Florida Senate - 2023                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. CS for SB 266
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì459430ÈÎ459430                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                  Comm: RCS            .                                
                  04/13/2023           .                                
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       The Appropriations Committee on Education (Grall) recommended
       the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Paragraphs (a) through (d) of subsection (5) and
    6  paragraph (b) of subsection (6) of section 1001.706, Florida
    7  Statutes, are amended to read:
    8         1001.706 Powers and duties of the Board of Governors.—
    9         (5) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO ACCOUNTABILITY.—
   10         (a) The Legislature intends that the Board of Governors
   11  shall align the missions of each constituent university with the
   12  academic success of its students; the existing and emerging
   13  economic development needs of the state; the national reputation
   14  of its faculty and its academic and research programs; the
   15  quantity of externally generated research, patents, and
   16  licenses; and the strategic and accountability plans required in
   17  paragraphs (b) and (c). The Board of Governors shall
   18  periodically review the mission of each constituent university
   19  and make updates or revisions as needed. Upon completion of a
   20  review of the mission, the board shall review existing academic
   21  programs for alignment with the mission. The board shall include
   22  in its review a direction to each constituent university to
   23  examine its programs for any curriculum that violates s. 1000.05
   24  or that is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism,
   25  oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of
   26  the United States and were created to maintain social,
   27  political, and economic inequities. The mission alignment and
   28  strategic plan must shall consider peer institutions at the
   29  constituent universities. The mission alignment and strategic
   30  plan must shall acknowledge that universities that have a
   31  national and international impact have the greatest capacity to
   32  promote the state’s economic development through: new
   33  discoveries, patents, licenses, and technologies that generate
   34  state businesses of global importance; research achievements
   35  through external grants and contracts that are comparable to
   36  nationally recognized and ranked universities; the creation of a
   37  resource rich academic environment that attracts high-technology
   38  business and venture capital to the state; and this generation’s
   39  finest minds focusing on solving the state’s economic, social,
   40  environmental, and legal problems in the areas of life sciences,
   41  water, sustainability, energy, and health care. A nationally
   42  recognized and ranked university that has a global perspective
   43  and impact must shall be afforded the opportunity to enable and
   44  protect the university’s competitiveness on the global stage in
   45  fair competition with other institutions of other states in the
   46  highest Carnegie Classification.
   47         (b) The Board of Governors shall develop a strategic plan
   48  specifying goals and objectives for the State University System
   49  and each constituent university, including each university’s
   50  contribution to overall system goals and objectives. The
   51  strategic plan must:
   52         1. Include performance metrics and standards common for all
   53  institutions and metrics and standards unique to institutions
   54  depending on institutional core missions, including, but not
   55  limited to, student admission requirements, retention,
   56  graduation, percentage of graduates who have attained
   57  employment, percentage of graduates enrolled in continued
   58  education, licensure passage, nondegree credential attainment,
   59  average wages of employed graduates, average cost per graduate,
   60  excess hours, student loan burden and default rates, faculty
   61  awards, total annual research expenditures, patents, licenses
   62  and royalties, intellectual property, startup companies, annual
   63  giving, endowments, and well-known, highly respected national
   64  rankings for institutional and program achievements.
   65         2. Consider reports and recommendations of the Florida
   66  Talent Development Council under s. 1004.015 and the
   67  Articulation Coordinating Committee under s. 1007.01.
   68         3. Include student enrollment and performance data
   69  delineated by method of instruction, including, but not limited
   70  to, traditional, online, and distance learning instruction.
   71         4. Include criteria for designating baccalaureate degree
   72  and master’s degree programs at specified universities as high
   73  demand programs of emphasis. The programs of emphasis list
   74  adopted by the Board of Governors before July 1, 2021, shall be
   75  used for the 2021-2022 academic year. Beginning in the 2022-2023
   76  academic year, the Board of Governors shall adopt the criteria
   77  to determine value for and prioritization of degree credentials
   78  and degree programs established by the Credentials Review
   79  Committee under s. 445.004 for designating high-demand programs
   80  of emphasis. The Board of Governors must review designated
   81  programs of emphasis, at a minimum, every 3 years to ensure
   82  alignment with the prioritization of degree credentials and
   83  degree programs identified by the Credentials Review Committee.
   84         5. Include criteria for nondegree credentials.
   85         (c) The Board of Governors shall develop an accountability
   86  plan for the State University System and each constituent
   87  university. The accountability plan must address institutional
   88  and system achievement of goals and objectives specified in the
   89  strategic plan adopted pursuant to paragraph (b) and must be
   90  submitted as part of its legislative budget request. Each
   91  university shall submit, as a component of the university’s
   92  annual accountability plan:,
   93         1. Information on the effectiveness of its plan for
   94  improving 4-year graduation rates; and
   95         2. The level of financial assistance provided to students
   96  pursuant to paragraph (h).
   97         (d) Beginning in the 2014-2015 academic year and annually
   98  thereafter, The Board of Governors shall annually require a
   99  state university prior to registration to provide each enrolled
  100  student electronic access to the economic security report of
  101  employment and earning outcomes prepared by the Department of
  102  Economic Opportunity pursuant to s. 445.07. In addition, the
  103  Board of Governors shall require a state university to provide
  104  each student electronic access to the following information each
  105  year prior to registration using the data described in s.
  106  1008.39:
  107         1. The top 25 percent of degrees reported by the university
  108  in terms of highest full-time job placement and highest average
  109  annualized earnings in the year after earning the degree.
  110         2. The bottom 10 percent of degrees reported by the
  111  university in terms of lowest full-time job placement and lowest
  112  average annualized earnings in the year after earning the
  113  degree.
  114         (6) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO PERSONNEL.—
  115         (b) The Board of Governors shall may adopt a regulation
  116  requiring each tenured state university faculty member to
  117  undergo a comprehensive post-tenure review every 5 years. The
  118  board may include other considerations in the regulation, but
  119  the regulation must address:
  120         1. Accomplishments and productivity;
  121         2. Assigned duties in research, teaching, and service;
  122         3. Performance metrics, evaluations, and ratings; and
  123         4. Recognition and compensation considerations, as well as
  124  improvement plans and consequences for underperformance.
  125         Section 2. Paragraph (m) is added to subsection (2) of
  126  section 1001.7065, Florida Statutes, to read:
  127         1001.7065 Preeminent state research universities program.—
  128         (2) ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH EXCELLENCE STANDARDS.—The
  129  following academic and research excellence standards are
  130  established for the preeminent state research universities
  131  program and shall be reported annually in the Board of Governors
  132  Accountability Plan:
  133         (m) Total annual STEM-related research expenditures,
  134  including federal research expenditures, of $50 million or more.
  135         Section 3. Section 1001.741, Florida Statutes, is created
  136  to read:
  137         1001.741State university personnel.—
  138         (1) Except as delegated pursuant to paragraph (a), each
  139  state university president has the final authority for hiring
  140  the provost, the deans, and all full-time faculty for the
  141  university, and has an ongoing duty to assess the performance,
  142  productivity, and employment practices of the university’s
  143  provost and deans. The president of the university is encouraged
  144  to engage in faculty recruiting as appropriate, and shall
  145  provide a regular report and recommendations on employment
  146  practices to the board at least twice annually.
  147         (a) The president may delegate hiring authority to
  148  individuals on the university’s executive management team within
  149  the president’s office, to the provost, or to individual deans;
  150  however, the president or the person delegated such hiring
  151  authority is not bound by the recommendations or opinions of
  152  faculty or other individuals.
  153         (b) A state university may not require any statement,
  154  pledge, or oath other than to uphold general and federal law,
  155  the United States Constitution, and the State Constitution as a
  156  part of any admissions, hiring, employment, promotion, tenure,
  157  disciplinary, or evaluation process.
  158         (2) Notwithstanding s. 447.401 or any other law, personnel
  159  actions or decisions regarding faculty, including in the areas
  160  of evaluations, promotions, tenure, discipline, or termination,
  161  may not be appealed beyond the level of a university president
  162  or designee. Such actions or decisions must have as their
  163  terminal step a final agency disposition, which must be issued
  164  in writing to the faculty member, and are not subject to
  165  arbitration. The filing of a grievance does not toll the action
  166  or decision of the university, including the termination of pay
  167  and benefits of a suspended or terminated faculty member.
  168         (3) Each state university board of trustees must have
  169  procedures for the review of the president’s selection and
  170  reappointment of each member of the university’s executive
  171  management team, and his or her respective contract and annual
  172  salary, before such contracts and salaries become effective, in
  173  accordance with the personnel program established by the Board
  174  of Governors.
  175         (4) Each state university president shall annually present
  176  to the state university board of trustees the results of
  177  performance evaluations and associated annual salaries for all
  178  evaluated academic and administrative personnel earning an
  179  annual salary of $200,000 or more, regardless of the funding
  180  source for such salaries. The results may be presented in a
  181  summary or written format.
  182         Section 4. Section 1004.06, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  183  read:
  184         1004.06 Prohibited expenditures.—
  185         (1)A No Florida College System institution, state
  186  university, Florida College System institution direct-support
  187  organization, or state university direct-support organization
  188  may not shall expend any funds, regardless of source, to
  189  purchase membership in, or goods and services from, any
  190  organization that discriminates on the basis of race, color,
  191  national origin, sex, disability gender, or religion.
  192         (2) A Florida College System institution, state university,
  193  Florida College System institution direct-support organization,
  194  or state university direct-support organization may not expend
  195  any funds, regardless of source, to promote, support, or
  196  maintain any programs or campus activities that:
  197         (a) Violate s. 1000.05; or
  198         (b) Are based on theories that systemic racism, sexism,
  199  oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of
  200  the United States and were created to maintain social,
  201  political, and economic inequities.
  202         (3) Subsection (2) does not prohibit programs or campus
  203  activities and functions required for compliance with federal
  204  laws or regulations; for obtaining or retaining institutional or
  205  discipline-specific accreditation; for securing or retaining
  206  research contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements; or for
  207  access programs for military veterans, Pell Grant recipients,
  208  first generation college students, nontraditional students,
  209  “2+2” transfer students from the Florida College System,
  210  students from low-income families, or students with unique
  211  abilities.
  212         (4) The State Board of Education and the Board of Governors
  213  shall adopt rules and regulations, respectively, to implement
  214  this section.
  215         Section 5. Section 1004.3841, Florida Statutes, is created
  216  to read:
  217         1004.3841The Institute for Risk Management and Insurance
  218  Education.—The Institute for Risk Management and Insurance
  219  Education is established within the College of Business at the
  220  University of Central Florida. Since insurance and risk
  221  management is a major industry in the state, with a
  222  concentration of such industry in Volusia County, the institute
  223  shall be located in Volusia County. Like many other industries
  224  in the state, the insurance and risk management industry is
  225  being revolutionized by, among other things, the integration of
  226  technology, predictive analytics, and data science, and is
  227  becoming more complex, given its exposure to transformative
  228  trends in the economy and environment. The purpose of the
  229  institute is to respond to the ever-evolving insurance and risk
  230  management industry and the present and emerging needs of this
  231  state and its residents. The goals of the institute are to:
  232         (1)Pursue technological innovations that advance risk
  233  valuation models and operational efficiencies in the insurance
  234  industry.
  235         (2)Drive the development of workforce competencies in data
  236  analytics, system-level thinking, technology integration,
  237  entrepreneurship, and actuarial science.
  238         (3)Leverage the University of Central Florida’s world
  239  class assets in data science, artificial intelligence, computer
  240  science, engineering, finance, economics, and sales.
  241         (4)Take advantage of the University of Central Florida’s
  242  robust portfolio of academic program offerings and draw on
  243  faculty and industry experts in diverse fields, including
  244  actuarial science, computer science, economics, engineering,
  245  environmental science, finance, forensics, law, management,
  246  marketing, and psychology.
  247         (5)Develop and offer risk management and insurance
  248  education, including education that recognizes risks in areas
  249  such as the environment, pandemic disease, and digital security.
  250         (6)Offer programs, workshops, case studies, and applied
  251  research studies that integrate technology and artificial
  252  intelligence with soft skills while preparing students and
  253  professionals for the technology-enabled insurance industry of
  254  the future.
  255         Section 6. Section 1004.6496, Florida Statutes, is amended
  256  to read:
  257         1004.6496 Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic
  258  Education.—
  259         (1) By July 1, 2024, the Board of Trustees of the
  260  University of Florida may use funds as provided in the General
  261  Appropriations Act and charitable donations to establish and
  262  fund the Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education as an
  263  academic unit within the University of Florida. The purpose of
  264  the center is to support teaching and research concerning the
  265  ideas, traditions, and texts that form the foundations of
  266  Western and American civilization.
  267         (2) The goals of the center are to:
  268         (a) Educate university students in core texts and great
  269  debates of Western civilization and the Great Books.
  270         (b) Educate university students in the principles, ideals,
  271  and institutions of the American political order.
  272         (c) Educate university students in the foundations of
  273  responsible leadership and informed citizenship.
  274         (d) Provide programming and training related to civic
  275  education and the values of open inquiry and civil discourse to
  276  support the K-20 system.
  277         (e) Coordinate with the Florida Institute for Governance
  278  and Civics of Politics created pursuant to s. 1004.6499 and the
  279  Adam Smith Center for the Study of Economic Freedom created
  280  pursuant to s. 1004.64991 and assist in the curation and
  281  implementation of Portraits in Patriotism created pursuant to s.
  282  1003.44.
  283         (3) In order to carry out the purposes set forth in
  284  subsection (2), the center is authorized to:
  285         (a) Hire necessary faculty and staff pursuant to s.
  286  1001.741;
  287         (b)Enroll students;
  288         (c) Develop curriculum and offer new courses, including
  289  honors courses, certificates, and major and minor programs;
  290         (d) Hold events, including fundraisers;
  291         (e) Fulfill other actions approved by the president of the
  292  university; and
  293         (f) Generate resources based on student credit hour
  294  enrollment, in the same manner as any other center within the
  295  institution.
  296         (4)The president of the university may hire a director for
  297  the center.
  298         (a) The president of the university may remove the director
  299  in accordance with the policies and procedures established at
  300  the university.
  301         (b) The director of the center must report directly to the
  302  president or provost of the university.
  303         (5) Faculty of the center may be awarded tenure, subject to
  304  the tenure regulations adopted by the university board of
  305  trustees.
  306         (6) Funds appropriated specifically to the center may not
  307  be used for any other purpose at the university; however, the
  308  university can provide additional funding as available to the
  309  center.
  310         Section 7. Section 1004.6499, Florida Statutes, is amended
  311  to read:
  312         1004.6499 Florida Institute for Governance and Civics of
  313  Politics.—
  314         (1) The Florida Institute for Governance and Civics of
  315  Politics is established at the Florida State University within
  316  the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy. The purpose of
  317  the institute is to provide the southeastern region of the
  318  United States with a world class, bipartisan, nationally
  319  renowned institute of politics.
  320         (2) The goals of the institute are to:
  321         (a) Provide students with access to an interdisciplinary
  322  hub that will develop academically rigorous scholarship and
  323  coursework on the origins of the American system of government,
  324  its foundational documents, its subsequent political traditions
  325  and evolutions, and its impact on comparative political systems
  326  Motivate students throughout the Florida State University to
  327  become aware of the significance of government and civic
  328  engagement at all levels and politics in general.
  329         (b) Encourage civic literacy in this state through the
  330  development of educational tools and resources for K-12 and
  331  postsecondary students which foster an understanding of how
  332  individual rights, constitutionalism, separation of powers, and
  333  federalism function within the American system Provide students
  334  with an opportunity to be politically active and civically
  335  engaged.
  336         (c) Model civic discourse that recognizes the importance of
  337  viewpoint diversity, intellectual rigor, and an evidence-based
  338  approach to history Nurture a greater awareness of and passion
  339  for public service and politics.
  340         (d) Plan and host forums to allow students and guests to
  341  hear from exceptional individuals who have excelled in a wide
  342  range of sectors of American life, to highlight the
  343  possibilities created by individual achievement and
  344  entrepreneurial vision and interact with experts from
  345  government, politics, policy, and journalism on a frequent
  346  basis.
  347         (e) Become a national and state resource on using polling
  348  instruments and other assessments to measure civic literacy and
  349  make recommendations for improving civic education information
  350  and survey methodology.
  351         (f) Provide fellowships and internship opportunities to
  352  students in government, nonprofit organizations, and community
  353  organizations.
  354         (g) Create through scholarship, original research,
  355  publications, symposia, testimonials, and other means a body of
  356  resources that can be accessed by students, scholars, and
  357  government officials to understand the innovations in public
  358  policy in this state over a rolling 30-year time period Provide
  359  training sessions for newly elected state and local public
  360  officials.
  361         (h) Organize and sponsor conferences, symposia, and
  362  workshops throughout this state to educate and inform citizens,
  363  elected officials, and appointed policymakers regarding
  364  effective policymaking techniques and processes.
  365         (i) Create and promote research and awareness regarding
  366  politics, citizen involvement, and public service.
  367         (j) Collaborate with related policy institutes and research
  368  activities at the Florida State University and other
  369  institutions of higher education to motivate, increase, and
  370  sustain citizen involvement in public affairs.
  371         Section 8. Subsection (3) is added to section 1004.64991,
  372  Florida Statutes, to read:
  373         1004.64991 The Adam Smith Center for the Study of Economic
  374  Freedom.—
  375         (3) In order to carry out the purpose set forth in this
  376  section, the institute is authorized to:
  377         (a) Hire necessary faculty and staff pursuant to s.
  378  1001.741;
  379         (b) Enroll students;
  380         (c) Develop curriculum and offer new courses, including
  381  honors courses, certificates, and major and minor programs;
  382         (d) Hold events, including fundraisers;
  383         (e) Fulfill other actions approved by the president of the
  384  university; and
  385         (f) Generate resources based on student credit hour
  386  enrollment, in the same manner as any college within the
  387  institution.
  388         Section 9. Subsection (3) of section 1007.25, Florida
  389  Statutes, is amended to read:
  390         1007.25 General education courses; common prerequisites;
  391  other degree requirements.—
  392         (3) The chair of the State Board of Education and the chair
  393  of the Board of Governors, or their designees, shall jointly
  394  appoint faculty committees to review and recommend to the
  395  Articulation Coordinating Committee for approval by the State
  396  Board of Education and the Board of Governors identify statewide
  397  general education core course options for inclusion in the
  398  statewide course numbering system established under s. 1007.24.
  399  Faculty committees shall, by July 1, 2024, and by July 1 every 4
  400  years thereafter, review and submit recommendations to the
  401  Articulation Coordinating Committee and the commissioner for the
  402  removal, alignment, realignment, or addition of general
  403  education core courses that satisfy the requirements of this
  404  subsection.
  405         (a) General education core course options shall consist of
  406  a maximum of five courses within each of the subject areas of
  407  communication, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, and
  408  natural sciences. The core courses may be revised, or the five
  409  course maximum within each subject area may be exceeded, if
  410  approved by the State Board of Education and the Board of
  411  Governors, as recommended by the subject area faculty committee
  412  and approved by the Articulation Coordinating Committee as
  413  necessary for a subject area.
  414         (b) Each general education core course option must contain
  415  high-level academic and critical thinking skills and common
  416  competencies that students must demonstrate to successfully
  417  complete the course.
  418         (c) General education core courses may not distort
  419  significant historical events or include a curriculum that
  420  teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on
  421  theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege
  422  are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were
  423  created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.
  424         (d) General education core courses must meet the following
  425  standards:
  426         1.Communication courses must afford students the ability
  427  to communicate effectively, including the ability to write
  428  clearly and engage in public speaking.
  429         2.Humanities courses must afford students the ability to
  430  think critically through the mastering of subjects concerned
  431  with human culture, especially literature, history, art, music,
  432  and philosophy, and must include selections from the Western
  433  canon.
  434         3.Social science courses must afford students an
  435  understanding of the basic social and behavioral science
  436  concepts and principles used in the analysis of behavior and
  437  past and present social, political, and economic issues.
  438         4.Natural science courses must afford students the ability
  439  to critically examine and evaluate the principles of the
  440  scientific method, model construction, and use the scientific
  441  method to explain natural experiences and phenomena.
  442         5.Mathematics courses must afford students a mastery of
  443  foundational mathematical and computation models and methods by
  444  applying such models and methods in problem solving.
  445         (e) Beginning with students initially entering a Florida
  446  College System institution or state university in 2015-2016 and
  447  thereafter, each student must complete at least one identified
  448  core course in each subject area as part of the general
  449  education course requirements. Beginning in the 2022-2023
  450  academic year and thereafter, students entering a technical
  451  degree education program as defined in s. 1004.02(13) must
  452  complete at least one identified core course in each subject
  453  area as part of the general education course requirements before
  454  a degree is awarded.
  455         (f) All public postsecondary educational institutions shall
  456  offer at least one general education core course in each of the
  457  identified subject areas and accept these courses as meeting
  458  general education core course requirements upon transfer,
  459  regardless of whether the receiving institution offers the
  460  identical general education core courses. The remaining general
  461  education course requirements shall be identified by each
  462  institution as approved in accordance with this section and
  463  listed in the statewide course numbering system and reported to
  464  the department by their statewide course number.
  465         (g) A public postsecondary educational institution may not
  466  require a student to complete an additional course to meet a
  467  subject area distribution requirement that was completed by the
  468  student with a course that has since been removed as a general
  469  education core course.
  470         (h) The general education core course options shall be
  471  adopted in rule by the State Board of Education and in
  472  regulation by the Board of Governors.
  473         Section 10. Section 1007.55, Florida Statutes, is created
  474  to read:
  475         1007.55 General education course principles, standards, and
  476  content.—
  477         (1) The Legislature finds it necessary to ensure that every
  478  undergraduate student of a Florida public postsecondary
  479  educational institution graduates as an informed citizen through
  480  participation in rigorous general education courses that promote
  481  and preserve the constitutional republic through traditional,
  482  historically accurate, and high-quality coursework. General
  483  education courses should provide broad foundational knowledge to
  484  help students develop intellectual skills and habits that enable
  485  them to become more effective and lifelong learners. Courses
  486  with a curriculum based on unproven, speculative, or exploratory
  487  content are best suited as elective or specific program
  488  prerequisite credit, not general education credit. General
  489  education courses must:
  490         (a)Meet the course standards as provided in s. 1007.25;
  491  and
  492         (b) Whenever applicable, provide instruction on the
  493  historical background and philosophical foundation of Western
  494  civilization and this nation’s historical documents, such as the
  495  Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the
  496  Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments, and the Federalist
  497  Papers.
  498         (2) Public postsecondary educational institution boards of
  499  trustees and presidents are responsible for annually reviewing
  500  and approving, at a public meeting, general education course
  501  requirements, as authorized and approved in accordance with ss.
  502  1007.24 and 1007.25 and this section, at their respective
  503  institutions. The following must be included for each listed
  504  general education course:
  505         (a) The general education distribution area;
  506         (b) The number of state universities that offer the course
  507  and the number of Florida College System institutions that offer
  508  the course; and
  509         (c) The course level.
  510         (3) Each public postsecondary educational institution must
  511  annually submit to the Board of Governors or the State Board of
  512  Education, as applicable, the institution’s listing of approved
  513  general education courses, which must include the information in
  514  paragraphs (2)(a), (b), and (c). The applicable board must
  515  approve the institution general education course lists.
  516         (4) Public postsecondary educational institutions must
  517  report courses meeting institutional general education subject
  518  requirements to the department by their statewide course number.
  519         (5) Public postsecondary educational institutions that fail
  520  to comply with the requirements of this section are not eligible
  521  to receive performance-based funding pursuant to ss. 1001.66 or
  522  1001.92.
  523         (6) A public postsecondary educational institution may not
  524  require a student to take an additional course to meet a subject
  525  area distribution requirement that was completed by the student
  526  with a course that has since been removed as a general education
  527  course.
  528         (7) The State Board of Education and the Board of Governors
  529  shall adopt rules and regulations, respectively, to implement
  530  this section.
  531         Section 11. Present subsections (3) and (4) of section
  532  1008.47, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (4)
  533  and (5), respectively, a new subsection (3) is added to that
  534  section, and subsection (2) and present subsection (3) of that
  535  section are amended, to read:
  536         1008.47 Postsecondary education institution accreditation.—
  537         (2) ACCREDITATION.—
  538         (a) By September 1, 2022, the Board of Governors or the
  539  State Board of Education, as applicable, shall identify and
  540  determine the accrediting agencies or associations best suited
  541  to serve as an accreditor for public postsecondary institutions.
  542  Such accrediting agencies or associations must be recognized by
  543  the database created and maintained by the United States
  544  Department of Education. A public postsecondary institution may
  545  not be accredited by the same accrediting agency or association
  546  for consecutive accreditation cycles. In the year following
  547  reaffirmation or fifth-year review by its accrediting agencies
  548  or associations, each public postsecondary institution must seek
  549  and obtain accreditation from an accrediting agency or
  550  association identified by the Board of Governors or State Board
  551  of Education, respectively, before its next reaffirmation or
  552  fifth-year review date. The requirements in this section are
  553  limited to a one-time change in accreditation. The requirements
  554  of this subsection are not applicable to those professional,
  555  graduate, departmental, or certificate programs at public
  556  postsecondary institutions that have specific accreditation
  557  requirements or best practices, including, but not limited to,
  558  law, pharmacy, engineering, or other similarly situated
  559  educational programs.
  560         (b) Once a public postsecondary institution is required to
  561  seek and obtain accreditation from an agency or association
  562  identified pursuant to paragraph (a), the institution shall seek
  563  accreditation from a regional accrediting agency or association
  564  and provide quarterly reports of its progress to the Board of
  565  Governors or State Board of Education, as applicable. If each
  566  regional accreditation agency or association identified pursuant
  567  to paragraph (a) has refused to grant candidacy status to an
  568  institution, the institution must shall seek and obtain
  569  accreditation from any accrediting agency or association that is
  570  different from its current accrediting agency or association and
  571  is recognized by the database created and maintained by the
  572  United States Department of Education. If a public postsecondary
  573  institution is not granted candidacy status before its next
  574  reaffirmation or fifth-year review date, the institution may
  575  remain with its current accrediting agency or association.
  576         (c) This subsection expires December 31, 2032.
  577         (3) PROHIBITION.—An accrediting agency or association may
  578  not compel any public postsecondary institution to violate state
  579  law, and any adverse action upon the institution based upon the
  580  institution’s compliance with state law constitutes a violation
  581  of this section that may be enforced through subsection (4),
  582  except to the extent that state law is preempted by a federal
  583  law that recognizes the necessity of the accreditation standard
  584  or requirement.
  585         (4)(3) CAUSE OF ACTION.—A postsecondary education
  586  institution negatively impacted by retaliatory or adverse action
  587  taken against the postsecondary education institution by an
  588  accrediting agency or association may bring an action against
  589  the accrediting agency or association in a court of competent
  590  jurisdiction and may obtain liquidated damages in up to the
  591  amount of federal financial aid received by the postsecondary
  592  education institution, court costs, and reasonable attorney
  593  fees.
  594         Section 12. Paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of subsection (18)
  595  of section 1009.26, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  596         1009.26 Fee Waivers.—
  597         (18)(a) For every course in a Program of Strategic
  598  Emphasis, as identified in subparagraph 3., or a state-approved
  599  teacher preparation program, in which a student is enrolled, a
  600  state university shall waive 100 percent of the tuition and fees
  601  for an equivalent course in such program for a student who:
  602         1. Is a resident for tuition purposes under s. 1009.21.
  603         2. Has earned at least 60 semester credit hours towards a
  604  baccalaureate degree within 2 academic years after initial
  605  enrollment at a Florida public postsecondary institution.
  606         3. Enrolls in one of 10 Programs of Strategic Emphasis as
  607  adopted by the Board of Governors, or a state-approved teacher
  608  preparation program. The Board of Governors shall adopt eight
  609  Programs of Strategic Emphasis in science, technology,
  610  engineering, or math and, beginning with the 2022-2023 academic
  611  year, two Programs of Strategic Emphasis in the critical
  612  workforce gap analysis category for which a student may be
  613  eligible to receive the tuition and fee waiver authorized by
  614  this subsection. The programs identified by the board must
  615  reflect the priorities of the state and be offered at a majority
  616  of state universities at the time the Board of Governors
  617  approves the list.
  618         (b) A waiver granted under this subsection is applicable
  619  only for upper-level courses and up to 110 percent of the number
  620  of required credit hours of the baccalaureate degree program for
  621  which the student is enrolled. A student granted a waiver under
  622  this subsection shall continue receiving the waiver until the
  623  student graduates, exceeds the number of allowable credit hours,
  624  or withdraws from an eligible program, regardless of whether the
  625  program is removed from the approved list of eligible programs
  626  subsequent to the student’s enrollment.
  627         (c) Upon enrollment in a Program of Strategic Emphasis or a
  628  state-approved teacher preparation program, the tuition and fees
  629  waived under this subsection must be reported for state funding
  630  purposes under ss. 1009.534 and 1009.535 and must be disbursed
  631  to the student. The amount disbursed to the student must shall
  632  be equal to the award amount the student has received under s.
  633  1009.534(2) or s. 1009.535(2).
  634         Section 13. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.
  635  
  636  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  637  And the title is amended as follows:
  638         Delete everything before the enacting clause
  639  and insert:
  640                        A bill to be entitled                      
  641         An act relating to higher education; amending s.
  642         1001.706, F.S.; revising the duties of the Board of
  643         Governors relating to the mission of each state
  644         university; revising requirements for the Board of
  645         Governors’ strategic plan relating to the goals and
  646         objectives of the State University System; requiring
  647         the Board of Governors to annually require each state
  648         university to include certain information in its
  649         economic security report; requiring, rather than
  650         authorizing, a Board of Governors regulation to
  651         include a post-tenure review of state university
  652         faculty on a specified basis; amending s. 1001.7065,
  653         F.S.; requiring the Board of Governors Accountability
  654         Plan to annually report certain research expenditures
  655         of a specified amount; creating s. 1001.741, F.S.;
  656         providing that each state university president is
  657         responsible for hiring the provost, the deans, and
  658         full-time faculty; proving that the president has a
  659         duty to assess the performance of the provost and
  660         deans; authorizing the president to delegate hiring
  661         authority to specified individuals and entities;
  662         prohibiting a university from using specified methods
  663         in its admissions or personnel processes; providing
  664         that certain actions regarding personnel may not be
  665         appealed beyond the university president; requiring
  666         each state university board of trustees to have review
  667         procedures for the president’s selection and
  668         reappointment of certain faculty; requiring each state
  669         university president to annually present specified
  670         performance evaluations and salaries to the board of
  671         trustees; amending s. 1004.06, F.S.; prohibiting
  672         specified educational institutions from expending
  673         funds to promote specified concepts; providing
  674         exceptions; requiring the State Board of Education and
  675         the Board of Governors to adopt rules and regulations,
  676         respectively; creating s. 1004.3841, F.S.; creating
  677         the Institute for Risk Management and Insurance
  678         Education within the College of Business at the
  679         University of Central Florida; requiring that the
  680         institute be located in a specified county; providing
  681         the purpose and goals of the institute; amending s.
  682         1004.6496, F.S.; authorizing the Board of Trustees of
  683         the University of Florida to use charitable donations
  684         in addition to appropriated funds to fund the Hamilton
  685         Center for Classical and Civic Education; revising the
  686         goals of the center; providing powers of the center;
  687         amending s. 1004.6499, F.S.; renaming the Florida
  688         Institute of Politics at the Florida State University
  689         as the Florida Institute for Governance and Civics;
  690         providing the goals of the institute; amending s.
  691         1004.64991, F.S.; authorizing the Adam Smith Center
  692         for the Study of Economic Freedom to perform certain
  693         tasks in order to carry out its established purpose;
  694         amending s. 1007.25, F.S.; revising how general
  695         education core courses are established; requiring the
  696         State Board of Education and the Board of Governors to
  697         consider approval of certain courses; requiring
  698         faculty committees to review and submit
  699         recommendations to the Articulation Coordinating
  700         Committee and the commissioner relating to certain
  701         courses by a specified date and periodically
  702         thereafter; prohibiting general education core courses
  703         from teaching certain topics or presenting information
  704         in specified ways; providing requirements for general
  705         education core courses; requiring specified
  706         educational institutions to offer certain courses;
  707         prohibiting public postsecondary educational
  708         institutions from requiring students to take certain
  709         additional general education core courses; creating s.
  710         1007.55, F.S.; providing legislative findings;
  711         providing requirements for general education courses;
  712         requiring public postsecondary educational institution
  713         boards of trustees and presidents to annually review
  714         and approve general education requirements; requiring
  715         public postsecondary educational institutions to
  716         report certain courses to the department; providing a
  717         penalty for failing to meet such review and approval
  718         requirements; prohibiting public postsecondary
  719         educational institutions from requiring students to
  720         take certain additional general education courses;
  721         requiring the State Board of Education and the Board
  722         of Governors to adopt rules and regulations,
  723         respectively; amending s. 1008.47, F.S.; specifying a
  724         one-time limit on the requirement to change
  725         accrediting agencies; providing for expiration;
  726         prohibiting an accrediting entity from requiring a
  727         public postsecondary institution to violate state law;
  728         amending s. 1009.26, F.S.; providing that certain
  729         provisions apply to a state-approved teacher
  730         preparation program; providing that certain
  731         postsecondary fee waivers continue until specified
  732         criteria are met; providing an effective date.