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HB 5601 — Higher Education
by Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee and Rep. Plasencia
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Appropriations Committee (AP)
The bill authorizes Florida Postsecondary Comprehensive Transition Program grants as provided in the General Appropriations Act.
The bill provides minimum performance standards for institutions to be eligible to participate in the William L. Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student Education Grant Program. Participating institutions must submit an accountability report to the Department of Education which includes the following metrics:
- Access rates based upon percentage of Pell-eligible students.
- Affordability rates based upon average student loan debt; federal, state, and institutional financial assistance; and average tuition and fees.
- Graduation rates.
- Retention rates.
- Postgraduate employment or continuing education rates.
The department is required to recommend minimum performance standards that institutions must meet to remain eligible to receive grants.
The bill repeals the Access to Better Learning and Education Grant Program.
The bill expands the existing $200,000 faculty salary cap from state university administrative employees to include all university faculty, excluding those in the following programs:
- Computer Information Sciences and Support Services;
- Engineering;
- Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields;
- Florida Mental Health Institute;
- Health Professions and Related Programs;
- Homeland Security;
- Law Enforcement, Firefighting, and Related Fields;
- Mathematics;
- Nursing;
- Physical Sciences; and
- Medical schools.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2021.
Vote: Senate 40-0; House 110-7