The Florida Senate

The bill creates the Genetic Counseling Education Enhancement Grant Program (program) within the State University System to support the development, growth, and sustainability of accredited graduate-level genetic counseling programs. The bill requires the Board of Governors (BOG) to administer the program and award competitive grants to state universities to address faculty shortages, student financial barriers, and clinical training needs in genetic counseling.

The bill authorizes, subject to appropriation, the BOG to award a one-time start-up grant to establish an accredited genetic counseling program at a state university. To receive the grant, a university must apply with a plan for achieving program accreditation; projected program outcomes such as anticipated enrollment, faculty hiring and retention, and completion rates; anticipated first-time passage rates on the American Board of Genetic Counseling certification examination; and the program’s anticipated contribution to Florida’s genetic counseling workforce. The application must also demonstrate that the proposed program has sufficient clinical training capacity which represents a net increase in statewide training opportunities.

The bill also authorizes the BOG to award funds to accredited genetic counseling programs based on program performance, including program completers and examination passage rates. The program must also reward excellence among genetic counseling programs whose average first-time certification examination passage rates exceed the national average.

The bill specifies that grant funds must be used to recruit and retain qualified faculty, provide cost-of-attendance scholarships to students enrolled in accredited programs, and support the clinical training experiences required for completion of a master’s degree in genetic counseling.

The bill prohibits the use of grant funds for general administrative overhead costs, construction of new facilities, or non-program-related activities. State universities that receive a grant through the program are required to maintain records sufficient to demonstrate compliance with program requirements.

The bill requires each state university that receives program funds to submit an annual report to the BOG. The report must include program expenditures, the outcomes achieved using grant funds, and plans for the upcoming fiscal year. The BOG must compile the reports into an annual statewide summary and submit to the Governor and the Legislature by July 1 of each year. The bill also requires the BOG to adopt regulations to administer the program.

If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor's signature, these provisions take effect on July 1, 2026.

Vote: Senate 38-0; House 107-0