (e)  The number of full-time equivalent enrollments
3394generated by the participating students.
3395     Section 72.  Section 1004.98, Florida Statutes, is amended
3396to read:
3397     1004.98  Workforce literacy programs.-
3398     (1)  The workforce literacy program is established within
3399the Florida College System institutions community colleges and
3400school districts to ensure the existence of sufficient numbers
3401of employees who possess the skills necessary to perform in
3402entry-level occupations and to adapt to technological advances
3403in the workplace. Workforce literacy programs are intended to
3404support economic development by increasing adult literacy and
3405producing an educated workforce.
3406     (2)  Each Florida College System institution community
3407college and school district may conduct courses and programs
3408through which adults gain the communication and computation
3409skills necessary to complete a career program, to gain or
3410maintain entry-level employment, or to upgrade employment.
3411Courses may not be conducted until the Florida College System
3412institution community college or school district identifies
3413current and prospective employees who do not possess the skills
3414necessary to enter career programs or to obtain or maintain
3415employment.
3416     (3)  A Florida College System institution community college
3417or school district may be eligible to fund a workforce literacy
3418program pursuant to the provisions of s. 1004.94.
3419     Section 73.  Subsection (2) of section 1004.99, Florida
3420Statutes, is amended to read:
3421     1004.99  Florida Ready to Work Certification Program.-
3422     (2)  The Florida Ready to Work Certification Program may be
3423conducted in public middle and high schools, Florida College
3424System institutions community colleges, technical centers, one-
3425stop career centers, vocational rehabilitation centers, and
3426Department of Juvenile Justice educational facilities. The
3427program may be made available to other entities that provide job
3428training. The Department of Education shall establish
3429institutional readiness criteria for program implementation.
3430     Section 74.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
34311005.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3432     1005.21  Commission for Independent Education.-
3433     (2)  The Commission for Independent Education shall consist
3434of seven members who are residents of this state. The commission
3435shall function in matters concerning independent postsecondary
3436educational institutions in consumer protection, program
3437improvement, and licensure for institutions under its purview.
3438The Governor shall appoint the members of the commission who are
3439subject to confirmation by the Senate. The membership of the
3440commission shall consist of:
3441     (c)  One member from a public school district or Florida
3442College System institution community college who is an
3443administrator of career education.
3444     Section 75.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
34451006.15, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3446     1006.15  Student standards for participation in
3447interscholastic and intrascholastic extracurricular student
3448activities; regulation.-
3449     (3)
3450     (c)  An individual home education student is eligible to
3451participate at the public school to which the student would be
3452assigned according to district school board attendance area
3453policies or which the student could choose to attend pursuant to
3454district or interdistrict controlled open enrollment provisions,
3455or may develop an agreement to participate at a private school,
3456in the interscholastic extracurricular activities of that
3457school, provided the following conditions are met:
3458     1.  The home education student must meet the requirements
3459of the home education program pursuant to s. 1002.41.
3460     2.  During the period of participation at a school, the
3461home education student must demonstrate educational progress as
3462required in paragraph (b) in all subjects taken in the home
3463education program by a method of evaluation agreed upon by the
3464parent and the school principal which may include: review of the
3465student's work by a certified teacher chosen by the parent;
3466grades earned through correspondence; grades earned in courses
3467taken at a Florida College System institution community college,
3468university, or trade school; standardized test scores above the
346935th percentile; or any other method designated in s. 1002.41.
3470     3.  The home education student must meet the same residency
3471requirements as other students in the school at which he or she
3472participates.
3473     4.  The home education student must meet the same standards
3474of acceptance, behavior, and performance as required of other
3475students in extracurricular activities.
3476     5.  The student must register with the school his or her
3477intent to participate in interscholastic extracurricular
3478activities as a representative of the school before the
3479beginning date of the season for the activity in which he or she
3480wishes to participate. A home education student must be able to
3481participate in curricular activities if that is a requirement
3482for an extracurricular activity.
3483     6.  A student who transfers from a home education program
3484to a public school before or during the first grading period of
3485the school year is academically eligible to participate in
3486interscholastic extracurricular activities during the first
3487grading period provided the student has a successful evaluation
3488from the previous school year, pursuant to subparagraph 2.
3489     7.  Any public school or private school student who has
3490been unable to maintain academic eligibility for participation
3491in interscholastic extracurricular activities is ineligible to
3492participate in such activities as a home education student until
3493the student has successfully completed one grading period in
3494home education pursuant to subparagraph 2. to become eligible to
3495participate as a home education student.
3496     Section 76.  Subsections (1), (2), and (5) of section
34971006.17, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3498     1006.17  Sponsorship of athletic activities similar to
3499those for which scholarships offered; rulemaking.-
3500     (1)  If a district school board sponsors an athletic
3501activity or sport that is similar to a sport for which a state
3502university or Florida College System institution public
3503community college offers an athletic scholarship, it must
3504sponsor the athletic activity or sport for which a scholarship
3505is offered. This section does not affect academic requirements
3506for participation or prevent the school districts or Florida
3507College System institutions community colleges from sponsoring
3508activities in addition to those for which scholarships are
3509provided.
3510     (2)  If a Florida College System institution public
3511community college sponsors an athletic activity or sport that is
3512similar to a sport for which a state university offers an
3513athletic scholarship, it must sponsor the athletic activity or
3514sport for which a scholarship is offered.
3515     (5)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
3516administer this section, including rules that determine which
3517athletic activities are similar to sports for which state
3518universities and Florida College System institutions community
3519colleges offer scholarships.
3520     Section 77.  Subsection (1) of section 1006.50, Florida
3521Statutes, is amended to read:
3522     1006.50  Student handbooks.-
3523     (1)  Each Florida College System institution community
3524college and state university shall compile and update annually a
3525student handbook that includes, but is not limited to, a
3526comprehensive calendar that emphasizes important dates and
3527deadlines, student rights and responsibilities, appeals
3528processes available to students, and a roster of contact persons
3529within the administrative staff available to respond to student
3530inquiries.
3531     Section 78.  Subsections (1) and (3) of section 1006.51,
3532Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3533     1006.51  Student ombudsman office.-
3534     (1)  There is created at each Florida College System
3535institution community college and state university a student
3536ombudsman office, which is accountable to the president.
3537     (3)  Each Florida College System institution community
3538college and state university shall develop minimum standards for
3539the role of ombudsman or student advocate. The standards shall
3540address the issue of notification of students of opportunities
3541for assistance or appeal.
3542     Section 79.  Subsection (4) of section 1006.55, Florida
3543Statutes, is amended to read:
3544     1006.55  Law libraries of certain institutions of higher
3545learning designated as state legal depositories.-
3546     (4)  The libraries of all Florida College System
3547institutions community colleges are designated as state
3548depositories for the Florida Statutes and supplements published
3549by or under the authority of the state; these depositories each
3550may receive upon request one copy of each volume without charge,
3551except for payment of shipping costs.
3552     Section 80.  Subsections (1), (2), (4), and (5) of section
35531006.60, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3554     1006.60  Codes of conduct; disciplinary measures; authority
3555to adopt rules or regulations.-
3556     (1)  Each Florida College System institution community
3557college may adopt, by rule, and each state university may adopt,
3558by regulation, codes of conduct and appropriate penalties for
3559violations of rules or regulations by students, to be
3560administered by the institution. Such penalties, unless
3561otherwise provided by law, may include: reprimand; restitution;
3562fines; withholding of diplomas or transcripts pending compliance
3563with rules or regulations, completion of any student judicial
3564process or sanction, or payment of fines; restrictions on the
3565use of or removal from campus facilities; community service;
3566educational requirements; and the imposition of probation,
3567suspension, dismissal, or expulsion.
3568     (2)  Each Florida College System institution community
3569college may adopt, by rule, and each state university may adopt,
3570by regulation, a code of conduct and appropriate penalties for
3571violations of rules or regulations by student organizations, to
3572be administered by the institution. Such penalties, unless
3573otherwise provided by law, may include: reprimand; restitution;
3574suspension, cancellation, or revocation of the registration or
3575official recognition of a student organization; and restrictions
3576on the use of, or removal from, campus facilities.
3577     (4)  Each Florida College System institution community
3578college may establish and adopt, by rule, and each state
3579university may establish and adopt, by regulation, codes of
3580appropriate penalties for violations of rules or regulations
3581governing student academic honesty. Such penalties, unless
3582otherwise provided by law, may include: reprimand; reduction of
3583grade; denial of academic credit; invalidation of university
3584credit or of the degree based upon such credit; probation;
3585suspension; dismissal; or expulsion. In addition to any other
3586penalties that may be imposed, an individual may be denied
3587admission or further registration, and the institution may
3588invalidate academic credit for work done by a student and may
3589invalidate or revoke the degree based upon such credit if it is
3590determined that the student has made false, fraudulent, or
3591incomplete statements in the application, residence affidavit,
3592or accompanying documents or statements in connection with, or
3593supplemental to, the application for admission to or graduation
3594from the institution.
3595     (5)  Each Florida College System institution community
3596college shall adopt rules and each state university shall adopt
3597regulations for the lawful discipline of any student who
3598intentionally acts to impair, interfere with, or obstruct the
3599orderly conduct, processes, and functions of the institution.
3600Said rules or regulations may apply to acts conducted on or off
3601campus when relevant to such orderly conduct, processes, and
3602functions.
3603     Section 81.  Section 1006.62, Florida Statutes, is amended
3604to read:
3605     1006.62  Expulsion and discipline of students of Florida
3606College System institutions community colleges and state
3607universities.-
3608     (1)  Each student in a Florida College System institution
3609community college or state university is subject to federal and
3610state law, respective county and municipal ordinances, and all
3611rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, the Board
3612of Governors regarding the State University System, or the board
3613of trustees of the institution.
3614     (2)  Violation of these published laws, ordinances, or
3615rules and regulations may subject the violator to appropriate
3616action by the institution's authorities.
3617     (3)  Each president of a Florida College System institution
3618community college or state university may, after notice to the
3619student of the charges and after a hearing thereon, expel,
3620suspend, or otherwise discipline any student who is found to
3621have violated any law, ordinance, or rule or regulation of the
3622State Board of Education, the Board of Governors regarding the
3623State University System, or the board of trustees of the
3624institution. A student may be entitled to waiver of expulsion:
3625     (a)  If the student provides substantial assistance in the
3626identification, arrest, or conviction of any of his or her
3627accomplices, accessories, coconspirators, or principals or of
3628any other person engaged in violations of chapter 893 within a
3629state university or Florida College System institution community
3630college;
3631     (b)  If the student voluntarily discloses his or her
3632violations of chapter 893 prior to his or her arrest; or
3633     (c)  If the student commits himself or herself, or is
3634referred by the court in lieu of sentence, to a state-licensed
3635drug abuse program and successfully completes the program.
3636     Section 82.  Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (8) and
3637subsection (10) of section 1006.63, Florida Statutes, are
3638amended to read:
3639     1006.63  Hazing prohibited.-
3640     (8)  Public and nonpublic postsecondary educational
3641institutions must provide a program for the enforcement of such
3642rules and must adopt appropriate penalties for violations of
3643such rules, to be administered by the person at the institution
3644responsible for the sanctioning of such organizations.
3645     (a)  Such penalties at Florida College System institutions
3646community colleges and state universities may include the
3647imposition of fines; the withholding of diplomas or transcripts
3648pending compliance with the rules or pending payment of fines;
3649and the imposition of probation, suspension, or dismissal.
3650     (b)  In the case of an organization at a Florida College
3651System institution community college or state university that
3652authorizes hazing in blatant disregard of such rules, penalties
3653may also include rescission of permission for that organization
3654to operate on campus property or to otherwise operate under the
3655sanction of the institution.
3656     (10)  Upon approval of the antihazing policy of a Florida
3657College System institution community college or state university
3658and of the rules and penalties adopted pursuant thereto, the
3659institution shall provide a copy of such policy, rules, and
3660penalties to each student enrolled in that institution and shall
3661require the inclusion of such policy, rules, and penalties in
3662the bylaws of every organization operating under the sanction of
3663the institution.
3664     Section 83.  Subsection (1) of section 1006.65, Florida
3665Statutes, is amended to read:
3666     1006.65  Safety issues in courses offered by public
3667postsecondary educational institutions.-
3668     (1)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
3669ensure that policies and procedures are in place to protect the
3670health and safety of students, instructional personnel, and
3671visitors who participate in courses offered by a Florida College
3672System institution community college.
3673     Section 84.  Section 1006.68, Florida Statutes, is amended
3674to read:
3675     1006.68  HIV and AIDS policy.-Each Florida College System
3676institution community college and state university shall develop
3677a comprehensive policy that addresses the provision of
3678instruction, information, and activities regarding human
3679immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency
3680syndrome. Such instruction, information, or activities shall
3681emphasize the known modes of transmission of human
3682immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency
3683syndrome, signs and symptoms, associated risk factors,
3684appropriate behavior and attitude change, and means used to
3685control the spread of human immunodeficiency virus infection and
3686acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
3687     Section 85.  Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1006.70,
3688Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3689     1006.70  Sponsorship of athletic activities similar to
3690those for which scholarships offered; rulemaking.-
3691     (1)  If a district school board sponsors an athletic
3692activity or sport that is similar to a sport for which a Florida
3693College System institution community college or state university
3694offers an athletic scholarship, it must sponsor the athletic
3695activity or sport for which a scholarship is offered. This
3696section does not affect academic requirements for participation
3697or prevent the districts or Florida College System institutions
3698community colleges from sponsoring activities in addition to
3699those for which scholarships are provided.
3700     (2)  If a Florida College System institution community
3701college sponsors an athletic activity or sport that is similar
3702to a sport for which a state university offers an athletic
3703scholarship, it must sponsor the athletic activity or sport for
3704which a scholarship is offered.
3705     Section 86.  Paragraphs (a), (c), (e), and (g) of
3706subsection (1), paragraph (b) of subsection (2), and subsection
3707(3) of section 1006.71, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3708     1006.71  Gender equity in intercollegiate athletics.-
3709     (1)  GENDER EQUITY PLAN.-
3710     (a)  Each Florida College System institution community
3711college and state university shall develop a gender equity plan
3712pursuant to s. 1000.05.
3713     (c)  The Commissioner of Education shall annually assess
3714the progress of each Florida College System institution's
3715community college's plan and advise the State Board of Education
3716and the Legislature regarding compliance.
3717     (e)  Each board of trustees of a Florida College System
3718institution public community college or state university shall
3719annually evaluate the presidents on the extent to which the
3720gender equity goals have been achieved.
3721     (g)1.  If a Florida College System institution community
3722college is not in compliance with Title IX of the Education
3723Amendments of 1972 and the Florida Educational Equity Act, the
3724State Board of Education shall:
3725     a.  Declare the Florida College System institution
3726community college ineligible for competitive state grants.
3727     b.  Withhold funds sufficient to obtain compliance.
3728
3729The Florida College System institution community college shall
3730remain ineligible and the funds shall not be paid until the
3731Florida College System institution community college comes into
3732compliance or the Commissioner of Education approves a plan for
3733compliance.
3734     2.  If a state university is not in compliance with Title
3735IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Florida
3736Educational Equity Act, the Board of Governors shall:
3737     a.  Declare the state university ineligible for competitive
3738state grants.
3739     b.  Withhold funds sufficient to obtain compliance.
3740
3741The state university shall remain ineligible and the funds shall
3742not be paid until the state university comes into compliance or
3743the Board of Governors approves a plan for compliance.
3744     (2)  FUNDING.-
3745     (b)  The level of funding and percentage share of support
3746for women's intercollegiate athletics for Florida College System
3747institutions community colleges shall be determined by the State
3748Board of Education. The level of funding and percentage share of
3749support for women's intercollegiate athletics for state
3750universities shall be determined by the Board of Governors. The
3751level of funding and percentage share attained in the 1980-1981
3752fiscal year shall be the minimum level and percentage maintained
3753by each institution, except as the State Board of Education or
3754the Board of Governors otherwise directs its respective
3755institutions for the purpose of assuring equity. Consideration
3756shall be given by the State Board of Education or the Board of
3757Governors to emerging athletic programs at institutions which
3758may not have the resources to secure external funds to provide
3759athletic opportunities for women. It is the intent that the
3760effect of any redistribution of funds among institutions shall
3761not negate the requirements as set forth in this section.
3762     (3)  STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.-The State Board of Education
3763shall assure equal opportunity for female athletes at Florida
3764College System institutions community colleges and establish:
3765     (a)  Guidelines for reporting of intercollegiate athletics
3766data concerning financial, program, and facilities information
3767for review by the State Board of Education annually.
3768     (b)  Systematic audits for the evaluation of such data.
3769     (c)  Criteria for determining and assuring equity.
3770     Section 87.  Section 1006.72, Florida Statutes, is amended
3771to read:
3772     1006.72  Licensing electronic library resources.-
3773     (1)  FINDINGS.-The Legislature finds that the most cost-
3774efficient and cost-effective means of licensing electronic
3775library resources requires that Florida College System
3776institutions colleges and state universities collaborate with
3777school districts and public libraries in the identification and
3778acquisition of such resources needed by more than one sector.
3779     (2)  PROCESS TO IDENTIFY RESOURCES.-Library staff from
3780Florida College System institutions colleges, state
3781universities, school districts, and public libraries shall
3782implement a process that annually identifies the electronic
3783library resources for each of the core categories established in
3784this section. To the extent possible, the Florida Center for
3785Library Automation, the College Center for Library Automation,
3786and the Division of Library and Information Services within the
3787Department of State shall jointly coordinate this annual
3788process.
3789     (3)  STATEWIDE CORE RESOURCES.-For purposes of licensing
3790electronic library resources of the Florida Electronic Library,
3791library representatives from public libraries, school districts,
3792Florida College System institutions colleges, and state
3793universities shall identify the statewide core resources that
3794will be available to all students, teachers, and citizens of the
3795state.
3796     (4)  POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION CORE RESOURCES.-For purposes
3797of licensing electronic library resources required by both the
3798Florida Center for Library Automation and the College Center for
3799Library Automation from funds appropriated to the centers,
3800Florida College System institution and state university library
3801staff shall identify the postsecondary education core resources
3802that will be available to all public postsecondary education
3803students.
3804     (5)  FOUR-YEAR DEGREE CORE RESOURCES.-For purposes of
3805licensing electronic library resources beyond the postsecondary
3806education core resources by the Florida Center for Library
3807Automation from funds appropriated to the center, state
3808university library staff, in consultation with Florida College
3809System institution library staff, shall identify the 4-year
3810degree core resources that will be available to all 4-year
3811degree-seeking students in the State University System and the
3812Florida College System. The Florida Center for Library
3813Automation shall include in the negotiated pricing model any
3814Florida College System institution interested in licensing a
3815resource.
3816     (6)  TWO-YEAR DEGREE CORE RESOURCES.-For purposes of
3817licensing electronic library resources beyond the postsecondary
3818education core resources by the College Center for Library
3819Automation from funds appropriated to the center, Florida
3820College System institution library staff shall identify the 2-
3821year degree core resources that will be available to all Florida
3822College System institution students. The College Center for
3823Library Automation shall include in the negotiated pricing model
3824any state university interested in licensing a resource.
3825     Section 88.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
38261007.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3827     1007.21  Readiness for postsecondary education and the
3828workplace.-
3829     (2)(a)  Students entering the 9th grade and their parents
3830shall have developed during the middle grades a 4- to 5-year
3831academic and career plan based on postsecondary and career
3832goals. Alternate career and academic destinations should be
3833considered with bridges between destinations to enable students
3834to shift academic and career priorities if they choose to change
3835goals. The destinations shall accommodate the needs of students
3836served in exceptional education programs to the extent
3837appropriate for individual students. Exceptional education
3838students may continue to follow the courses outlined in the
3839district school board student progression plan. Students and
3840their parents shall choose among destinations, which must
3841include:
3842     1.  Four-year college or university, Florida College System
3843institution community college plus university, or military
3844academy degree.
3845     2.  Two-year postsecondary degree.
3846     3.  Postsecondary career certificate.
3847     4.  Immediate employment or entry-level military.
3848     5.  A combination of the above.
3849     Section 89.  Subsection (1) of section 1007.22, Florida
3850Statutes, is amended to read:
3851     1007.22  Articulation; postsecondary institution
3852coordination and collaboration.-
3853     (1)  The university boards of trustees, Florida College
3854System institution community college boards of trustees, and
3855district school boards are encouraged to establish
3856intrainstitutional and interinstitutional programs to maximize
3857articulation. Programs may include upper-division-level courses
3858offered at the Florida College System institution community
3859college, distance learning, transfer agreements that facilitate
3860the transfer of credits between public and nonpublic
3861postsecondary institutions, and the concurrent enrollment of
3862students at a Florida College System institution community
3863college and a state university to enable students to take any
3864level of baccalaureate degree coursework.
3865     Section 90.  Paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of subsection (1)
3866and subsections (2) and (3) of section 1007.23, Florida
3867Statutes, are amended to read:
3868     1007.23  Statewide articulation agreement.-
3869     (1)  The State Board of Education and the Board of
3870Governors shall enter into a statewide articulation agreement
3871which the State Board of Education shall adopt by rule. The
3872agreement must preserve Florida's "2+2" system of articulation,
3873facilitate the seamless articulation of student credit across
3874and among Florida's educational entities, and reinforce the
3875provisions of this chapter by governing:
3876     (b)  Admission of associate in arts degree graduates from
3877Florida College System institutions community colleges and state
3878universities;
3879     (c)  Admission of applied technology diploma program
3880graduates from Florida College System institutions community
3881colleges or career centers;
3882     (d)  Admission of associate in science degree and associate
3883in applied science degree graduates from Florida College System
3884institutions community colleges;
3885     (2)(a)  The articulation agreement must specifically
3886provide that every associate in arts graduate of a Florida
3887College System institution shall have met all general education
3888requirements and must be granted admission to the upper division
3889of a:
3890     1.  State university, except for a limited access or
3891teacher certification program or a major program requiring an
3892audition.
3893     2.  Florida College System institution if it offers
3894baccalaureate degree programs, except for a limited access or
3895teacher certification program or a major program requiring an
3896audition.
3897     (b)  Florida College System institution associate in arts
3898graduates shall receive priority for admission to the upper
3899division of a Florida College System institution or to a state
3900university over out-of-state students. Orientation programs,
3901catalogs, and student handbooks provided to freshman enrollees
3902and transfer students at Florida College System institutions
3903colleges and state universities must include an explanation of
3904this provision of the articulation agreement.
3905     (3)  The articulation agreement must guarantee the
3906statewide articulation of appropriate workforce development
3907programs and courses between school districts and Florida
3908College System institutions community colleges and specifically
3909provide that every applied technology diploma graduate must be
3910granted the same amount of credit upon admission to an associate
3911in science degree or associate in applied science degree program
3912unless it is a limited access program. Preference for admission
3913must be given to graduates who are residents of Florida.
3914     Section 91.  Subsection (1), paragraphs (b) and (c) of
3915subsection (2), and subsections (3), (6), and (7) of section
39161007.235, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3917     1007.235  District interinstitutional articulation
3918agreements.-
3919     (1)  District school superintendents and Florida College
3920System institution community college presidents shall jointly
3921develop and implement a comprehensive articulated acceleration
3922program for the students enrolled in their respective school
3923districts and service areas. Within this general responsibility,
3924each superintendent and president shall develop a comprehensive
3925interinstitutional articulation agreement for the school
3926district and Florida College System institution community
3927college that serves the school district. The district school
3928superintendent and president shall establish an articulation
3929committee for the purpose of developing this agreement. Each
3930state university president is encouraged to designate a
3931university representative to participate in the development of
3932the interinstitutional articulation agreements for each school
3933district within the university service area.
3934     (2)  The district interinstitutional articulation agreement
3935for each school year must be completed before high school
3936registration for the fall term of the following school year. The
3937agreement must include, but is not limited to, the following
3938components:
3939     (b)1.  A delineation of courses and programs available to
3940students eligible to participate in dual enrollment. This
3941delineation must include a plan for the Florida College System
3942institution community college to provide guidance services to
3943participating students on the selection of courses in the dual
3944enrollment program. The process of Florida College System
3945institution community college guidance should make maximum use
3946of the automated advisement system for Florida College System
3947institutions community colleges. The plan must assure that each
3948dual enrollment student is encouraged to identify a
3949postsecondary education objective with which to guide the course
3950selection. At a minimum, each student's plan should include a
3951list of courses that will result in an Applied Technology
3952Diploma, an Associate in Science degree, or an Associate in Arts
3953degree. If the student identifies a baccalaureate degree as the
3954objective, the plan must include courses that will meet the
3955general education requirements and any prerequisite requirements
3956for entrance into a selected baccalaureate degree program.
3957     2.  A delineation of the process by which students and
3958their parents are informed about opportunities to participate in
3959articulated acceleration programs.
3960     3.  A delineation of the process by which students and
3961their parents exercise their option to participate in an
3962articulated acceleration program.
3963     4.  A delineation of high school credits earned for
3964completion of each dual enrollment course.
3965     5.  Provision for postsecondary courses that meet the
3966criteria for inclusion in a district articulated acceleration
3967program to be counted toward meeting the graduation requirements
3968of s. 1003.43.
3969     6.  An identification of eligibility criteria for student
3970participation in dual enrollment courses and programs.
3971     7.  A delineation of institutional responsibilities
3972regarding student screening prior to enrollment and monitoring
3973student performance subsequent to enrollment in dual enrollment
3974courses and programs.
3975     8.  An identification of the criteria by which the quality
3976of dual enrollment courses and programs are to be judged and a
3977delineation of institutional responsibilities for the
3978maintenance of instructional quality.
3979     9.  A delineation of institutional responsibilities for
3980assuming the cost of dual enrollment courses and programs that
3981includes such responsibilities for student instructional
3982materials.
3983     10.  An identification of responsibility for providing
3984student transportation if the dual enrollment instruction is
3985conducted at a facility other than the high school campus.
3986     11.  A delineation of the process for converting college
3987credit hours earned through dual enrollment and early admission
3988programs to high school credit based on mastery of course
3989outcomes as determined by the Department of Education in
3990accordance with s. 1007.271(6).
3991     12.  An identification of the responsibility of the
3992postsecondary educational institution for assigning letter
3993grades for dual enrollment courses and the responsibility of
3994school districts for posting dual enrollment course grades to
3995the high school transcript as assigned by the postsecondary
3996institution awarding the credit.
3997     (c)  Mechanisms and strategies for reducing the incidence
3998of postsecondary remediation in math, reading, and writing for
3999first-time-enrolled recent high school graduates, based upon the
4000findings in the postsecondary readiness-for-college report
4001produced pursuant to s. 1008.37. Each articulation committee
4002shall annually analyze and assess the effectiveness of the
4003mechanisms toward meeting the goal of reducing postsecondary
4004remediation needs. Results of the assessment shall be annually
4005presented to participating district school boards and Florida
4006College System institution community college boards of trustees
4007and shall include, but not be limited to:
4008     1.  Mechanisms currently being initiated.
4009     2.  An analysis of problems and corrective actions.
4010     3.  Anticipated outcomes.
4011     4.  Strategies for the better preparation of students upon
4012graduation from high school.
4013     5.  An analysis of costs associated with the implementation
4014of postsecondary remedial education and secondary-level
4015corrective actions.
4016     6.  The identification of strategies for reducing costs of
4017the delivery of postsecondary remediation for recent high school
4018graduates, including the consideration and assessment of
4019alternative instructional methods and services such as those
4020produced by private providers.
4021
4022Wherever possible, public schools and Florida College System
4023institutions community colleges are encouraged to share
4024resources, form partnerships with private industries, and
4025implement innovative strategies and mechanisms such as distance
4026learning, summer student and faculty workshops, parental
4027involvement activities, and the distribution of information over
4028the Internet.
4029     (3)  The district interinstitutional articulation agreement
4030shall include a plan that outlines the mechanisms and strategies
4031for improving the preparation of elementary, middle, and high
4032school teachers. Effective collaboration among school districts,
4033postsecondary institutions, and practicing educators is
4034essential to improving teaching in Florida's elementary and
4035secondary schools and consequently, the retention and success of
4036students through high school graduation and into postsecondary
4037education. Professional development programs shall be developed
4038cooperatively and include curricular content which focuses upon
4039local and state needs and responds to state, national, and
4040district policy and program priorities. School districts and
4041Florida College System institutions community colleges are
4042encouraged to develop plans which utilize new technologies,
4043address critical needs in their implementation, and include both
4044preservice and inservice initiatives.
4045     (6)  District school boards and Florida College System
4046institutions community colleges may enter into additional
4047interinstitutional articulation agreements with state
4048universities for the purposes of this section. School districts
4049may also enter into interinstitutional articulation agreements
4050with eligible independent colleges and universities pursuant to
4051s. 1011.62(1)(i).
4052     (7)  State universities and Florida College System
4053institutions community colleges may enter into
4054interinstitutional articulation agreements with nonpublic
4055secondary schools pursuant to s. 1007.271(2).
4056     Section 92.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) and subsection
4057(5) of section 1007.24, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
4058     1007.24  Statewide course numbering system.-
4059     (2)  The Commissioner of Education, in conjunction with the
4060Chancellor of the State University System, shall appoint faculty
4061committees representing faculties of participating institutions
4062to recommend a single level for each course, including
4063postsecondary career education courses, included in the
4064statewide course numbering system.
4065     (c)  A course designated as lower-division may be offered
4066by any Florida College System institution community college.
4067     (5)  The registration process at each state university and
4068Florida College System institution community college shall
4069include the courses at their designated levels and statewide
4070course number.
4071     Section 93.  Subsections (2), (5), (6), (8), (9), and (11)
4072of section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
4073     1007.25  General education courses; common prerequisites;
4074and other degree requirements.-
4075     (2)  The department shall identify postsecondary career
4076education programs offered by Florida College System
4077institutions community colleges and district school boards. The
4078department shall also identify career courses designated as
4079college credit courses applicable toward a career education
4080diploma or degree. Such courses must be identified within the
4081statewide course numbering system.
4082     (5)  The department shall identify common prerequisite
4083courses and course substitutions for degree programs across all
4084institutions. Common degree program prerequisites shall be
4085offered and accepted by all state universities and Florida
4086College System institutions community colleges, except in cases
4087approved by the State Board of Education for Florida College
4088System institutions community colleges and the Board of
4089Governors for state universities. The department shall develop a
4090centralized database containing the list of courses and course
4091substitutions that meet the prerequisite requirements for each
4092baccalaureate degree program.
4093     (6)  The boards of trustees of the Florida College System
4094institutions community colleges shall identify their core
4095curricula, which shall include courses required by the State
4096Board of Education. The boards of trustees of the state
4097universities shall identify their core curricula, which shall
4098include courses required by the Board of Governors. The
4099universities and Florida College System institutions community
4100colleges shall work with their school districts to assure that
4101high school curricula coordinate with the core curricula and to
4102prepare students for college-level work. Core curricula for
4103associate in arts programs shall be adopted in rule by the State
4104Board of Education and shall include 36 semester hours of
4105general education courses in the subject areas of communication,
4106mathematics, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences.
4107     (8)  A baccalaureate degree program shall require no more
4108than 120 semester hours of college credit, including 36 semester
4109hours of general education coursework, unless prior approval has
4110been granted by the Board of Governors for baccalaureate degree
4111programs offered by state universities and by the State Board of
4112Education for baccalaureate degree programs offered by Florida
4113College System institutions community colleges.
4114     (9)  A student who received an associate in arts degree for
4115successfully completing 60 semester credit hours may continue to
4116earn additional credits at a Florida College System institution
4117community college. The university must provide credit toward the
4118student's baccalaureate degree for an additional Florida College
4119System institution community college course if, according to the
4120statewide course numbering, the Florida College System
4121institution community college course is a course listed in the
4122university catalog as required for the degree or as prerequisite
4123to a course required for the degree. Of the courses required for
4124the degree, at least half of the credit hours required for the
4125degree shall be achievable through courses designated as lower
4126division, except in degree programs approved by the State Board
4127of Education for programs offered by Florida College System
4128institutions community colleges and by the Board of Governors
4129for programs offered by state universities.
4130     (11)  The Commissioner of Education shall appoint faculty
4131committees representing both Florida College System institution
4132community college and public school faculties to recommend to
4133the commissioner for approval by the State Board of Education a
4134standard program length and appropriate occupational completion
4135points for each postsecondary career certificate program,
4136diploma, and degree offered by a school district or a Florida
4137College System institution community college.
4138     Section 94.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
41391007.2615, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
4140     1007.2615  American Sign Language; findings; foreign-
4141language credits authorized; teacher licensing.-
4142     (3)  DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION AND STATE BOARD OF
4143EDUCATION; LICENSING OF AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE TEACHERS; PLAN
4144FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION PROVIDERS.-
4145     (a)  The Commissioner of Education shall appoint a seven-
4146member task force that includes representatives from two state
4147universities and one private college or university located
4148within this state which currently offer a 4-year deaf education
4149or sign language interpretation program as a part of their
4150respective curricula, two representatives from the Florida
4151American Sign Language Teachers' Association (FASLTA), and two
4152representatives from Florida College System institutions
4153community colleges located within this state which have
4154established Interpreter Training Programs (ITPs). This task
4155force shall develop and submit to the Commissioner of Education
4156a report that contains the most up-to-date information about
4157American Sign Language (ASL) and guidelines for developing and
4158maintaining ASL courses as a part of the curriculum. This
4159information must be made available to any administrator of a
4160public or an independent school upon request of the
4161administrator.
4162     Section 95.  Section 1007.262, Florida Statutes, is amended
4163to read:
4164     1007.262  Foreign language competence; equivalence
4165determinations.-The Department of Education shall identify the
4166competencies demonstrated by students upon the successful
4167completion of 2 credits of sequential high school foreign
4168language instruction. For the purpose of determining
4169postsecondary equivalence, the department shall develop rules
4170through which Florida College System institutions community
4171colleges correlate such competencies to the competencies
4172required of students in the colleges' respective courses. Based
4173on this correlation, each Florida College System institution
4174community college shall identify the minimum number of
4175postsecondary credits that students must earn in order to
4176demonstrate a level of competence in a foreign language at least
4177equivalent to that of students who have completed 2 credits of
4178such instruction in high school. The department may also specify
4179alternative means by which students can demonstrate equivalent
4180foreign language competence, including means by which a student
4181whose native language is not English may demonstrate proficiency
4182in the native language. A student who demonstrates proficiency
4183in a native language other than English is exempt from a
4184requirement of completing foreign language courses at the
4185secondary or Florida College System community college level.
4186     Section 96.  Section 1007.263, Florida Statutes, is amended
4187to read:
4188     1007.263  Florida College System institutions Community
4189colleges; admissions of students.-Each Florida College System
4190institution community college board of trustees is authorized to
4191adopt rules governing admissions of students subject to this
4192section and rules of the State Board of Education. These rules
4193shall include the following:
4194     (1)  Admissions counseling shall be provided to all
4195students entering college or career credit programs. Counseling
4196shall utilize tests to measure achievement of college-level
4197communication and computation competencies by all students
4198entering college credit programs or tests to measure achievement
4199of basic skills for career programs as prescribed in s. 1004.91.
4200     (2)  Admission to associate degree programs is subject to
4201minimum standards adopted by the State Board of Education and
4202shall require:
4203     (a)  A standard high school diploma, a high school
4204equivalency diploma as prescribed in s. 1003.435, previously
4205demonstrated competency in college credit postsecondary
4206coursework, or, in the case of a student who is home educated, a
4207signed affidavit submitted by the student's parent or legal
4208guardian attesting that the student has completed a home
4209education program pursuant to the requirements of s. 1002.41.
4210Students who are enrolled in a dual enrollment or early
4211admission program pursuant to ss. 1007.27 and 1007.271 and
4212secondary students enrolled in college-level instruction
4213creditable toward the associate degree, but not toward the high
4214school diploma, shall be exempt from this requirement.
4215     (b)  A demonstrated level of achievement of college-level
4216communication and computation skills.
4217     (c)  Any other requirements established by the board of
4218trustees.
4219     (3)  Admission to other programs within the Florida College
4220System institution community college shall include education
4221requirements as established by the board of trustees.
4222     (4)  A student who has been awarded a special diploma as
4223defined in s. 1003.438 or a certificate of completion as defined
4224in s. 1003.43(10) is eligible to enroll in certificate career
4225education programs.
4226     (5)  A student with a documented disability may be eligible
4227for reasonable substitutions, as prescribed in ss. 1007.264 and
42281007.265.
4229
4230Each board of trustees shall establish policies that notify
4231students about, and place students into, adult basic education,
4232adult secondary education, or other instructional programs that
4233provide students with alternatives to traditional college-
4234preparatory instruction, including private provider instruction.
4235A student is prohibited from enrolling in additional college-
4236level courses until the student scores above the cut-score on
4237all sections of the common placement test.
4238     Section 97.  Subsection (2) of section 1007.264, Florida
4239Statutes, is amended to read:
4240     1007.264  Persons with disabilities; admission to
4241postsecondary educational institutions; substitute requirements;
4242rules and regulations.-
4243     (2)  The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
4244Board of Governors, shall adopt rules to implement this section
4245for Florida College System institutions community colleges and
4246shall develop substitute admission requirements where
4247appropriate.
4248     Section 98.  Subsection (2) of section 1007.265, Florida
4249Statutes, is amended to read:
4250     1007.265  Persons with disabilities; graduation, study
4251program admission, and upper-division entry; substitute
4252requirements; rules and regulations.-
4253     (2)  The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
4254Board of Governors, shall adopt rules to implement this section
4255for Florida College System institutions community colleges and
4256shall develop substitute requirements where appropriate.
4257     Section 99.  Subsections (1), (2), (3), (7), (8), and (9)
4258of section 1007.27, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
4259     1007.27  Articulated acceleration mechanisms.-
4260     (1)  It is the intent of the Legislature that a variety of
4261articulated acceleration mechanisms be available for secondary
4262and postsecondary students attending public educational
4263institutions. It is intended that articulated acceleration serve
4264to shorten the time necessary for a student to complete the
4265requirements associated with the conference of a high school
4266diploma and a postsecondary degree, broaden the scope of
4267curricular options available to students, or increase the depth
4268of study available for a particular subject. Articulated
4269acceleration mechanisms shall include, but not be limited to,
4270dual enrollment as provided for in s. 1007.271, early admission,
4271advanced placement, credit by examination, the International
4272Baccalaureate Program, and the Advanced International
4273Certificate of Education Program. Credit earned through the
4274Florida Virtual School shall provide additional opportunities
4275for early graduation and acceleration. Students of Florida
4276public secondary schools enrolled pursuant to this subsection
4277shall be deemed authorized users of the state-funded electronic
4278library resources that are licensed for Florida College System
4279institutions colleges and state universities by the Florida
4280Center for Library Automation and the College Center for Library
4281Automation. Verification of eligibility shall be in accordance
4282with rules established by the State Board of Education and
4283regulations established by the Board of Governors and processes
4284implemented by Florida College System institutions colleges and
4285state universities.
4286     (2)  The Department of Education shall identify the minimum
4287scores, maximum credit, and course or courses for which credit
4288is to be awarded for each College Level Examination Program
4289(CLEP) general examination, CLEP subject examination, College
4290Board Advanced Placement Program examination, and International
4291Baccalaureate examination. In addition, the department shall
4292identify such courses in the general education core curriculum
4293of each state university and Florida College System institution
4294community college.
4295     (3)  Each Florida College System institution community
4296college and state university must award credit for specific
4297courses for which competency has been demonstrated by successful
4298passage of one of the examinations in subsection (2) unless the
4299award of credit duplicates credit already awarded. Florida
4300College System institutions Community colleges and state
4301universities may not exempt students from courses without the
4302award of credit if competencies have been so demonstrated.
4303     (7)  Credit by examination shall be the program through
4304which secondary and postsecondary students generate
4305postsecondary credit based on the receipt of a specified minimum
4306score on nationally standardized general or subject-area
4307examinations. For the purpose of statewide application, such
4308examinations and the corresponding minimum scores required for
4309an award of credit shall be delineated by the State Board of
4310Education and the Board of Governors in the statewide
4311articulation agreement required by s. 1007.23(1). The maximum
4312credit generated by a student pursuant to this subsection shall
4313be mitigated by any related postsecondary credit earned by the
4314student prior to the administration of the examination. This
4315subsection shall not preclude Florida College System
4316institutions community colleges and universities from awarding
4317credit by examination based on student performance on
4318examinations developed within and recognized by the individual
4319postsecondary institutions.
4320     (8)  The International Baccalaureate Program shall be the
4321curriculum in which eligible secondary students are enrolled in
4322a program of studies offered through the International
4323Baccalaureate Program administered by the International
4324Baccalaureate Office. The State Board of Education and the Board
4325of Governors shall specify in the statewide articulation
4326agreement required by s. 1007.23(1) the cutoff scores and
4327International Baccalaureate Examinations which will be used to
4328grant postsecondary credit at Florida College System
4329institutions community colleges and universities. Any changes to
4330the articulation agreement, which have the effect of raising the
4331required cutoff score or of changing the International
4332Baccalaureate Examinations which will be used to grant
4333postsecondary credit, shall only apply to students taking
4334International Baccalaureate Examinations after such changes are
4335adopted by the State Board of Education and the Board of
4336Governors. Students shall be awarded a maximum of 30 semester
4337credit hours pursuant to this subsection. The specific course
4338for which a student may receive such credit shall be specified
4339in the statewide articulation agreement required by s.
43401007.23(1). Students enrolled pursuant to this subsection shall
4341be exempt from the payment of any fees for administration of the
4342examinations regardless of whether or not the student achieves a
4343passing score on the examination.
4344     (9)  The Advanced International Certificate of Education
4345Program and the International General Certificate of Secondary
4346Education (pre-AICE) Program shall be the curricula in which
4347eligible secondary students are enrolled in programs of study
4348offered through the Advanced International Certificate of
4349Education Program or the International General Certificate of
4350Secondary Education (pre-AICE) Program administered by the
4351University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate. The State
4352Board of Education and the Board of Governors shall specify in
4353the statewide articulation agreement required by s. 1007.23(1)
4354the cutoff scores and Advanced International Certificate of
4355Education examinations which will be used to grant postsecondary
4356credit at Florida College System institutions community colleges
4357and universities. Any changes to the cutoff scores, which
4358changes have the effect of raising the required cutoff score or
4359of changing the Advanced International Certification of
4360Education examinations which will be used to grant postsecondary
4361credit, shall apply to students taking Advanced International
4362Certificate of Education examinations after such changes are
4363adopted by the State Board of Education and the Board of
4364Governors. Students shall be awarded a maximum of 30 semester
4365credit hours pursuant to this subsection. The specific course
4366for which a student may receive such credit shall be determined
4367by the Florida College System institution community college or
4368university that accepts the student for admission. Students
4369enrolled in either program of study pursuant to this subsection
4370shall be exempt from the payment of any fees for administration
4371of the examinations regardless of whether the student achieves a
4372passing score on the examination.
4373     Section 100.  Subsections (3), (4), (6), and (8), paragraph
4374(b) of subsection (10), and subsections (14), (15), and (16) of
4375section 1007.271, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
4376     1007.271  Dual enrollment programs.-
4377     (3)  The Department of Education shall adopt guidelines
4378designed to achieve comparability across school districts of
4379both student qualifications and teacher qualifications for dual
4380enrollment courses. Student qualifications must demonstrate
4381readiness for college-level coursework if the student is to be
4382enrolled in college courses. Student qualifications must
4383demonstrate readiness for career-level coursework if the student
4384is to be enrolled in career courses. In addition to the common
4385placement examination, student qualifications for enrollment in
4386college credit dual enrollment courses must include a 3.0
4387unweighted grade point average, and student qualifications for
4388enrollment in career certificate dual enrollment courses must
4389include a 2.0 unweighted grade point average. Exceptions to the
4390required grade point averages may be granted if the educational
4391entities agree and the terms of the agreement are contained
4392within the dual enrollment interinstitutional articulation
4393agreement. Florida College System institution Community college
4394boards of trustees may establish additional admissions criteria,
4395which shall be included in the district interinstitutional
4396articulation agreement developed according to s. 1007.235, to
4397ensure student readiness for postsecondary instruction.
4398Additional requirements included in the agreement shall not
4399arbitrarily prohibit students who have demonstrated the ability
4400to master advanced courses from participating in dual enrollment
4401courses. District school boards may not refuse to enter into an
4402agreement with a local Florida College System institution
4403community college if that Florida College System institution
4404community college has the capacity to offer dual enrollment
4405courses.
4406     (4)  Career dual enrollment shall be provided as a
4407curricular option for secondary students to pursue in order to
4408earn a series of elective credits toward the high school
4409diploma. Career dual enrollment shall be available for secondary
4410students seeking a degree or certificate from a complete career-
4411preparatory program, and shall not be used to enroll students in
4412isolated career courses. It is the intent of the Legislature
4413that career dual enrollment provide a comprehensive academic and
4414career dual enrollment program within the career center or
4415Florida College System institution community college.
4416     (6)  The Commissioner of Education shall appoint faculty
4417committees representing public school, Florida College System
4418institution community college, and university faculties to
4419identify postsecondary courses that meet the high school
4420graduation requirements of s. 1003.43, and to establish the
4421number of postsecondary semester credit hours of instruction and
4422equivalent high school credits earned through dual enrollment
4423pursuant to this section that are necessary to meet high school
4424graduation requirements. Such equivalencies shall be determined
4425solely on comparable course content and not on seat time
4426traditionally allocated to such courses in high school. The
4427Commissioner of Education shall recommend to the State Board of
4428Education those postsecondary courses identified to meet high
4429school graduation requirements, based on mastery of course
4430outcomes, by their course numbers, and all high schools shall
4431accept these postsecondary education courses toward meeting the
4432requirements of s. 1003.43.
4433     (8)  Career early admission is a form of career dual
4434enrollment through which eligible secondary students enroll full
4435time in a career center or a Florida College System institution
4436community college in courses that are creditable toward the high
4437school diploma and the certificate or associate degree.
4438Participation in the career early admission program shall be
4439limited to students who have completed a minimum of 6 semesters
4440of full-time secondary enrollment, including studies undertaken
4441in the ninth grade. Students enrolled pursuant to this section
4442are exempt from the payment of registration, tuition, and
4443laboratory fees.
4444     (10)
4445     (b)  Each career center, Florida College System institution
4446community college, and state university shall:
4447     1.  Delineate courses and programs for dually enrolled home
4448education students. Courses and programs may be added, revised,
4449or deleted at any time.
4450     2.  Identify eligibility criteria for home education
4451student participation, not to exceed those required of other
4452dually enrolled students.
4453     (14)  Instructional materials assigned for use within dual
4454enrollment courses shall be made available to dual enrollment
4455students from Florida public high schools free of charge. This
4456subsection shall not be construed to prohibit a Florida College
4457System institution community college from providing
4458instructional materials at no cost to a home education student
4459or student from a private school. Students enrolled in
4460postsecondary instruction not creditable toward a high school
4461diploma shall not be considered dual enrollments and shall be
4462required to assume the cost of instructional materials necessary
4463for such instruction.
4464     (15)  Instructional materials purchased by a district
4465school board or Florida College System institution community
4466college board of trustees on behalf of dual enrollment students
4467shall be the property of the board against which the purchase is
4468charged.
4469     (16)  Beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2006-
44702007 school year, school districts and Florida College System
4471institutions community colleges must weigh dual enrollment
4472courses the same as advanced placement, International
4473Baccalaureate, and Advanced International Certificate of
4474Education courses when grade point averages are calculated.
4475Alternative grade calculation or weighting systems that
4476discriminate against dual enrollment courses are prohibited.
4477     Section 101.  Subsection (1) of section 1007.272, Florida
4478Statutes, is amended to read:
4479     1007.272  Joint dual enrollment and advanced placement
4480instruction.-
4481     (1)  Each school district, Florida College System
4482institution community college, and state university may conduct
4483advanced placement instruction within dual enrollment courses.
4484Each joint dual enrollment and advanced placement course shall
4485be incorporated within and subject to the provisions of the
4486district interinstitutional articulation agreement pursuant to
4487s. 1007.235. Such agreement shall certify that each joint dual
4488enrollment and advanced placement course integrates, at a
4489minimum, the course structure recommended by the College Board
4490and the structure that corresponds to the common course number.
4491     Section 102.  Section 1007.28, Florida Statutes, is amended
4492to read:
4493     1007.28  Computer-assisted student advising system.-The
4494Department of Education, in conjunction with the Board of
4495Governors, shall establish and maintain a single, statewide
4496computer-assisted student advising system, which must be an
4497integral part of the process of advising, registering, and
4498certifying students for graduation and must be accessible to all
4499Florida students. The state universities and Florida College
4500System institutions community colleges shall interface
4501institutional systems with the computer-assisted advising system
4502required by this section. The State Board of Education and the
4503Board of Governors shall specify in the statewide articulation
4504agreement required by s. 1007.23(1) the roles and
4505responsibilities of the department, the state universities, and
4506the Florida College System institutions community colleges in
4507the design, implementation, promotion, development, and analysis
4508of the system. The system shall consist of a degree audit and an
4509articulation component that includes the following
4510characteristics:
4511     (1)  The system shall constitute an integral part of the
4512process of advising students and assisting them in course
4513selection. The system shall be accessible to students in the
4514following ways:
4515     (a)  A student must be able to access the system, at any
4516time, to identify course options that will meet the requirements
4517of a selected path toward a degree.
4518     (b)  A status report from the system shall be generated and
4519sent with each grade report to each student enrolled in public
4520postsecondary educational institutions with a declared major.
4521     (2)  The system shall be an integral part of the
4522registration process at public postsecondary educational
4523institutions. As part of the process, the system shall:
4524     (a)  Provide reports that document each student's status
4525toward completion of a degree.
4526     (b)  Verify that a student has completed requirements for
4527graduation.
4528     (3)  The system must provide students information related
4529to career descriptions and corresponding educational
4530requirements, admissions requirements, and available sources of
4531student financial assistance. Such advising must enable students
4532to examine their interests and aptitudes for the purpose of
4533curricular and career planning.
4534     (4)  The system must provide management information to
4535decisionmakers, including information relating student
4536enrollment patterns and course demands to plans for
4537corresponding course offerings and information useful in
4538planning the student registration process.
4539     Section 103.  Subsections (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) and
4540paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) of subsection (6) of section
45411007.33, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
4542     1007.33  Site-determined baccalaureate degree access.-
4543     (1)(a)  The Legislature recognizes that public and private
4544postsecondary educational institutions play an essential role in
4545improving the quality of life and economic well-being of the
4546state and its residents. The Legislature also recognizes that
4547economic development needs and the educational needs of place-
4548bound, nontraditional students have increased the demand for
4549local access to baccalaureate degree programs. It is therefore
4550the intent of the Legislature to further expand access to
4551baccalaureate degree programs through the use of Florida College
4552System institutions colleges.
4553     (b)  For purposes of this section, the term "district"
4554refers to the county or counties served by a Florida College
4555System institution pursuant to s. 1000.21(3).
4556     (2)  Any Florida College System institution that offers one
4557or more baccalaureate degree programs must:
4558     (a)  Maintain as its primary mission:
4559     1.  Responsibility for responding to community needs for
4560postsecondary academic education and career degree education as
4561prescribed in s. 1004.65(5).
4562     2.  The provision of associate degrees that provide access
4563to a university.
4564     (b)  Maintain an open-door admission policy for associate-
4565level degree programs and workforce education programs.
4566     (c)  Continue to provide outreach to underserved
4567populations.
4568     (d)  Continue to provide remedial education.
4569     (e)  Comply with all provisions of the statewide
4570articulation agreement which relate to 2-year and 4-year public
4571degree-granting institutions as adopted by the State Board of
4572Education pursuant to s. 1007.23.
4573     (f)  Not award graduate credit.
4574     (g)  Not participate in intercollegiate athletics beyond
4575the 2-year level.
4576     (3)  A Florida College System institution may not terminate
4577its associate in arts or associate in science degree programs as
4578a result of being authorized to offer one or more baccalaureate
4579degree programs. The Legislature intends that the primary
4580responsibility of a Florida College System institution,
4581including a Florida College System institution that offers
4582baccalaureate degree programs, continues to be the provision of
4583associate degrees that provide access to a university.
4584     (4)  A Florida College System institution may:
4585     (a)  Offer specified baccalaureate degree programs through
4586formal agreements between the Florida College System institution
4587and other regionally accredited postsecondary educational
4588institutions pursuant to s. 1007.22.
4589     (b)  Offer baccalaureate degree programs that were
4590authorized by law prior to July 1, 2009.
4591     (c)  Beginning July 1, 2009, establish a first or
4592subsequent baccalaureate degree program for purposes of meeting
4593district, regional, or statewide workforce needs if approved by
4594the State Board of Education under this section.
4595
4596Beginning July 1, 2009, the Board of Trustees of the St.
4597Petersburg College is authorized to establish one or more
4598bachelor of applied science degree programs based on an analysis
4599of workforce needs in Pinellas, Pasco, and Hernando Counties and
4600other counties approved by the Department of Education. For each
4601program selected, St. Petersburg College must offer a related
4602associate in science or associate in applied science degree
4603program, and the baccalaureate degree level program must be
4604designed to articulate fully with at least one associate in
4605science degree program. The college is encouraged to develop
4606articulation agreements for enrollment of graduates of related
4607associate in applied science degree programs. The Board of
4608Trustees of the St. Petersburg College is authorized to
4609establish additional baccalaureate degree programs if it
4610determines a program is warranted and feasible based on each of
4611the factors in paragraph (5)(d). Prior to developing or
4612proposing a new baccalaureate degree program, St. Petersburg
4613College shall engage in need, demand, and impact discussions
4614with the state university in its service district and other
4615local and regional, accredited postsecondary providers in its
4616region. Documentation, data, and other information from inter-
4617institutional discussions regarding program need, demand, and
4618impact shall be provided to the college's board of trustees to
4619inform the program approval process. Employment at St.
4620Petersburg College is governed by the same laws that govern
4621Florida College System institutions community colleges, except
4622that upper-division faculty are eligible for continuing
4623contracts upon the completion of the fifth year of teaching.
4624Employee records for all personnel shall be maintained as
4625required by s. 1012.81.
4626     (5)  The approval process for baccalaureate degree programs
4627shall require:
4628     (a)  Each Florida College System institution to submit a
4629notice of its intent to propose a baccalaureate degree program
4630to the Division of Florida Colleges at least 100 days before the
4631submission of its proposal under paragraph (d). The notice must
4632include a brief description of the program, the workforce demand
4633and unmet need for graduates of the program, the geographic
4634region to be served, and an estimated timeframe for
4635implementation. Notices of intent may be submitted by a Florida
4636College System institution at any time throughout the year.
4637     (b)  The Division of Florida Colleges to forward the notice
4638of intent within 10 business days after receiving such notice to
4639the Chancellor of the State University System, the President of
4640the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, and the
4641Executive Director of the Council for Independent Education.
4642State universities shall have 60 days following receipt of the
4643notice by the Chancellor of the State University System to
4644submit an alternative proposal to offer the baccalaureate degree
4645program. If a proposal from a state university is not received
4646within the 60-day period, the State Board of Education shall
4647provide regionally accredited private colleges and universities
464830 days to submit an alternative proposal. Alternative proposals
4649shall be submitted to the Division of Florida Colleges and must
4650be considered by the State Board of Education in making its
4651decision to approve or deny a Florida College System
4652institution's college's proposal.
4653     (c)  An alternative proposal submitted by a state
4654university or private college or university to adequately
4655address:
4656     1.  The extent to which the workforce demand and unmet need
4657described in the notice of intent will be met.
4658     2.  The extent to which students will be able to complete
4659the degree in the geographic region proposed to be served by the
4660Florida College System institution.
4661     3.  The level of financial commitment of the college or
4662university to the development, implementation, and maintenance
4663of the specified degree program, including timelines.
4664     4.  The extent to which faculty at both the Florida College
4665System institution and the college or university will
4666collaborate in the development and offering of the curriculum.
4667     5.  The ability of the Florida College System institution
4668and the college or university to develop and approve the
4669curriculum for the specified degree program within 6 months
4670after an agreement between the Florida College System
4671institution and the college or university is signed.
4672     6.  The extent to which the student may incur additional
4673costs above what the student would expect to incur if the
4674program were offered by the Florida College System institution.
4675     (d)  Each proposal submitted by a Florida College System
4676institution to, at a minimum, include:
4677     1.  A description of the planning process and timeline for
4678implementation.
4679     2.  An analysis of workforce demand and unmet need for
4680graduates of the program on a district, regional, or statewide
4681basis, as appropriate.
4682     3.  Identification of the facilities, equipment, and
4683library and academic resources that will be used to deliver the
4684program.
4685     4.  The program cost analysis of creating a new
4686baccalaureate degree when compared to alternative proposals and
4687other program delivery options.
4688     5.  The program's admission requirements, academic content,
4689curriculum, faculty credentials, student-to-teacher ratios, and
4690accreditation plan.
4691     6.  The program's enrollment projections and funding
4692requirements.
4693     7.  A plan of action if the program is terminated.
4694     (e)  The Division of Florida Colleges to review the
4695proposal, notify the Florida College System institution of any
4696deficiencies in writing within 30 days following receipt of the
4697proposal, and provide the Florida College System institution
4698with an opportunity to correct the deficiencies. Within 45 days
4699following receipt of a completed proposal by the Division of
4700Florida Colleges, the Commissioner of Education shall recommend
4701approval or disapproval of the proposal to the State Board of
4702Education. The State Board of Education shall consider such
4703recommendation, the proposal, and any alternative proposals at
4704its next meeting. If the State Board of Education disapproves
4705the Florida College System institution's college's proposal, it
4706shall provide the Florida College System institution with
4707written reasons for that determination.
4708     (f)  The Florida College System institution to obtain from
4709the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of
4710Colleges and Schools accreditation as a baccalaureate-degree-
4711granting institution if approved by the State Board of Education
4712to offer its first baccalaureate degree program.
4713     (g)  The Florida College System institution to notify the
4714Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges
4715and Schools of subsequent degree programs that are approved by
4716the State Board of Education and to comply with the
4717association's required substantive change protocols for
4718accreditation purposes.
4719     (6)(a)  Beginning July 1, 2010, and each subsequent July 1,
4720the Division of Florida Colleges may accept and review
4721applications from a Florida College System institution to obtain
4722an exemption from the State Board of Education's approval for
4723subsequent degrees as required in subsection (5), if the Florida
4724College System institution is accredited by the Commission on
4725Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as
4726a baccalaureate-degree-granting institution and has been
4727offering baccalaureate degree programs for 3 or more years. The
4728division shall develop criteria for determining eligibility for
4729an exemption based upon demonstrated compliance with the
4730requirements for baccalaureate degrees, primary mission, and
4731fiscal, including, but not limited to:
4732     1.  Obtaining and maintaining appropriate SACS
4733accreditation;
4734     2.  The maintenance of qualified faculty and institutional
4735resources;
4736     3.  The maintenance of enrollment projections in previously
4737approved programs;
4738     4.  The appropriate management of fiscal resources;
4739     5.  Compliance with the primary mission and responsibility
4740requirements in subsections (2) and (3);
4741     6.  The timely submission of the institution's annual
4742performance accountability report; and
4743     7.  Other indicators of success such as program completers,
4744placements, and surveys of students and employers.
4745     (b)  If the Florida College System institution has
4746demonstrated satisfactory progress in fulfilling the eligibility
4747criteria in this subsection, the Division of Florida Colleges
4748may recommend to the State Board of Education that the
4749institution be exempt from the requirement in subsection (5) for
4750approval of future baccalaureate degree programs. The State
4751Board of Education shall review the division's recommendation
4752and determine if an exemption is warranted. If the State Board
4753of Education approves the application, the Florida College
4754System institution is exempt from subsequent program approval
4755under subsection (5) and such authority is delegated to the
4756Florida College System institution board of trustees. If the
4757State Board of Education disapproves of the Florida College
4758System institution's college's request for an exemption, the
4759college shall continue to be subject to the State Board of
4760Education's approval of subsequent baccalaureate degree
4761programs.
4762     (c)  Prior to developing or proposing a new baccalaureate
4763degree program, all Florida College System institutions
4764colleges, regardless of an exemption from subsection (5), shall:
4765     1.  Engage in need, demand, and impact discussions with the
4766state university in their service district and other local and
4767regional, accredited postsecondary providers in their region.
4768     2.  Send documentation, data, and other information from
4769the inter-institutional discussions regarding program need,
4770demand, and impact required in subparagraph 1. to the college's
4771board of trustees, the Division of Florida Colleges, and the
4772Chancellor of the State University System.
4773     3.  Base board of trustees approval of the new program upon
4774the documentation, data, and other information required in this
4775paragraph and the factors in subsection (5)(d).
4776
4777The Division of Florida Colleges shall use the documentation,
4778data, and other information required in this subsection,
4779including information from the Chancellor of the State
4780University System, in its compliance review.
4781     (d)  The board of trustees of a Florida College System
4782institution that is exempt from subsection (5) must submit newly
4783approved programs to the Division of Florida Colleges and SACS
4784within 30 days after approval.
4785     Section 104.  Subsection (1) of section 1007.34, Florida
4786Statutes, is amended to read:
4787     1007.34  College reach-out program.-
4788     (1)  There is established a college reach-out program to
4789increase the number of low-income educationally disadvantaged
4790students in grades 6-12 who, upon high school graduation, are
4791admitted to and successfully complete postsecondary education.
4792Participants should be students who otherwise would be unlikely
4793to seek admission to a Florida College System institution
4794community college, state university, or independent
4795postsecondary institution without special support and
4796recruitment efforts. The State Board of Education shall adopt
4797rules that provide for the following:
4798     (a)  Definition of "low-income educationally disadvantaged
4799student."
4800     (b)  Specific criteria and guidelines for selection of
4801college reach-out participants.
4802     Section 105.  Paragraphs (f) and (j) of subsection (6) of
4803section 1007.35, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
4804     1007.35  Florida Partnership for Minority and
4805Underrepresented Student Achievement.-
4806     (6)  The partnership shall:
4807     (f)  Consider ways to incorporate Florida College System
4808institutions community colleges in the mission of preparing all
4809students for postsecondary success.
4810     (j)  Provide information to students, parents, teachers,
4811counselors, administrators, districts, Florida College System
4812institutions community colleges, and state universities
4813regarding PSAT/NMSQT or PLAN administration, including, but not
4814limited to:
4815     1.  Test administration dates and times.
4816     2.  That participation in the PSAT/NMSQT or PLAN is open to
4817all grade 10 students.
4818     3.  The value of such tests in providing diagnostic
4819feedback on student skills.
4820     4.  The value of student scores in predicting the
4821probability of success on AP or other advanced course
4822examinations.
4823     Section 106.  Subsections (3) and (4) of section 1008.30,
4824Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
4825     1008.30  Common placement testing for public postsecondary
4826education.-
4827     (3)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules that
4828require high schools to evaluate before the beginning of grade
482912 the college readiness of each student who indicates an
4830interest in postsecondary education and scores at Level 2 or
4831Level 3 on the reading portion of the grade 10 FCAT or Level 2,
4832Level 3, or Level 4 on the mathematics assessments under s.
48331008.22(3)(c). High schools shall perform this evaluation using
4834results from the corresponding component of the common placement
4835test prescribed in this section, or an equivalent test
4836identified by the State Board of Education. The Department of
4837Education shall purchase or develop the assessments necessary to
4838perform the evaluations required by this subsection and shall
4839work with the school districts to administer the assessments.
4840The State Board of Education shall establish by rule the minimum
4841test scores a student must achieve to demonstrate readiness.
4842Students who demonstrate readiness by achieving the minimum test
4843scores established by the state board and enroll in a Florida
4844College System institution community college within 2 years of
4845achieving such scores shall not be required to enroll in
4846remediation courses as a condition of acceptance to any Florida
4847College System institution community college. The high school
4848shall use the results of the test to advise the students of any
4849identified deficiencies and to the maximum extent practicable
4850provide 12th grade students access to appropriate remedial
4851instruction prior to high school graduation. The remedial
4852instruction provided under this subsection shall be a
4853collaborative effort between secondary and postsecondary
4854educational institutions. To the extent courses are available,
4855the Florida Virtual School may be used to provide the remedial
4856instruction required by this subsection.
4857     (4)(a)  Public postsecondary educational institution
4858students who have been identified as requiring additional
4859preparation pursuant to subsection (1) shall enroll in college-
4860preparatory or other adult education pursuant to s. 1004.93 in
4861Florida College System institutions community colleges to
4862develop needed college-entry skills. These students shall be
4863permitted to take courses within their degree program
4864concurrently in other curriculum areas for which they are
4865qualified while enrolled in college-preparatory instruction
4866courses. A student enrolled in a college-preparatory course may
4867concurrently enroll only in college credit courses that do not
4868require the skills addressed in the college-preparatory course.
4869The State Board of Education, in conjunction with the Board of
4870Governors, shall specify the college credit courses that are
4871acceptable for students enrolled in each college-preparatory
4872skill area. A student who wishes to earn an associate in arts or
4873a baccalaureate degree, but who is required to complete a
4874college-preparatory course, must successfully complete the
4875required college-preparatory studies by the time the student has
4876accumulated 12 hours of lower-division college credit degree
4877coursework; however, a student may continue enrollment in
4878degree-earning coursework provided the student maintains
4879enrollment in college-preparatory coursework for each subsequent
4880semester until college-preparatory coursework requirements are
4881completed, and the student demonstrates satisfactory performance
4882in degree-earning coursework. A passing score on a standardized,
4883institutionally developed test must be achieved before a student
4884is considered to have met basic computation and communication
4885skills requirements; however, no student shall be required to
4886retake any test or subtest that was previously passed by said
4887student. Credit awarded for college-preparatory instruction may
4888not be counted toward fulfilling the number of credits required
4889for a degree.
4890     (b)  A university board of trustees may contract with a
4891Florida College System institution community college board of
4892trustees for the Florida College System institution community
4893college to provide such instruction on the state university
4894campus. Any state university in which the percentage of incoming
4895students requiring college-preparatory instruction equals or
4896exceeds the average percentage of such students for the Florida
4897community College System may offer college-preparatory
4898instruction without contracting with a Florida College System
4899institution community college; however, any state university
4900offering college-preparatory instruction as of January 1, 1996,
4901may continue to provide such services.
4902     Section 107.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section
49031008.31, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
4904     1008.31  Florida's K-20 education performance
4905accountability system; legislative intent; mission, goals, and
4906systemwide measures; data quality improvements.-
4907     (1)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.-It is the intent of the
4908Legislature that:
4909     (e)1.  The State Board of Education establish performance
4910measures and set performance standards for individual public
4911schools and Florida College System institutions community
4912colleges, with measures and standards based primarily on student
4913achievement.
4914     2.  The Board of Governors of the State University System
4915establish performance measures and set performance standards for
4916individual state universities, including actual completion
4917rates.
4918     Section 108.  Section 1008.32, Florida Statutes, is amended
4919to read:
4920     1008.32  State Board of Education oversight enforcement
4921authority.-The State Board of Education shall oversee the
4922performance of district school boards and Florida College System
4923institution community college boards of trustees in enforcement
4924of all laws and rules. District school boards and Florida
4925College System institution community college boards of trustees
4926shall be primarily responsible for compliance with law and state
4927board rule.
4928     (1)  In order to ensure compliance with law or state board
4929rule, the State Board of Education shall have the authority to
4930request and receive information, data, and reports from school
4931districts and Florida College System institutions community
4932colleges. District school superintendents and Florida College
4933System institution community college presidents are responsible
4934for the accuracy of the information and data reported to the
4935state board.
4936     (2)  The Commissioner of Education may investigate
4937allegations of noncompliance with law or state board rule and
4938determine probable cause. The commissioner shall report
4939determinations of probable cause to the State Board of Education
4940which shall require the district school board or Florida College
4941System institution community college board of trustees to
4942document compliance with law or state board rule.
4943     (3)  If the district school board or Florida College System
4944institution community college board of trustees cannot
4945satisfactorily document compliance, the State Board of Education
4946may order compliance within a specified timeframe.
4947     (4)  If the State Board of Education determines that a
4948district school board or Florida College System institution
4949community college board of trustees is unwilling or unable to
4950comply with law or state board rule within the specified time,
4951the state board shall have the authority to initiate any of the
4952following actions:
4953     (a)  Report to the Legislature that the school district or
4954Florida College System institution community college has been
4955unwilling or unable to comply with law or state board rule and
4956recommend action to be taken by the Legislature.
4957     (b)  Reduce the discretionary lottery appropriation until
4958the school district or Florida College System institution
4959community college complies with the law or state board rule.
4960     (c)  Withhold the transfer of state funds, discretionary
4961grant funds, or any other funds specified as eligible for this
4962purpose by the Legislature until the school district or Florida
4963College System institution community college complies with the
4964law or state board rule.
4965     (d)  Declare the school district or Florida College System
4966institution community college ineligible for competitive grants.
4967     (e)  Require monthly or periodic reporting on the situation
4968related to noncompliance until it is remedied.
4969     (5)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to create a
4970private cause of action or create any rights for individuals or
4971entities in addition to those provided elsewhere in law or rule.
4972     Section 109.  Paragraphs (g) and (h) of subsection (7) of
4973section 1008.345, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
4974     1008.345  Implementation of state system of school
4975improvement and education accountability.-
4976     (7)  As a part of the system of educational accountability,
4977the Department of Education shall:
4978     (g)  Maintain for the information of the State Board of
4979Education, the Board of Governors, and the Legislature a file of
4980data to reflect achievement of college-level communication and
4981mathematics competencies by students in state universities and
4982Florida College System institutions community colleges.
4983     (h)  Develop or contract for, and submit to the State Board
4984of Education and the Board of Governors for approval, tests
4985which measure and diagnose student achievement of college-level
4986communication and mathematics skills. Any tests and related
4987documents developed are exempt from the provisions of s.
4988119.07(1). The commissioner shall maintain statewide
4989responsibility for the administration of such tests and may
4990assign administrative responsibilities for the tests to any
4991state university or Florida College System institution community
4992college. The state board, upon recommendation of the
4993commissioner, may enter into contracts for such services
4994beginning in one fiscal year and continuing into the next year
4995which are paid from the appropriation for either or both fiscal
4996years.
4997     Section 110.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and paragraph
4998(a) of subsection (2) of section 1008.385, Florida Statutes, are
4999amended to read:
5000     1008.385  Educational planning and information systems.-
5001     (1)  EDUCATIONAL PLANNING.-
5002     (b)  Each district school board shall maintain a continuing
5003system of planning and budgeting designed to aid in identifying
5004and meeting the educational needs of students and the public.
5005Provision shall be made for coordination between district school
5006boards and Florida College System institution community college
5007boards of trustees concerning the planning for career education
5008and adult educational programs. The major emphasis of the system
5009shall be upon locally determined goals and objectives, the state
5010plan for education, and the Sunshine State Standards developed
5011by the Department of Education and adopted by the State Board of
5012Education. The district planning and budgeting system must
5013include consideration of student achievement data obtained
5014pursuant to ss. 1008.22 and 1008.34. The system shall be
5015structured to meet the specific management needs of the district
5016and to align the budget adopted by the district school board
5017with the plan the board has also adopted. Each district school
5018board shall utilize its system of planning and budgeting to
5019emphasize a system of school-based management in which
5020individual school centers become the principal planning units
5021and to integrate planning and budgeting at the school level.
5022     (2)  COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS.-The
5023Commissioner of Education shall develop and implement an
5024integrated information system for educational management. The
5025system must be designed to collect, via electronic transfer, all
5026student and school performance data required to ascertain the
5027degree to which schools and school districts are meeting state
5028performance standards, and must be capable of producing data for
5029a comprehensive annual report on school and district
5030performance. In addition, the system shall support, as feasible,
5031the management decisions to be made in each division of the
5032department and at the individual school and district levels.
5033Similar data elements among divisions and levels shall be
5034compatible. The system shall be based on an overall conceptual
5035design; the information needed for such decisions, including
5036fiscal, student, program, personnel, facility, community,
5037evaluation, and other relevant data; and the relationship
5038between cost and effectiveness. The system shall be managed and
5039administered by the commissioner and shall include a district
5040subsystem component to be administered at the district level,
5041with input from the reports-and-forms control management
5042committees. Each district school system with a unique management
5043information system shall assure that compatibility exists
5044between its unique system and the district component of the
5045state system so that all data required as input to the state
5046system is made available via electronic transfer and in the
5047appropriate input format.
5048     (a)  The specific responsibilities of the commissioner
5049shall include:
5050     1.  Consulting with school district representatives in the
5051development of the system design model and implementation plans
5052for the management information system for public school
5053education management;
5054     2.  Providing operational definitions for the proposed
5055system;
5056     3.  Determining the information and specific data elements
5057required for the management decisions made at each educational
5058level, recognizing that the primary unit for information input
5059is the individual school and recognizing that time and effort of
5060instructional personnel expended in collection and compilation
5061of data should be minimized;
5062     4.  Developing standardized terminology and procedures to
5063be followed at all levels of the system;
5064     5.  Developing a standard transmittal format to be used for
5065collection of data from the various levels of the system;
5066     6.  Developing appropriate computer programs to assure
5067integration of the various information components dealing with
5068students, personnel, facilities, fiscal, program, community, and
5069evaluation data;
5070     7.  Developing the necessary programs to provide
5071statistical analysis of the integrated data provided in
5072subparagraph 6. in such a way that required reports may be
5073disseminated, comparisons may be made, and relationships may be
5074determined in order to provide the necessary information for
5075making management decisions at all levels;
5076     8.  Developing output report formats which will provide
5077district school systems with information for making management
5078decisions at the various educational levels;
5079     9.  Developing a phased plan for distributing computer
5080services equitably among all public schools and school districts
5081in the state as rapidly as possible. The plan shall describe
5082alternatives available to the state in providing such computing
5083services and shall contain estimates of the cost of each
5084alternative, together with a recommendation for action. In
5085developing the plan, the feasibility of shared use of computing
5086hardware and software by school districts, Florida College
5087System institutions community colleges, and universities shall
5088be examined. Laws or administrative rules regulating procurement
5089of data processing equipment, communication services, or data
5090processing services by state agencies shall not be construed to
5091apply to local agencies which share computing facilities with
5092state agencies;
5093     10.  Assisting the district school systems in establishing
5094their subsystem components and assuring compatibility with
5095current district systems;
5096     11.  Establishing procedures for continuous evaluation of
5097system efficiency and effectiveness;
5098     12.  Initiating a reports-management and forms-management
5099system to ascertain that duplication in collection of data does
5100not exist and that forms and reports for reporting under state
5101and federal requirements and other forms and reports are
5102prepared in a logical and uncomplicated format, resulting in a
5103reduction in the number and complexity of required reports,
5104particularly at the school level; and
5105     13.  Initiating such other actions as are necessary to
5106carry out the intent of the Legislature that a management
5107information system for public school management needs be
5108implemented. Such other actions shall be based on criteria
5109including, but not limited to:
5110     a.  The purpose of the reporting requirement;
5111     b.  The origination of the reporting requirement;
5112     c.  The date of origin of the reporting requirement; and
5113     d.  The date of repeal of the reporting requirement.
5114     Section 111.  Section 1008.405, Florida Statutes, is
5115amended to read:
5116     1008.405  Adult student information.-Each school district
5117and Florida College System institution community college shall
5118maintain sufficient information for each student enrolled in
5119workforce education to allow local and state administrators to
5120locate such student upon the termination of instruction and to
5121determine the appropriateness of student placement in specific
5122instructional programs. The State Board of Education shall
5123adopt, by rule, specific information that must be maintained and
5124acceptable means of maintaining that information.
5125     Section 112.  Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1008.41,
5126Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
5127     1008.41  Workforce education; management information
5128system.-
5129     (1)  The Commissioner of Education shall coordinate uniform
5130program structures, common definitions, and uniform management
5131information systems for workforce education for all divisions
5132within the department. In performing these functions, the
5133commissioner shall designate deadlines after which data elements
5134may not be changed for the coming fiscal or school year. School
5135districts and Florida College System institutions community
5136colleges shall be notified of data element changes at least 90
5137days prior to the start of the subsequent fiscal or school year.
5138Such systems must provide for:
5139     (a)  Individual student reporting.
5140     (b)  Compliance with state and federal confidentiality
5141requirements, except that the department shall have access to
5142the unemployment insurance wage reports to collect and report
5143placement information about former students. Such placement
5144reports must not disclose the individual identities of former
5145students.
5146     (c)  Maximum use of automated technology and records in
5147existing databases and data systems. To the extent feasible, the
5148Florida Information Resource Network may be employed for this
5149purpose.
5150     (d)  Annual reports of student enrollment, completion, and
5151placement by program.
5152     (2)  The State Board of Education shall identify, by rule,
5153the components to be included in the workforce education
5154management information system. All such components shall be
5155comparable between school districts and Florida College System
5156institutions community colleges.
5157     Section 113.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
51581008.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
5159     1008.42  Public information on career education programs.-
5160     (2)  The dissemination shall be conducted in accordance
5161with the following procedures:
5162     (b)1.  Each district school board shall publish, at a
5163minimum, the most recently available placement rate for each
5164career certificate program conducted by that school district at
5165the secondary school level and at the career degree level. The
5166placement rates for the preceding 3 years shall be published if
5167available, shall be included in each publication that informs
5168the public of the availability of the program, and shall be made
5169available to each school guidance counselor. If a program does
5170not have a placement rate, a publication that lists or describes
5171that program must state that the rate is unavailable.
5172     2.  Each Florida College System institution community
5173college shall publish, at a minimum, the most recent placement
5174rate for each career certificate program and for each career
5175degree program in its annual catalog. The placement rates for
5176the preceding 3 years shall be published, if available, and
5177shall be included in any publication that informs the public of
5178the availability of the program. If a program does not have a
5179placement rate, the publication that lists or describes that
5180program must state that the rate is unavailable.
5181     3.  If a school district or a Florida College System
5182institution community college has calculated for a program a
5183placement rate that differs from the rate reported by the
5184department, and if each record of a placement was obtained
5185through a process that was capable of being audited,
5186procedurally sound, and consistent statewide, the district or
5187the Florida College System institution community college may use
5188the locally calculated placement rate in the report required by
5189this section. However, that rate may not be combined with the
5190rate maintained in the computer files of the Department of
5191Education's Florida Education and Training Placement Information
5192Program.
5193     4.  An independent career, trade, or business school may
5194not publish a placement rate unless the placement rate was
5195determined as provided by this section.
5196     Section 114.  Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1) and
5197subsections (2) and (3) of section 1008.43, Florida Statutes,
5198are amended to read:
5199     1008.43  Career program reporting requirements.-
5200     (1)
5201     (b)  To measure and report program enrollment and
5202completion rates, the Department of Education shall use data in
5203the automated student databases generated by the public schools
5204and Florida College System institutions community colleges. To
5205measure and report placement rates and amount of earnings at the
5206time of placement, the department shall use data in the reports
5207produced by the Florida Education and Training Placement
5208Information Program as required in s. 1008.39. If any placement
5209information is not available from the Florida Education and
5210Training Placement Information Program, the school district or
5211the Florida College System institution community college may
5212provide placement information collected by the school district
5213or the Florida College System institution community college.
5214However, this supplemental information must be verifiable by the
5215department and must not be commingled with the database
5216maintained by the Florida Education and Training Placement
5217Information Program. The State Board of Education shall specify
5218by rule the statistically valid, verifiable, uniform procedures
5219by which school districts and Florida College System
5220institutions community colleges may collect and report placement
5221information to supplement the reports from the Florida Education
5222and Training Placement Information Program.
5223     (c)  The State Board of Education shall adopt standards for
5224the department, district school boards, and Florida College
5225System institution community college district boards of trustees
5226to use in program planning, program review, and program
5227evaluation. The standards must include, at a minimum, the
5228completion rates, placement rates, and earnings from employment
5229of former students of career education programs.
5230     (2)  The State Board of Education shall adopt procedures
5231for reviewing the career education programs administered by the
5232district school boards and the Florida College System
5233institution community college district boards of trustees when
5234program performance falls below the standards required by this
5235section.
5236     (3)  Annually, the department shall compile the reports
5237submitted in compliance with the rules adopted under this
5238section and shall produce a statewide report that addresses the
5239extent to which school districts and Florida College System
5240institutions community colleges are meeting the standards
5241established under paragraph (1)(c).
5242     Section 115.  Section 1008.45, Florida Statutes, is amended
5243to read:
5244     1008.45  Florida College System institution Community
5245college accountability process.-
5246     (1)  It is the intent of the Legislature that a management
5247and accountability process be implemented which provides for the
5248systematic, ongoing improvement and assessment of the
5249improvement of the quality and efficiency of the Florida College
5250System institutions community colleges. Accordingly, the State
5251Board of Education and the Florida College System institution
5252community college boards of trustees shall develop and implement
5253an accountability plan to improve and evaluate the instructional
5254and administrative efficiency and effectiveness of the Florida
5255Community College System. This plan shall be designed in
5256consultation with staff of the Governor and the Legislature and
5257must address the following issues:
5258     (a)  Graduation rates of A.A. and A.S. degree-seeking
5259students compared to first-time-enrolled students seeking the
5260associate degree.
5261     (b)  Minority student enrollment and retention rates.
5262     (c)  Student performance, including student performance in
5263college-level academic skills, mean grade point averages for
5264Florida College System institution community college A.A.
5265transfer students, and Florida College System institution
5266community college student performance on state licensure
5267examinations.
5268     (d)  Job placement rates of Florida College System
5269institution community college career students.
5270     (e)  Student progression by admission status and program.
5271     (f)  Career accountability standards identified in s.
52721008.42.
5273     (g)  Institutional assessment efforts related to the
5274requirements of s. III in the Criteria for Accreditation of the
5275Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges
5276and Schools.
5277     (h)  Other measures approved by the State Board of
5278Education.
5279     (2)  The State Board of Education shall submit an annual
5280report, to coincide with the submission of the agency strategic
5281plan required by law, providing the results of initiatives taken
5282during the prior year and the initiatives and related objective
5283performance measures proposed for the next year.
5284     (3)  The State Board of Education shall address within the
5285annual evaluation of the performance of the executive director,
5286and the Florida College System institution community college
5287boards of trustees shall address within the annual evaluation of
5288the presidents, the achievement of the performance goals
5289established by the accountability process.
5290     Section 116.  Section 1009.21, Florida Statutes, is amended
5291to read:
5292     1009.21  Determination of resident status for tuition
5293purposes.-Students shall be classified as residents or
5294nonresidents for the purpose of assessing tuition in
5295postsecondary educational programs offered by charter technical
5296career centers or career centers operated by school districts,
5297in Florida College System institutions community colleges, and
5298in state universities.
5299     (1)  As used in this section, the term:
5300     (a)  "Dependent child" means any person, whether or not
5301living with his or her parent, who is eligible to be claimed by
5302his or her parent as a dependent under the federal income tax
5303code.
5304     (b)  "Initial enrollment" means the first day of class at
5305an institution of higher education.
5306     (c)  "Institution of higher education" means any charter
5307technical career center as defined in s. 1002.34, career center
5308operated by a school district as defined in s. 1001.44, Florida
5309College System institution community college as defined in s.
53101000.21(3), or state university as defined in s. 1000.21(6).
5311     (d)  "Legal resident" or "resident" means a person who has
5312maintained his or her residence in this state for the preceding
5313year, has purchased a home which is occupied by him or her as
5314his or her residence, or has established a domicile in this
5315state pursuant to s. 222.17.
5316     (e)  "Nonresident for tuition purposes" means a person who
5317does not qualify for the in-state tuition rate.
5318     (f)  "Parent" means the natural or adoptive parent or legal
5319guardian of a dependent child.
5320     (g)  "Resident for tuition purposes" means a person who
5321qualifies as provided in this section for the in-state tuition
5322rate.
5323     (2)(a)  To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes:
5324     1.  A person or, if that person is a dependent child, his
5325or her parent or parents must have established legal residence
5326in this state and must have maintained legal residence in this
5327state for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to
5328his or her initial enrollment in an institution of higher
5329education.
5330     2.  Every applicant for admission to an institution of
5331higher education shall be required to make a statement as to his
5332or her length of residence in the state and, further, shall
5333establish that his or her presence or, if the applicant is a
5334dependent child, the presence of his or her parent or parents in
5335the state currently is, and during the requisite 12-month
5336qualifying period was, for the purpose of maintaining a bona
5337fide domicile, rather than for the purpose of maintaining a mere
5338temporary residence or abode incident to enrollment in an
5339institution of higher education.
5340     (b)  However, with respect to a dependent child living with
5341an adult relative other than the child's parent, such child may
5342qualify as a resident for tuition purposes if the adult relative
5343is a legal resident who has maintained legal residence in this
5344state for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to
5345the child's initial enrollment in an institution of higher
5346education, provided the child has resided continuously with such
5347relative for the 5 years immediately prior to the child's
5348initial enrollment in an institution of higher education, during
5349which time the adult relative has exercised day-to-day care,
5350supervision, and control of the child.
5351     (c)  The legal residence of a dependent child whose parents
5352are divorced, separated, or otherwise living apart will be
5353deemed to be this state if either parent is a legal resident of
5354this state, regardless of which parent is entitled to claim, and
5355does in fact claim, the minor as a dependent pursuant to federal
5356individual income tax provisions.
5357     (3)(a)  An individual shall not be classified as a resident
5358for tuition purposes and, thus, shall not be eligible to receive
5359the in-state tuition rate until he or she has provided such
5360evidence related to legal residence and its duration or, if that
5361individual is a dependent child, evidence of his or her parent's
5362legal residence and its duration, as may be required by law and
5363by officials of the institution of higher education from which
5364he or she seeks the in-state tuition rate.
5365     (b)  Except as otherwise provided in this section, evidence
5366of legal residence and its duration shall include clear and
5367convincing documentation that residency in this state was for a
5368minimum of 12 consecutive months prior to a student's initial
5369enrollment in an institution of higher education.
5370     (c)  Each institution of higher education shall
5371affirmatively determine that an applicant who has been granted
5372admission to that institution as a Florida resident meets the
5373residency requirements of this section at the time of initial
5374enrollment. The residency determination must be documented by
5375the submission of written or electronic verification that
5376includes two or more of the documents identified in this
5377paragraph. No single piece of evidence shall be conclusive.
5378     1.  The documents must include at least one of the
5379following:
5380     a.  A Florida voter's registration card.
5381     b.  A Florida driver's license.
5382     c.  A State of Florida identification card.
5383     d.  A Florida vehicle registration.
5384     e.  Proof of a permanent home in Florida which is occupied
5385as a primary residence by the individual or by the individual's
5386parent if the individual is a dependent child.
5387     f.  Proof of a homestead exemption in Florida.
5388     g.  Transcripts from a Florida high school for multiple
5389years if the Florida high school diploma or GED was earned
5390within the last 12 months.
5391     h.  Proof of permanent full-time employment in Florida for
5392at least 30 hours per week for a 12-month period.
5393     2.  The documents may include one or more of the following:
5394     a.  A declaration of domicile in Florida.
5395     b.  A Florida professional or occupational license.
5396     c.  Florida incorporation.
5397     d.  A document evidencing family ties in Florida.
5398     e.  Proof of membership in a Florida-based charitable or
5399professional organization.
5400     f.  Any other documentation that supports the student's
5401request for resident status, including, but not limited to,
5402utility bills and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments; a
5403lease agreement and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments;
5404or an official state, federal, or court document evidencing
5405legal ties to Florida.
5406     (4)  With respect to a dependent child, the legal residence
5407of the dependent child's parent or parents is prima facie
5408evidence of the dependent child's legal residence, which
5409evidence may be reinforced or rebutted, relative to the age and
5410general circumstances of the dependent child, by the other
5411evidence of legal residence required of or presented by the
5412dependent child. However, the legal residence of a dependent
5413child's parent or parents who are domiciled outside this state
5414is not prima facie evidence of the dependent child's legal
5415residence if that dependent child has lived in this state for 5
5416consecutive years prior to enrolling or reregistering at the
5417institution of higher education at which resident status for
5418tuition purposes is sought.
5419     (5)  In making a domiciliary determination related to the
5420classification of a person as a resident or nonresident for
5421tuition purposes, the domicile of a married person, irrespective
5422of sex, shall be determined, as in the case of an unmarried
5423person, by reference to all relevant evidence of domiciliary
5424intent. For the purposes of this section:
5425     (a)  A person shall not be precluded from establishing or
5426maintaining legal residence in this state and subsequently
5427qualifying or continuing to qualify as a resident for tuition
5428purposes solely by reason of marriage to a person domiciled
5429outside this state, even when that person's spouse continues to
5430be domiciled outside of this state, provided such person
5431maintains his or her legal residence in this state.
5432     (b)  A person shall not be deemed to have established or
5433maintained a legal residence in this state and subsequently to
5434have qualified or continued to qualify as a resident for tuition
5435purposes solely by reason of marriage to a person domiciled in
5436this state.
5437     (c)  In determining the domicile of a married person,
5438irrespective of sex, the fact of the marriage and the place of
5439domicile of such person's spouse shall be deemed relevant
5440evidence to be considered in ascertaining domiciliary intent.
5441     (6)(a)  Except as otherwise provided in this section, a
5442person who is classified as a nonresident for tuition purposes
5443may become eligible for reclassification as a resident for
5444tuition purposes if that person or, if that person is a
5445dependent child, his or her parent presents clear and convincing
5446documentation that supports permanent legal residency in this
5447state for at least 12 consecutive months rather than temporary
5448residency for the purpose of pursuing an education, such as
5449documentation of full-time permanent employment for the prior 12
5450months or the purchase of a home in this state and residence
5451therein for the prior 12 months while not enrolled in an
5452institution of higher education.
5453     (b)  If a person who is a dependent child and his or her
5454parent move to this state while such child is a high school
5455student and the child graduates from a high school in this
5456state, the child may become eligible for reclassification as a
5457resident for tuition purposes when the parent submits evidence
5458that the parent qualifies for permanent residency.
5459     (c)  If a person who is a dependent child and his or her
5460parent move to this state after such child graduates from high
5461school, the child may become eligible for reclassification as a
5462resident for tuition purposes after the parent submits evidence
5463that he or she has established legal residence in the state and
5464has maintained legal residence in the state for at least 12
5465consecutive months.
5466     (d)  A person who is classified as a nonresident for
5467tuition purposes and who marries a legal resident of the state
5468or marries a person who becomes a legal resident of the state
5469may, upon becoming a legal resident of the state, become
5470eligible for reclassification as a resident for tuition purposes
5471upon submitting evidence of his or her own legal residency in
5472the state, evidence of his or her marriage to a person who is a
5473legal resident of the state, and evidence of the spouse's legal
5474residence in the state for at least 12 consecutive months
5475immediately preceding the application for reclassification.
5476     (7)  A person shall not lose his or her resident status for
5477tuition purposes solely by reason of serving, or, if such person
5478is a dependent child, by reason of his or her parent's or
5479parents' serving, in the Armed Forces outside this state.
5480     (8)  A person who has been properly classified as a
5481resident for tuition purposes but who, while enrolled in an
5482institution of higher education in this state, loses his or her
5483resident tuition status because the person or, if he or she is a
5484dependent child, the person's parent or parents establish
5485domicile or legal residence elsewhere shall continue to enjoy
5486the in-state tuition rate for a statutory grace period, which
5487period shall be measured from the date on which the
5488circumstances arose that culminated in the loss of resident
5489tuition status and shall continue for 12 months. However, if the
549012-month grace period ends during a semester or academic term
5491for which such former resident is enrolled, such grace period
5492shall be extended to the end of that semester or academic term.
5493     (9)  Any person who ceases to be enrolled at or who
5494graduates from an institution of higher education while
5495classified as a resident for tuition purposes and who
5496subsequently abandons his or her domicile in this state shall be
5497permitted to reenroll at an institution of higher education in
5498this state as a resident for tuition purposes without the
5499necessity of meeting the 12-month durational requirement of this
5500section if that person has reestablished his or her domicile in
5501this state within 12 months of such abandonment and continuously
5502maintains the reestablished domicile during the period of
5503enrollment. The benefit of this subsection shall not be accorded
5504more than once to any one person.
5505     (10)  The following persons shall be classified as
5506residents for tuition purposes:
5507     (a)  Active duty members of the Armed Services of the
5508United States residing or stationed in this state, their
5509spouses, and dependent children, and active drilling members of
5510the Florida National Guard.
5511     (b)  Active duty members of the Armed Services of the
5512United States and their spouses and dependents attending a
5513Florida College System institution public community college or
5514state university within 50 miles of the military establishment
5515where they are stationed, if such military establishment is
5516within a county contiguous to Florida.
5517     (c)  United States citizens living on the Isthmus of
5518Panama, who have completed 12 consecutive months of college work
5519at the Florida State University Panama Canal Branch, and their
5520spouses and dependent children.
5521     (d)  Full-time instructional and administrative personnel
5522employed by state public schools and institutions of higher
5523education and their spouses and dependent children.
5524     (e)  Students from Latin America and the Caribbean who
5525receive scholarships from the federal or state government. Any
5526student classified pursuant to this paragraph shall attend, on a
5527full-time basis, a Florida institution of higher education.
5528     (f)  Southern Regional Education Board's Academic Common
5529Market graduate students attending Florida's state universities.
5530     (g)  Full-time employees of state agencies or political
5531subdivisions of the state when the student fees are paid by the
5532state agency or political subdivision for the purpose of job-
5533related law enforcement or corrections training.
5534     (h)  McKnight Doctoral Fellows and Finalists who are United
5535States citizens.
5536     (i)  United States citizens living outside the United
5537States who are teaching at a Department of Defense Dependent
5538School or in an American International School and who enroll in
5539a graduate level education program which leads to a Florida
5540teaching certificate.
5541     (j)  Active duty members of the Canadian military residing
5542or stationed in this state under the North American Air Defense
5543(NORAD) agreement, and their spouses and dependent children,
5544attending a Florida College System institution community college
5545or state university within 50 miles of the military
5546establishment where they are stationed.
5547     (k)  Active duty members of a foreign nation's military who
5548are serving as liaison officers and are residing or stationed in
5549this state, and their spouses and dependent children, attending
5550a Florida College System institution community college or state
5551university within 50 miles of the military establishment where
5552the foreign liaison officer is stationed.
5553     (11)  Once a student has been classified as a resident for
5554tuition purposes, an institution of higher education to which
5555the student transfers is not required to reevaluate the
5556classification unless inconsistent information suggests that an
5557erroneous classification was made or the student's situation has
5558changed. However, the student must have attended the institution
5559making the initial classification within the prior 12 months,
5560and the residency classification must be noted on the student's
5561transcript. The Higher Education Coordinating Council shall
5562consider issues related to residency determinations and make
5563recommendations relating to efficiency and effectiveness of
5564current law.
5565     (12)  Each institution of higher education shall establish
5566a residency appeal committee comprised of at least three members
5567to consider student appeals of residency determinations, in
5568accordance with the institution's official appeal process. The
5569residency appeal committee must render to the student the final
5570residency determination in writing. The institution must advise
5571the student of the reasons for the determination.
5572     (13)  The State Board of Education and the Board of
5573Governors shall adopt rules to implement this section.
5574     Section 117.  Subsection (1), paragraphs (a), (b), (e),
5575(f), and (g) of subsection (3), subsections (4) and (5),
5576paragraph (a) of subsection (6), and subsections (7), (8), (9),
5577(10), (11), and (12) of section 1009.22, Florida Statutes, are
5578amended to read:
5579     1009.22  Workforce education postsecondary student fees.-
5580     (1)  This section applies to students enrolled in workforce
5581education programs who are reported for funding, except that
5582college credit fees for the Florida College System institutions
5583community colleges are governed by s. 1009.23.
5584     (3)(a)  Except as otherwise provided by law, fees for
5585students who are nonresidents for tuition purposes must offset
5586the full cost of instruction. Fee-nonexempt students enrolled in
5587vocational-preparatory instruction shall be charged fees equal
5588to the fees charged for certificate career education
5589instruction. Each Florida College System institution community
5590college that conducts college-preparatory and vocational-
5591preparatory instruction in the same class section may charge a
5592single fee for both types of instruction.
5593     (b)  Fees for continuing workforce education shall be
5594locally determined by the district school board or Florida
5595College System institution community college board. Expenditures
5596for the continuing workforce education program provided by the
5597Florida College System institution community college or school
5598district must be fully supported by fees. Enrollments in
5599continuing workforce education courses may not be counted for
5600purposes of funding full-time equivalent enrollment.
5601     (e)  Each district school board and each Florida College
5602System institution community college board of trustees may adopt
5603tuition and out-of-state fees that may vary no more than 5
5604percent below and 5 percent above the combined total of the
5605standard tuition and out-of-state fees established in paragraph
5606(c).
5607     (f)  The maximum increase in resident tuition for any
5608school district or Florida College System institution community
5609college during the 2007-2008 fiscal year shall be 5 percent over
5610the tuition charged during the 2006-2007 fiscal year.
5611     (g)  The State Board of Education may adopt, by rule, the
5612definitions and procedures that district school boards and
5613Florida College System institution community college boards of
5614trustees shall use in the calculation of cost borne by students.
5615     (4)  A district school board or Florida College System
5616institution community college board that has a service area that
5617borders another state may implement a plan for a differential
5618out-of-state fee.
5619     (5)  Each district school board and Florida College System
5620institution community college board of trustees may establish a
5621separate fee for financial aid purposes in an additional amount
5622of up to 10 percent of the student fees collected for workforce
5623education programs. All fees collected shall be deposited into a
5624separate workforce education student financial aid fee trust
5625fund of the school district or Florida College System
5626institution community college to support students enrolled in
5627workforce education programs. Any undisbursed balance remaining
5628in the trust fund and interest income accruing to investments
5629from the trust fund shall increase the total funds available for
5630distribution to workforce education students. Awards shall be
5631based on student financial need and distributed in accordance
5632with a nationally recognized system of need analysis approved by
5633the State Board of Education. Fees collected pursuant to this
5634subsection shall be allocated in an expeditious manner.
5635     (6)(a)  Each district school board and Florida College
5636System institution community college board of trustees may
5637establish a separate fee for capital improvements, technology
5638enhancements, or equipping buildings which may not exceed 5
5639percent of tuition for resident students or 5 percent of tuition
5640and out-of-state fees for nonresident students. Funds collected
5641by Florida College System institutions community colleges
5642through the fee may be bonded only for the purpose of financing
5643or refinancing new construction and equipment, renovation, or
5644remodeling of educational facilities. The fee shall be collected
5645as a component part of the tuition and fees, paid into a
5646separate account, and expended only to construct and equip,
5647maintain, improve, or enhance the certificate career education
5648or adult education facilities of the school district or Florida
5649College System institution community college. Projects funded
5650through the use of the capital improvement fee must meet the
5651survey and construction requirements of chapter 1013. Pursuant
5652to s. 216.0158, each district school board and Florida College
5653System institution community college board of trustees shall
5654identify each project, including maintenance projects, proposed
5655to be funded in whole or in part by such fee. Capital
5656improvement fee revenues may be pledged by a board of trustees
5657as a dedicated revenue source to the repayment of debt,
5658including lease-purchase agreements, with an overall term of not
5659more than 7 years, including renewals, extensions, and
5660refundings, and revenue bonds with a term not exceeding 20 years
5661and not exceeding the useful life of the asset being financed,
5662only for the new construction and equipment, renovation, or
5663remodeling of educational facilities. Bonds authorized pursuant
5664to this paragraph shall be requested by the Florida College
5665System institution community college board of trustees and shall
5666be issued by the Division of Bond Finance in compliance with s.
566711(d), Art. VII of the State Constitution and the State Bond
5668Act. The Division of Bond Finance may pledge fees collected by
5669one or more Florida College System institutions community
5670colleges to secure such bonds. Any project included in the
5671approved educational plant survey pursuant to chapter 1013 is
5672approved pursuant to s. 11(f), Art. VII of the State
5673Constitution. Bonds issued pursuant to the State Bond Act may be
5674validated in the manner provided by chapter 75. The complaint
5675for such validation shall be filed in the circuit court of the
5676county where the seat of state government is situated, the
5677notice required to be published by s. 75.06 shall be published
5678only in the county where the complaint is filed, and the
5679complaint and order of the circuit court shall be served only on
5680the state attorney of the circuit in which the action is
5681pending. A maximum of 15 cents per credit hour may be allocated
5682from the capital improvement fee for child care centers
5683conducted by the district school board or Florida College System
5684institution community college board of trustees. The use of
5685capital improvement fees for such purpose shall be subordinate
5686to the payment of any bonds secured by the fees.
5687     (7)  Each district school board and Florida College System
5688institution community college board of trustees is authorized to
5689establish a separate fee for technology, not to exceed 5 percent
5690of tuition per credit hour or credit-hour equivalent for
5691resident students and not to exceed 5 percent of tuition and the
5692out-of-state fee per credit hour or credit-hour equivalent for
5693nonresident students. Revenues generated from the technology fee
5694shall be used to enhance instructional technology resources for
5695students and faculty and shall not be included in any award
5696under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. Fifty
5697percent of technology fee revenues may be pledged by a Florida
5698College System institution community college board of trustees
5699as a dedicated revenue source for the repayment of debt,
5700including lease-purchase agreements, not to exceed the useful
5701life of the asset being financed. Revenues generated from the
5702technology fee may not be bonded.
5703     (8)  Each district school board and Florida College System
5704institution community college board of trustees is authorized to
5705establish specific fees for workforce development instruction
5706not reported for state funding purposes or for workforce
5707development instruction not reported as state funded full-time
5708equivalent students. District school boards and Florida College
5709System institution community college boards of trustees are not
5710required to charge any other fee specified in this section for
5711this type of instruction.
5712     (9)  Florida College System institution Community college
5713boards of trustees and district school boards are not authorized
5714to charge students enrolled in workforce development programs
5715any fee that is not specifically authorized by statute. In
5716addition to tuition, out-of-state, financial aid, capital
5717improvement, and technology fees, as authorized in this section,
5718Florida College System institution community college boards of
5719trustees and district school boards are authorized to establish
5720fee schedules for the following user fees and fines: laboratory
5721fees; parking fees and fines; library fees and fines; fees and
5722fines relating to facilities and equipment use or damage; access
5723or identification card fees; duplicating, photocopying, binding,
5724or microfilming fees; standardized testing fees; diploma
5725replacement fees; transcript fees; application fees; graduation
5726fees; and late fees related to registration and payment. Such
5727user fees and fines shall not exceed the cost of the services
5728provided and shall only be charged to persons receiving the
5729service. Parking fee revenues may be pledged by a Florida
5730College System institution community college board of trustees
5731as a dedicated revenue source for the repayment of debt,
5732including lease-purchase agreements, with an overall term of not
5733more than 7 years, including renewals, extensions, and
5734refundings, and revenue bonds with a term not exceeding 20 years
5735and not exceeding the useful life of the asset being financed.
5736Florida College System institutions Community colleges shall use
5737the services of the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board
5738of Administration to issue any revenue bonds authorized by this
5739subsection. Any such bonds issued by the Division of Bond
5740Finance shall be in compliance with the provisions of the State
5741Bond Act. Bonds issued pursuant to the State Bond Act may be
5742validated in the manner established in chapter 75. The complaint
5743for such validation shall be filed in the circuit court of the
5744county where the seat of state government is situated, the
5745notice required to be published by s. 75.06 shall be published
5746only in the county where the complaint is filed, and the
5747complaint and order of the circuit court shall be served only on
5748the state attorney of the circuit in which the action is
5749pending.
5750     (10)  Each school district and Florida College System
5751institution community college may assess a service charge for
5752the payment of tuition and fees in installments. Such service
5753charge must be approved by the district school board or Florida
5754College System institution community college board of trustees.
5755     (11)  Any school district or Florida College System
5756institution community college that reports students who have not
5757paid fees in an approved manner in calculations of full-time
5758equivalent enrollments for state funding purposes shall be
5759penalized at a rate equal to 2 times the value of such
5760enrollments. Such penalty shall be charged against the following
5761year's allocation from workforce education funds or the Florida
5762Community College System Program Fund and shall revert to the
5763General Revenue Fund. The State Board of Education shall
5764specify, as necessary in rule, approved methods of student fee
5765payment. Such methods must include, but need not be limited to,
5766student fee payment; payment through federal, state, or
5767institutional financial aid; and employer fee payments.
5768     (12)  Each school district and Florida College System
5769institution community college shall report only those students
5770who have actually enrolled in instruction provided or supervised
5771by instructional personnel under contract with the district or
5772Florida College System institution community college in
5773calculations of actual full-time enrollments for state funding
5774purposes. A student who has been exempted from taking a course
5775or who has been granted academic or technical credit through
5776means other than actual coursework completed at the granting
5777institution may not be calculated for enrollment in the course
5778from which the student has been exempted or for which the
5779student has been granted credit. School districts and Florida
5780College System institutions community colleges that report
5781enrollments in violation of this subsection shall be penalized
5782at a rate equal to 2 times the value of such enrollments. Such
5783penalty shall be charged against the following year's allocation
5784from workforce education funds and shall revert to the General
5785Revenue Fund.
5786     Section 118.  Section 1009.23, Florida Statutes, is amended
5787to read:
5788     1009.23  Florida College System institution Community
5789college student fees.-
5790     (1)  Unless otherwise provided, this section applies only
5791to fees charged for college credit instruction leading to an
5792associate in arts degree, an associate in applied science
5793degree, an associate in science degree, or a baccalaureate
5794degree authorized pursuant to s. 1007.33, for noncollege credit
5795college-preparatory courses defined in s. 1004.02, and for
5796educator preparation institute programs defined in s. 1004.85.
5797     (2)(a)  All students shall be charged fees except students
5798who are exempt from fees or students whose fees are waived.
5799     (b)  Tuition and out-of-state fees for upper-division
5800courses must reflect the fact that the Florida College System
5801institution community college has a less expensive cost
5802structure than that of a state university. Therefore, the board
5803of trustees shall establish tuition and out-of-state fees for
5804upper-division courses in baccalaureate degree programs approved
5805pursuant to s. 1007.33 consistent with law and proviso language
5806in the General Appropriations Act. However, the board of
5807trustees may not vary tuition and out-of-state fees as provided
5808in subsection (4).
5809     (3)(a)  Effective January 1, 2008, for advanced and
5810professional, postsecondary vocational, college preparatory, and
5811educator preparation institute programs, the following tuition
5812and fee rates shall apply:
5813     1.  The standard tuition shall be $51.35 per credit hour
5814for students who are residents for tuition purposes.
5815     2.  The standard tuition shall be $51.35 per credit hour
5816and the out-of-state fee shall be $154.14 per credit hour for
5817students who are nonresidents for tuition purposes.
5818     (b)  Effective January 1, 2008, for baccalaureate degree
5819programs, the following tuition and fee rates shall apply:
5820     1.  The tuition shall be $65.47 per credit hour for
5821students who are residents for tuition purposes.
5822     2.  The sum of the tuition and the out-of-state fee per
5823credit hour for students who are nonresidents for tuition
5824purposes shall be no more than 85 percent of the sum of the
5825tuition and the out-of-state fee at the state university nearest
5826the Florida College System institution community college.
5827     (c)  Beginning with the 2008-2009 fiscal year and each year
5828thereafter, the tuition and the out-of-state fee shall increase
5829at the beginning of each fall semester at a rate equal to
5830inflation, unless otherwise provided in the General
5831Appropriations Act. The Office of Economic and Demographic
5832Research shall report the rate of inflation to the President of
5833the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the
5834Governor, and the State Board of Education each year prior to
5835March 1. For purposes of this paragraph, the rate of inflation
5836shall be defined as the rate of the 12-month percentage change
5837in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, U.S. City
5838Average, All Items, or successor reports as reported by the
5839United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
5840or its successor for December of the previous year. In the event
5841the percentage change is negative, the tuition and the out-of-
5842state fee per credit hour shall remain at the same levels as the
5843prior fiscal year.
5844     (4)  Each Florida College System institution community
5845college board of trustees shall establish tuition and out-of-
5846state fees, which may vary no more than 10 percent below and 15
5847percent above the combined total of the standard tuition and
5848fees established in subsection (3).
5849     (5)  Except as otherwise provided in law, the sum of
5850nonresident student tuition and out-of-state fees must be
5851sufficient to defray the full cost of each program.
5852     (6)  A Florida College System institution community college
5853board of trustees that has a service area that borders another
5854state may implement a plan for a differential out-of-state fee.
5855     (7)  Each Florida College System institution community
5856college board of trustees may establish a separate activity and
5857service fee not to exceed 10 percent of the tuition fee,
5858according to rules of the State Board of Education. The student
5859activity and service fee shall be collected as a component part
5860of the tuition and fees. The student activity and service fees
5861shall be paid into a student activity and service fund at the
5862Florida College System institution community college and shall
5863be expended for lawful purposes to benefit the student body in
5864general. These purposes include, but are not limited to, student
5865publications and grants to duly recognized student
5866organizations, the membership of which is open to all students
5867at the Florida College System institution community college
5868without regard to race, sex, or religion. No Florida College
5869System institution community college shall be required to lower
5870any activity and service fee approved by the board of trustees
5871of the Florida College System institution community college and
5872in effect prior to October 26, 2007, in order to comply with the
5873provisions of this subsection.
5874     (8)(a)  Each Florida College System institution community
5875college board of trustees is authorized to establish a separate
5876fee for financial aid purposes in an additional amount up to,
5877but not to exceed, 5 percent of the total student tuition or
5878out-of-state fees collected. Each Florida College System
5879institution community college board of trustees may collect up
5880to an additional 2 percent if the amount generated by the total
5881financial aid fee is less than $500,000. If the amount generated
5882is less than $500,000, a Florida College System institution
5883community college that charges tuition and out-of-state fees at
5884least equal to the average fees established by rule may transfer
5885from the general current fund to the scholarship fund an amount
5886equal to the difference between $500,000 and the amount
5887generated by the total financial aid fee assessment. No other
5888transfer from the general current fund to the loan, endowment,
5889or scholarship fund, by whatever name known, is authorized.
5890     (b)  All funds collected under this program shall be placed
5891in the loan and endowment fund or scholarship fund of the
5892college, by whatever name known. Such funds shall be disbursed
5893to students as quickly as possible. An amount not greater than
589440 percent of the fees collected in a fiscal year may be carried
5895forward unexpended to the following fiscal year. However, funds
5896collected prior to July 1, 1989, and placed in an endowment fund
5897may not be considered part of the balance of funds carried
5898forward unexpended to the following fiscal year.
5899     (c)  Up to 25 percent or $600,000, whichever is greater, of
5900the financial aid fees collected may be used to assist students
5901who demonstrate academic merit; who participate in athletics,
5902public service, cultural arts, and other extracurricular
5903programs as determined by the institution; or who are identified
5904as members of a targeted gender or ethnic minority population.
5905The financial aid fee revenues allocated for athletic
5906scholarships and fee exemptions provided pursuant to s.
59071009.25(3) for athletes shall be distributed equitably as
5908required by s. 1000.05(3)(d). A minimum of 75 percent of the
5909balance of these funds for new awards shall be used to provide
5910financial aid based on absolute need, and the remainder of the
5911funds shall be used for academic merit purposes and other
5912purposes approved by the boards of trustees. Such other purposes
5913shall include the payment of child care fees for students with
5914financial need. The State Board of Education shall develop
5915criteria for making financial aid awards. Each college shall
5916report annually to the Department of Education on the revenue
5917collected pursuant to this paragraph, the amount carried
5918forward, the criteria used to make awards, the amount and number
5919of awards for each criterion, and a delineation of the
5920distribution of such awards. The report shall include an
5921assessment by category of the financial need of every student
5922who receives an award, regardless of the purpose for which the
5923award is received. Awards which are based on financial need
5924shall be distributed in accordance with a nationally recognized
5925system of need analysis approved by the State Board of
5926Education. An award for academic merit shall require a minimum
5927overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or the
5928equivalent for both initial receipt of the award and renewal of
5929the award.
5930     (d)  These funds may not be used for direct or indirect
5931administrative purposes or salaries.
5932     (9)  Any Florida College System institution community
5933college that reports students who have not paid fees in an
5934approved manner in calculations of full-time equivalent
5935enrollments for state funding purposes shall be penalized at a
5936rate equal to two times the value of such enrollments. Such
5937penalty shall be charged against the following year's allocation
5938from the Florida Community College System Program Fund and shall
5939revert to the General Revenue Fund.
5940     (10)  Each Florida College System institution community
5941college board of trustees is authorized to establish a separate
5942fee for technology, which may not exceed 5 percent of tuition
5943per credit hour or credit-hour equivalent for resident students
5944and may not exceed 5 percent of tuition and the out-of-state fee
5945per credit hour or credit-hour equivalent for nonresident
5946students. Revenues generated from the technology fee shall be
5947used to enhance instructional technology resources for students
5948and faculty. The technology fee may apply to both college credit
5949and college-preparatory instruction and shall not be included in
5950any award under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
5951Fifty percent of technology fee revenues may be pledged by a
5952Florida College System institution community college board of
5953trustees as a dedicated revenue source for the repayment of
5954debt, including lease-purchase agreements, not to exceed the
5955useful life of the asset being financed. Revenues generated from
5956the technology fee may not be bonded.
5957     (11)(a)  Each Florida College System institution community
5958college board of trustees may establish a separate fee for
5959capital improvements, technology enhancements, or equipping
5960student buildings which may not exceed 10 percent of tuition for
5961resident students or 10 percent of the sum of tuition and out-
5962of-state fees for nonresident students. The fee for resident
5963students shall be limited to an increase of $2 per credit hour
5964over the prior year. Funds collected by Florida College System
5965institutions community colleges through the fee may be bonded
5966only as provided in this subsection for the purpose of financing
5967or refinancing new construction and equipment, renovation, or
5968remodeling of educational facilities. The fee shall be collected
5969as a component part of the tuition and fees, paid into a
5970separate account, and expended only to construct and equip,
5971maintain, improve, or enhance the educational facilities of the
5972Florida College System institution community college. Projects
5973funded through the use of the capital improvement fee shall meet
5974the survey and construction requirements of chapter 1013.
5975Pursuant to s. 216.0158, each Florida College System institution
5976community college shall identify each project, including
5977maintenance projects, proposed to be funded in whole or in part
5978by such fee.
5979     (b)  Capital improvement fee revenues may be pledged by a
5980board of trustees as a dedicated revenue source to the repayment
5981of debt, including lease-purchase agreements, with an overall
5982term of not more than 7 years, including renewals, extensions,
5983and refundings, and revenue bonds with a term not exceeding 20
5984annual maturities and not exceeding the useful life of the asset
5985being financed, only for financing or refinancing of the new
5986construction and equipment, renovation, or remodeling of
5987educational facilities. Bonds authorized pursuant to this
5988subsection shall be requested by the Florida College System
5989institution community college board of trustees and shall be
5990issued by the Division of Bond Finance in compliance with s.
599111(d), Art. VII of the State Constitution and the State Bond
5992Act. The Division of Bond Finance may pledge fees collected by
5993one or more Florida College System institutions community
5994colleges to secure such bonds. Any project included in the
5995approved educational plant survey pursuant to chapter 1013 is
5996approved pursuant to s. 11(f), Art. VII of the State
5997Constitution.
5998     (c)  Bonds issued pursuant to this subsection may be
5999validated in the manner provided by chapter 75. Only the initial
6000series of bonds is required to be validated. The complaint for
6001such validation shall be filed in the circuit court of the
6002county where the seat of state government is situated, the
6003notice required to be published by s. 75.06 shall be published
6004only in the county where the complaint is filed, and the
6005complaint and order of the circuit court shall be served only on
6006the state attorney of the circuit in which the action is
6007pending.
6008     (d)  A maximum of 15 percent may be allocated from the
6009capital improvement fee for child care centers conducted by the
6010Florida College System institution community college. The use of
6011capital improvement fees for such purpose shall be subordinate
6012to the payment of any bonds secured by the fees.
6013     (e)  The state does hereby covenant with the holders of the
6014bonds issued under this subsection that it will not take any
6015action that will materially and adversely affect the rights of
6016such holders so long as the bonds authorized by this subsection
6017are outstanding.
6018     (12)(a)  In addition to tuition, out-of-state, financial
6019aid, capital improvement, student activity and service, and
6020technology fees authorized in this section, each Florida College
6021System institution community college board of trustees is
6022authorized to establish fee schedules for the following user
6023fees and fines: laboratory fees, which do not apply to a
6024distance learning course; parking fees and fines; library fees
6025and fines; fees and fines relating to facilities and equipment
6026use or damage; access or identification card fees; duplicating,
6027photocopying, binding, or microfilming fees; standardized
6028testing fees; diploma replacement fees; transcript fees;
6029application fees; graduation fees; and late fees related to
6030registration and payment. Such user fees and fines shall not
6031exceed the cost of the services provided and shall only be
6032charged to persons receiving the service. A Florida College
6033System institution community college may not charge any fee
6034except as authorized by law. Parking fee revenues may be pledged
6035by a Florida College System institution community college board
6036of trustees as a dedicated revenue source for the repayment of
6037debt, including lease-purchase agreements, with an overall term
6038of not more than 7 years, including renewals, extensions, and
6039refundings, and revenue bonds with a term not exceeding 20 years
6040and not exceeding the useful life of the asset being financed.
6041Florida College System institutions Community colleges shall use
6042the services of the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board
6043of Administration to issue any revenue bonds authorized by this
6044subsection. Any such bonds issued by the Division of Bond
6045Finance shall be in compliance with the provisions of the State
6046Bond Act. Bonds issued pursuant to the State Bond Act may be
6047validated in the manner established in chapter 75. The complaint
6048for such validation shall be filed in the circuit court of the
6049county where the seat of state government is situated, the
6050notice required to be published by s. 75.06 shall be published
6051only in the county where the complaint is filed, and the
6052complaint and order of the circuit court shall be served only on
6053the state attorney of the circuit in which the action is
6054pending.
6055     (b)  The State Board of Education may adopt rules pursuant
6056to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer this subsection.
6057     (13)  The State Board of Education shall specify, as
6058necessary, by rule, approved methods of student fee payment.
6059Such methods shall include, but not be limited to, student fee
6060payment; payment through federal, state, or institutional
6061financial aid; and employer fee payments.
6062     (14)  Each Florida College System institution community
6063college board of trustees shall report only those students who
6064have actually enrolled in instruction provided or supervised by
6065instructional personnel under contract with the Florida College
6066System institution community college in calculations of actual
6067full-time equivalent enrollments for state funding purposes. No
6068student who has been exempted from taking a course or who has
6069been granted academic or career credit through means other than
6070actual coursework completed at the granting institution shall be
6071calculated for enrollment in the course from which he or she has
6072been exempted or granted credit. Florida College System
6073institutions Community colleges that report enrollments in
6074violation of this subsection shall be penalized at a rate equal
6075to two times the value of such enrollments. Such penalty shall
6076be charged against the following year's allocation from the
6077Florida Community College System Program Fund and shall revert
6078to the General Revenue Fund.
6079     (15)  Each Florida College System institution community
6080college may assess a service charge for the payment of tuition
6081and fees in installments and a convenience fee for the
6082processing of automated or online credit card payments. However,
6083the amount of the convenience fee may not exceed the total cost
6084charged by the credit card company to the Florida College System
6085institution community college. Such service charge or
6086convenience fee must be approved by the Florida College System
6087institution community college board of trustees.
6088     (16)(a)  Each Florida College System institution community
6089college may assess a student who enrolls in a course listed in
6090the Florida Higher Education Distance Learning Catalog,
6091established pursuant to s. 1004.09, a per-credit-hour distance
6092learning course user fee. For purposes of assessing this fee, a
6093distance learning course is a course in which at least 80
6094percent of the direct instruction of the course is delivered
6095using some form of technology when the student and instructor
6096are separated by time or space, or both.
6097     (b)  The amount of the distance learning course user fee
6098may not exceed the additional costs of the services provided
6099which are attributable to the development and delivery of the
6100distance learning course. If a Florida College System
6101institution community college assesses the distance learning
6102course user fee, the institution may not assess any other fees
6103to cover the additional costs. By September 1 of each year, each
6104board of trustees shall report to the Division of Florida
6105Colleges the total amount of revenue generated by the distance
6106learning course user fee for the prior fiscal year and how the
6107revenue was expended.
6108     (c)  The link for the catalog must be prominently displayed
6109within the advising and distance learning sections of the
6110institution's website, using a graphic and description provided
6111by the Florida Distance Learning Consortium, to inform students
6112of the catalog.
6113     (17)  The State Board of Education shall adopt a rule
6114specifying the definitions and procedures to be used in the
6115calculation of the percentage of cost paid by students. The rule
6116must provide for the calculation of the full cost of educational
6117programs based on the allocation of all funds provided through
6118the general current fund to programs of instruction, and other
6119activities as provided in the annual expenditure analysis. The
6120rule shall be developed in consultation with the Legislature.
6121     Section 119.  Subsections (2) and (3) of section 1009.25,
6122Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
6123     1009.25  Fee exemptions.-
6124     (2)  The following students are exempt from the payment of
6125tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that
6126provides postsecondary career programs, Florida College System
6127institution community college, or state university:
6128     (a)  A student enrolled in a dual enrollment or early
6129admission program pursuant to s. 1007.27 or s. 1007.271.
6130     (b)  A student enrolled in an approved apprenticeship
6131program, as defined in s. 446.021.
6132     (c)  A student who is or was at the time he or she reached
613318 years of age in the custody of the Department of Children and
6134Family Services or who, after spending at least 6 months in the
6135custody of the department after reaching 16 years of age, was
6136placed in a guardianship by the court. Such exemption includes
6137fees associated with enrollment in career-preparatory
6138instruction. The exemption remains valid until the student
6139reaches 28 years of age.
6140     (d)  A student who is or was at the time he or she reached
614118 years of age in the custody of a relative under s. 39.5085 or
6142who was adopted from the Department of Children and Family
6143Services after May 5, 1997. Such exemption includes fees
6144associated with enrollment in career-preparatory instruction.
6145The exemption remains valid until the student reaches 28 years
6146of age.
6147     (e)  A student enrolled in an employment and training
6148program under the welfare transition program. The regional
6149workforce board shall pay the state university, Florida College
6150System institution community college, or school district for
6151costs incurred for welfare transition program participants.
6152     (f)  A student who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate
6153nighttime residence or whose primary nighttime residence is a
6154public or private shelter designed to provide temporary
6155residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or a
6156public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as,
6157a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
6158     (g)  A student who is a proprietor, owner, or worker of a
6159company whose business has been at least 50 percent negatively
6160financially impacted by the buyout of property around Lake
6161Apopka by the State of Florida. Such student may receive a fee
6162exemption only if the student has not received compensation
6163because of the buyout, the student is designated a Florida
6164resident for tuition purposes, pursuant to s. 1009.21, and the
6165student has applied for and been denied financial aid, pursuant
6166to s. 1009.40, which would have provided, at a minimum, payment
6167of all student fees. The student is responsible for providing
6168evidence to the postsecondary education institution verifying
6169that the conditions of this paragraph have been met, including
6170supporting documentation provided by the Department of Revenue.
6171The student must be currently enrolled in, or begin coursework
6172within, a program area by fall semester 2000. The exemption is
6173valid for a period of 4 years after the date that the
6174postsecondary education institution confirms that the conditions
6175of this paragraph have been met.
6176     (3)  Each Florida College System institution community
6177college is authorized to grant student fee exemptions from all
6178fees adopted by the State Board of Education and the Florida
6179College System institution community college board of trustees
6180for up to 40 full-time equivalent students at each institution.
6181     Section 120.  Subsections (1), (7), (8), and (10) of
6182section 1009.26, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
6183     1009.26  Fee waivers.-
6184     (1)  School districts and Florida College System
6185institutions community colleges may waive fees for any fee-
6186nonexempt student. The total value of fee waivers granted by the
6187school district or Florida College System institution community
6188college may not exceed the amount established annually in the
6189General Appropriations Act. Any student whose fees are waived in
6190excess of the authorized amount may not be reported for state
6191funding purposes. Any school district or Florida College System
6192institution community college that waives fees and requests
6193state funding for a student in violation of the provisions of
6194this section shall be penalized at a rate equal to 2 times the
6195value of the full-time student enrollment reported.
6196     (7)  The spouse of a deceased state employee is entitled,
6197when eligible for the payment of student fees by the state as
6198employer pursuant to s. 440.16, in lieu of such payment, to a
6199full waiver of student fees for up to 80 semester hours in any
6200Florida College System institution community college.
6201     (8)  A state university or Florida College System
6202institution community college shall waive undergraduate tuition
6203for each recipient of a Purple Heart or another combat
6204decoration superior in precedence who:
6205     (a)  Is enrolled as a full-time, part-time, or summer-
6206school student in an undergraduate program that terminates in a
6207degree or certificate;
6208     (b)  Is currently, and was at the time of the military
6209action that resulted in the awarding of the Purple Heart or
6210other combat decoration superior in precedence, a resident of
6211this state; and
6212     (c)  Submits to the state university or the Florida College
6213System institution community college the DD-214 form issued at
6214the time of separation from service as documentation that the
6215student has received a Purple Heart or another combat decoration
6216superior in precedence.
6217
6218Such a waiver for a Purple Heart recipient or recipient of
6219another combat decoration superior in precedence shall be
6220applicable for 110 percent of the number of required credit
6221hours of the degree or certificate program for which the student
6222is enrolled.
6223     (10)  A state university or Florida College System
6224institution community college may waive tuition and fees for a
6225classroom teacher, as defined in s. 1012.01(2)(a), who is
6226employed full-time by a school district and who meets the
6227academic requirements established by the Florida College System
6228institution community college or state university for up to 6
6229credit hours per term on a space-available basis in
6230undergraduate courses approved by the Department of Education.
6231Such courses shall be limited to undergraduate courses related
6232to special education, mathematics, or science. The waiver may
6233not be used for courses scheduled during the school district's
6234regular school day. The State Board of Education shall adopt a
6235rule that prescribes the process for the approval of courses by
6236the department.
6237     Section 121.  Subsections (1), (2), (3), and (4) of section
62381009.265, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
6239     1009.265  State employee fee waivers.-
6240     (1)  As a benefit to the employer and employees of the
6241state, subject to approval by an employee's agency head or the
6242equivalent, each state university and Florida College System
6243institution community college shall waive tuition and fees for
6244state employees to enroll for up to 6 credit hours of courses
6245per term on a space-available basis.
6246     (2)  The Chief Financial Officer, in cooperation with the
6247Florida College System institutions community colleges and state
6248universities, shall identify and implement ways to ease the
6249administrative burden to Florida College System institutions
6250community colleges and state universities, including, but not
6251limited to, providing easier access to verify state employment.
6252     (3)  From funds appropriated by the Legislature for
6253administrative costs to implement this section, Florida College
6254System institutions community colleges and state universities
6255shall be reimbursed on a pro rata basis according to the cost
6256assessment data developed by the Department of Education.
6257     (4)  The Auditor General shall include a review of the cost
6258assessment data in conjunction with his or her audit
6259responsibilities for Florida College System institutions
6260community colleges, state universities, and the Department of
6261Education.
6262     Section 122.  Subsections (1) and (3) of section 1009.27,
6263Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
6264     1009.27  Deferral of fees.-
6265     (1)  School districts, Florida College System institutions
6266community colleges, and state universities may defer tuition and
6267fees for students receiving financial aid from a federal or
6268state assistance program when the aid is delayed in being
6269transmitted to the student through circumstances beyond the
6270control of the student. The failure to make timely application
6271for the aid is an insufficient reason to receive a deferral of
6272fees.
6273     (3)  Each school district, Florida College System
6274institution community college, and state university is
6275responsible for collecting all deferred fees. If a school
6276district, Florida College System institution community college,
6277or state university has not collected a deferred fee, the
6278student may not earn state funding for any course for which the
6279student subsequently registers until the fee has been paid.
6280     Section 123.  Section 1009.28, Florida Statutes, is amended
6281to read:
6282     1009.28  Fees for repeated enrollment in college-
6283preparatory classes.-A student enrolled in the same college-
6284preparatory class more than twice shall pay 100 percent of the
6285full cost of instruction to support continuous enrollment of
6286that student in the same class, and the student shall not be
6287included in calculations of full-time equivalent enrollments for
6288state funding purposes; however, students who withdraw or fail a
6289class due to extenuating circumstances may be granted an
6290exception only once for each class, provided approval is granted
6291according to policy established by the board of trustees. Each
6292Florida College System institution community college may review
6293and reduce fees paid by students due to continued enrollment in
6294a college-preparatory class on an individual basis contingent
6295upon the student's financial hardship, pursuant to definitions
6296and fee levels established by the State Board of Education.
6297     Section 124.  Section 1009.285, Florida Statutes, is
6298amended to read:
6299     1009.285  Fees for repeated enrollment in college-credit
6300courses.-A student enrolled in the same undergraduate college-
6301credit course more than twice shall pay tuition at 100 percent
6302of the full cost of instruction and shall not be included in
6303calculations of full-time equivalent enrollments for state
6304funding purposes. However, students who withdraw or fail a class
6305due to extenuating circumstances may be granted an exception
6306only once for each class, provided that approval is granted
6307according to policy established by the Florida College System
6308institution community college board of trustees or the
6309university board of trustees. Each Florida College System
6310institution community college and state university may review
6311and reduce fees paid by students due to continued enrollment in
6312a college-credit class on an individual basis contingent upon
6313the student's financial hardship. For purposes of this section,
6314first-time enrollment in a class shall mean enrollment in a
6315class beginning fall semester 1997, and calculations of the full
6316cost of instruction shall be based on the systemwide average of
6317the prior year's cost of undergraduate programs for the Florida
6318College System institutions community colleges and the state
6319universities. Boards of trustees may make exceptions to this
6320section for individualized study, elective coursework, courses
6321that are repeated as a requirement of a major, and courses that
6322are intended as continuing over multiple semesters, excluding
6323the repeat of coursework more than two times to increase grade
6324point average or meet minimum course grade requirements.
6325     Section 125.  Subsections (5), (6), and (7) of section
63261009.286, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
6327     1009.286  Additional student payment for hours exceeding
6328baccalaureate degree program completion requirements at state
6329universities.-
6330     (5)  Each state university and Florida College System
6331institution community college shall implement a process for
6332notifying students regarding the provisions of this section.
6333Notice must be provided by a state university or a Florida
6334College System institution community college upon a student's
6335initial enrollment in the institution. Such notice must be
6336provided a second time by a state university when a student has
6337earned the credit hours required to complete the baccalaureate
6338degree program in which the student is enrolled. The notice must
6339include a recommendation that each student who intends to earn
6340credit hours at the institution in excess of the credit hours
6341required for the baccalaureate degree program in which the
6342student is enrolled meet with his or her academic advisor.
6343     (6)  For purposes of this section, the term "state
6344university" includes the institutions identified in s.
63451000.21(6) and the term "Florida College System institution
6346community college" includes the institutions identified in s.
63471000.21(3).
6348     (7)  The provisions of this section become effective for
6349students who enter a Florida College System institution
6350community college or a state university for the first time in
6351the 2009-2010 academic year and thereafter.
6352     Section 126.  Subsection (1) of section 1009.29, Florida
6353Statutes, is amended to read:
6354     1009.29  Increased fees for funding financial aid program.-
6355     (1)  Student tuition and registration fees at each state
6356university and Florida College System institution community
6357college shall include up to $4.68 per quarter, or $7.02 per
6358semester, per full-time student, or the per-student credit hour
6359equivalents of such amounts. The fees provided for by this
6360section shall be adjusted from time to time, as necessary, to
6361comply with the debt service coverage requirements of the
6362student loan revenue bonds issued pursuant to s. 1009.79. If the
6363Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of Administration
6364and the Commissioner of Education determine that such fees are
6365no longer required as security for revenue bonds issued pursuant
6366to ss. 1009.78-1009.88, moneys previously collected pursuant to
6367this section which are held in escrow, after administrative
6368expenses have been met and up to $150,000 has been used to
6369establish a financial aid data processing system for the state
6370universities incorporating the necessary features to meet the
6371needs of all 11 universities for application through
6372disbursement processing, shall be reallocated to the generating
6373institutions to be used for student financial aid programs,
6374including, but not limited to, scholarships and grants for
6375educational purposes. Upon such determination, such fees shall
6376no longer be assessed and collected.
6377     Section 127.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
63781009.40, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
6379     1009.40  General requirements for student eligibility for
6380state financial aid awards and tuition assistance grants.-
6381     (1)(a)  The general requirements for eligibility of
6382students for state financial aid awards and tuition assistance
6383grants consist of the following:
6384     1.  Achievement of the academic requirements of and
6385acceptance at a state university or Florida College System
6386institution community college; a nursing diploma school approved
6387by the Florida Board of Nursing; a Florida college, or
6388university, or community college which is accredited by an
6389accrediting agency recognized by the State Board of Education;
6390any Florida institution the credits of which are acceptable for
6391transfer to state universities; any career center; or any
6392private career institution accredited by an accrediting agency
6393recognized by the State Board of Education.
6394     2.  Residency in this state for no less than 1 year
6395preceding the award of aid or a tuition assistance grant for a
6396program established pursuant to s. 1009.50, s. 1009.505, s.
63971009.51, s. 1009.52, s. 1009.53, s. 1009.54, s. 1009.56, s.
63981009.57, s. 1009.60, s. 1009.62, s. 1009.68, s. 1009.72, s.
63991009.73, s. 1009.77, s. 1009.89, or s. 1009.891. Residency in
6400this state must be for purposes other than to obtain an
6401education. Resident status for purposes of receiving state
6402financial aid awards shall be determined in the same manner as
6403resident status for tuition purposes pursuant to s. 1009.21.
6404     3.  Submission of certification attesting to the accuracy,
6405completeness, and correctness of information provided to
6406demonstrate a student's eligibility to receive state financial
6407aid awards or tuition assistance grants. Falsification of such
6408information shall result in the denial of any pending
6409application and revocation of any award or grant currently held
6410to the extent that no further payments shall be made.
6411Additionally, students who knowingly make false statements in
6412order to receive state financial aid awards or tuition
6413assistance grants commit a misdemeanor of the second degree
6414subject to the provisions of s. 837.06 and shall be required to
6415return all state financial aid awards or tuition assistance
6416grants wrongfully obtained.
6417     Section 128.  Subsection (2) of section 1009.42, Florida
6418Statutes, is amended to read:
6419     1009.42  Financial aid appeal process.-
6420     (2)  The president of each state university and each
6421Florida College System institution community college shall
6422establish a procedure for appeal, by students, of grievances
6423related to the award or administration of financial aid at the
6424institution.
6425     Section 129.  Section 1009.44, Florida Statutes, is amended
6426to read:
6427     1009.44  Need-based financial aid; no preference to
6428students receiving other aid.-From the funds collected by state
6429universities and Florida College System institutions community
6430colleges as a financial aid fee and from other funds
6431appropriated by the Legislature for financial aid from the
6432Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, institutions shall expend
6433those moneys designated as need-based financial aid with no
6434preference given to students who also qualify for merit-based or
6435other financial aid awards.
6436     Section 130.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) and paragraph
6437(b) of subsection (4) of section 1009.50, Florida Statutes, are
6438amended to read:
6439     1009.50  Florida Public Student Assistance Grant Program;
6440eligibility for grants.-
6441     (2)(a)  State student assistance grants through the program
6442may be made only to degree-seeking students who enroll in at
6443least 6 semester hours, or the equivalent per term, and who meet
6444the general requirements for student eligibility as provided in
6445s. 1009.40, except as otherwise provided in this section. The
6446grants shall be awarded annually for the amount of demonstrated
6447unmet need for the cost of education and may not exceed an
6448amount equal to the average prior academic year cost of tuition
6449fees and other registration fees for 30 credit hours at state
6450universities or such other amount as specified in the General
6451Appropriations Act, to any recipient. A demonstrated unmet need
6452of less than $200 shall render the applicant ineligible for a
6453state student assistance grant. Recipients of the grants must
6454have been accepted at a state university or Florida College
6455System institution community college authorized by Florida law.
6456A student is eligible for the award for 110 percent of the
6457number of credit hours required to complete the program in which
6458enrolled, except as otherwise provided in s. 1009.40(3).
6459     (4)
6460     (b)  Payment of Florida public student assistance grants
6461shall be transmitted to the president of the state university or
6462Florida College System institution community college, or to his
6463or her representative, in advance of the registration period.
6464Institutions shall notify students of the amount of their
6465awards.
6466     Section 131.  Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (2),
6467paragraph (a) of subsection (3), and paragraphs (a) and (b) of
6468subsection (4) of section 1009.505, Florida Statutes, are
6469amended to read:
6470     1009.505  Florida Public Postsecondary Career Education
6471Student Assistance Grant Program.-
6472     (2)  For purposes of this section, the term:
6473     (b)  "Half-time" means the equivalent in clock hours at a
6474public postsecondary career certificate program of 6 semester
6475credit hours at a Florida College System institution community
6476college.
6477     (c)  "Public postsecondary career certificate program"
6478means a postsecondary program that consists of 450 or more clock
6479hours, is offered by a Florida College System institution
6480community college authorized by Florida law or by a career
6481center operated by a district school board under s. 1001.44, and
6482terminates in a career certificate.
6483     (3)(a)  Student assistance grants through the program may
6484be made only to certificate-seeking students enrolled at least
6485half-time in a public postsecondary career certificate program
6486who meet the general requirements for student eligibility as
6487provided in s. 1009.40, except as otherwise provided in this
6488section. The grants shall be awarded annually to any recipient
6489for the amount of demonstrated unmet need for the cost of
6490education and may not exceed the average annual cost of tuition
6491and registration fees or such other amount as specified in the
6492General Appropriations Act. A demonstrated unmet need of less
6493than $200 shall render the applicant ineligible for a grant
6494under this section. Recipients of the grants must have been
6495accepted at a Florida College System institution community
6496college authorized by Florida law or a career center operated by
6497a district school board under s. 1001.44. A student is eligible
6498for the award for 110 percent of the number of clock hours
6499required to complete the program in which enrolled.
6500     (4)(a)  The funds appropriated for the Florida Public
6501Postsecondary Career Education Student Assistance Grant Program
6502shall be distributed to eligible Florida College System
6503institutions community colleges and district school boards in
6504accordance with a formula approved by the department.
6505     (b)  Payment of Florida public postsecondary career
6506education student assistance grants shall be transmitted to the
6507president of the Florida College System institution community
6508college or to the district school superintendent, or to the
6509designee thereof, in advance of the registration period.
6510Institutions shall notify students of the amount of their
6511awards.
6512     Section 132.  Subsection (1) of section 1009.533, Florida
6513Statutes, is amended to read:
6514     1009.533  Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
6515eligible postsecondary education institutions.-A student is
6516eligible for an award or the renewal of an award from the
6517Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program if the student meets
6518the requirements for the program as described in this act and is
6519enrolled in a postsecondary education institution that meets the
6520description in any one of the following subsections:
6521     (1)  A Florida public university, Florida College System
6522institution community college, or career center.
6523     Section 133.  Subsection (2) of section 1009.535, Florida
6524Statutes, is amended to read:
6525     1009.535  Florida Medallion Scholars award.-
6526     (2)  A Florida Medallion Scholar is eligible for an award
6527equal to the amount required to pay 75 percent of tuition and
6528fees if the student is enrolled in a state university or a
6529baccalaureate degree program authorized pursuant to s. 1007.33.
6530A Florida Medallion Scholar is eligible for an award equal to
6531the amount required to pay 100 percent of tuition and fees for
6532college credit courses leading to an associate degree if the
6533student is enrolled in a Florida College System institution
6534community college. A student who is enrolled in a nonpublic
6535postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award
6536equal to the amount that would be required to pay 75 percent of
6537the tuition and fees of a public postsecondary education
6538institution at the comparable level.
6539     Section 134.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) and paragraph
6540(c) of subsection (3) of section 1009.55, Florida Statutes, are
6541amended to read:
6542     1009.55  Rosewood Family Scholarship Program.-
6543     (2)  The Rosewood Family Scholarship Program shall be
6544administered by the Department of Education. The State Board of
6545Education shall adopt rules for administering this program which
6546shall at a minimum provide for the following:
6547     (d)  Payment of an award shall be transmitted in advance of
6548the registration period each semester on behalf of the student
6549to the president of the university or Florida College System
6550institution community college, or his or her representative, or
6551to the director of the career center which the recipient is
6552attending.
6553     (3)  Beginning with the 1994-1995 academic year, the
6554department is authorized to make awards for undergraduate study
6555to students who:
6556     (c)  Enroll as certificate-seeking or degree-seeking
6557students at a state university, Florida College System
6558institution community college, or career center authorized by
6559law.
6560     Section 135.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
65611009.56, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
6562     1009.56  Seminole and Miccosukee Indian Scholarships.-
6563     (2)  The department shall award scholarships to students
6564who:
6565     (b)  Are enrolled at a state university or Florida College
6566System institution community college authorized by Florida law;
6567a nursing diploma school approved by the Board of Nursing; any
6568Florida college, or university, or community college which is
6569accredited by an accrediting association whose standards are
6570comparable to the minimum standards required to operate an
6571institution at that level in Florida, as determined by rules of
6572the Commission for Independent Education; or any Florida
6573institution the credits of which are acceptable for transfer to
6574state universities;
6575     Section 136.  Section 1009.60, Florida Statutes, is amended
6576to read:
6577     1009.60  Minority teacher education scholars program.-There
6578is created the minority teacher education scholars program,
6579which is a collaborative performance-based scholarship program
6580for African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American, and
6581Native American students. The participants in the program
6582include Florida's Florida College System institutions community
6583colleges and its public and private universities that have
6584teacher education programs.
6585     (1)  The minority teacher education scholars program shall
6586provide an annual scholarship in an amount that shall be
6587prorated based on available appropriations and may not exceed
6588$4,000 for each approved minority teacher education scholar who
6589is enrolled in one of Florida's public or private universities
6590in the junior year and is admitted into a teacher education
6591program.
6592     (2)  To assist each participating education institution in
6593the recruitment and retention of minority teacher scholars, the
6594administrators of the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc.,
6595shall implement a systemwide training program. The training
6596program must include an annual conference or series of
6597conferences for students who are in the program or who are
6598identified by a high school or a Florida College System
6599institution community college as likely candidates for the
6600program. The training program must also include research about
6601and dissemination concerning successful activities or programs
6602that recruit minority students for teacher education and retain
6603them through graduation, certification, and employment. Staff
6604employed by the corporation may work with each participating
6605education institution to assure that local faculty and
6606administrators receive the benefit of all available research and
6607resources to increase retention of their minority teacher
6608education scholars.
6609     (3)  The total amount appropriated annually for new
6610scholarships in the program must be divided by $4,000 and by the
6611number of participating colleges and universities. Each
6612participating institution has access to the same number of
6613scholarships and may award all of them to eligible minority
6614students. If a college or university does not award all of its
6615scholarships by the date set by the program administration at
6616the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc., the remaining
6617scholarships must be transferred to another institution that has
6618eligible students. If the total amount appropriated for new
6619scholarships is insufficient to award $4,000 to each eligible
6620student, the amount of the scholarship shall be prorated based
6621on available appropriations.
6622     (4)  A student may receive a scholarship from the program
6623for 3 consecutive years if the student remains enrolled full-
6624time in the program and makes satisfactory progress toward a
6625baccalaureate degree with a major in education.
6626     (5)  If a minority teacher education scholar graduates and
6627is employed as a teacher by a Florida district school board, the
6628scholar is not required to repay the scholarship amount so long
6629as the scholar teaches in a Florida public school. A scholar may
6630repay the entire scholarship amount by remaining employed as a
6631Florida public school teacher for 1 year for each year he or she
6632received the scholarship.
6633     (6)  If a minority teacher education scholar does not
6634graduate within 3 years, or if the scholar graduates but does
6635not teach in a Florida public school, the scholar must repay the
6636total amount awarded, plus annual interest of 8 percent.
6637     (a)  Interest begins accruing the first day of the 13th
6638month after the month in which the recipient completes an
6639approved teacher education program or after the month in which
6640enrollment as a full-time student is terminated. Interest does
6641not accrue during any period of deferment or eligible teaching
6642service.
6643     (b)  The repayment period begins the first day of the 13th
6644month after the month in which the recipient completes an
6645approved teacher education program or after the month in which
6646enrollment as a full-time student is terminated.
6647     (c)  The terms and conditions of the scholarship repayment
6648must be contained in a promissory note and a repayment schedule.
6649The loan must be paid within 10 years after the date of
6650graduation or termination of full-time enrollment, including any
6651periods of deferment. A shorter repayment period may be granted.
6652The minimum monthly repayment is $50 or the unpaid balance,
6653unless otherwise approved, except that the monthly payment may
6654not be less than the accruing interest. The recipient may prepay
6655any part of the scholarship without penalty.
6656     (d)  The holder of the promissory note may grant a
6657deferment of repayment for a recipient who is a full-time
6658student, who is unable to secure a teaching position that would
6659qualify as repayment, who becomes disabled, or who experiences
6660other hardships. Such a deferment may be granted for a total of
666124 months.
6662     (e)  If a student defaults on the scholarship, the entire
6663unpaid balance, including interest accrued, becomes due and
6664payable at the option of the holder of the promissory note, or
6665when the recipient is no longer able to pay or no longer intends
6666to pay. The recipient is responsible for paying all reasonable
6667attorney's fees and other costs and charges necessary for
6668administration of the collection process.
6669     Section 137.  Subsection (3) of section 1009.605, Florida
6670Statutes, is amended to read:
6671     1009.605  Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc.-
6672     (3)  A board of directors shall administer the corporation.
6673The Governor shall appoint to the board at least 15 but not more
6674than 25 members, who shall serve terms of 3 years, except that 4
6675of the initial members shall serve 1-year terms and 4 shall
6676serve 2-year terms. At least 4 members must be employed by
6677Florida College System institutions public community colleges
6678and at least 11 members must be employed by public or private
6679postsecondary institutions that operate colleges of education.
6680At least one member must be a financial aid officer employed by
6681a postsecondary education institution operating in Florida.
6682Administrative costs for support of the Board of Directors and
6683the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers may not exceed 5 percent
6684of funds allocated for the program. The board shall:
6685     (a)  Hold meetings to implement this section.
6686     (b)  Select a chairperson annually.
6687     (c)  Make rules for its own government.
6688     (d)  Appoint an executive director to serve at its
6689pleasure. The executive director shall be the chief
6690administrative officer and agent of the board.
6691     (e)  Maintain a record of its proceedings.
6692     (f)  Delegate to the chairperson the responsibility for
6693signing final orders.
6694     (g)  Carry out the training program as required for the
6695minority teacher education scholars program. No more than 5
6696percent of the funds appropriated for the minority teacher
6697education scholars program may be expended for administration,
6698including administration of the required training program.
6699     Section 138.  Subsection (3) of section 1009.65, Florida
6700Statutes, is amended to read:
6701     1009.65  Medical Education Reimbursement and Loan Repayment
6702Program.-
6703     (3)  The Department of Health may adopt any rules necessary
6704for the administration of the Medical Education Reimbursement
6705and Loan Repayment Program. The department may also solicit
6706technical advice regarding conduct of the program from the
6707Department of Education and Florida universities and Florida
6708College System institutions community colleges. The Department
6709of Health shall submit a budget request for an amount sufficient
6710to fund medical education reimbursement, loan repayments, and
6711program administration.
6712     Section 139.  Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (4) of
6713section 1009.67, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
6714     1009.67  Nursing scholarship program.-
6715     (4)  Credit for repayment of a scholarship shall be as
6716follows:
6717     (a)  For each full year of scholarship assistance, the
6718recipient agrees to work for 12 months in a faculty position in
6719a college of nursing or Florida College System institution
6720community college nursing program in this state or at a health
6721care facility in a medically underserved area as approved by the
6722Department of Health. Scholarship recipients who attend school
6723on a part-time basis shall have their employment service
6724obligation prorated in proportion to the amount of scholarship
6725payments received.
6726     (b)  Eligible health care facilities include nursing homes
6727and hospitals in this state, state-operated medical or health
6728care facilities, public schools, county health departments,
6729federally sponsored community health centers, colleges of
6730nursing in universities in this state, and Florida College
6731System institution community college nursing programs in this
6732state, family practice teaching hospitals as defined in s.
6733395.805, or specialty children's hospitals as described in s.
6734409.9119. The recipient shall be encouraged to complete the
6735service obligation at a single employment site. If continuous
6736employment at the same site is not feasible, the recipient may
6737apply to the department for a transfer to another approved
6738health care facility.
6739     Section 140.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
67401009.70, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
6741     1009.70  Florida Education Fund.-
6742     (4)  The Florida Education Fund shall be administered by a
6743board of directors, which is hereby established.
6744     (a)  The board of directors shall consist of 12 members, to
6745be appointed as follows:
6746     1.  Two laypersons appointed by the Governor;
6747     2.  Two laypersons appointed by the President of the
6748Senate;
6749     3.  Two laypersons appointed by the Speaker of the House of
6750Representatives; and
6751     4.  Two representatives of state universities, two
6752representatives of Florida College System institutions public
6753community colleges, and two representatives of independent
6754colleges or universities appointed by the State Board of
6755Education.
6756
6757The board of directors may appoint to the board an additional
6758five members from the private sector for the purpose of
6759assisting in the procurement of private contributions. Such
6760members shall serve as voting members of the board.
6761     Section 141.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section
67621009.72, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
6763     1009.72  Jose Marti Scholarship Challenge Grant Program.-
6764     (5)(a)  In order to be eligible to receive a scholarship
6765pursuant to this section, an applicant shall:
6766     1.  Be a Hispanic-American, or a person of Spanish culture
6767with origins in Mexico, South America, Central America, or the
6768Caribbean, regardless of race.
6769     2.  Be a citizen of the United States and meet the general
6770requirements for student eligibility as provided in s. 1009.40,
6771except as otherwise provided in this section.
6772     3.  Be accepted at a state university, or Florida College
6773System institution, community college or any Florida college or
6774university that is accredited by an association whose standards
6775are comparable to the minimum standards required to operate a
6776postsecondary education institution at that level in Florida.
6777     4.  Enroll as a full-time undergraduate or graduate
6778student.
6779     5.  Earn a 3.0 unweighted grade point average on a 4.0
6780scale, or the equivalent for high school subjects creditable
6781toward a diploma. If an applicant applies as a graduate student,
6782he or she shall have earned a 3.0 cumulative grade point average
6783for undergraduate college-level courses.
6784     Section 142.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and paragraph
6785(a) of subsection (8) of section 1009.77, Florida Statutes, are
6786amended to read:
6787     1009.77  Florida Work Experience Program.-
6788     (1)  There is established the Florida Work Experience
6789Program to be administered by the Department of Education. The
6790purpose of the program is to introduce eligible students to work
6791experience that will complement and reinforce their educational
6792program and career goals and provide a self-help student aid
6793program that reduces student loan indebtedness. Additionally,
6794the program's opportunities for employment at a student's school
6795will serve as a retention tool because students employed on
6796campus are more likely to complete their postsecondary
6797education. The program shall be available to:
6798     (a)  Any student attending a state university or Florida
6799College System institution community college authorized by
6800Florida law;
6801     (8)  A student is eligible to participate in the Florida
6802Work Experience Program if the student:
6803     (a)  Is enrolled:
6804     1.  At an eligible college or university as no less than a
6805half-time undergraduate student in good standing;
6806     2.  In an eligible postsecondary career certificate program
6807as no less than a half-time student in good standing. Eligible
6808programs must be approved by the Department of Education and
6809must consist of no less than 450 clock hours of instruction.
6810Such programs must be offered by a career center operated by a
6811district school board under s. 1001.44 or by a Florida College
6812System institution community college; or
6813     3.  At an educator preparation institute established under
6814s. 1004.85 as no less than a half-time student in good standing.
6815
6816However, a student may be employed during the break between two
6817consecutive terms or employed, although not enrolled, during a
6818term if the student was enrolled at least half time during the
6819preceding term and preregisters as no less than a half-time
6820student for the subsequent academic term. A student who attends
6821an institution that does not provide preregistration shall
6822provide documentation of intent to enroll as no less than a
6823half-time student for the subsequent academic term.
6824     Section 143.  Subsection (3) of section 1009.89, Florida
6825Statutes, is amended to read:
6826     1009.89  The William L. Boyd, IV, Florida resident access
6827grants.-
6828     (3)  The department shall issue through the program a
6829William L. Boyd, IV, Florida resident access grant to any full-
6830time degree-seeking undergraduate student registered at an
6831independent nonprofit college or university which is located in
6832and chartered by the state; which is accredited by the
6833Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges
6834and Schools; which grants baccalaureate degrees; which is not a
6835state university or Florida College System institution state
6836community college; and which has a secular purpose, so long as
6837the receipt of state aid by students at the institution would
6838not have the primary effect of advancing or impeding religion or
6839result in an excessive entanglement between the state and any
6840religious sect. Any independent college or university that was
6841eligible to receive tuition vouchers on January 1, 1989, and
6842which continues to meet the criteria under which its eligibility
6843was established, shall remain eligible to receive William L.
6844Boyd, IV, Florida resident access grant payments.
6845     Section 144.  Subsection (3) of section 1009.891, Florida
6846Statutes, is amended to read:
6847     1009.891  The Access to Better Learning and Education Grant
6848Program.-
6849     (3)  The department shall issue an access grant to any
6850full-time student seeking a baccalaureate degree who is
6851registered at a for-profit college or university that is located
6852in and chartered by the state and that is accredited by the
6853Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges
6854and Schools or who is registered at a nonprofit college or
6855university that is chartered out of the state, that has been
6856located in the state for 10 years or more, and that is
6857accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern
6858Association of Colleges and Schools, the Middle States
6859Association of Colleges and Schools, the North Central
6860Association of Colleges and Schools, or the New England
6861Association of Colleges and Schools; that grants baccalaureate
6862degrees; that is not a state university or Florida College
6863System institution state community college; and that has a
6864secular purpose, if the receipt of state aid by students at the
6865institution would not have the primary effect of advancing or
6866impeding religion or result in an excessive entanglement between
6867the state and any religious sect. Institutions eligible for the
6868Access to Better Learning and Education Grant Program in the
6869initial year of funding shall include only those for-profit
6870colleges or universities identified in this subsection.
6871Nonprofit colleges or universities identified in this subsection
6872shall be eligible for financial support in the second year of
6873funding.
6874     Section 145.  Paragraph (h) of subsection (3) of section
68751009.97, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
6876     1009.97  General provisions.-
6877     (3)  DEFINITIONS.-As used in ss. 1009.97-1009.984, the
6878term:
6879     (h)  "State postsecondary institution" means any Florida
6880College System institution public community college or state
6881university.
6882     Section 146.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (4) of section
68831009.971, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
6884     1009.971  Florida Prepaid College Board.-
6885     (4)  FLORIDA PREPAID COLLEGE BOARD; POWERS AND DUTIES.-The
6886board shall have the powers and duties necessary or proper to
6887carry out the provisions of ss. 1009.97-1009.984, including, but
6888not limited to, the power and duty to:
6889     (e)  Establish agreements or other transactions with
6890federal, state, and local agencies, including state universities
6891and Florida College System institutions community colleges.
6892     Section 147.  Subsection (2), paragraph (e) of subsection
6893(5), and subsection (6) of section 1009.98, Florida Statutes,
6894are amended to read:
6895     1009.98  Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Program.-
6896     (2)  PREPAID COLLEGE PLANS.-At a minimum, the board shall
6897make advance payment contracts available for two independent
6898plans to be known as the Florida College System institution
6899community college plan and the university plan. The board may
6900also make advance payment contracts available for a dormitory
6901residence plan. The board may restrict the number of
6902participants in the Florida College System institution community
6903college plan, university plan, and dormitory residence plan,
6904respectively. However, any person denied participation solely on
6905the basis of such restriction shall be granted priority for
6906participation during the succeeding year.
6907     (a)1.  Through the Florida College System institution
6908community college plan, the advance payment contract may provide
6909prepaid registration fees for a specified number of
6910undergraduate semester credit hours not to exceed the average
6911number of hours required for the conference of an associate
6912degree. Qualified beneficiaries shall bear the cost of any
6913laboratory fees associated with enrollment in specific courses.
6914Each qualified beneficiary shall be classified as a resident for
6915tuition purposes, pursuant to s. 1009.21, regardless of his or
6916her actual legal residence.
6917     2.  Effective July 1, 1998, the board may provide advance
6918payment contracts for additional fees delineated in s. 1009.23,
6919not to exceed the average number of hours required for the
6920conference of an associate degree, in conjunction with advance
6921payment contracts for registration fees. Florida College System
6922institution Community college plan contracts purchased prior to
6923July 1, 1998, shall be limited to the payment of registration
6924fees as defined in s. 1009.97.
6925     3.  Effective July 1, 2009, the board may offer an advance
6926payment contract for the Florida College System institution
6927community college plan covering prepaid registration fees and
6928the fees authorized in s. 1009.23. Such a contract may be
6929offered in specific increments for use toward an associate
6930degree. The total number of hours purchased for a qualified
6931beneficiary may not exceed the average number of hours required
6932for the conference of an associate degree.
6933     (b)1.  Through the university plan, the advance payment
6934contract may provide prepaid registration fees for a specified
6935number of undergraduate semester credit hours not to exceed the
6936average number of hours required for the conference of a
6937baccalaureate degree. Qualified beneficiaries shall bear the
6938cost of any laboratory fees associated with enrollment in
6939specific courses. Each qualified beneficiary shall be classified
6940as a resident for tuition purposes pursuant to s. 1009.21,
6941regardless of his or her actual legal residence.
6942     2.  Effective July 1, 1998, the board may provide advance
6943payment contracts for additional fees delineated in s.
69441009.24(9)-(12), for a specified number of undergraduate
6945semester credit hours not to exceed the average number of hours
6946required for the conference of a baccalaureate degree, in
6947conjunction with advance payment contracts for registration
6948fees. Such contracts shall provide prepaid coverage for the sum
6949of such fees, to a maximum of 45 percent of the cost of
6950registration fees. University plan contracts purchased prior to
6951July 1, 1998, shall be limited to the payment of registration
6952fees as defined in s. 1009.97.
6953     3.  Effective July 1, 2007, the board may provide advance
6954payment contracts for the tuition differential authorized in s.
69551009.24(16) for a specified number of undergraduate semester
6956credit hours, which may not exceed the average number of hours
6957required for the conference of a baccalaureate degree, in
6958conjunction with advance payment contracts for registration
6959fees.
6960     4.  Effective July 1, 2009, the board may offer an advance
6961payment contract for the university plan covering prepaid
6962registration fees, the fees authorized in s. 1009.24(9)-(12),
6963and the tuition differential authorized in s. 1009.24(16). Such
6964a contract may be offered in specific increments for use toward
6965a baccalaureate degree. The total number of hours purchased for
6966a qualified beneficiary may not exceed the average number of
6967hours required for the conference of a baccalaureate degree.
6968     (c)  The cost of participation in contracts authorized
6969under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) shall be based primarily on
6970the current and projected fees included in the plan within the
6971Florida College System or the State University System,
6972respectively, the number of credit hours or semesters included
6973in the plan, and the number of years expected to elapse between
6974the purchase of the plan on behalf of a qualified beneficiary
6975and the exercise of the benefits provided in the plan by such
6976beneficiary.
6977     (d)  Through the dormitory residence plan, the advance
6978payment contract may provide prepaid housing fees for a maximum
6979of 10 semesters of full-time undergraduate enrollment in a state
6980university. Dormitory residence plans shall be purchased in
6981increments of 2 semesters. The cost of participation in the
6982dormitory residence plan shall be based primarily on the average
6983current and projected housing fees within the State University
6984System and the number of years expected to elapse between the
6985purchase of the plan on behalf of a qualified beneficiary and
6986the exercise of the benefits provided in the plan by such
6987beneficiary. Qualified beneficiaries shall have the highest
6988priority in the assignment of housing within university
6989residence halls. Qualified beneficiaries shall bear the cost of
6990any additional elective charges such as laundry service or long-
6991distance telephone service. Each state university may specify
6992the residence halls or other university-held residences eligible
6993for inclusion in the plan. In addition, any state university may
6994request immediate termination of a dormitory residence contract
6995based on a violation or multiple violations of rules of the
6996residence hall or other university-held residences. In the event
6997that sufficient housing is not available for all qualified
6998beneficiaries, the board shall refund the purchaser or qualified
6999beneficiary an amount equal to the fees charged for dormitory
7000residence during that semester. If a qualified beneficiary fails
7001to be admitted to a state university or chooses to attend a
7002Florida College System institution community college that
7003operates one or more dormitories or residency opportunities, or
7004has one or more dormitories or residency opportunities operated
7005by the Florida College System institution community college
7006direct-support organization, the qualified beneficiary may
7007transfer or cause to have transferred to the Florida College
7008System institution community college, or Florida College System
7009institution community college direct-support organization, the
7010fees associated with dormitory residence. Dormitory fees
7011transferred to the Florida College System institution community
7012college or Florida College System institution community college
7013direct-support organization may not exceed the maximum fees
7014charged for state university dormitory residence for the
7015purposes of this section, or the fees charged for Florida
7016College System institution community college or Florida College
7017System institution community college direct-support organization
7018dormitories or residency opportunities, whichever is less.
7019     (5)  REFUNDS.-
7020     (e)  A refund may not be authorized through an advance
7021payment contract for any school year partially attended but not
7022completed. For purposes of this section, a school year partially
7023attended but not completed shall mean any one semester whereby
7024the student is still enrolled at the conclusion of the official
7025drop-add period but withdraws before the end of such semester.
7026If a beneficiary does not complete a Florida College System
7027institution community college plan or university plan for
7028reasons other than specified in paragraph (c), the purchaser
7029shall receive a refund of the amount paid into the fund for the
7030remaining unattended years of the advance payment contract
7031pursuant to rules promulgated by the board.
7032     (6)  CONFIDENTIALITY OF ACCOUNT INFORMATION.-Information
7033that identifies the purchasers or beneficiaries of any plan
7034promulgated under this section and their advance payment account
7035activities is exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1).
7036However, the board may authorize the program's records
7037administrator to release such information to a Florida College
7038System institution community college, college, or university in
7039which a beneficiary may enroll or is enrolled. Florida College
7040System institutions Community colleges, colleges, and
7041universities shall maintain such information as exempt from the
7042provisions of s. 119.07(1).
7043     Section 148.  Subsection (6) of section 1009.981, Florida
7044Statutes, is amended to read:
7045     1009.981  Florida College Savings Program.-
7046     (6)  CONFIDENTIALITY OF ACCOUNT INFORMATION.-Information
7047that identifies the benefactors or the designated beneficiary of
7048any account initiated under this section is confidential and
7049exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State
7050Constitution. However, the board may authorize the release of
7051such information to a Florida College System institution
7052community college, college, or university in which a designated
7053beneficiary may enroll or is enrolled. Florida College System
7054institutions Community colleges, colleges, and universities
7055shall maintain the confidentiality of such information.
7056     Section 149.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and
7057subsection (4) of section 1010.01, Florida Statutes, are amended
7058to read:
7059     1010.01  Uniform records and accounts.-
7060     (1)(a)  The financial records and accounts of each school
7061district, Florida College System institution community college,
7062and other institution or agency under the supervision of the
7063State Board of Education shall be prepared and maintained as
7064prescribed by law and rules of the State Board of Education.
7065     (4)  Required financial accounts and reports shall include
7066provisions that are unique to each of the following: K-12 school
7067districts, Florida College System institutions community
7068colleges, and state universities, and shall provide for the data
7069to be reported to the National Center of Educational Statistics
7070and other governmental and professional educational data
7071information services as appropriate.
7072     Section 150.  Subsection (1) of section 1010.02, Florida
7073Statutes, is amended to read:
7074     1010.02  Financial accounting and expenditures.-
7075     (1)  All funds accruing to a school district or a Florida
7076College System institution community college must be received,
7077accounted for, and expended in accordance with law and rules of
7078the State Board of Education.
7079     Section 151.  Section 1010.03, Florida Statutes, is amended
7080to read:
7081     1010.03  Delinquent accounts.-District school boards,
7082Florida College System institution community college boards of
7083trustees, and university boards of trustees:
7084     (1)  Shall exert every effort to collect all delinquent
7085accounts.
7086     (2)  May charge off or settle such accounts as may prove
7087uncollectible.
7088     (3)  May employ the services of a collection agency when
7089deemed advisable in collecting delinquent accounts.
7090     (4)  May adopt rules, as necessary, to implement the
7091provisions of this section, including setoff procedures, payroll
7092deductions, and restrictions on release of transcripts, awarding
7093of diplomas, and access to other resources and services of the
7094school district, Florida College System institution community
7095college, or university.
7096     Section 152.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1), subsections
7097(2) and (3), and paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
70981010.04, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
7099     1010.04  Purchasing.-
7100     (1)(a)  Purchases and leases by school districts and
7101Florida College System institutions community colleges shall
7102comply with the requirements of law and rules of the State Board
7103of Education.
7104     (2)  Each district school board, Florida College System
7105institution community college board of trustees, and each
7106university board of trustees shall adopt rules to be followed in
7107making purchases.
7108     (3)  In districts in which the county purchasing agent is
7109authorized by law to make purchases for the benefit of other
7110governmental agencies within the county, the district school
7111board and Florida College System institution community college
7112board of trustees shall have the option to purchase from the
7113current county contracts at the unit price stated therein if
7114such purchase is to the economic advantage of the district
7115school board or the Florida College System institution community
7116college board of trustees; subject to confirmation of the items
7117of purchase to the standards and specifications prescribed by
7118the school district or Florida College System institution
7119community college.
7120     (4)(a)  The State Board of Education may, by rule, provide
7121for alternative procedures for school districts and Florida
7122College System institutions community colleges for bidding or
7123purchasing in cases in which the character of the item requested
7124renders competitive bidding impractical.
7125     Section 153.  Section 1010.06, Florida Statutes, is amended
7126to read:
7127     1010.06  Indirect cost limitation.-State funds appropriated
7128by the Legislature to the Division of Public Schools within the
7129Department of Education may not be used to pay indirect costs to
7130a university, Florida College System institution community
7131college, school district, or any other entity.
7132     Section 154.  Subsection (1) and paragraph (a) of
7133subsection (2) of section 1010.07, Florida Statutes, are amended
7134to read:
7135     1010.07  Bonds or insurance required.-
7136     (1)  Each district school board, Florida College System
7137institution community college board of trustees, and university
7138board of trustees shall ensure that each official and employee
7139responsible for handling, expending, or authorizing the
7140expenditure of funds shall be appropriately bonded or insured to
7141protect the board and the funds involved.
7142     (2)(a)  Contractors paid from school district or Florida
7143College System institution community college funds shall give
7144bond for the faithful performance of their contracts in such
7145amount and for such purposes as prescribed by s. 255.05 or by
7146rules of the State Board of Education relating to the type of
7147contract involved. It shall be the duty of the district school
7148board or Florida College System institution community college
7149board of trustees to require from construction contractors a
7150bond adequate to protect the board and the board's funds
7151involved.
7152     Section 155.  Section 1010.08, Florida Statutes, is amended
7153to read:
7154     1010.08  Promotion and public relations; funding.-Each
7155district school board and Florida College System institution
7156community college board of trustees may budget and use a portion
7157of the funds accruing to it from auxiliary enterprises and
7158undesignated gifts for promotion and public relations as
7159prescribed by rules of the State Board of Education. Such funds
7160may be used to provide hospitality to business guests in the
7161district or elsewhere. However, such hospitality expenses may
7162not exceed the amount authorized for such contingency funds as
7163prescribed by rules of the State Board of Education.
7164     Section 156.  Subsection (1) of section 1010.09, Florida
7165Statutes, is amended to read:
7166     1010.09  Direct-support organizations.-
7167     (1)  School district and Florida College System institution
7168community college direct-support organizations shall be
7169organized and conducted under the provisions of ss. 1001.453 and
71701004.70 and rules of the State Board of Education, as
7171applicable.
7172     Section 157.  Section 1010.11, Florida Statutes, is amended
7173to read:
7174     1010.11  Electronic transfer of funds.-Pursuant to the
7175provisions of s. 215.85, each district school board, Florida
7176College System institution community college board of trustees,
7177and university board of trustees shall adopt written policies
7178prescribing the accounting and control procedures under which
7179any funds under their control are allowed to be moved by
7180electronic transaction for any purpose including direct deposit,
7181wire transfer, withdrawal, investment, or payment. Electronic
7182transactions shall comply with the provisions of chapter 668.
7183     Section 158.  Section 1010.22, Florida Statutes, is amended
7184to read:
7185     1010.22  Cost accounting and reporting for workforce
7186education.-
7187     (1)  Each school district and each Florida College System
7188institution community college shall account for expenditures of
7189all state, local, federal, and other funds in the manner
7190prescribed by the State Board of Education.
7191     (2)  Each school district and each Florida College System
7192institution community college shall report expenditures for
7193workforce education in accordance with requirements prescribed
7194by the State Board of Education.
7195     (3)  The Department of Education, in cooperation with
7196school districts and Florida College System institutions
7197community colleges, shall develop and maintain a database of
7198valid comparable information on workforce education which will
7199meet both state and local needs.
7200     Section 159.  Section 1010.23, Florida Statutes, is amended
7201to read:
7202     1010.23  Cost accounting and reporting for Florida College
7203System institutions community colleges.-Florida College System
7204institutions Community colleges shall provide an annual report
7205on the cost of operations as provided in s. 1011.84.
7206     Section 160.  Section 1010.30, Florida Statutes, is amended
7207to read:
7208     1010.30  Audits required.-School districts, Florida College
7209System institutions community colleges, and other institutions
7210and agencies under the supervision of the State Board of
7211Education and state universities under the supervision of the
7212Board of Governors are subject to the audit provisions under ss.
721311.45 and 218.39.
7214     Section 161.  Section 1010.33, Florida Statutes, is amended
7215to read:
7216     1010.33  Financial and performance audits.-Each district
7217school board and Florida College System institution community
7218college board of trustees, and university board of trustees is
7219authorized to have an audit of their accounts and records by an
7220independent certified public accountant retained by them and
7221paid from their public funds. These audits are in addition to
7222those required by ss. 11.45 and 218.39.
7223     Section 162.  Section 1010.34, Florida Statutes, is amended
7224to read:
7225     1010.34  Audits of direct-support organizations.-Audits of
7226school district, Florida College System institution community
7227college, and state university direct-support organizations are
7228subject to the audit provisions of ss. 1001.453(4), 1004.28(5),
7229and 1004.70(6), as applicable.
7230     Section 163.  Section 1010.58, Florida Statutes, is amended
7231to read:
7232     1010.58  Procedure for determining number of instruction
7233units for Florida College System institutions community
7234colleges.-The number of instruction units for Florida College
7235System institutions community colleges shall be determined from
7236the full-time equivalent students in the Florida College System
7237institution community college, provided that full-time
7238equivalent students may not be counted more than once in
7239determining instruction units. Instruction units for Florida
7240College System institutions community colleges shall be computed
7241as follows:
7242     (1)  One unit for each 12 full-time equivalent students at
7243a Florida College System institution community college for the
7244first 420 students and one unit for each 15 full-time equivalent
7245students for all over 420 students, in other than career
7246education programs as defined by rules of the State Board of
7247Education, and one unit for each 10 full-time equivalent
7248students in career education programs and compensatory education
7249programs as defined by rules of the State Board of Education.
7250Full-time equivalent students enrolled in a Florida College
7251System institution community college shall be defined by rules
7252of the State Board of Education.
7253     (2)  For each 8 instruction units in a Florida College
7254System institution community college, 1 instruction unit or
7255proportionate fraction of a unit shall be allowed for
7256administrative and special instructional services, and for each
725720 instruction units, 1 instruction unit or proportionate
7258fraction of a unit shall be allowed for student personnel
7259services.
7260     Section 164.  Subsection (1), paragraph (a) of subsection
7261(2), and paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section 1011.01,
7262Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
7263     1011.01  Budget system established.-
7264     (1)  The State Board of Education shall prepare and submit
7265a coordinated K-20 education annual legislative budget request
7266to the Governor and the Legislature on or before the date
7267provided by the Governor and the Legislature. The board's
7268legislative budget request must clearly define the needs of
7269school districts, Florida College System institutions community
7270colleges, universities, other institutions, organizations,
7271programs, and activities under the supervision of the board and
7272that are assigned by law or the General Appropriations Act to
7273the Department of Education.
7274     (2)(a)  There shall be established in each school district
7275and Florida College System institution community college a
7276budget system as prescribed by law and rules of the State Board
7277of Education.
7278     (3)(a)  Each district school board and each Florida College
7279System institution community college board of trustees shall
7280prepare, adopt, and submit to the Commissioner of Education for
7281review an annual operating budget. Operating budgets shall be
7282prepared and submitted in accordance with the provisions of law,
7283rules of the State Board of Education, the General
7284Appropriations Act, and for district school boards in accordance
7285with the provisions of ss. 200.065 and 1011.64.
7286     Section 165.  Section 1011.011, Florida Statutes, is
7287amended to read:
7288     1011.011  Legislative capital outlay budget request.-The
7289State Board of Education shall submit an integrated,
7290comprehensive budget request for educational facilities
7291construction and fixed capital outlay needs for school
7292districts, Florida College System institutions community
7293colleges, and, in conjunction with the Board of Governors,
7294universities pursuant to this section and s. 1013.46 and
7295applicable provisions of chapter 216.
7296     Section 166.  Subsection (1) of section 1011.012, Florida
7297Statutes, is amended to read:
7298     1011.012  Annual capital outlay budget.-
7299     (1)  Each district school board, Florida College System
7300institution community college board of trustees, and university
7301board of trustees shall, each year, adopt a capital outlay
7302budget for the ensuing year in order that the capital outlay
7303needs of the board for the entire year may be well understood by
7304the public. This capital outlay budget shall be a part of the
7305annual budget and shall be based upon and in harmony with the
7306educational plant and ancillary facilities plan. This budget
7307shall designate the proposed capital outlay expenditures by
7308project for the year from all fund sources. The board may not
7309expend any funds on any project not included in the budget, as
7310amended.
7311     Section 167.  Section 1011.30, Florida Statutes, is amended
7312to read:
7313     1011.30  Budgets for Florida College System institutions
7314community colleges.-Each Florida College System institution
7315community college president shall recommend to the Florida
7316College System institution community college board of trustees a
7317budget of income and expenditures at such time and in such form
7318as the State Board of Education may prescribe. Upon approval of
7319a budget by the Florida College System institution community
7320college board of trustees, such budget shall be transmitted to
7321the Department of Education for review and approval. Rules of
7322the State Board of Education shall prescribe procedures for
7323effecting budget amendments subsequent to the final approval of
7324a budget for a given year.
7325     Section 168.  Section 1011.31, Florida Statutes, is amended
7326to read:
7327     1011.31  Current loans to Florida College System
7328institution community college boards of trustees.-
7329     (1)  At any time the current funds on hand are insufficient
7330to pay obligations created by a Florida College System
7331institution community college board of trustees in accordance
7332with the approved budget of the Florida College System
7333institution community college, the Florida College System
7334institution community college board of trustees may request
7335approval by the Commissioner of Education of a proposal to
7336negotiate a current loan, with provisions for the repayment of
7337such loan during the fiscal year in which the loan is made, in
7338order to meet these obligations.
7339     (2)  The Commissioner of Education shall approve such
7340proposal when, in his or her opinion, the proposal is reasonable
7341and just, the expenditure is necessary, and revenues sufficient
7342to meet the requirements of the loan can reasonably be
7343anticipated.
7344     Section 169.  Section 1011.32, Florida Statutes, is amended
7345to read:
7346     1011.32   Florida College System Institution Community
7347College Facility Enhancement Challenge Grant Program.-
7348     (1)  The Legislature recognizes that the Florida College
7349System institutions community colleges do not have sufficient
7350physical facilities to meet the current demands of their
7351instructional and community programs. It further recognizes
7352that, to strengthen and enhance Florida College System
7353institutions community colleges, it is necessary to provide
7354facilities in addition to those currently available from
7355existing revenue sources. It further recognizes that there are
7356sources of private support that, if matched with state support,
7357can assist in constructing much needed facilities and strengthen
7358the commitment of citizens and organizations in promoting
7359excellence at each Florida College System institution community
7360college. Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to
7361establish a program to provide the opportunity for each Florida
7362College System institution community college through its direct-
7363support organization to receive and match challenge grants for
7364instructional and community-related capital facilities within
7365the Florida College System institution community college.
7366     (2)  There is established the Florida College System
7367Institution Community College Facility Enhancement Challenge
7368Grant Program for the purpose of assisting the Florida College
7369System institutions community colleges in building high priority
7370instructional and community-related capital facilities
7371consistent with s. 1004.65, including common areas connecting
7372such facilities. The direct-support organizations that serve the
7373Florida College System institutions community colleges shall
7374solicit gifts from private sources to provide matching funds for
7375capital facilities. For the purposes of this section, private
7376sources of funds shall not include any federal or state
7377government funds that a Florida College System institution
7378community college may receive.
7379     (3)  The Florida College System Institution Community
7380College Capital Facilities Matching Program shall provide funds
7381to match private contributions for the development of high
7382priority instructional and community-related capital facilities,
7383including common areas connecting such facilities, within the
7384Florida College System institutions community colleges.
7385     (4)  Within the direct-support organization of each Florida
7386College System institution community college there must be
7387established a separate capital facilities matching account for
7388the purpose of providing matching funds from the direct-support
7389organization's unrestricted donations or other private
7390contributions for the development of high priority instructional
7391and community-related capital facilities, including common areas
7392connecting such facilities. The Legislature shall appropriate
7393funds for distribution to a Florida College System institution
7394community college after matching funds are certified by the
7395direct-support organization and Florida College System
7396institution community college. The Public Education Capital
7397Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund shall not be used as the
7398source of the state match for private contributions.
7399     (5)  A project may not be initiated unless all private
7400funds for planning, construction, and equipping the facility
7401have been received and deposited in the direct-support
7402organization's matching account for this purpose. However, this
7403requirement does not preclude the Florida College System
7404institution community college or direct-support organization
7405from expending available funds from private sources to develop a
7406prospectus, including preliminary architectural schematics or
7407models, for use in its efforts to raise private funds for a
7408facility and for site preparation, planning, and construction.
7409The Legislature may appropriate the state's matching funds in
7410one or more fiscal years for the planning, construction, and
7411equipping of an eligible facility. Each Florida College System
7412institution community college shall notify all donors of private
7413funds of a substantial delay in the availability of state
7414matching funds for this program.
7415     (6)  To be eligible to participate in the Florida College
7416System Institution Community College Facility Enhancement
7417Challenge Grant Program, a Florida College System institution
7418community college, through its direct-support organization,
7419shall raise a contribution equal to one-half of the total cost
7420of a facilities construction project from private sources which
7421shall be matched by a state appropriation equal to the amount
7422raised for a facilities construction project, subject to the
7423General Appropriations Act.
7424     (7)  If the state's share of the required match is
7425insufficient to meet the requirements of subsection (6), the
7426Florida College System institution community college shall
7427renegotiate the terms of the contribution with the donors. If
7428the project is terminated, each private donation, plus accrued
7429interest, reverts to the direct-support organization for
7430remittance to the donor.
7431     (8)  By October 15 of each year, the State Board of
7432Education shall transmit to the Governor and the Legislature a
7433list of projects that meet all eligibility requirements to
7434participate in the Florida College System Institution Community
7435College Facility Enhancement Challenge Grant Program and a
7436budget request that includes the recommended schedule necessary
7437to complete each project.
7438     (9)  In order for a project to be eligible under this
7439program, it must be survey recommended under the provisions of
7440s. 1013.31 and included in the Florida College System
7441institution's community college's 5-year capital improvement
7442plan, and it must receive approval from the State Board of
7443Education or the Legislature.
7444     (10)  A Florida College System institution community
7445college project may not be removed from the approved 3-year PECO
7446priority list because of its successful participation in this
7447program until approved by the Legislature and provided for in
7448the General Appropriations Act. When such a project is completed
7449and removed from the list, all other projects shall move up on
7450the 3-year PECO priority list.
7451     (11)  Any private matching funds for a project which are
7452unexpended after the project is completed shall revert to the
7453Florida College System institution's community college's direct-
7454support organization capital facilities matching account. The
7455balance of any unexpended state matching funds shall be returned
7456to the fund from which those funds were appropriated.
7457     (12)  The surveys, architectural plans, facility, and
7458equipment shall be the property of the participating Florida
7459College System institution community college. A facility
7460constructed under this section may be named in honor of a donor
7461at the option of the Florida College System institution
7462community college district board of trustees. A facility may not
7463be named after a living person without prior approval by the
7464State Board of Education.
7465     Section 170.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section
74661011.51, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
7467     1011.51  Independent postsecondary endowment grants.-
7468     (3)  The matching endowment grants made available under
7469this section shall be made available to any independent
7470nonprofit college or university which:
7471     (d)  Is not a state university or Florida College System
7472institution community college.
7473     Section 171.  Paragraphs (i) and (j) of subsection (1) of
7474section 1011.62, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
7475     1011.62  Funds for operation of schools.-If the annual
7476allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
7477district for operation of schools is not determined in the
7478annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
7479the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
7480follows:
7481     (1)  COMPUTATION OF THE BASIC AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED FOR
7482OPERATION.-The following procedure shall be followed in
7483determining the annual allocation to each district for
7484operation:
7485     (i)  Calculation of full-time equivalent membership with
7486respect to dual enrollment instruction.-Students enrolled in
7487dual enrollment instruction pursuant to s. 1007.271 may be
7488included in calculations of full-time equivalent student
7489memberships for basic programs for grades 9 through 12 by a
7490district school board. Instructional time for dual enrollment
7491may vary from 900 hours; however, the school district may only
7492report the student for a maximum of 1.0 full-time equivalent
7493student membership, as provided in s. 1011.61(4). Dual
7494enrollment full-time equivalent student membership shall be
7495calculated in an amount equal to the hours of instruction that
7496would be necessary to earn the full-time equivalent student
7497membership for an equivalent course if it were taught in the
7498school district. Students in dual enrollment courses may also be
7499calculated as the proportional shares of full-time equivalent
7500enrollments they generate for a Florida College System
7501institution community college or university conducting the dual
7502enrollment instruction. Early admission students shall be
7503considered dual enrollments for funding purposes. Students may
7504be enrolled in dual enrollment instruction provided by an
7505eligible independent college or university and may be included
7506in calculations of full-time equivalent student memberships for
7507basic programs for grades 9 through 12 by a district school
7508board. However, those provisions of law which exempt dual
7509enrolled and early admission students from payment of
7510instructional materials and tuition and fees, including
7511laboratory fees, shall not apply to students who select the
7512option of enrolling in an eligible independent institution. An
7513independent college or university which is located and chartered
7514in Florida, is not for profit, is accredited by the Commission
7515on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
7516or the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools,
7517and confers degrees as defined in s. 1005.02 shall be eligible
7518for inclusion in the dual enrollment or early admission program.
7519Students enrolled in dual enrollment instruction shall be exempt
7520from the payment of tuition and fees, including laboratory fees.
7521No student enrolled in college credit mathematics or English
7522dual enrollment instruction shall be funded as a dual enrollment
7523unless the student has successfully completed the relevant
7524section of the entry-level examination required pursuant to s.
75251008.30.
7526     (j)  Coenrollment.-If a high school student wishes to earn
7527high school credits from a Florida College System institution
7528community college and enrolls in one or more adult secondary
7529education courses at the Florida College System institution
7530community college, the Florida College System institution
7531community college shall be reimbursed for the costs incurred
7532because of the high school student's coenrollment as provided in
7533the General Appropriations Act.
7534     Section 172.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section
75351011.68, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
7536     1011.68  Funds for student transportation.-The annual
7537allocation to each district for transportation to public school
7538programs, including charter schools as provided in s.
75391002.33(17)(b), of students in membership in kindergarten
7540through grade 12 and in migrant and exceptional student programs
7541below kindergarten shall be determined as follows:
7542     (1)  Subject to the rules of the State Board of Education,
7543each district shall determine the membership of students who are
7544transported:
7545     (d)  By reason of being career, dual enrollment, or
7546students with disabilities transported from one school center to
7547another to participate in an instructional program or service;
7548or students with disabilities, transported from one designation
7549to another in the state, provided one designation is a school
7550center and provided the student's individual educational plan
7551(IEP) identifies the need for the instructional program or
7552service and transportation to be provided by the school
7553district. A "school center" is defined as a public school
7554center, Florida College System institution community college,
7555state university, or other facility rented, leased, or owned and
7556operated by the school district or another public agency. A
7557"dual enrollment student" is defined as a public school student
7558in membership in both a public secondary school program and a
7559Florida College System institution community college or a state
7560university program under a written agreement to partially
7561fulfill ss. 1003.435 and 1007.23 and earning full-time
7562equivalent membership under s. 1011.62(1)(i).
7563     Section 173.  Subsection (3) of section 1011.75, Florida
7564Statutes, is amended to read:
7565     1011.75  Gifted education exemplary program grants.-
7566     (3)  Pursuant to policies and rules to be adopted by the
7567State Board of Education, each district school board, two or
7568more district school boards in cooperation, or a public school
7569principal through the district school board may submit to the
7570commissioner a proposed program designed to effectuate an
7571exemplary program for education for the gifted in a school,
7572district, or group of districts. Consideration for funding shall
7573be given to proposed programs of district school boards that are
7574developed with the cooperation of a Florida College System
7575institution community college or public or private college or
7576university for the purpose of providing advanced accelerated
7577instruction for public school students pursuant to s. 1003.435.
7578In order to be approved, a program proposal must include:
7579     (a)  Clearly stated goals and objectives expressed, to the
7580maximum extent possible, in measurable terms.
7581     (b)  Information concerning the number of students,
7582teachers, and other personnel to be involved in the program.
7583     (c)  The estimated cost of the program and the number of
7584years for which it is to be funded.
7585     (d)  Provisions for evaluation of the program and for its
7586integration into the general curriculum and financial program of
7587the school district or districts at the end of the funded
7588period.
7589     (e)  Such other information and provisions as the
7590commissioner requires.
7591     Section 174.  Subsection (2), paragraph (a) of subsection
7592(5), and subsections (6), (7), (8), (9), and (10) of section
75931011.80, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
7594     1011.80  Funds for operation of workforce education
7595programs.-
7596     (2)  Any workforce education program may be conducted by a
7597Florida College System institution community college or a school
7598district, except that college credit in an associate in applied
7599science or an associate in science degree may be awarded only by
7600a Florida College System institution community college. However,
7601if an associate in applied science or an associate in science
7602degree program contains within it an occupational completion
7603point that confers a certificate or an applied technology
7604diploma, that portion of the program may be conducted by a
7605school district career center. Any instruction designed to
7606articulate to a degree program is subject to guidelines and
7607standards adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to s.
76081007.25.
7609     (5)  State funding and student fees for workforce education
7610instruction shall be established as follows:
7611     (a)  Expenditures for the continuing workforce education
7612programs provided by the Florida College System institutions
7613community colleges or school districts must be fully supported
7614by fees. Enrollments in continuing workforce education courses
7615shall not be counted for purposes of funding full-time
7616equivalent enrollment.
7617     (6)(a)  A school district or a Florida College System
7618institution community college that provides workforce education
7619programs shall receive funds in accordance with distributions
7620for base and performance funding established by the Legislature
7621in the General Appropriations Act. If the General Appropriations
7622Act does not provide for the distribution of funds, the
7623following methodology shall apply:
7624     1.  Base funding shall be allocated based on weighted
7625enrollment and shall not exceed 90 percent of the allocation.
7626The Department of Education shall develop a funding process for
7627school district workforce education programs that is comparable
7628with Florida College System institution community college
7629workforce programs.
7630     2.  Performance funding shall be at least 10 percent of the
7631allocation, based on the previous fiscal year's achievement of
7632output and outcomes in accordance with formulas adopted pursuant
7633to subsection (10). Performance funding must incorporate
7634payments for at least three levels of placements that reflect
7635wages and workforce demand. Payments for completions must not
7636exceed 60 percent of the payments for placement. School
7637districts and Florida College System institutions community
7638colleges shall be awarded funds pursuant to this paragraph based
7639on performance output data and performance outcome data
7640available in that year.
7641     (b)  A program is established to assist school districts
7642and Florida College System institutions community colleges in
7643responding to the needs of new and expanding businesses and
7644thereby strengthening the state's workforce and economy. The
7645program may be funded in the General Appropriations Act. A
7646school district or Florida College System institution community
7647college may expend funds under the program without regard to
7648performance criteria set forth in subparagraph (a)2. The
7649district or Florida College System institution community college
7650shall use the program to provide customized training for
7651businesses which satisfies the requirements of s. 288.047.
7652Business firms whose employees receive the customized training
7653must provide 50 percent of the cost of the training. Balances
7654remaining in the program at the end of the fiscal year shall not
7655revert to the general fund, but shall be carried over for 1
7656additional year and used for the purpose of serving incumbent
7657worker training needs of area businesses with fewer than 100
7658employees. Priority shall be given to businesses that must
7659increase or upgrade their use of technology to remain
7660competitive.
7661     (7)  A school district or Florida College System
7662institution community college that receives workforce education
7663funds must use the money to benefit the workforce education
7664programs it provides. The money may be used for equipment
7665upgrades, program expansions, or any other use that would result
7666in workforce education program improvement. The district school
7667board or Florida College System institution community college
7668board of trustees may not withhold any portion of the
7669performance funding for indirect costs.
7670     (8)  The State Board of Education and Workforce Florida,
7671Inc., shall provide the Legislature with recommended formulas,
7672criteria, timeframes, and mechanisms for distributing
7673performance funds. The commissioner shall consolidate the
7674recommendations and develop a consensus proposal for funding.
7675The Legislature shall adopt a formula and distribute the
7676performance funds to the State Board of Education for Florida
7677College System institutions community colleges and school
7678districts through the General Appropriations Act. These
7679recommendations shall be based on formulas that would discourage
7680low-performing or low-demand programs and encourage through
7681performance-funding awards:
7682     (a)  Programs that prepare people to enter high-wage
7683occupations identified by the Workforce Estimating Conference
7684created by s. 216.136 and other programs as approved by
7685Workforce Florida, Inc. At a minimum, performance incentives
7686shall be calculated for adults who reach completion points or
7687complete programs that lead to specified high-wage employment
7688and to their placement in that employment.
7689     (b)  Programs that successfully prepare adults who are
7690eligible for public assistance, economically disadvantaged,
7691disabled, not proficient in English, or dislocated workers for
7692high-wage occupations. At a minimum, performance incentives
7693shall be calculated at an enhanced value for the completion of
7694adults identified in this paragraph and job placement of such
7695adults upon completion. In addition, adjustments may be made in
7696payments for job placements for areas of high unemployment.
7697     (c)  Programs that are specifically designed to be
7698consistent with the workforce needs of private enterprise and
7699regional economic development strategies, as defined in
7700guidelines set by Workforce Florida, Inc. Workforce Florida,
7701Inc., shall develop guidelines to identify such needs and
7702strategies based on localized research of private employers and
7703economic development practitioners.
7704     (d)  Programs identified by Workforce Florida, Inc., as
7705increasing the effectiveness and cost efficiency of education.
7706     (9)  School districts shall report full-time equivalent
7707students by discipline category for the programs specified in
7708subsection (1). There shall be an annual cost analysis for the
7709school district workforce education programs that reports cost
7710by discipline category consistent with the reporting for full-
7711time equivalent students. The annual financial reports submitted
7712by the school districts must accurately report on the student
7713fee revenues by fee type according to the programs specified in
7714subsection (1). The Department of Education shall develop a plan
7715for comparable reporting of program, student, facility,
7716personnel, and financial data between the Florida College System
7717institutions community colleges and the school district
7718workforce education programs.
7719     (10)  A high school student dually enrolled under s.
77201007.271 in a workforce education program operated by a Florida
7721College System institution community college or school district
7722career center generates the amount calculated for workforce
7723education funding, including any payment of performance funding,
7724and the proportional share of full-time equivalent enrollment
7725generated through the Florida Education Finance Program for the
7726student's enrollment in a high school. If a high school student
7727is dually enrolled in a Florida College System institution
7728community college program, including a program conducted at a
7729high school, the Florida College System institution community
7730college earns the funds generated for workforce education
7731funding, and the school district earns the proportional share of
7732full-time equivalent funding from the Florida Education Finance
7733Program. If a student is dually enrolled in a career center
7734operated by the same district as the district in which the
7735student attends high school, that district earns the funds
7736generated for workforce education funding and also earns the
7737proportional share of full-time equivalent funding from the
7738Florida Education Finance Program. If a student is dually
7739enrolled in a workforce education program provided by a career
7740center operated by a different school district, the funds must
7741be divided between the two school districts proportionally from
7742the two funding sources. A student may not be reported for
7743funding in a dual enrollment workforce education program unless
7744the student has completed the basic skills assessment pursuant
7745to s. 1004.91.
7746     Section 175.  Section 1011.801, Florida Statutes, is
7747amended to read:
7748     1011.801  Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive
7749Grant Program.-The Legislature recognizes that the need for
7750school districts and Florida College System institutions
7751community colleges to be able to respond to emerging local or
7752statewide economic development needs is critical to the
7753workforce development system. The Workforce Development
7754Capitalization Incentive Grant Program is created to provide
7755grants to school districts and Florida College System
7756institutions community colleges on a competitive basis to fund
7757some or all of the costs associated with the creation or
7758expansion of workforce development programs that serve specific
7759employment workforce needs.
7760     (1)  Funds awarded for a workforce development
7761capitalization incentive grant may be used for instructional
7762equipment, laboratory equipment, supplies, personnel, student
7763services, or other expenses associated with the creation or
7764expansion of a workforce development program. Expansion of a
7765program may include either the expansion of enrollments in a
7766program or expansion into new areas of specialization within a
7767program. No grant funds may be used for recurring instructional
7768costs or for institutions' indirect costs.
7769     (2)  The State Board of Education shall accept applications
7770from school districts or Florida College System institutions
7771community colleges for workforce development capitalization
7772incentive grants. Applications from school districts or Florida
7773College System institutions community colleges shall contain
7774projected enrollments and projected costs for the new or
7775expanded workforce development program. The State Board of
7776Education, in consultation with the Workforce Florida, Inc.,
7777shall review and rank each application for a grant according to
7778subsection (3) and shall submit to the Legislature a list in
7779priority order of applications recommended for a grant award.
7780     (3)  The State Board of Education shall give highest
7781priority to programs that train people to enter high-skill,
7782high-wage occupations identified by the Workforce Estimating
7783Conference and other programs approved by Workforce Florida,
7784Inc.; programs that train people to enter occupations under the
7785welfare transition program; or programs that train for the
7786workforce adults who are eligible for public assistance,
7787economically disadvantaged, disabled, not proficient in English,
7788or dislocated workers. The State Board of Education shall
7789consider the statewide geographic dispersion of grant funds in
7790ranking the applications and shall give priority to applications
7791from education agencies that are making maximum use of their
7792workforce development funding by offering high-performing, high-
7793demand programs.
7794     Section 176.  Section 1011.81, Florida Statutes, is amended
7795to read:
7796     1011.81   Florida College System Community College Program
7797Fund.-
7798     (1)  There is established a Florida College System
7799Community College Program Fund. This fund shall comprise all
7800appropriations made by the Legislature for the support of the
7801current operating program and shall be apportioned and
7802distributed to the Florida College System institution community
7803college districts of the state on the basis of procedures
7804established by law and rules of the State Board of Education.
7805The annual apportionment for each Florida College System
7806institution community college district shall be distributed
7807monthly in payments as nearly equal as possible.
7808     (2)  None of the funds made available in the Florida
7809College System Community College Program Fund, or funds made
7810available to Florida College System institutions community
7811colleges outside the Florida College System Community College
7812Program Fund, may be used to implement, organize, direct,
7813coordinate, or administer, or to support the implementation,
7814organization, direction, coordination, or administration of,
7815activities related to, or involving, travel to a terrorist
7816state. For purposes of this section, "terrorist state" is
7817defined as any state, country, or nation designated by the
7818United States Department of State as a state sponsor of
7819terrorism.
7820     Section 177.  Section 1011.82, Florida Statutes, is amended
7821to read:
7822     1011.82  Requirements for participation in Florida College
7823System Community College Program Fund.-Each Florida College
7824System institution community college district which participates
7825in the state appropriations for the Florida College System
7826Community College Program Fund shall provide evidence of its
7827effort to maintain an adequate Florida College System
7828institution community college program which shall:
7829     (1)  Meet the minimum standards prescribed by the State
7830Board of Education in accordance with s. 1001.02(6).
7831     (2)  Effectively fulfill the mission of the Florida College
7832System institutions community colleges in accordance with s.
78331004.65.
7834     Section 178.  Section 1011.83, Florida Statutes, is amended
7835to read:
7836     1011.83  Financial support of Florida College System
7837institutions community colleges.-
7838     (1)  Each Florida College System institution community
7839college that has been approved by the Department of Education
7840and meets the requirements of law and rules of the State Board
7841of Education shall participate in the Florida College System
7842Community College Program Fund. However, funds to support
7843workforce education programs conducted by Florida College System
7844institutions community colleges shall be provided pursuant to s.
78451011.80.
7846     (2)  A student in a baccalaureate degree program approved
7847pursuant to s. 1007.33 who is not classified as a resident for
7848tuition purposes pursuant to s. 1009.21 may not be included in
7849calculations of full-time equivalent enrollments for state
7850funding purposes.
7851     Section 179.  Section 1011.84, Florida Statutes, is amended
7852to read:
7853     1011.84  Procedure for determining state financial support
7854and annual apportionment of state funds to each Florida College
7855System institution community college district.-The procedure for
7856determining state financial support and the annual apportionment
7857to each Florida College System institution community college
7858district authorized to operate a Florida College System
7859institution community college under the provisions of s. 1001.61
7860shall be as follows:
7861     (1)  DETERMINING THE AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE FLORIDA
7862COLLEGE SYSTEM COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROGRAM FUND FOR THE CURRENT
7863OPERATING PROGRAM.-
7864     (a)  The Department of Education shall determine annually
7865from an analysis of operating costs, prepared in the manner
7866prescribed by rules of the State Board of Education, the costs
7867per full-time equivalent student served in courses and fields of
7868study offered in Florida College System institutions community
7869colleges. This information and current college operating budgets
7870shall be submitted to the Executive Office of the Governor with
7871the legislative budget request prior to each regular session of
7872the Legislature.
7873     (b)  The allocation of funds for Florida College System
7874institutions community colleges shall be based on advanced and
7875professional disciplines, college-preparatory programs, and
7876other programs for adults funded pursuant to s. 1011.80.
7877     (c)  The category of lifelong learning is for students
7878enrolled pursuant to s. 1004.93. A student shall also be
7879reported as a lifelong learning student for his or her
7880enrollment in any course that he or she has previously taken,
7881unless it is a credit course in which the student earned a grade
7882of D or F.
7883     (d)  If an adult student has been determined to be a
7884disabled student eligible for an approved educational program
7885for disabled adults provided pursuant to s. 1004.93 and rules of
7886the State Board of Education and is enrolled in a class with
7887curriculum frameworks developed for the program, state funding
7888for that student shall be provided at a level double that of a
7889student enrolled in a special adult general education program
7890provided by a Florida College System institution community
7891college.
7892     (e)  All state inmate education provided by Florida College
7893System institutions community colleges shall be reported by
7894program, FTE expenditure, and revenue source. These enrollments,
7895expenditures, and revenues shall be reported and projected
7896separately. Instruction of state inmates shall not be included
7897in the full-time equivalent student enrollment for funding
7898through the Florida College System Community College Program
7899Fund.
7900     (f)  When a public educational institution has been fully
7901funded by an external agency for direct instructional costs of
7902any course or program, the FTE generated shall not be reported
7903for state funding.
7904     (g)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
7905implement s. 9(d)(8)f., Art. XII of the State Constitution.
7906These rules shall provide for the use of the funds available
7907under s. 9(d)(8)f., Art. XII by an individual Florida College
7908System institution community college for operating expense in
7909any fiscal year during which the State Board of Education has
7910determined that all major capital outlay needs have been met.
7911Highest priority for the use of these funds for purposes other
7912than financing approved capital outlay projects shall be for the
7913proper maintenance and repair of existing facilities for
7914projects approved by the State Board of Education. However, in
7915any fiscal year in which funds from this source are authorized
7916for operating expense other than approved maintenance and repair
7917projects, the allocation of Florida College System institution
7918community college program funds shall be reduced by an amount
7919equal to the sum used for such operating expense for that
7920Florida College System institution community college that year,
7921and that amount shall not be released or allocated among the
7922other Florida College System institutions community colleges
7923that year.
7924     (2)  DETERMINING THE AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED FOR CAPITAL
7925OUTLAY AND DEBT SERVICE.-The amount included for capital outlay
7926and debt service shall be as determined and provided in s. 18,
7927Art. XII of the State Constitution of 1885, as adopted by s.
79289(d), Art. XII of the 1968 revised State Constitution and State
7929Board of Education rules.
7930     (3)  DETERMINING THE APPORTIONMENT FROM STATE FUNDS.-
7931     (a)  By December 15 of each year, the Department of
7932Education shall estimate the annual enrollment of each Florida
7933College System institution community college for the current
7934fiscal year and for the 3 subsequent fiscal years. These
7935estimates shall be based upon prior years' enrollments, upon the
7936initial fall term enrollments for the current fiscal year for
7937each college, and upon each college's estimated current
7938enrollment and demographic changes in the respective Florida
7939College System institution community college districts. Upper-
7940division enrollment shall be estimated separately from lower-
7941division enrollment.
7942     (b)  The apportionment to each Florida College System
7943institution community college from the Florida College System
7944Community College Program Fund shall be determined annually in
7945the General Appropriations Act. In determining each college's
7946apportionment, the Legislature shall consider the following
7947components:
7948     1.  Base budget, which includes the state appropriation to
7949the Florida College System Community College Program Fund in the
7950current year plus the related student tuition and out-of-state
7951fees assigned in the current General Appropriations Act.
7952     2.  The cost-to-continue allocation, which consists of
7953incremental changes to the base budget, including salaries,
7954price levels, and other related costs allocated through a
7955funding model approved by the Legislature which may recognize
7956differing economic factors arising from the individual
7957educational approaches of the various Florida College System
7958institutions community colleges, including, but not limited to:
7959     a.  Direct Instructional Funding, including class size,
7960faculty productivity factors, average faculty salary, ratio of
7961full-time to part-time faculty, costs of programs, and
7962enrollment factors.
7963     b.  Academic Support, including small colleges factor,
7964multicampus factor, and enrollment factor.
7965     c.  Student Services Support, including headcount of
7966students as well as FTE count and enrollment factors.
7967     d.  Library Support, including volume and other
7968materials/audiovisual requirements.
7969     e.  Special Projects.
7970     f.  Operations and Maintenance of Plant, including square
7971footage and utilization factors.
7972     g.  District Cost Differential.
7973     3.  Students enrolled in a recreation and leisure program
7974and students enrolled in a lifelong learning program who may not
7975be counted as full-time equivalent enrollments for purposes of
7976enrollment workload adjustments.
7977     4.  Operating costs of new facilities adjustments, which
7978shall be provided, from funds available, for each new facility
7979that is owned by the college and is recommended in accordance
7980with s. 1013.31.
7981     5.  New and improved program enhancements, which shall be
7982determined by the Legislature.
7983
7984Student fees in the base budget plus student fee revenues
7985generated by increases in fee rates shall be deducted from the
7986sum of the components determined in subparagraphs 1.-5. The
7987amount remaining shall be the net annual state apportionment to
7988each college.
7989     (c)  No Florida College System institution community
7990college shall commit funds for the employment of personnel or
7991resources in excess of those required to continue the same level
7992of support for either the previously approved enrollment or the
7993revised enrollment, whichever is lower.
7994     (d)  The apportionment to each Florida College System
7995institution community college district for capital outlay and
7996debt service shall be the amount determined in accordance with
7997subsection (2). This amount, less any amount determined as
7998necessary for administrative expense by the State Board of
7999Education and any amount necessary for debt service on bonds
8000issued by the State Board of Education, shall be transmitted to
8001the Florida College System institution community college board
8002of trustees to be expended in a manner prescribed by rules of
8003the State Board of Education.
8004     (e)  If at any time the unencumbered balance in the general
8005fund of the Florida College System institution community college
8006board of trustees approved operating budget goes below 5
8007percent, the president shall provide written notification to the
8008State Board of Education.
8009     (f)  Expenditures for apprenticeship programs shall be
8010reported separately.
8011     (g)  Expenditures for upper-division enrollment in a
8012Florida College System institution community college that grants
8013baccalaureate degrees shall be reported separately from
8014expenditures for lower-division enrollment, in accordance with
8015law and State Board of Education rule.
8016     (4)  EXPENDITURE OF ALLOCATED FUNDS.-Any funds allocated
8017herein to any Florida College System institution community
8018college shall be expended only for the purpose of supporting
8019that Florida College System institution community college.
8020     (5)  REPORT OF REMEDIAL EDUCATION.-Each Florida College
8021System institution community college board of trustees shall
8022report the volume and cost of remedial education activities as a
8023separate item in its annual cost accounting system.
8024     Section 180.  Section 1011.85, Florida Statutes, is amended
8025to read:
8026     1011.85  Dr. Philip Benjamin Matching Grant Program for
8027Florida College System Institutions Community Colleges.-
8028     (1)  There is created the Dr. Philip Benjamin Matching
8029Grant Program for Florida College System Institutions Community
8030Colleges as a single matching gifts program that encompasses the
8031goals originally set out in the Academic Improvement Program,
8032the Scholarship Matching Program, and the Health Care Education
8033Quality Enhancement Challenge Grant. The program shall be
8034administered according to rules of the State Board of Education
8035and used to encourage private support in enhancing Florida
8036College System institutions community colleges by providing the
8037Florida community College System with the opportunity to receive
8038and match challenge grants. Funds received prior to the
8039effective date of this act for each of the three programs shall
8040be retained in the separate account for which it was designated.
8041     (2)  Each Florida College System institution community
8042college board of trustees receiving state appropriations under
8043this program shall approve each gift to ensure alignment with
8044the unique mission of the Florida College System institution
8045community college. The board of trustees must link all requests
8046for a state match to the goals and mission statement. The
8047Florida College System Institution Community College Foundation
8048Board receiving state appropriations under this program shall
8049approve each gift to ensure alignment with its goals and mission
8050statement.
8051     (3)  Upon approval by the Florida College System
8052institution community college board of trustees and the State
8053Board of Education, the ordering of donations for priority
8054listing of unmatched gifts should be determined by the
8055submitting Florida College System institution community college.
8056     (4)  Each year, eligible contributions received by a
8057Florida College System institution's community college's
8058foundation or the State Board of Education by February 1 shall
8059be eligible for state matching funds.
8060     (a)  Each Florida College System institution community
8061college board of trustees and, when applicable, the Florida
8062College System Institution Community College Foundation Board,
8063receiving state appropriations under this program shall also
8064certify in an annual report to the State Board of Education the
8065receipt of eligible cash contributions that were previously
8066unmatched by the state. The State Board of Education shall adopt
8067rules providing all Florida College System institutions
8068community colleges with an opportunity to apply for excess funds
8069before the awarding of such funds.
8070     (b)  Florida College System institutions Community colleges
8071must submit to the State Board of Education an annual
8072expenditure report tracking the use of all matching funds.
8073     (c)  The audit of each foundation receiving state funds
8074from this program must include a certification of accuracy in
8075the amount reported for matching funds.
8076     (5)  The matching ratio for donations that are specifically
8077designated to support scholarships, including scholarships for
8078first-generation-in-college students, student loans, or need-
8079based grants shall be $1 of state funds to $1 of local private
8080funds.
8081     (6)  Otherwise, funds shall be proportionately allocated to
8082the Florida College System institutions community colleges on
8083the basis of matching each $6 of local or private funds with $4
8084of state funds. To be eligible, a minimum of $4,500 must be
8085raised from private sources.
8086     (7)  The Florida College System institution community
8087college board of trustees, in conjunction with the donor, shall
8088make the determination of whether scholarships established
8089pursuant to this program are endowed.
8090     (8)(a)  Funds sufficient to provide the match shall be
8091transferred from the state appropriations to the local Florida
8092College System institution community college foundation or the
8093statewide Florida College System institution community college
8094foundation upon notification that a proportionate amount has
8095been received and deposited by a Florida College System
8096institution community college in its own trust fund.
8097     (b)  If state funds appropriated for the program are
8098insufficient to match contributions, the amount allocated shall
8099be reduced in proportion to its share of the total eligible
8100contributions. However, in making proportional reductions, every
8101Florida College System institution community college shall
8102receive a minimum of $75,000 in state matching funds if its
8103eligible contributions would have generated an amount at least
8104equal to $75,000. All unmet contributions shall be eligible for
8105state matching funds in subsequent fiscal years.
8106     (9)  Each Florida College System institution community
8107college entity shall establish its own matching grant program
8108fund as a depository for the private contributions and matching
8109state funds provided under this section. Florida College System
8110institution Community college foundations are responsible for
8111the maintenance, investment, and administration of their
8112matching grant program funds.
8113     (10)  The State Board of Education may receive submissions
8114of requests for matching funds and documentation relating to
8115those requests, may approve requests for matching funds, and may
8116allocate such funds to the Florida College System institutions
8117community colleges.
8118     (11)  The board of trustees of the Florida College System
8119institution community college and the State Board of Education
8120are responsible for determining the uses for the proceeds of
8121their respective trust funds. Such use of the proceeds shall
8122include, but not be limited to, expenditure of the funds for:
8123     (a)  Scientific and technical equipment.
8124     (b)  Scholarships, loans, or need-based grants.
8125     (c)  Other activities that will benefit future students as
8126well as students currently enrolled at the Florida College
8127System institution community college, will improve the quality
8128of education at the Florida College System institution community
8129college, or will enhance economic development in the community.
8130     (12)  Each Florida College System institution community
8131college shall notify all donors of private funds of a
8132substantial delay in the availability of state matching funds
8133for this program.
8134     Section 181.  Subsection (1) of section 1011.86, Florida
8135Statutes, is amended to read:
8136     1011.86  Educational leadership enhancement grants.-
8137     (1)  State universities and Florida College System
8138institutions community colleges may submit proposals for
8139educational leadership enhancement grants to the Commissioner of
8140Education. Proposals shall be funded competitively.
8141     Section 182.  Subsection (1) and paragraph (b) of
8142subsection (6) of section 1012.01, Florida Statutes, are amended
8143to read:
8144     1012.01  Definitions.-As used in this chapter, the
8145following terms have the following meanings:
8146     (1)  SCHOOL OFFICERS.-The officers of the state system of
8147public K-12 and Florida College System institution community
8148college education shall be the Commissioner of Education and the
8149members of the State Board of Education; for each district
8150school system, the officers shall be the district school
8151superintendent and members of the district school board; and for
8152each Florida College System institution community college, the
8153officers shall be the Florida College System institution
8154community college president and members of the Florida College
8155System institution community college board of trustees.
8156     (6)  EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT EMPLOYEES.-"Educational support
8157employees" means K-12 employees whose job functions are neither
8158administrative nor instructional, yet whose work supports the
8159educational process.
8160     (b)  Technicians are individuals whose occupations require
8161a combination of knowledge and manual skill which can be
8162obtained through about 2 years of post-high school education,
8163such as is offered in many career centers and Florida College
8164System institutions community colleges, or through equivalent
8165on-the-job training.
8166     Section 183.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
81671012.35, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
8168     1012.35  Substitute teachers.-
8169     (1)  Each district school board shall adopt rules
8170prescribing the compensation of, and the procedure for
8171employment of, substitute teachers.
8172     (c)  The required training programs for substitute teachers
8173may be provided by Florida College System institutions community
8174colleges, colleges of education, district school boards,
8175educational consortia, or commercial vendors.
8176     Section 184.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (3) and paragraph
8177(e) of subsection (6) of section 1012.56, Florida Statutes, are
8178amended to read:
8179     1012.56  Educator certification requirements.-
8180     (3)  MASTERY OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.-Acceptable means of
8181demonstrating mastery of general knowledge are:
8182     (e)  Documentation of two semesters of successful teaching
8183in a Florida College System institution community college, state
8184university, or private college or university that awards an
8185associate or higher degree and is an accredited institution or
8186an institution of higher education identified by the Department
8187of Education as having a quality program.
8188     (6)  MASTERY OF PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION AND EDUCATION
8189COMPETENCE.-Acceptable means of demonstrating mastery of
8190professional preparation and education competence are:
8191     (e)  Documentation of two semesters of successful teaching
8192in a Florida College System institution community college, state
8193university, or private college or university that awards an
8194associate or higher degree and is an accredited institution or
8195an institution of higher education identified by the Department
8196of Education as having a quality program;
8197     Section 185.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
81981012.80, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
8199     1012.80  Participation by employees in disruptive
8200activities at public postsecondary educational institutions;
8201penalties.-
8202     (1)(a)  Any person who accepts the privilege extended by
8203the laws of this state of employment at any Florida College
8204System institution community college shall, by working at such
8205institution, be deemed to have given his or her consent to the
8206policies of that institution, the policies of the State Board of
8207Education, and the laws of this state. Such policies shall
8208include prohibition against disruptive activities at Florida
8209College System institutions community colleges.
8210     Section 186.  Section 1012.81, Florida Statutes, is amended
8211to read:
8212     1012.81  Personnel records.-Rules of the State Board of
8213Education shall prescribe the content and custody of limited-
8214access records which a Florida College System institution
8215community college may maintain on its employees. Such records
8216shall be limited to information reflecting evaluations of
8217employee performance and shall be open to inspection only by the
8218employee and by officials of the college who are responsible for
8219supervision of the employee. Such limited-access employee
8220records are confidential and exempt from the provisions of s.
8221119.07(1). Except as required for use by the president in the
8222discharge of his or her official responsibilities, the custodian
8223of limited-access employee records may release information from
8224such records only upon authorization in writing from the
8225employee or the president or upon order of a court of competent
8226jurisdiction.
8227     Section 187.  Section 1012.82, Florida Statutes, is amended
8228to read:
8229     1012.82  Teaching faculty; minimum teaching hours per
8230week.-Each full-time member of the teaching faculty at any
8231Florida College System institution community college who is paid
8232wholly from funds appropriated from the Florida College System
8233community college Program Fund or from funds appropriated for
8234Florida College System institution community college
8235baccalaureate degree programs shall teach a minimum of 15
8236classroom contact hours per week at such institution. However,
8237the required classroom contact hours per week may be reduced
8238upon approval of the president of the institution in direct
8239proportion to specific duties and responsibilities assigned the
8240faculty member by his or her departmental chair or other
8241appropriate college administrator. Such specific duties may
8242include specific research duties, specific duties associated
8243with developing television, video tape, or other specifically
8244assigned innovative teaching techniques or devices, or assigned
8245responsibility for off-campus student internship or work-study
8246programs. A "classroom contact hour" consists of a regularly
8247scheduled classroom activity of not less than 50 minutes in a
8248course of instruction which has been approved by the Florida
8249College System institution community college board of trustees.
8250Any full-time faculty member who is paid partly from Florida
8251College System institution community college program funds and
8252partly from other funds or appropriations shall teach a minimum
8253number of classroom contact hours per week in such proportion to
825415 classroom contact hours as his or her salary paid from
8255Florida College System institution community college program
8256funds bears to his or her total salary. Any full-time faculty
8257member who is paid partly from funds appropriated for Florida
8258College System institution community college baccalaureate
8259degree programs and partly from other funds or appropriations
8260shall teach a minimum number of classroom contact hours per week
8261in such proportion to 15 classroom contact hours as his or her
8262salary paid from funds appropriated for Florida College System
8263institution community college baccalaureate degree programs
8264bears to his or her total salary.
8265     Section 188.  Section 1012.83, Florida Statutes, is amended
8266to read:
8267     1012.83  Contracts with administrative and instructional
8268staff.-
8269     (1)  Each person employed in an administrative or
8270instructional capacity in a Florida College System institution
8271community college shall be entitled to a contract as provided by
8272rules of the State Board of Education.
8273     (2)  A Florida College System institution community college
8274board of trustees may not enter into an employment contract that
8275requires the Florida College System institution community
8276college to pay an employee an amount from appropriated state
8277funds in excess of 1 year of the employee's annual salary for
8278termination, buyout, or any other type of contract settlement.
8279This subsection does not prohibit the payment of leave and
8280benefits accrued by the employee in accordance with the Florida
8281College System institution's community college's leave and
8282benefits policies before the contract terminates.
8283     Section 189.  Subsection (1) of section 1012.84, Florida
8284Statutes, is amended to read:
8285     1012.84  Exemption from county civil service commissions.-
8286     (1)  Any Florida College System institution community
8287college located in a county which has either a budget commission
8288or a civil service commission is exempt from the regulation,
8289supervision, and control of any such commission.
8290     Section 190.  Section 1012.85, Florida Statutes, is amended
8291to read:
8292     1012.85  Payment of costs of civil actions against
8293officers, employees, or agents of Florida College System
8294institution community college board of trustees.-
8295     (1)  Whenever any civil action has been brought against any
8296officer of the Florida College System institution community
8297college board of trustees, including a board member, or any
8298person employed by or agent of the Florida College System
8299institution community college board of trustees, of any Florida
8300College System institution community college for any act or
8301omission arising out of and in the course of the performance of
8302his or her duties and responsibilities, the Florida College
8303System institution community college board of trustees may
8304defray all costs of defending such action, including reasonable
8305attorney's fees and expenses together with costs of appeal, if
8306any, and may save harmless and protect such person from any
8307financial loss resulting therefrom; and the Florida College
8308System institution community college board of trustees may be
8309self-insured, to enter into risk management programs, or to
8310purchase insurance for whatever coverage it may choose, or to
8311have any combination thereof, to cover all such losses and
8312expenses. However, any attorney's fees paid from public funds
8313for any officer, employee, or agent who is found to be
8314personally liable by virtue of acting outside the scope of his
8315or her employment or acting in bad faith, with malicious
8316purpose, or in a manner exhibiting wanton and willful disregard
8317of human rights, safety, or property may be recovered by the
8318state, county, municipality, or political subdivision in a civil
8319action against such officer, employee, or agent.
8320     (2)  Failure by a Florida College System institution
8321community college board of trustees to perform any act
8322authorized by this section shall not constitute a cause of
8323action against a Florida College System institution community
8324college or its trustees, officers, employees, or agents.
8325     Section 191.  Section 1012.855, Florida Statutes, is
8326amended to read:
8327     1012.855  Employment of Florida College System institution
8328community college personnel; discrimination in granting salary
8329prohibited.-
8330     (1)(a)  Employment of all personnel in each Florida College
8331System institution community college shall be upon
8332recommendation of the president, subject to rejection for cause
8333by the Florida College System institution community college
8334board of trustees; to the rules of the State Board of Education
8335relative to certification, tenure, leaves of absence of all
8336types, including sabbaticals, remuneration, and such other
8337conditions of employment as the State Board of Education deems
8338necessary and proper; and to policies of the Florida College
8339System institution community college board of trustees not
8340inconsistent with law.
8341     (b)  Any internal auditor employed by a Florida College
8342System institution community college shall be hired by the
8343Florida College System institution community college board of
8344trustees and shall report directly to the board.
8345     (2)  Each Florida College System institution community
8346college board of trustees shall undertake a program to eradicate
8347any discrimination on the basis of gender, race, or physical
8348handicap in the granting of salaries to employees.
8349     Section 192.  Subsections (1), (2), (3), (5), and (6) of
8350section 1012.86, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
8351     1012.86  Florida College System institution Community
8352college employment equity accountability program.-
8353     (1)  Each Florida College System institution community
8354college shall include in its annual equity update a plan for
8355increasing the representation of women and minorities in senior-
8356level administrative positions and in full-time faculty
8357positions, and for increasing the representation of women and
8358minorities who have attained continuing-contract status.
8359Positions shall be defined in the personnel data element
8360directory of the Department of Education. The plan must include
8361specific measurable goals and objectives, specific strategies
8362and timelines for accomplishing these goals and objectives, and
8363comparable national standards as provided by the Department of
8364Education. The goals and objectives shall be based on meeting or
8365exceeding comparable national standards and shall be reviewed
8366and recommended by the State Board of Education as appropriate.
8367Such plans shall be maintained until appropriate representation
8368has been achieved and maintained for at least 3 consecutive
8369reporting years.
8370     (2)(a)  On or before May 1 of each year, each Florida
8371College System institution community college president shall
8372submit an annual employment accountability plan to the
8373Commissioner of Education and the State Board of Education. The
8374accountability plan must show faculty and administrator
8375employment data according to requirements specified on the
8376federal Equal Employment Opportunity (EE0-6) report.
8377     (b)  The plan must show the following information for those
8378positions including, but not limited to:
8379     1.  Job classification title.
8380     2.  Gender.
8381     3.  Ethnicity.
8382     4.  Appointment status.
8383     5.  Salary information. At each Florida College System
8384institution community college, salary information shall also
8385include the salary ranges in which new hires were employed
8386compared to the salary ranges for employees with comparable
8387experience and qualifications.
8388     6.  Other comparative information including, but not
8389limited to, composite information regarding the total number of
8390positions within the particular job title classification for the
8391Florida College System institution community college by race,
8392gender, and salary range compared to the number of new hires.
8393     7.  A statement certifying diversity and balance in the
8394gender and ethnic composition of the selection committee for
8395each vacancy, including a brief description of guidelines used
8396for ensuring balanced and diverse membership on selection and
8397review committees.
8398     (c)  The annual employment accountability plan shall also
8399include an analysis and an assessment of the Florida College
8400System institution's community college's attainment of annual
8401goals and of long-range goals for increasing the number of women
8402and minorities in faculty and senior-level administrative
8403positions, and a corrective action plan for addressing
8404underrepresentation.
8405     (d)  Each Florida College System institution's community
8406college's employment accountability plan must also include:
8407     1.  The requirements for receiving a continuing contract.
8408     2.  A brief description of the process used to grant
8409continuing-contract status.
8410     3.  A brief description of the process used to annually
8411apprise each eligible faculty member of progress toward
8412attainment of continuing-contract status.
8413     (3)  Florida College System institution Community college
8414presidents and the heads of each major administrative division
8415shall be evaluated annually on the progress made toward meeting
8416the goals and objectives of the Florida College System
8417institution's community college's employment accountability
8418plan.
8419     (a)  The Florida College System institution community
8420college presidents, or the presidents' designees, shall annually
8421evaluate each department chairperson, dean, provost, and vice
8422president in achieving the annual and long-term goals and
8423objectives. A summary of the results of such evaluations shall
8424be reported annually by the Florida College System institution
8425community college president to the Florida College System
8426institution community college board of trustees. Annual budget
8427allocations by the Florida College System institution community
8428college board of trustees for positions and funding must take
8429into consideration these evaluations.
8430     (b)  Florida College System institution Community college
8431boards of trustees shall annually evaluate the performance of
8432the Florida College System institution community college
8433presidents in achieving the annual and long-term goals and
8434objectives. A summary of the results of such evaluations shall
8435be reported to the Commissioner of Education and the State Board
8436of Education as part of the Florida College System institution's
8437community college's annual employment accountability plan, and
8438to the Legislature as part of the annual equity progress report
8439submitted by the State Board of Education.
8440     (5)  Each Florida College System institution community
8441college shall develop a budgetary incentive plan to support and
8442ensure attainment of the goals developed pursuant to this
8443section. The plan shall specify, at a minimum, how resources
8444shall be allocated to support the achievement of goals and the
8445implementation of strategies in a timely manner. After prior
8446review and approval by the Florida College System institution
8447community college president and the Florida College System
8448institution community college board of trustees, the plan shall
8449be submitted as part of the annual employment accountability
8450plan submitted by each Florida College System institution
8451community college to the State Board of Education.
8452     (6)  Subject to available funding, the Legislature shall
8453provide an annual appropriation to the State Board of Education
8454to be allocated to Florida College System institution community
8455college presidents, faculty, and administrative personnel to
8456further enhance equity initiatives and related priorities that
8457support the mission of colleges and departments in recognition
8458of the attainment of the equity goals and objectives.
8459     Section 193.  Section 1012.865, Florida Statutes, is
8460amended to read:
8461     1012.865  Sick leave.-Each Florida College System
8462institution community college board of trustees shall adopt
8463rules whereby any full-time employee who is unable to perform
8464his or her duties at the Florida College System institution
8465community college on account of personal sickness, accident
8466disability, or extended personal illness, or because of illness
8467or death of the employee's father, mother, brother, sister,
8468husband, wife, child, or other close relative or member of the
8469employee's own household, and who consequently has to be absent
8470from work shall be granted leave of absence for sickness by the
8471president or by the president's designated representative. The
8472following provisions shall govern sick leave:
8473     (1)  DEFINITIONS.-As used in this section, unless the
8474context otherwise requires, the term:
8475     (a)  "Educational support employee" means any person
8476employed by a Florida College System institution community
8477college as an education or administrative paraprofessional; a
8478member of the operations, maintenance, or comparable department;
8479or a secretary, clerical, or comparable level support employee.
8480     (b)  "Instructional staff" shall be used synonymously with
8481the word "teacher" or "faculty" and includes faculty members,
8482librarians, counselors, and other comparable members engaged in
8483an instructional capacity in the Florida College System
8484institution community college.
8485     (2)  EXTENT OF LEAVE WITH COMPENSATION.-
8486     (a)  Each full-time employee shall earn 1 day of sick leave
8487with compensation for each calendar month or major fraction of a
8488calendar month of service, not to exceed 12 days for each fiscal
8489year. Such leave shall be taken only when necessary because of
8490sickness as herein prescribed. Such sick leave shall be
8491cumulative from year to year. Accumulated sick leave may be
8492transferred from another Florida College System institution
8493community college, the Florida Department of Education, a state
8494university, a Florida district school board, or a state agency,
8495provided that at least one-half of the sick leave accumulated at
8496any time must have been established in the college in which such
8497employee is currently employed.
8498     (b)  A Florida College System institution community college
8499board of trustees may establish rules and prescribe procedures
8500whereby a full-time employee may, at the beginning date of
8501employment in any year, be credited with 12 days of sick leave
8502with compensation in excess of the number of days the employee
8503has earned. Upon termination of employment, the employee's final
8504compensation shall be adjusted in an amount necessary to ensure
8505that sick leave with compensation does not exceed the days of
8506earned sick leave as provided herein.
8507     (c)  A Florida College System institution community college
8508board of trustees may establish rules and prescribe standards to
8509permit a full-time employee to be absent no more than 4 days for
8510personal reasons. However, such absences for personal reasons
8511shall be charged only to accrued sick leave, and leave for
8512personal reasons shall be noncumulative.
8513     (d)  A Florida College System institution community college
8514board of trustees may establish rules to provide terminal pay
8515for accumulated sick leave to full-time instructional staff and
8516educational support employees or to the employee's beneficiary
8517if service is terminated by death. However, such terminal pay
8518may not exceed an amount determined as follows:
8519     1.  During the first 3 years of service, the daily rate of
8520pay multiplied by 35 percent times the number of days of
8521accumulated sick leave.
8522     2.  During the next 3 years of service, the daily rate of
8523pay multiplied by 40 percent times the number of days of
8524accumulated sick leave.
8525     3.  During the next 3 years of service, the daily rate of
8526pay multiplied by 45 percent times the number of days of
8527accumulated sick leave.
8528     4.  During the 10th year of service, the daily rate of pay
8529multiplied by 50 percent times the number of days of accumulated
8530sick leave.
8531     5.  During the next 20 years of service, the daily rate of
8532pay multiplied by 50 percent plus up to an additional 2.5
8533percent per year for each year of service beyond 10 years, times
8534the number of days of accumulated sick leave.
8535
8536If an employee receives terminal pay benefits based on unused
8537sick leave credit, all unused sick leave credit shall become
8538invalid; however, if an employee terminates his or her
8539employment without receiving terminal pay benefits and is
8540reemployed, his or her sick leave credit shall be reinstated.
8541     (e)  A Florida College System institution community college
8542board of trustees may, by rule, provide for terminal pay for
8543accumulated unused sick leave to be paid to any full-time
8544employee of a Florida College System institution community
8545college other than instructional staff or educational support
8546employees. If termination of employment is by death of the
8547employee, any terminal pay to which the employee may have been
8548entitled shall be made to the employee's beneficiary.
8549     1.  For unused sick leave accumulated before July 1, 2001,
8550terminal pay shall be made pursuant to rules or policies of the
8551board of trustees which were in effect on June 30, 2001.
8552     2.  For unused sick leave accumulated on or after July 1,
85532001, terminal payment may not exceed an amount equal to one-
8554fourth of the employee's unused sick leave or 60 days of the
8555employee's pay, whichever amount is less.
8556     3.  If the employee had an accumulated sick leave balance
8557of 60 days or more on June 30, 2001, sick leave earned after
8558that date may not be accumulated for terminal pay purposes until
8559the accumulated leave balance as of June 30, 2001, is less than
856060 days.
8561     (3)  CLAIM MUST BE FILED.-Any full-time employee who finds
8562it necessary to be absent from his or her duties because of
8563illness as defined in this section shall notify the Florida
8564College System institution community college president or a
8565college official designated by the president, if possible before
8566the opening of college on the day on which the employee must be
8567absent or during the day, except when he or she is absent for
8568emergency reasons recognized by the Florida College System
8569institution community college board of trustees as valid. Any
8570employee shall, before claiming and receiving compensation for
8571the time absent from his or her duties while absent because of
8572sick leave as prescribed in this section, make and file a
8573written certificate which shall set forth the day or days
8574absent, that such absence was necessary, and that he or she is
8575entitled or not entitled to receive pay for such absence in
8576accordance with the provisions of this section. The Florida
8577College System institution community college board of trustees
8578may adopt rules under which the president may require a
8579certificate of illness from a licensed physician or from the
8580county health officer.
8581     (4)  COMPENSATION.-Any full-time employee who has unused
8582sick leave credit shall receive full-time compensation for the
8583time justifiably absent on sick leave; however, no compensation
8584may be allowed beyond that provided in subsection (6).
8585     (5)  EXPENDITURE AUTHORIZED.-Florida College System
8586institution Community college boards of trustees may expend
8587public funds for payment to employees on account of sickness.
8588The expending and excluding of such funds shall be in compliance
8589with rules adopted by the Department of Management Services
8590pursuant to chapter 650.
8591     (6)  SICK LEAVE POOL.-Notwithstanding any other provision
8592of this section, a Florida College System institution community
8593college board of trustees may, by rule, based upon the
8594maintenance of reliable and accurate records by the Florida
8595College System institution community college showing the amount
8596of sick leave which has been accumulated and is unused by
8597employees in accordance with this section, establish a plan
8598allowing participating full-time employees of the Florida
8599College System institution community college to pool sick leave
8600accrued and allowing any sick leave thus pooled to be disbursed
8601to any participating employee who is in need of sick leave in
8602excess of that amount he or she has personally accrued. Such
8603rules shall include, but not be limited to, the following
8604provisions:
8605     (a)  Participation in the sick leave pool shall at all
8606times be voluntary on the part of employees.
8607     (b)  Any full-time employee shall be eligible for
8608participation in the sick leave pool after 1 year of employment
8609with the Florida College System institution community college,
8610provided such employee has accrued a minimum amount of unused
8611sick leave, which minimum shall be established by rule.
8612     (c)  Any sick leave pooled pursuant to this section shall
8613be removed from the personally accumulated sick leave balance of
8614the employee donating such leave.
8615     (d)  Participating employees shall make equal contributions
8616to the sick leave pool. There shall be established a maximum
8617amount of sick leave which may be contributed to the pool by an
8618employee. After the initial contribution which an employee makes
8619upon electing to participate, no further contributions shall be
8620required except as may be necessary to replenish the pool. Any
8621such further contribution shall be equally required of all
8622employees participating in the pool.
8623     (e)  Any sick leave time drawn from the pool by a
8624participating employee must be used for that employee's personal
8625illness, accident, or injury.
8626     (f)  A participating employee will not be eligible to use
8627sick leave from the pool until all of his or her sick leave has
8628been depleted. There shall be established a maximum number of
8629days for which an employee may draw sick leave from the sick
8630leave pool.
8631     (g)  A participating employee who uses sick leave from the
8632pool will not be required to recontribute such sick leave to the
8633pool, except as otherwise provided herein.
8634     (h)  A participating employee who chooses to no longer
8635participate in the sick leave pool will not be eligible to
8636withdraw any sick leave already contributed to the pool.
8637     (i)  Alleged abuse of the use of the sick leave pool shall
8638be investigated, and, on a finding of wrongdoing, the employee
8639shall repay all of the sick leave credits drawn from the sick
8640leave pool and shall be subject to such other disciplinary
8641action as is determined by the board to be appropriate. Rules
8642adopted for the administration of this program shall provide for
8643the investigation of the use of sick leave utilized by the
8644participating employee in the sick leave pool.
8645     Section 194.  Section 1012.87, Florida Statutes, is amended
8646to read:
8647     1012.87  Retirement annuities.-Each Florida College System
8648institution community college board of trustees may purchase
8649annuities for its Florida College System institution community
8650college personnel who have 25 or more years of creditable
8651service and who have reached age 55 and have applied for
8652retirement under the Florida Retirement System. No such annuity
8653may provide for more than the total difference in retirement
8654income between the retirement benefit based on average monthly
8655compensation and creditable service as of the member's early
8656retirement date and the early retirement benefit. Florida
8657College System institution Community college boards of trustees
8658may also purchase annuities for members of the Florida
8659Retirement System who have out-of-state teaching service in
8660another state or country which is documented as valid by the
8661appropriate educational entity. Such annuities may be based on
8662no more than 5 years of out-of-state teaching service and may
8663equal, but not exceed, the benefits that would be payable under
8664the Florida Retirement System if credit for out-of-state
8665teaching was authorized under that system. Each Florida College
8666System institution community college board of trustees may
8667invest funds, purchase annuities, or provide local supplemental
8668retirement programs for purposes of providing retirement
8669annuities for Florida College System institution community
8670college personnel. All such retirement annuities shall comply
8671with s. 14, Art. X of the State Constitution.
8672     Section 195.  Section 1012.875, Florida Statutes, is
8673amended to read:
8674     1012.875  State Community College System Optional
8675Retirement Program.-Each Florida College System institution
8676community college may implement an optional retirement program,
8677if such program is established therefor pursuant to s.
86781001.64(20), under which annuity or other contracts providing
8679retirement and death benefits may be purchased by, and on behalf
8680of, eligible employees who participate in the program, in
8681accordance with s. 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. Except
8682as otherwise provided herein, this retirement program, which
8683shall be known as the State Community College System Optional
8684Retirement Program, may be implemented and administered only by
8685an individual Florida College System institution community
8686college or by a consortium of Florida College System
8687institutions community colleges.
8688     (1)  As used in this section, the term:
8689     (a)  "Activation" means the date upon which an optional
8690retirement program is first made available by the program
8691administrator to eligible employees.
8692     (b)  "College" means Florida College System institutions
8693community colleges as defined in s. 1000.21.
8694     (c)  "Department" means the Department of Management
8695Services.
8696     (d)  "Program administrator" means the individual college
8697or consortium of colleges responsible for implementing and
8698administering an optional retirement program.
8699     (e)  "Program participant" means an eligible employee who
8700has elected to participate in an available optional retirement
8701program as authorized by this section.
8702     (2)  Participation in the optional retirement program
8703provided by this section is limited to employees who satisfy the
8704criteria set forth in s. 121.051(2)(c).
8705     (3)(a)  With respect to any employee who is eligible to
8706participate in the optional retirement program by reason of
8707qualifying employment commencing before the program's
8708activation:
8709     1.  The employee may elect to participate in the optional
8710retirement program in lieu of participation in the Florida
8711Retirement System. To become a program participant, the employee
8712must file with the personnel officer of the college, within 90
8713days after the program's activation, a written election on a
8714form provided by the Florida Retirement System and a completed
8715application for an individual contract or certificate.
8716     2.  An employee's participation in the optional retirement
8717program commences on the first day of the next full calendar
8718month following the filing of the election and completed
8719application with the program administrator and receipt of such
8720election by the department. An employee's membership in the
8721Florida Retirement System terminates on this same date.
8722     3.  Any such employee who fails to make an election to
8723participate in the optional retirement program within 60 days
8724after its activation has elected to retain membership in the
8725Florida Retirement System.
8726     (b)  With respect to any employee who becomes eligible to
8727participate in an optional retirement program by reason of
8728qualifying employment commencing on or after the program's
8729activation:
8730     1.  The employee may elect to participate in the optional
8731retirement program in lieu of participation in the Florida
8732Retirement System. To become a program participant, the employee
8733must file with the personnel officer of the college, within 90
8734days after commencing qualifying employment as provided in s.
8735121.051(2)(c)4., a written election on a form provided by the
8736Florida Retirement System and a completed application for an
8737individual contract or certificate.
8738     2.  An employee's participation in the optional retirement
8739program commences retroactive to the first day of qualifying
8740employment following the filing of the election and completed
8741application with the program administrator and receipt of such
8742election by the department. An employee's membership in the
8743Florida Retirement System terminates on this same date.
8744     3.  Any such employee who fails to make an election to
8745participate in the optional retirement program within 90 days
8746after commencing qualifying employment has elected to retain
8747membership in the Florida Retirement System.
8748     (c)  Any employee who, on or after an optional retirement
8749program's activation, becomes eligible to participate in the
8750program by reason of a change in status due to the subsequent
8751designation of the employee's position as one of those
8752referenced in subsection (2), or due to the employee's
8753appointment, promotion, transfer, or reclassification to a
8754position referenced in subsection (2), must be notified by the
8755college of the employee's eligibility to participate in the
8756optional retirement program in lieu of participation in the
8757Florida Retirement System. These eligible employees are subject
8758to the provisions of paragraph (b) and may elect to participate
8759in the optional retirement program in the same manner as those
8760employees described in paragraph (b), except that the 90-day
8761election period commences upon the date notice of eligibility is
8762received by the employee and participation in the program begins
8763the first day of the first full calendar month that the change
8764in status becomes effective.
8765     (d)  Program participants must be fully and immediately
8766vested in the optional retirement program upon issuance of an
8767optional retirement program contract.
8768     (e)  The election by an eligible employee to participate in
8769the optional retirement program is irrevocable for so long as
8770the employee continues to meet the eligibility requirements set
8771forth in this section and in s. 121.051(2)(c), except as
8772provided in paragraph (i) or as provided in s. 121.051(2)(c)3.
8773     (f)  If a program participant becomes ineligible to
8774continue participating in the optional retirement program
8775pursuant to the criteria referenced in subsection (2), the
8776employee becomes a member of the Florida Retirement System if
8777eligible. The college must notify the department of an
8778employee's change in eligibility status within 30 days after the
8779event that makes the employee ineligible to continue
8780participation in the optional retirement program.
8781     (g)  An eligible employee who is a member of the Florida
8782Retirement System at the time of election to participate in the
8783optional retirement program retains all retirement service
8784credit earned under the Florida Retirement System at the rate
8785earned. Additional service credit in the Florida Retirement
8786System may not be earned while the employee participates in the
8787optional retirement program, nor is the employee eligible for
8788disability retirement under the Florida Retirement System. An
8789eligible employee may transfer from the Florida Retirement
8790System to his or her accounts under the State Community College
8791Optional Retirement Program a sum representing the present value
8792of his or her service credit accrued under the defined benefit
8793program of the Florida Retirement System for the period between
8794his or her first eligible transfer date from the defined benefit
8795plan to the optional retirement program and the actual date of
8796such transfer as provided in s. 121.051(2)(c)7. Upon such
8797transfer, all such service credit previously earned under the
8798defined benefit program of the Florida Retirement System during
8799this period shall be nullified for purposes of entitlement to a
8800future benefit under the defined benefit program of the Florida
8801Retirement System.
8802     (h)  A program participant may not simultaneously
8803participate in any other state-administered retirement system,
8804plan, or class.
8805     (i)  Except as provided in s. 121.052(6)(d), a program
8806participant who is or who becomes dually employed in two or more
8807positions covered by the Florida Retirement System, one of which
8808is eligible for an optional retirement program pursuant to this
8809section and one of which is not, is subject to the dual
8810employment provisions of chapter 121.
8811     (4)(a)  Each college must contribute on behalf of each
8812program participant an amount equal to 10.43 percent of the
8813participant's gross monthly compensation. The college shall
8814deduct an amount approved by the district board of trustees of
8815the college to provide for the administration of the optional
8816retirement program. Payment of this contribution must be made
8817either directly by the college or through the program
8818administrator to the designated company contracting for payment
8819of benefits to the program participant.
8820     (b)  Each college must contribute on behalf of each program
8821participant an amount equal to the unfunded actuarial accrued
8822liability portion of the employer contribution which would be
8823required if the program participant were a member of the Regular
8824Class of the Florida Retirement System. Payment of this
8825contribution must be made directly by the college to the
8826department for deposit in the Florida Retirement System Trust
8827Fund.
8828     (c)  Each program participant who has been issued an
8829optional retirement program contract may contribute by way of
8830salary reduction or deduction a percentage of the program
8831participant's gross compensation, but this percentage may not
8832exceed the corresponding percentage contributed by the Florida
8833College System institution community college to the optional
8834retirement program. Payment of this contribution may be made
8835either directly by the college or through the program
8836administrator to the designated company contracting for payment
8837of benefits to the program participant.
8838     (d)  Contributions to an optional retirement program by a
8839college or a program participant are in addition to, and have no
8840effect upon, contributions required now or in future by the
8841federal Social Security Act.
8842     (e)  The college may accept for deposit into participant
8843account or accounts contributions in the form of rollovers or
8844direct trustee-to-trustee transfers by or on behalf of
8845participants who are reasonably determined by the college to be
8846eligible for rollover or transfer to the optional retirement
8847program pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, if such
8848contributions are made in accordance with the applicable
8849requirements of the college. Accounting for such contributions
8850shall be in accordance with any applicable requirements of the
8851Internal Revenue Code and the college.
8852     (5)(a)  The benefits to be provided to program participants
8853must be provided through contracts, including individual
8854contracts or individual certificates issued for group annuity or
8855other contracts, which may be fixed, variable, or both, in
8856accordance with s. 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. Each
8857individual contract or certificate must state the type of
8858contract on its face page, and must include at least a statement
8859of ownership, the contract benefits, distribution options,
8860limitations, expense charges, and surrender charges, if any.
8861     (b)  Benefits are payable under the optional retirement
8862program to program participants or their beneficiaries, and the
8863benefits must be paid only by the designated company in
8864accordance with the terms of the contracts applicable to the
8865program participant. Benefits shall accrue in individual
8866accounts that are participant-directed, portable, and funded by
8867employer contributions and the earnings thereon. Benefits funded
8868by employer contributions are payable in accordance with the
8869following terms and conditions:
8870     1.  Benefits shall be payable only to a participant, to his
8871or her beneficiaries, or to his or her estate, as designated by
8872the participant.
8873     2.  Benefits shall be paid by the provider company or
8874companies in accordance with the law, the provisions of the
8875contract, and any applicable employer rule or policy.
8876     3.  In the event of a participant's death, moneys
8877accumulated by, or on behalf of, the participant, less
8878withholding taxes remitted to the Internal Revenue Service, if
8879any, shall be distributed to the participant's designated
8880beneficiary or beneficiaries, or to the participant's estate, as
8881if the participant retired on the date of death as provided in
8882paragraph (d). No other death benefits shall be available for
8883survivors of participants under the optional retirement program
8884except for such benefits, or coverage for such benefits, as are
8885separately afforded by the employer at the employer's
8886discretion.
8887     (c)  Upon receipt by the provider company of a properly
8888executed application for distribution of benefits, the total
8889accumulated benefits shall be payable to the participant as:
8890     1.  A lump-sum distribution to the participant;
8891     2.  A lump-sum direct rollover distribution whereby all
8892accrued benefits, plus interest and investment earnings, are
8893paid from the participant's account directly to an eligible
8894retirement plan as defined in s. 402(c)(8)(B) of the Internal
8895Revenue Code, on behalf of the participant;
8896     3.  Periodic distributions;
8897     4.  A partial lump-sum payment whereby a portion of the
8898accrued benefit is paid to the participant and the remaining
8899amount is transferred to an eligible retirement plan, as defined
8900in s. 402(c)(8)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, on behalf of
8901the participant; or
8902     5.  Such other distribution options as are provided for in
8903the participant's optional retirement program contract.
8904     (d)  Survivor benefits shall be payable as:
8905     1.  A lump-sum distribution payable to the beneficiaries or
8906to the deceased participant's estate;
8907     2.  An eligible rollover distribution on behalf of the
8908surviving spouse or beneficiary of a deceased participant
8909whereby all accrued benefits, plus interest and investment
8910earnings, are paid from the deceased participant's account
8911directly to an eligible retirement plan, as described in s.
8912402(c)(8)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, on behalf of the
8913surviving spouse;
8914     3.  Such other distribution options as are provided for in
8915the participant's optional retirement program contract; or
8916     4.  A partial lump-sum payment whereby a portion of the
8917accrued benefits are paid to the deceased participant's
8918surviving spouse or other designated beneficiaries, less
8919withholding taxes remitted to the Internal Revenue Service, if
8920any, and the remaining amount is transferred directly to an
8921eligible retirement plan, as described in s. 402(c)(8)(B) of the
8922Internal Revenue Code, on behalf of the surviving spouse. The
8923proportions must be specified by the participant or the
8924surviving beneficiary.
8925
8926Nothing in this paragraph abrogates other applicable provisions
8927of state or federal law providing payment of death benefits.
8928     (e)  The benefits payable to any person under the optional
8929retirement program, and any contribution accumulated under the
8930program, are not subject to assignment, execution, attachment,
8931or to any legal process whatsoever.
8932     (6)(a)  The optional retirement program authorized by this
8933section must be implemented and administered by the program
8934administrator under s. 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. The
8935program administrator has the express authority to contract with
8936a third party to fulfill any of the program administrator's
8937duties.
8938     (b)  The program administrator shall solicit competitive
8939bids or issue a request for proposal and select no more than
8940four companies from which optional retirement program contracts
8941may be purchased under the optional retirement program. In
8942making these selections, the program administrator shall
8943consider the following factors:
8944     1.  The financial soundness of the company.
8945     2.  The extent of the company's experience in providing
8946annuity or other contracts to fund retirement programs.
8947     3.  The nature and extent of the rights and benefits
8948provided to program participants in relation to the premiums
8949paid.
8950     4.  The suitability of the rights and benefits provided to
8951the needs of eligible employees and the interests of the college
8952in the recruitment and retention of employees.
8953
8954In lieu of soliciting competitive bids or issuing a request for
8955proposals, the program administrator may authorize the purchase
8956of annuity contracts under the optional retirement program from
8957those companies currently selected by the department to offer
8958such contracts through the State University System Optional
8959Retirement Program, as set forth in s. 121.35.
8960     (c)  Optional retirement program annuity contracts must be
8961approved in form and content by the program administrator in
8962order to qualify. The program administrator may use the same
8963annuity contracts currently used within the State University
8964System Optional Retirement Program, as set forth in s. 121.35.
8965     (d)  The provision of each annuity contract applicable to a
8966program participant must be contained in a written program
8967description that includes a report of pertinent financial and
8968actuarial information on the solvency and actuarial soundness of
8969the program and the benefits applicable to the program
8970participant. The company must furnish the description annually
8971to the program administrator, and to each program participant
8972upon commencement of participation in the program and annually
8973thereafter.
8974     (e)  The program administrator must ensure that each
8975program participant is provided annually with an accounting of
8976the total contributions and the annual contributions made by and
8977on the behalf of the program participant.
8978     Section 196.  Section 1012.88, Florida Statutes, is amended
8979to read:
8980     1012.88  Florida College System institution Community
8981college police.-
8982     (1)  Each Florida College System institution community
8983college is permitted and empowered to employ police officers for
8984the Florida College System institution community college, who
8985must be designated Florida College System institution community
8986college police.
8987     (2)  Each Florida College System institution community
8988college police officer is a law enforcement officer of the state
8989and a conservator of the peace who has the authority to arrest,
8990in accordance with the laws of this state, any person for a
8991violation of state law or applicable county or municipal
8992ordinance if that violation occurs on or in any property or
8993facilities of the Florida College System institution community
8994college by which he or she is employed or any property or
8995facilities of a direct-support organization of such Florida
8996College System institution community college. A Florida College
8997System institution community college police officer may also
8998arrest a person off campus for a violation committed on campus
8999after a hot pursuit of that person that began on any such
9000property or facilities. A Florida College System institution
9001community college police officer may bear arms in the
9002performance of his or her duties and carry out a search pursuant
9003to a search warrant on the campus where he or she is employed.
9004Florida College System institution Community college police,
9005upon request of the sheriff or local police authority, may serve
9006subpoenas or other legal process and may make arrests of persons
9007against whom arrest warrants have been issued or against whom
9008charges have been made for violations of federal or state laws
9009or county or municipal ordinances.
9010     (3)  Florida College System institution Community college
9011police shall promptly deliver all persons arrested and charged
9012with felonies to the sheriff of the county within which the
9013Florida College System institution community college is located
9014and all persons arrested and charged with misdemeanors to the
9015applicable authority as provided by law, but otherwise to the
9016sheriff of the county in which the Florida College System
9017institution community college is located.
9018     (4)  Florida College System institution Community college
9019police must meet the minimum standards established by the Police
9020Standards and Training Commission of the Department of Law
9021Enforcement and chapter 943 for law enforcement officers. Each
9022Florida College System institution community college police
9023officer must, before entering into the performance of his or her
9024duties, take the oath of office established by the Florida
9025College System institution community college. Each Florida
9026College System institution community college that employs police
9027officers may obtain and approve a bond on each police officer,
9028conditioned upon the officer's faithful performance of his or
9029her duties, which bond must be payable to the Governor. The
9030Florida College System institution community college may
9031determine the amount of the bond. In determining the amount of
9032the bond, the Florida College System institution community
9033college may consider the amount of money or property likely to
9034be in the custody of the officer at any one time. The Florida
9035College System institution community college shall provide a
9036uniform set of identifying credentials to each Florida College
9037System institution community college police officer it employs.
9038     (5)  In performance of any of the powers, duties, and
9039functions authorized by law, Florida College System institution
9040community college police have the same rights, protections, and
9041immunities afforded other law enforcement officers.
9042     (6)  The Florida College System institution community
9043college, with the approval of the Department of Law Enforcement,
9044shall adopt rules, including, without limitation, rules for the
9045appointment, employment, and removal of Florida College System
9046institution community college police in accordance with the
9047state Career Service System and shall establish in writing a
9048policy manual, that includes, without limitation, procedures for
9049managing routine law enforcement situations and emergency law
9050enforcement situations. The Florida College System institution
9051community college shall furnish a copy of the policy manual to
9052each of the police officers it employs.
9053     Section 197.  Section 1012.885, Florida Statutes, is
9054amended to read:
9055     1012.885  Remuneration of Florida College System
9056institution community college presidents; limitations.-
9057     (1)  DEFINITIONS.-As used in this section, the term:
9058     (a)  "Appropriated state funds" means funds appropriated
9059from the General Revenue Fund or funds appropriated from state
9060trust funds.
9061     (b)  "Cash-equivalent compensation" means any benefit that
9062may be assigned an equivalent cash value.
9063     (c)  "Remuneration" means salary, bonuses, and cash-
9064equivalent compensation paid to a Florida College System
9065institution community college president by his or her employer
9066for work performed, excluding health insurance benefits and
9067retirement benefits.
9068     (2)  LIMITATION ON COMPENSATION.-Notwithstanding any other
9069law, resolution, or rule to the contrary, a Florida College
9070System institution community college president may not receive
9071more than $225,000 in remuneration annually from appropriated
9072state funds. Only compensation, as defined in s. 121.021(22),
9073provided to a Florida College System institution community
9074college president may be used in calculating benefits under
9075chapter 121.
9076     (3)  EXCEPTIONS.-This section does not prohibit any party
9077from providing cash or cash-equivalent compensation from funds
9078that are not appropriated state funds to a Florida College
9079System institution community college president in excess of the
9080limit in subsection (2). If a party is unable or unwilling to
9081fulfill an obligation to provide cash or cash-equivalent
9082compensation to a Florida College System institution community
9083college president as permitted under this subsection,
9084appropriated state funds may not be used to fulfill such
9085obligation.
9086     Section 198.  Subsections (4) and (5) of section 1012.98,
9087Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
9088     1012.98  School Community Professional Development Act.-
9089     (4)  The Department of Education, school districts,
9090schools, Florida College System institutions community colleges,
9091and state universities share the responsibilities described in
9092this section. These responsibilities include the following:
9093     (a)  The department shall disseminate to the school
9094community research-based professional development methods and
9095programs that have demonstrated success in meeting identified
9096student needs. The Commissioner of Education shall use data on
9097student achievement to identify student needs. The methods of
9098dissemination must include a web-based statewide performance
9099support system, including a database of exemplary professional
9100development activities, a listing of available professional
9101development resources, training programs, and available
9102assistance.
9103     (b)  Each school district shall develop a professional
9104development system as specified in subsection (3). The system
9105shall be developed in consultation with teachers, teacher-
9106educators of Florida College System institutions community
9107colleges and state universities, business and community
9108representatives, and local education foundations, consortia, and
9109professional organizations. The professional development system
9110must:
9111     1.  Be approved by the department. All substantial
9112revisions to the system shall be submitted to the department for
9113review for continued approval.
9114     2.  Be based on analyses of student achievement data and
9115instructional strategies and methods that support rigorous,
9116relevant, and challenging curricula for all students. Schools
9117and districts, in developing and refining the professional
9118development system, shall also review and monitor school
9119discipline data; school environment surveys; assessments of
9120parental satisfaction; performance appraisal data of teachers,
9121managers, and administrative personnel; and other performance
9122indicators to identify school and student needs that can be met
9123by improved professional performance.
9124     3.  Provide inservice activities coupled with followup
9125support appropriate to accomplish district-level and school-
9126level improvement goals and standards. The inservice activities
9127for instructional personnel shall focus on analysis of student
9128achievement data, ongoing formal and informal assessments of
9129student achievement, identification and use of enhanced and
9130differentiated instructional strategies that emphasize rigor,
9131relevance, and reading in the content areas, enhancement of
9132subject content expertise, integrated use of classroom
9133technology that enhances teaching and learning, classroom
9134management, parent involvement, and school safety.
9135     4.  Include a master plan for inservice activities,
9136pursuant to rules of the State Board of Education, for all
9137district employees from all fund sources. The master plan shall
9138be updated annually by September 1, must be based on input from
9139teachers and district and school instructional leaders, and must
9140use the latest available student achievement data and research
9141to enhance rigor and relevance in the classroom. Each district
9142inservice plan must be aligned to and support the school-based
9143inservice plans and school improvement plans pursuant to s.
91441001.42(18). District plans must be approved by the district
9145school board annually in order to ensure compliance with
9146subsection (1) and to allow for dissemination of research-based
9147best practices to other districts. District school boards must
9148submit verification of their approval to the Commissioner of
9149Education no later than October 1, annually.
9150     5.  Require each school principal to establish and maintain
9151an individual professional development plan for each
9152instructional employee assigned to the school as a seamless
9153component to the school improvement plans developed pursuant to
9154s. 1001.42(18). The individual professional development plan
9155must:
9156     a.  Be related to specific performance data for the
9157students to whom the teacher is assigned.
9158     b.  Define the inservice objectives and specific measurable
9159improvements expected in student performance as a result of the
9160inservice activity.
9161     c.  Include an evaluation component that determines the
9162effectiveness of the professional development plan.
9163     6.  Include inservice activities for school administrative
9164personnel that address updated skills necessary for
9165instructional leadership and effective school management
9166pursuant to s. 1012.986.
9167     7.  Provide for systematic consultation with regional and
9168state personnel designated to provide technical assistance and
9169evaluation of local professional development programs.
9170     8.  Provide for delivery of professional development by
9171distance learning and other technology-based delivery systems to
9172reach more educators at lower costs.
9173     9.  Provide for the continuous evaluation of the quality
9174and effectiveness of professional development programs in order
9175to eliminate ineffective programs and strategies and to expand
9176effective ones. Evaluations must consider the impact of such
9177activities on the performance of participating educators and
9178their students' achievement and behavior.
9179     (5)  Each district school board shall provide funding for
9180the professional development system as required by s. 1011.62
9181and the General Appropriations Act, and shall direct
9182expenditures from other funding sources to continuously
9183strengthen the system in order to increase student achievement
9184and support instructional staff in enhancing rigor and relevance
9185in the classroom. A school district may coordinate its
9186professional development program with that of another district,
9187with an educational consortium, or with a Florida College System
9188institution community college or university, especially in
9189preparing and educating personnel. Each district school board
9190shall make available inservice activities to instructional
9191personnel of nonpublic schools in the district and the state
9192certified teachers who are not employed by the district school
9193board on a fee basis not to exceed the cost of the activity per
9194all participants.
9195     Section 199.  Subsections (3) and (16) of section 1013.01,
9196Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
9197     1013.01  Definitions.-The following terms shall be defined
9198as follows for the purpose of this chapter:
9199     (3)  "Board," unless otherwise specified, means a district
9200school board, a Florida College System institution community
9201college board of trustees, a university board of trustees, and
9202the Board of Trustees for the Florida School for the Deaf and
9203the Blind. The term "board" does not include the State Board of
9204Education or the Board of Governors.
9205     (16)  "Public education capital outlay (PECO) funded
9206projects" means site acquisition, renovation, remodeling,
9207construction projects, and site improvements necessary to
9208accommodate buildings, equipment, other structures, and special
9209educational use areas that are built, installed, or established
9210to serve primarily the educational instructional program of the
9211district school board, Florida College System institution
9212community college board of trustees, or university board of
9213trustees.
9214     Section 200.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
92151013.02, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
9216     1013.02  Purpose; rules and regulations.-
9217     (2)(a)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
9218pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the
9219provisions of this chapter for school districts and Florida
9220College System institutions community colleges.
9221     Section 201.  Section 1013.03, Florida Statutes, is amended
9222to read:
9223     1013.03  Functions of the department and the Board of
9224Governors.-The functions of the Department of Education as it
9225pertains to educational facilities of school districts and
9226Florida College System institutions community colleges and of
9227the Board of Governors as it pertains to educational facilities
9228of state universities shall include, but not be limited to, the
9229following:
9230     (1)  Establish recommended minimum and maximum square
9231footage standards for different functions and areas and
9232procedures for determining the gross square footage for each
9233educational facility to be funded in whole or in part by the
9234state, including public broadcasting stations but excluding
9235postsecondary special purpose laboratory space. The gross square
9236footage determination standards may be exceeded when the core
9237facility space of an educational facility is constructed or
9238renovated to accommodate the future addition of classrooms to
9239meet projected increases in student enrollment. The department
9240and the Board of Governors shall encourage multiple use of
9241facilities and spaces in educational plants.
9242     (2)  Establish, for the purpose of determining need,
9243equitably uniform utilization standards for all types of like
9244space, regardless of the level of education. These standards
9245shall also establish, for postsecondary education classrooms, a
9246minimum room utilization rate of 40 hours per week and a minimum
9247station utilization rate of 60 percent. These rates shall be
9248subject to increase based on national norms for utilization of
9249postsecondary education classrooms.
9250     (3)  Require boards to submit other educational plant
9251inventories data and statistical data or information relevant to
9252construction, capital improvements, and related costs.
9253     (4)  Require each board and other appropriate agencies to
9254submit complete and accurate financial data as to the amounts of
9255funds from all sources that are available and spent for
9256construction and capital improvements. The commissioner shall
9257prescribe the format and the date for the submission of this
9258data and any other educational facilities data. If any district
9259does not submit the required educational facilities fiscal data
9260by the prescribed date, the Commissioner of Education shall
9261notify the district school board of this fact and, if
9262appropriate action is not taken to immediately submit the
9263required report, the district school board shall be directed to
9264proceed pursuant to s. 1001.42(13)(b). If any Florida College
9265System institution community college or university does not
9266submit the required educational facilities fiscal data by the
9267prescribed date, the same policy prescribed in this subsection
9268for school districts shall be implemented.
9269     (5)  Administer, under the supervision of the Commissioner
9270of Education, the Public Education Capital Outlay and Debt
9271Service Trust Fund and the School District and Community College
9272District Capital Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund.
9273     (6)  Develop, review, update, revise, and recommend a
9274mandatory portion of the Florida Building Code for educational
9275facilities construction and capital improvement by Florida
9276College System institution community college boards and district
9277school boards.
9278     (7)  Provide training, technical assistance, and building
9279code interpretation for requirements of the mandatory Florida
9280Building Code for the educational facilities construction and
9281capital improvement programs of the Florida College System
9282institution community college boards and district school boards
9283and, upon request, approve phase III construction documents for
9284remodeling, renovation, or new construction of educational
9285plants or ancillary facilities, except that university boards of
9286trustees shall approve specifications and construction documents
9287for their respective institutions pursuant to guidelines of the
9288Board of Governors. The Department of Management Services may,
9289upon request, provide similar services for the Florida School
9290for the Deaf and the Blind and shall use the Florida Building
9291Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code.
9292     (8)  Provide minimum criteria, procedures, and training to
9293boards to conduct educational plant surveys and document the
9294determination of future needs.
9295     (9)  Make available to boards technical assistance,
9296awareness training, and research and technical publications
9297relating to lifesafety, casualty, sanitation, environmental,
9298maintenance, and custodial issues; and, as needed, technical
9299assistance for survey, planning, design, construction,
9300operation, and evaluation of educational and ancillary
9301facilities and plants, facilities administrative procedures
9302review, and training for new administrators.
9303     (10)(a)  Review and validate surveys proposed or amended by
9304the boards and recommend to the Commissioner of Education, or
9305the Chancellor of the State University System, as appropriate,
9306for approval, surveys that meet the requirements of this
9307chapter.
9308     1.  The term "validate" as applied to surveys by school
9309districts means to review inventory data as submitted to the
9310department by district school boards; provide for review and
9311inspection, where required, of student stations and aggregate
9312square feet of inventory changed from satisfactory to
9313unsatisfactory or changed from unsatisfactory to satisfactory;
9314compare new school inventory to allocation limits provided by
9315this chapter; review cost projections for conformity with cost
9316limits set by s. 1013.64(6); compare total capital outlay full-
9317time equivalent enrollment projections in the survey with the
9318department's projections; review facilities lists to verify that
9319student station and auxiliary facility space allocations do not
9320exceed the limits provided by this chapter and related rules;
9321review and confirm the application of uniform facility
9322utilization factors, where provided by this chapter or related
9323rules; utilize the documentation of programs offered per site,
9324as submitted by the board, to analyze facility needs; confirm
9325that need projections for career and adult educational programs
9326comply with needs documented by the Department of Education; and
9327confirm the assignment of full-time student stations to all
9328space except auxiliary facilities, which, for purposes of
9329exemption from student station assignment, include the
9330following:
9331     a.  Cafeterias.
9332     b.  Multipurpose dining areas.
9333     c.  Media centers.
9334     d.  Auditoriums.
9335     e.  Administration.
9336     f.  Elementary, middle, and high school resource rooms, up
9337to the number of such rooms recommended for the applicable
9338occupant and space design capacity of the educational plant in
9339the State Requirements for Educational Facilities, beyond which
9340student stations must be assigned.
9341     g.  Elementary school skills labs, up to the number of such
9342rooms recommended for the applicable occupant and space design
9343capacity of the educational plant in the State Requirements for
9344Educational Facilities, beyond which student stations must be
9345assigned.
9346     h.  Elementary school art and music rooms.
9347     2.  The term "validate" as applied to surveys by Florida
9348College System institutions community colleges and universities
9349means to review and document the approval of each new site and
9350official designation, where applicable; review the inventory
9351database as submitted by each board to the department, including
9352noncareer, and total capital outlay full-time equivalent
9353enrollment projections per site and per college; provide for the
9354review and inspection, where required, of student stations and
9355aggregate square feet of space changed from satisfactory to
9356unsatisfactory; utilize and review the documentation of programs
9357offered per site submitted by the boards as accurate for
9358analysis of space requirements and needs; confirm that needs
9359projected for career and adult educational programs comply with
9360needs documented by the Department of Education; compare new
9361facility inventory to allocations limits as provided in this
9362chapter; review cost projections for conformity with state
9363averages or limits designated by this chapter; compare student
9364enrollment projections in the survey to the department's
9365projections; review facilities lists to verify that area
9366allocations and space factors for generating space needs do not
9367exceed the limits as provided by this chapter and related rules;
9368confirm the application of facility utilization factors as
9369provided by this chapter and related rules; and review, as
9370submitted, documentation of how survey recommendations will
9371implement the detail of current campus master plans and
9372integrate with local comprehensive plans and development
9373regulations.
9374     (b)  Recommend priority of projects to be funded.
9375     (11)  Prepare the commissioner's comprehensive fixed
9376capital outlay legislative budget request and provide annually
9377an estimate of the funds available for developing required 3-
9378year priority lists. This amount shall be based upon the average
9379percentage for the 5 prior years of funds appropriated by the
9380Legislature for fixed capital outlay to each level of public
9381education: public schools, Florida College System institutions
9382community colleges, and universities.
9383     (12)  Perform any other functions that may be involved in
9384educational facilities construction and capital improvement
9385which shall ensure that the intent of the Legislature is
9386implemented.
9387     Section 202.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section
93881013.12, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
9389     1013.12  Casualty, safety, sanitation, and firesafety
9390standards and inspection of property.-
9391     (5)  INSPECTIONS OF PUBLIC POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
9392FACILITIES.-
9393     (a)  Firesafety inspections of Florida College System
9394institution community college facilities shall comply with State
9395Board of Education rules.
9396     Section 203.  Subsection (2) of section 1013.13, Florida
9397Statutes, is amended to read:
9398     1013.13  Coordination of school safety information;
9399construction design documents.-
9400     (2)  Each Florida College System institution community
9401college president must provide to the law enforcement agency and
9402fire department that has jurisdiction over the Florida College
9403System institution community college a copy of the floor plans
9404and other relevant documents for each educational facility as
9405defined in s. 1013.01. After the initial submission of the floor
9406plans and other relevant documents, the Florida College System
9407institution community college president shall submit, by October
94081 of each year, revised floor plans and other relevant documents
9409for each educational facility that was modified during the
9410preceding year.
9411     Section 204.  Section 1013.19, Florida Statutes, is amended
9412to read:
9413     1013.19  Purchase, conveyance, or encumbrance of property
9414interests above surface of land; joint-occupancy structures.-For
9415the purpose of implementing jointly financed construction
9416project agreements, or for the construction of combined
9417occupancy structures, any board may purchase, own, convey, sell,
9418lease, or encumber airspace or any other interests in property
9419above the surface of the land, provided the lease of airspace
9420for nonpublic use is for such reasonable rent, length of term,
9421and conditions as the board in its discretion may determine. All
9422proceeds from such sale or lease shall be used by the board or
9423boards receiving the proceeds solely for fixed capital outlay
9424purposes. These purposes may include the renovation or
9425remodeling of existing facilities owned by the board or the
9426construction of new facilities; however, for a Florida College
9427System institution community college board or university board,
9428such new facility must be authorized by the Legislature. It is
9429declared that the use of such rental by the board for public
9430purposes in accordance with its statutory authority is a public
9431use. Airspace or any other interest in property held by the
9432Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund or the
9433State Board of Education may not be divested or conveyed without
9434approval of the respective board. Any building, including any
9435building or facility component that is common to both nonpublic
9436and educational portions thereof, constructed in airspace that
9437is sold or leased for nonpublic use pursuant to this section is
9438subject to all applicable state, county, and municipal
9439regulations pertaining to land use, zoning, construction of
9440buildings, fire protection, health, and safety to the same
9441extent and in the same manner as such regulations would be
9442applicable to the construction of a building for nonpublic use
9443on the appurtenant land beneath the subject airspace. Any
9444educational facility constructed or leased as a part of a joint-
9445occupancy facility is subject to all rules and requirements of
9446the respective boards or departments having jurisdiction over
9447educational facilities. Any contract executed by a university
9448board of trustees pursuant to this section is subject to the
9449provisions of s. 1010.62.
9450     Section 205.  Subsection (1), paragraph (c) of subsection
9451(2), subsection (3), and paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of
9452subsection (4) of section 1013.23, Florida Statutes, are amended
9453to read:
9454     1013.23  Energy efficiency contracting.-
9455     (1)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.-The Legislature finds that
9456investment in energy conservation measures in educational
9457facilities can reduce the amount of energy consumed and produce
9458immediate and long-term savings. It is the policy of this state
9459to encourage school districts, Florida College System
9460institutions community colleges, and state universities to
9461invest in energy conservation measures that reduce energy
9462consumption, produce a cost savings, and improve the quality of
9463indoor air in facilities, and, when economically feasible, to
9464build, operate, maintain, or renovate educational facilities in
9465such a manner so as to minimize energy consumption and maximize
9466energy savings. It is further the policy of this state to
9467encourage school districts, Florida College System institutions
9468community colleges, and state universities to reinvest any
9469energy savings resulting from energy conservation measures into
9470additional energy conservation efforts.
9471     (2)  DEFINITIONS.-For purposes of this section, the term:
9472     (c)  "Energy performance-based contract" means a contract
9473for the evaluation, recommendation, and implementation of energy
9474conservation measures which includes, at a minimum:
9475     1.  The design and installation of equipment to implement
9476one or more of such measures, and, if applicable, operation and
9477maintenance of such measures.
9478     2.  The amount of any actual annual savings. This amount
9479must meet or exceed total annual contract payments made by the
9480district school board, Florida College System institution
9481community college board of trustees, or state university board
9482of trustees for such contract.
9483     3.  Financing charges to be incurred by the district school
9484board, Florida College System institution community college
9485board of trustees, or state university board of trustees over
9486the life of the contract.
9487     (3)  ENERGY PERFORMANCE-BASED CONTRACT PROCEDURES.-
9488     (a)  A district school board, Florida College System
9489institution community college board of trustees, or state
9490university board of trustees may enter into an energy
9491performance-based contract with an energy performance contractor
9492to significantly reduce energy or operating costs of an
9493educational facility through one or more energy conservation
9494measures.
9495     (b)  The energy performance contractor shall be selected in
9496compliance with s. 287.055; except that in a case where a
9497district school board, Florida College System institution
9498community college board of trustees, or state university board
9499of trustees determines that fewer than three firms are qualified
9500to perform the required services, the requirement for agency
9501selection of three firms, as provided in s. 287.055(4)(b), shall
9502not apply and the bid requirements of s. 287.057 shall not
9503apply.
9504     (c)  Before entering into a contract pursuant to this
9505section, the district school board, Florida College System
9506institution community college board of trustees, or state
9507university board of trustees shall provide published notice of
9508the meeting in which it proposes to award the contract, the
9509names of the parties to the proposed contract, and the
9510contract's purpose.
9511     (d)  Prior to the design and installation of the energy
9512conservation measure, the district school board, Florida College
9513System institution community college board of trustees, or state
9514university board of trustees must obtain from the energy
9515performance contractor a report that discloses all costs
9516associated with the energy conservation measure and provides an
9517estimate of the amount of the energy cost savings. The report
9518must be reviewed by either the Department of Education or the
9519Department of Management Services or signed and sealed by a
9520registered professional engineer.
9521     (e)  A district school board, Florida College System
9522institution community college board of trustees, or state
9523university board of trustees may enter into an energy
9524performance-based contract with an energy performance contractor
9525if, after review of the report required by paragraph (d), it
9526finds that the amount it would spend on the energy conservation
9527measures recommended in the report will not exceed the amount to
9528be saved in energy and operation costs over 20 years from the
9529date of installation, based on life-cycle costing calculations,
9530if the recommendations in the report were followed and if the
9531energy performance contractor provides a written guarantee that
9532the energy or operating cost savings will meet or exceed the
9533costs of the system. The contract may provide for payments over
9534a period of time not to exceed 20 years.
9535     (f)  A district school board, Florida College System
9536institution community college board of trustees, or state
9537university board of trustees may enter into an installment
9538payment contract for the purchase and installation of energy
9539conservation measures. The contract shall provide for payments
9540of not less than one-twentieth of the price to be paid within 2
9541years from the date of the complete installation and acceptance
9542by the district school board, Florida College System institution
9543community college board of trustees, or state university board
9544of trustees, and the remaining costs to be paid at least
9545quarterly, not to exceed a 20-year term based on life-cycle
9546costing calculations.
9547     (g)  Energy performance-based contracts may extend beyond
9548the fiscal year in which they become effective; however, the
9549term of any contract shall expire at the end of each fiscal year
9550and may be automatically renewed annually up to 20 years,
9551subject to a district school board, Florida College System
9552institution community college board of trustees, or state
9553university board of trustees making sufficient annual
9554appropriations based upon continued realized energy cost
9555savings. Such contracts shall stipulate that the agreement does
9556not constitute a debt, liability, or obligation of the state or
9557a district school board, Florida College System institution
9558community college board of trustees, or state university board
9559of trustees, or a pledge of the faith and credit of the state or
9560a district school board, Florida College System institution
9561community college board of trustees, or state university board
9562of trustees.
9563     (4)  CONTRACT PROVISIONS.-
9564     (b)  The contract shall provide that all payments, except
9565obligations on termination of the contract before its
9566expiration, are to be made over time, but not to exceed 20 years
9567from the date of complete installation and acceptance by the
9568district school board, Florida College System institution
9569community college board of trustees, or state university board
9570of trustees, and that the annual savings are guaranteed to the
9571extent necessary to make annual payments to satisfy the
9572contract.
9573     (c)  The contract must require that the energy performance
9574contractor to whom the contract is awarded provide a 100-percent
9575public construction bond to the district school board, Florida
9576College System institution community college board of trustees,
9577or state university board of trustees for its faithful
9578performance, as required by s. 255.05.
9579     (d)  The contract shall require the energy performance
9580contractor to provide to the district school board, Florida
9581College System institution community college board of trustees,
9582or state university board of trustees an annual reconciliation
9583of the guaranteed energy cost savings. The energy performance
9584contractor shall be liable for any annual savings shortfall
9585which may occur. In the event that such reconciliation reveals
9586an excess in annual energy cost savings, such excess savings
9587shall not be used to cover potential energy cost savings
9588shortages in subsequent contract years.
9589     Section 206.  Section 1013.231, Florida Statutes, is
9590amended to read:
9591     1013.231  Florida College System institution Florida
9592college and university energy consumption; 10-percent reduction
9593goal.-
9594     (1)  Each Florida College System institution Florida
9595college and state university shall strive to reduce its
9596campuswide energy consumption by 10 percent. While savings may
9597be accrued by any means, the goal shall be to implement energy
9598use policies or procedures or both and any equipment retrofits
9599that are necessary to carry out this reduction. The reduction
9600may be obtained by either reducing the cost of the energy
9601consumed or by reducing total energy usage, or a combination of
9602both.
9603     (2)  Energy consumption expenditures incurred during the
96042007-2008 fiscal year shall be used to establish the benchmark
9605for the 10-percent goal. If a Florida College System institution
9606Florida college or state university can document that it has
9607implemented energy use policies or procedures in the 2008-2009
9608fiscal year or the 2009-2010 fiscal year that resulted in
9609reduction in energy usage or costs, those reductions may be
9610counted towards the 10-percent goal.
9611     (3)  Each Florida College System institution Florida
9612college and state university shall submit a report to the
9613Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
9614President of the Senate by January 1, 2011, describing how they
9615have met or plan to meet the 10-percent energy consumption
9616reduction goal.
9617     Section 207.  Section 1013.25, Florida Statutes, is amended
9618to read:
9619     1013.25  When university or Florida College System
9620institution community college board of trustees may exercise
9621power of eminent domain.-Whenever it becomes necessary for the
9622welfare and convenience of any of its institutions or divisions
9623to acquire private property for the use of such institutions,
9624and this cannot be acquired by agreement satisfactory to a
9625university or Florida College System institution community
9626college board of trustees and the parties interested in, or the
9627owners of, the private property, the board of trustees may
9628exercise the power of eminent domain after receiving approval
9629therefor from the Administration Commission and may then proceed
9630to condemn the property in the manner provided by chapter 73 or
9631chapter 74.
9632     Section 208.  Section 1013.27, Florida Statutes, is amended
9633to read:
9634     1013.27  Purchase of land by municipality.-Any municipality
9635wherein a Florida College System institution community college
9636as defined by s. 1004.65 is situated may purchase land with
9637municipal funds and to donate and convey the land or any other
9638land to the Florida College System institution community college
9639board of trustees.
9640     Section 209.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and paragraph
9641(a) of subsection (2) of section 1013.28, Florida Statutes, are
9642amended to read:
9643     1013.28  Disposal of property.-
9644     (1)  REAL PROPERTY.-
9645     (a)  Subject to rules of the State Board of Education, a
9646district school board, the Board of Trustees for the Florida
9647School for the Deaf and the Blind, or a Florida College System
9648institution community college board of trustees may dispose of
9649any land or real property to which the board holds title which
9650is, by resolution of the board, determined to be unnecessary for
9651educational purposes as recommended in an educational plant
9652survey. A district school board, the Board of Trustees for the
9653Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, or a Florida College
9654System institution community college board of trustees shall
9655take diligent measures to dispose of educational property only
9656in the best interests of the public. However, appraisals may be
9657obtained by the district school board, the Board of Trustees for
9658the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, or the Florida
9659College System institution community college board of trustees
9660prior to or simultaneously with the receipt of bids.
9661     (2)  TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY.-
9662     (a)  Tangible personal property that has been properly
9663classified as surplus by a district school board or Florida
9664College System institution community college board of trustees
9665shall be disposed of in accordance with the procedure
9666established by chapter 274. However, the provisions of chapter
9667274 shall not be applicable to a motor vehicle used in driver
9668education to which title is obtained for a token amount from an
9669automobile dealer or manufacturer. In such cases, the disposal
9670of the vehicle shall be as prescribed in the contractual
9671agreement between the automotive agency or manufacturer and the
9672board.
9673     Section 210.  Section 1013.31, Florida Statutes, is amended
9674to read:
9675     1013.31  Educational plant survey; localized need
9676assessment; PECO project funding.-
9677     (1)  At least every 5 years, each board shall arrange for
9678an educational plant survey, to aid in formulating plans for
9679housing the educational program and student population, faculty,
9680administrators, staff, and auxiliary and ancillary services of
9681the district or campus, including consideration of the local
9682comprehensive plan. The Department of Education shall document
9683the need for additional career and adult education programs and
9684the continuation of existing programs before facility
9685construction or renovation related to career or adult education
9686may be included in the educational plant survey of a school
9687district or Florida College System institution community college
9688that delivers career or adult education programs. Information
9689used by the Department of Education to establish facility needs
9690must include, but need not be limited to, labor market data,
9691needs analysis, and information submitted by the school district
9692or Florida College System institution community college.
9693     (a)  Survey preparation and required data.-Each survey
9694shall be conducted by the board or an agency employed by the
9695board. Surveys shall be reviewed and approved by the board, and
9696a file copy shall be submitted to the Department of Education or
9697the Chancellor of the State University System, as appropriate.
9698The survey report shall include at least an inventory of
9699existing educational and ancillary plants, including safe access
9700facilities; recommendations for existing educational and
9701ancillary plants; recommendations for new educational or
9702ancillary plants, including the general location of each in
9703coordination with the land use plan and safe access facilities;
9704campus master plan update and detail for Florida College System
9705institutions community colleges; the utilization of school
9706plants based on an extended school day or year-round operation;
9707and such other information as may be required by the Department
9708of Education. This report may be amended, if conditions warrant,
9709at the request of the department or commissioner.
9710     (b)  Required need assessment criteria for district,
9711Florida College System institution community college, state
9712university, and Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind plant
9713surveys.-Educational plant surveys must use uniform data sources
9714and criteria specified in this paragraph. Each revised
9715educational plant survey and each new educational plant survey
9716supersedes previous surveys.
9717     1.  The school district's survey must be submitted as a
9718part of the district educational facilities plan defined in s.
97191013.35. To ensure that the data reported to the Department of
9720Education as required by this section is correct, the department
9721shall annually conduct an onsite review of 5 percent of the
9722facilities reported for each school district completing a new
9723survey that year. If the department's review finds the data
9724reported by a district is less than 95 percent accurate, within
97251 year from the time of notification by the department the
9726district must submit revised reports correcting its data. If a
9727district fails to correct its reports, the commissioner may
9728direct that future fixed capital outlay funds be withheld until
9729such time as the district has corrected its reports so that they
9730are not less than 95 percent accurate.
9731     2.  Each survey of a special facility, joint-use facility,
9732or cooperative career education facility must be based on
9733capital outlay full-time equivalent student enrollment data
9734prepared by the department for school districts and Florida
9735College System institutions community colleges and by the
9736Chancellor of the State University System for universities. A
9737survey of space needs of a joint-use facility shall be based
9738upon the respective space needs of the school districts, Florida
9739College System institutions community colleges, and
9740universities, as appropriate. Projections of a school district's
9741facility space needs may not exceed the norm space and occupant
9742design criteria established by the State Requirements for
9743Educational Facilities.
9744     3.  Each Florida College System institution's community
9745college's survey must reflect the capacity of existing
9746facilities as specified in the inventory maintained by the
9747Department of Education. Projections of facility space needs
9748must comply with standards for determining space needs as
9749specified by rule of the State Board of Education. The 5-year
9750projection of capital outlay student enrollment must be
9751consistent with the annual report of capital outlay full-time
9752student enrollment prepared by the Department of Education.
9753     4.  Each state university's survey must reflect the
9754capacity of existing facilities as specified in the inventory
9755maintained and validated by the Chancellor of the State
9756University System. Projections of facility space needs must be
9757consistent with standards for determining space needs as
9758specified by regulation of the Board of Governors. The projected
9759capital outlay full-time equivalent student enrollment must be
9760consistent with the 5-year planned enrollment cycle for the
9761State University System approved by the Board of Governors.
9762     5.  The district educational facilities plan of a school
9763district and the educational plant survey of a Florida College
9764System institution community college, state university, or the
9765Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind may include space
9766needs that deviate from approved standards for determining space
9767needs if the deviation is justified by the district or
9768institution and approved by the department or the Board of
9769Governors, as appropriate, as necessary for the delivery of an
9770approved educational program.
9771     (c)  Review and validation.-The Department of Education
9772shall review and validate the surveys of school districts and
9773Florida College System institutions community colleges, and the
9774Chancellor of the State University System shall review and
9775validate the surveys of universities, and any amendments thereto
9776for compliance with the requirements of this chapter and shall
9777recommend those in compliance for approval by the State Board of
9778Education or the Board of Governors, as appropriate. Annually,
9779the department shall perform an in-depth analysis of a
9780representative sample of each survey of recommended needs for
9781five districts selected by the commissioner from among districts
9782with the largest need-to-revenue ratio. For the purpose of this
9783subsection, the need-to-revenue ratio is determined by dividing
9784the total 5-year cost of projects listed on the district survey
9785by the total 5-year fixed capital outlay revenue projections
9786from state and local sources as determined by the department.
9787The commissioner may direct fixed capital outlay funds to be
9788withheld from districts until such time as the survey accurately
9789projects facilities needs.
9790     (d)  Periodic update of Florida Inventory of School
9791Houses.-School districts shall periodically update their
9792inventory of educational facilities as new capacity becomes
9793available and as unsatisfactory space is eliminated. The State
9794Board of Education shall adopt rules to determine the time frame
9795in which districts must provide a periodic update.
9796     (2)  Only the district school superintendent, Florida
9797College System institution community college president, or the
9798university president shall certify to the Department of
9799Education a project's compliance with the requirements for
9800expenditure of PECO funds prior to release of funds.
9801     (a)  Upon request for release of PECO funds for planning
9802purposes, certification must be made to the Department of
9803Education that the need for and location of the facility are in
9804compliance with the board-approved survey recommendations, that
9805the project meets the definition of a PECO project and the
9806limiting criteria for expenditures of PECO funding, and that the
9807plan is consistent with the local government comprehensive plan.
9808     (b)  Upon request for release of construction funds,
9809certification must be made to the Department of Education that
9810the need and location of the facility are in compliance with the
9811board-approved survey recommendations, that the project meets
9812the definition of a PECO project and the limiting criteria for
9813expenditures of PECO funding, and that the construction
9814documents meet the requirements of the Florida Building Code for
9815educational facilities construction or other applicable codes as
9816authorized in this chapter.
9817     Section 211.  Subsection (1) of section 1013.36, Florida
9818Statutes, is amended to read:
9819     1013.36  Site planning and selection.-
9820     (1)  Before acquiring property for sites, each district
9821school board and Florida College System institution community
9822college board of trustees shall determine the location of
9823proposed educational centers or campuses. In making this
9824determination, the board shall consider existing and anticipated
9825site needs and the most economical and practicable locations of
9826sites. The board shall coordinate with the long-range or
9827comprehensive plans of local, regional, and state governmental
9828agencies to assure the consistency of such plans. Boards are
9829encouraged to locate district educational facilities proximate
9830to urban residential areas to the extent possible, and shall
9831seek to collocate district educational facilities with other
9832public facilities, such as parks, libraries, and community
9833centers, to the extent possible and to encourage using
9834elementary schools as focal points for neighborhoods.
9835     Section 212.  Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1013.37,
9836Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
9837     1013.37  State uniform building code for public educational
9838facilities construction.-
9839     (1)  UNIFORM BUILDING CODE.-A uniform statewide building
9840code for the planning and construction of public educational and
9841ancillary plants by district school boards and Florida College
9842System institution community college district boards of trustees
9843shall be adopted by the Florida Building Commission within the
9844Florida Building Code, pursuant to s. 553.73. Included in this
9845code must be flood plain management criteria in compliance with
9846the rules and regulations in 44 C.F.R. parts 59 and 60, and
9847subsequent revisions thereto which are adopted by the Federal
9848Emergency Management Agency. It is also the responsibility of
9849the department to develop, as a part of the uniform building
9850code, standards relating to:
9851     (a)  Prefabricated facilities or factory-built facilities
9852that are designed to be portable, relocatable, demountable, or
9853reconstructible; are used primarily as classrooms; and do not
9854fall under the provisions of ss. 320.822-320.862. Such standards
9855must permit boards to contract with the Department of Community
9856Affairs for factory inspections by certified building code
9857inspectors to certify conformance with applicable law and rules.
9858The standards must comply with the requirements of s. 1013.20
9859for relocatable facilities intended for long-term use as
9860classroom space, and the relocatable facilities shall be
9861designed subject to missile impact criteria of s. 423(24)(d)(1)
9862of the Florida Building Code when located in the windborne
9863debris region.
9864     (b)  The sanitation of educational and ancillary plants and
9865the health of occupants of educational and ancillary plants.
9866     (c)  The safety of occupants of educational and ancillary
9867plants as provided in s. 1013.12, except that the firesafety
9868criteria shall be established by the State Fire Marshal in
9869cooperation with the Florida Building Commission and the
9870department and such firesafety requirements must be incorporated
9871into the Florida Fire Prevention Code.
9872     (d)  Accessibility for children, notwithstanding the
9873provisions of s. 553.512.
9874     (e)  The performance of life-cycle cost analyses on
9875alternative architectural and engineering designs to evaluate
9876their energy efficiencies.
9877     1.  The life-cycle cost analysis must consist of the sum
9878of:
9879     a.  The reasonably expected fuel costs over the life of the
9880building which are required to maintain illumination, water
9881heating, temperature, humidity, ventilation, and all other
9882energy-consuming equipment in a facility; and
9883     b.  The reasonable costs of probable maintenance, including
9884labor and materials, and operation of the building.
9885     2.  For computation of the life-cycle costs, the department
9886shall develop standards that must include, but need not be
9887limited to:
9888     a.  The orientation and integration of the facility with
9889respect to its physical site.
9890     b.  The amount and type of glass employed in the facility
9891and the directions of exposure.
9892     c.  The effect of insulation incorporated into the facility
9893design and the effect on solar utilization of the properties of
9894external surfaces.
9895     d.  The variable occupancy and operating conditions of the
9896facility and subportions of the facility.
9897     e.  An energy-consumption analysis of the major equipment
9898of the facility's heating, ventilating, and cooling system;
9899lighting system; and hot water system and all other major
9900energy-consuming equipment and systems as appropriate.
9901     3.  Life-cycle cost criteria published by the Department of
9902Education for use in evaluating projects.
9903     4.  Standards for construction materials and systems based
9904on life-cycle costs that consider initial costs, maintenance
9905costs, custodial costs, operating costs, and life expectancy.
9906The standards may include multiple acceptable materials. It is
9907the intent of the Legislature to require district school boards
9908to comply with these standards when expending funds from the
9909Public Education Capital Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund or
9910the School District and Community College District Capital
9911Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund and to prohibit district
9912school boards from expending local capital outlay revenues for
9913any project that includes materials or systems that do not
9914comply with these standards, unless the district school board
9915submits evidence that alternative materials or systems meet or
9916exceed standards developed by the department.
9917
9918It is not a purpose of the Florida Building Code to inhibit the
9919use of new materials or innovative techniques; nor may it
9920specify or prohibit materials by brand names. The code must be
9921flexible enough to cover all phases of construction so as to
9922afford reasonable protection for the public safety, health, and
9923general welfare. The department may secure the service of other
9924state agencies or such other assistance as it finds desirable in
9925recommending to the Florida Building Commission revisions to the
9926code.
9927     (2)  APPROVAL.-
9928     (a)  Before a contract has been let for the construction,
9929the department, the district school board, the Florida College
9930System institution community college board, or its authorized
9931review agent must approve the phase III construction documents.
9932A district school board or a Florida College System institution
9933community college board may reuse prototype plans on another
9934site, provided the facilities list and phase III construction
9935documents have been updated for the new site and for compliance
9936with the Florida Building Code and the Florida Fire Prevention
9937Code and any laws relating to firesafety, health and sanitation,
9938casualty safety, and requirements for the physically handicapped
9939which are in effect at the time a construction contract is to be
9940awarded.
9941     (b)  In reviewing plans for approval, the department, the
9942district school board, the Florida College System institution
9943community college board, or its review agent as authorized in s.
99441013.38, shall take into consideration:
9945     1.  The need for the new facility.
9946     2.  The educational and ancillary plant planning.
9947     3.  The architectural and engineering planning.
9948     4.  The location on the site.
9949     5.  Plans for future expansion.
9950     6.  The type of construction.
9951     7.  Sanitary provisions.
9952     8.  Conformity to Florida Building Code standards.
9953     9.  The structural design and strength of materials
9954proposed to be used.
9955     10.  The mechanical design of any heating, air-
9956conditioning, plumbing, or ventilating system. Typical heating,
9957ventilating, and air-conditioning systems preapproved by the
9958department for specific applications may be used in the design
9959of educational facilities.
9960     11.  The electrical design of educational plants.
9961     12.  The energy efficiency and conservation of the design.
9962     13.  Life-cycle cost considerations.
9963     14.  The design to accommodate physically handicapped
9964persons.
9965     15.  The ratio of net to gross square footage.
9966     16.  The proposed construction cost per gross square foot.
9967     17.  Conformity with the Florida Fire Prevention Code.
9968     (c)  The district school board or the Florida College
9969System institution community college board may not occupy a
9970facility until the project has been inspected to verify
9971compliance with statutes, rules, and codes affecting the health
9972and safety of the occupants. Verification of compliance with
9973rules, statutes, and codes for nonoccupancy projects such as
9974roofing, paving, site improvements, or replacement of equipment
9975may be certified by the architect or engineer of record, and
9976verification of compliance for other projects may be made by an
9977inspector certified by the department or certified pursuant to
9978chapter 468 who is not the architect or engineer of record. The
9979board shall maintain a record of the project's completion and
9980permanent archive of phase III construction documents, including
9981any addenda and change orders to the project. The boards shall
9982provide project data to the department, as requested, for
9983purposes and reports needed by the Legislature.
9984     Section 213.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
99851013.371, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
9986     1013.371  Conformity to codes.-
9987     (1)  CONFORMITY TO FLORIDA BUILDING CODE AND FLORIDA FIRE
9988PREVENTION CODE REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL.-
9989     (c)  A board may not approve any plans for the
9990construction, renovation, remodeling, or demolition of any
9991educational or ancillary plants unless these plans conform to
9992the requirements of the Florida Building Code and the Florida
9993Fire Prevention Code. Each board may adopt policies for
9994delegating to the district school superintendent, Florida
9995College System institution community college president, or
9996university president authority for submitting documents to the
9997department and for awarding contracts subsequent to and
9998consistent with board approval of the scope, timeframes, funding
9999source, and budget of a survey-recommended project.
10000     Section 214.  Section 1013.40, Florida Statutes, is amended
10001to read:
10002     1013.40  Planning and construction of Florida College
10003System institution community college facilities; property
10004acquisition.-
10005     (1)  The need for Florida College System institution
10006community college facilities shall be established by a survey
10007conducted pursuant to this chapter. The facilities recommended
10008by such survey must be approved by the State Board of Education,
10009and the projects must be constructed according to the provisions
10010of this chapter and State Board of Education rules.
10011     (2)  No Florida College System institution community
10012college may expend public funds for the acquisition of
10013additional property without the specific approval of the
10014Legislature.
10015     (3)  No facility may be acquired or constructed by a
10016Florida College System institution community college or its
10017direct-support organization if such facility requires general
10018revenue funds for operation or maintenance upon project
10019completion or in subsequent years of operation, unless prior
10020approval is received from the Legislature.
10021     (4)  The campus of a Florida College System institution
10022community college within a municipality designated as an area of
10023critical state concern, as defined in s. 380.05, and having a
10024comprehensive plan and land development regulations containing a
10025building permit allocation system that limits annual growth, may
10026construct dormitories for up to 100 beds for Florida College
10027System institution community college students. Such dormitories
10028shall be exempt from the building permit allocation system and
10029may be constructed up to 45 feet in height provided that they
10030are otherwise consistent with the comprehensive plan, the
10031Florida College System institution community college has a
10032hurricane evacuation plan that requires all dormitory occupants
10033to be evacuated 48 hours in advance of tropical force winds, and
10034that transportation is provided for dormitory occupants during
10035an evacuation.
10036     Section 215.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
100371013.44, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
10038     1013.44  Low-energy use design; solar energy systems;
10039swimming pool heaters.-
10040     (1)(a)  Passive design elements and low-energy usage
10041features shall be included in the design and construction of new
10042educational facilities. Operable glazing consisting of at least
100435 percent of the floor area shall be placed in each classroom
10044located on the perimeter of the building. For a relocatable
10045classroom, the area of operable glazing and the area of exterior
10046doors, together, shall consist of at least 5 percent of the
10047floor area. Operable glazing is not required in Florida College
10048System institutions community colleges, auxiliary facilities,
10049music rooms, gyms, locker and shower rooms, special laboratories
10050requiring special climate control, and large group instruction
10051areas having a capacity of more than 100 persons.
10052     Section 216.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and
10053subsection (2) of section 1013.51, Florida Statutes, are amended
10054to read:
10055     1013.51  Expenditures authorized for certain
10056infrastructure.-
10057     (1)
10058     (b)  A board may pay its proportionate share of the cost of
10059onsite and offsite system improvements necessitated by the
10060educational facility development, but a board is not required to
10061pay for or install any improvements that exceed those required
10062to meet the onsite and offsite needs of a new public educational
10063facility or an expanded site. Development exactions assessed
10064against school boards or Florida College System institution
10065community college districts may not exceed the proportionate
10066share of the cost of system improvements necessitated by the
10067educational facility development and may not address existing
10068facility or service backlogs or deficits.
10069     (2)  The provisions of any law, municipal ordinance, or
10070county ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding, the provisions
10071of this section regulate the levying of assessments for special
10072benefits on school or Florida College System institution
10073community college districts and the directing of the payment
10074thereof. Any municipal ordinance or county ordinance making
10075provision to the contrary is void.
10076     Section 217.  Subsections (1) and (4) of section 1013.52,
10077Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
10078     1013.52  Cooperative development and joint use of
10079facilities by two or more boards.-
10080     (1)  Two or more boards, including district school boards,
10081Florida College System institution community college boards of
10082trustees, the Board of Trustees for the Florida School for the
10083Deaf and the Blind, and university boards of trustees, desiring
10084to cooperatively establish a common educational facility to
10085accommodate students shall:
10086     (a)  Jointly request a formal assessment by the
10087Commissioner of Education or the Chancellor of the State
10088University System, as appropriate, of the academic program need
10089and the need to build new joint-use facilities to house approved
10090programs. Completion of the assessment and approval of the
10091project by the State Board of Education, the Board of Governors,
10092the Chancellor of the State University System, or the
10093Commissioner of Education, as appropriate, should be done prior
10094to conducting an educational facilities survey.
10095     (b)  Demonstrate the need for construction of new joint-use
10096facilities involving postsecondary institutions by those
10097institutions presenting evidence of the presence of sufficient
10098actual full-time equivalent enrollments in the locale in leased,
10099rented, or borrowed spaces to justify the requested facility for
10100the programs identified in the formal assessment rather than
10101using projected or anticipated future full-time equivalent
10102enrollments as justification. If the decision is made to
10103construct new facilities to meet this demonstrated need, then
10104building plans should consider full-time equivalent enrollment
10105growth facilitated by this new construction and subsequent new
10106program offerings made possible by the existence of the new
10107facilities.
10108     (c)  Adopt and submit to the Commissioner of Education, and
10109the Chancellor of the State University System if the joint
10110request involves a state university, a joint resolution of the
10111participating boards indicating their commitment to the
10112utilization of the requested facility and designating the locale
10113of the proposed facility. The joint resolution shall contain a
10114statement of determination by the participating boards that
10115alternate options, including the use of leased, rented, or
10116borrowed space, were considered and found less appropriate than
10117construction of the proposed facility. The joint resolution
10118shall contain assurance that the development of the proposed
10119facility has been examined in conjunction with the programs
10120offered by neighboring public educational facilities offering
10121instruction at the same level. The joint resolution also shall
10122contain assurance that each participating board shall provide
10123for continuity of educational progression. All joint resolutions
10124shall be submitted by August 1 for consideration of funding by
10125the subsequent Legislature.
10126     (d)  Submit requests for funding of joint-use facilities
10127projects involving state universities and Florida College System
10128institutions community colleges for approval by the Commissioner
10129of Education and the Chancellor of the State University System.
10130The Commissioner of Education and the Chancellor of the State
10131University System shall jointly determine the priority for
10132funding these projects in relation to the priority of all other
10133capital outlay projects under their consideration. To be
10134eligible for funding from the Public Education Capital Outlay
10135and Debt Service Trust Fund under the provisions of this
10136section, projects involving both state universities and Florida
10137College System institutions community colleges shall appear on
10138the 3-year capital outlay priority lists of Florida College
10139System institutions community colleges and of universities
10140required by s. 1013.64. Projects involving a state university,
10141Florida College System institution community college, and a
10142public school, and in which the larger share of the proposed
10143facility is for the use of the state university or the Florida
10144College System institution community college, shall appear on
10145the 3-year capital outlay priority lists of the Florida College
10146System institutions community colleges or of the universities,
10147as applicable.
10148     (e)  Include in their joint resolution for the joint-use
10149facilities, comprehensive plans for the operation and management
10150of the facility upon completion. Institutional responsibilities
10151for specific functions shall be identified, including
10152designation of one participating board as sole owner of the
10153facility. Operational funding arrangements shall be clearly
10154defined.
10155     (4)  No district school board, Florida College System
10156institution community college, or state university shall receive
10157funding for more than one approved joint-use facility per campus
10158in any 3-year period.
10159     Section 218.  Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1013.60,
10160Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
10161     1013.60  Legislative capital outlay budget request.-
10162     (1)  The Commissioner of Education shall develop a
10163procedure deemed appropriate in arriving at the amounts required
10164to fund projects as reflected in the integrated, comprehensive
10165budget request required by this section. The official estimates
10166for funds accruing to the Public Education Capital Outlay and
10167Debt Service Trust Fund made by the Revenue Estimating
10168Conference shall be used in determining the budget request
10169pursuant to this section. The commissioner, in consultation with
10170the appropriations committees of the Legislature, shall provide
10171annually an estimate of funds that shall be utilized by Florida
10172College System institutions community colleges and universities
10173in developing their required 3-year priority lists pursuant to
10174s. 1013.64.
10175     (2)  The commissioner shall submit to the Governor and to
10176the Legislature an integrated, comprehensive budget request for
10177educational facilities construction and fixed capital outlay
10178needs for school districts, Florida College System institutions
10179community colleges, and universities, pursuant to the provisions
10180of s. 1013.64 and applicable provisions of chapter 216. Each
10181Florida College System institution community college board of
10182trustees and each university board of trustees shall submit to
10183the commissioner a 3-year plan and data required in the
10184development of the annual capital outlay budget. The information
10185that is approved by the Board of Governors must be submitted to
10186the Commissioner of Education for inclusion in the comprehensive
10187budget request for educational facilities. No further
10188disbursements shall be made from the Public Education Capital
10189Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund to a board of trustees that
10190fails to timely submit the required data until such board of
10191trustees submits the data.
10192     Section 219.  Subsection (4) of section 1013.64, Florida
10193Statutes, is amended to read:
10194     1013.64  Funds for comprehensive educational plant needs;
10195construction cost maximums for school district capital
10196projects.-Allocations from the Public Education Capital Outlay
10197and Debt Service Trust Fund to the various boards for capital
10198outlay projects shall be determined as follows:
10199     (4)(a)  Florida College System institution Community
10200college boards of trustees and university boards of trustees
10201shall receive funds for projects based on a 3-year priority
10202list, to be updated annually, which is submitted to the
10203Legislature in the legislative budget request at least 90 days
10204prior to the legislative session. The State Board of Education
10205shall submit a 3-year priority list for Florida College System
10206institutions community colleges, and the Board of Governors
10207shall submit a 3-year priority list for universities. The lists
10208shall reflect decisions by the State Board of Education for
10209Florida College System institutions community colleges and the
10210Board of Governors for state universities concerning program
10211priorities that implement the statewide plan for program growth
10212and quality improvement in education. No remodeling or
10213renovation project shall be included on the 3-year priority list
10214unless the project has been recommended pursuant to s. 1013.31
10215or is for the purpose of correcting health and safety
10216deficiencies. No new construction project shall be included on
10217the first year of the 3-year priority list unless the
10218educational specifications have been approved by the
10219commissioner for a Florida College System institution community
10220college project or by the Board of Governors for a university
10221project, as applicable. The funds requested for a new
10222construction project in the first year of the 3-year priority
10223list shall be in conformance with the scope of the project as
10224defined in the educational specifications. Any new construction
10225project requested in the first year of the 3-year priority list
10226which is not funded by the Legislature shall be carried forward
10227to be listed first in developing the updated 3-year priority
10228list for the subsequent year's capital outlay budget. Should the
10229order of the priority of the projects change from year to year,
10230a justification for such change shall be included with the
10231updated priority list.
10232     (b)  Florida College System institution Community college
10233boards of trustees and university boards of trustees may lease
10234relocatable educational facilities for up to 3 years using
10235nonbonded PECO funds.
10236     (c)  Florida College System institution Community college
10237boards of trustees and university boards of trustees shall
10238receive funds for remodeling, renovation, maintenance and
10239repairs, and site improvement for existing satisfactory
10240facilities pursuant to subsection (1).
10241     Section 220.  Subsection (7) of section 1013.65, Florida
10242Statutes, is amended to read:
10243     1013.65  Educational and ancillary plant construction
10244funds; Public Education Capital Outlay and Debt Service Trust
10245Fund; allocation of funds.-
10246     (7)  Boards and entities authorized to participate in the
10247trust fund are district school boards, the Florida College
10248System institution community college boards of trustees, the
10249Trustees of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, and
10250university boards of trustees and other units of the state
10251system of public education, and other educational entities for
10252which funds are authorized by the Legislature.
10253     Section 221.  Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1013.81,
10254Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
10255     1013.81  Florida College System institution Community
10256college indebtedness; bonds and tax anticipation certificates;
10257payment.-
10258     (1)  The indebtedness incurred for the benefit of Florida
10259College System institutions community colleges and represented
10260by bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates issued
10261from time to time by the State Board of Education, hereinafter
10262called "state board," pursuant to s. 18, Art. XII of the State
10263Constitution of 1885 on behalf of the several former county
10264boards of public instruction shall not be considered by the
10265state board in determining the amount of bonds or motor vehicle
10266tax anticipation certificates which the state board may issue
10267from time to time on behalf of the several school districts
10268under the provisions of s. 9(d), Art. XII of the State
10269Constitution, as amended at the general election held on
10270November 7, 1972, hereinafter called "school capital outlay
10271amendment." Such indebtedness incurred on behalf of Florida
10272College System institutions community colleges, as described
10273above, shall be considered by the state board in determining the
10274amount of bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates
10275which the state board may issue from time to time on behalf of
10276the several Florida College System institution community college
10277districts under the provisions of the school capital outlay
10278amendment.
10279     (2)  The debt service requirements on the indebtedness
10280incurred for the benefit of Florida College System institutions
10281community colleges and represented by bonds or motor vehicle tax
10282anticipation certificates issued from time to time by the state
10283board on behalf of the several former county boards of public
10284instruction, as described in subsection (1), shall be paid from
10285funds distributable pursuant to the school capital outlay
10286amendment to the credit of the several Florida College System
10287institution community college districts, and not from funds
10288distributable pursuant to the school capital outlay amendment to
10289the credit of the several school districts.
10290Reviser's note.-Amended pursuant to the directive in
10291s. 21, ch. 2010-70, Laws of Florida, to substitute the
10292term "Florida College System institution" for the
10293terms "Florida college," "community college," and
10294"junior college" where those terms appear in the
10295Florida K-20 Education Code.
10296     Section 222.  This act shall take effect on the 60th day
10297after adjournment sine die of the session of the Legislature in
10298which enacted.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.