The Florida Senate

241.003  The Florida Distance Learning Network Advisory Council; creation; membership; organization; meetings.--

(1)  The Florida Distance Learning Network Advisory Council is created in the Department of Education to advise and assist the department in carrying out its duties relating to distance learning.

(a)  Composition.--The advisory council, to be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Commissioner of Education, shall not exceed 13 members, selected from the various entities who have interests in distance learning, and who are, when possible, leading members of statewide or regional organizations representing institutional consumers and providers so as to establish a broadly based and representative distance learning advisory council.

(b)  Representation.--The organizations represented on the advisory council may include, but are not limited to, public and private elementary and secondary schools; public and private postsecondary institutions, including vocational and technical centers; state agencies; libraries; the health care community, including urban, rural, and teaching hospitals; the cable telecommunications industry; the local exchange telecommunications industry; and the interexchange industry. Two members shall be the Chancellor of the State University System or the chancellor's designee and the Executive Director of the Florida Community College System or the executive director's designee. One member may be a lay citizen.

(c)  Organization, procedure, and compensation.--

1.  The advisory council shall meet at least annually.

2.  The advisory council shall elect a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary from its membership for 1-year terms. Officers may be reelected.

3.  The advisory council shall meet at the call of its chair, at the request of the majority of its membership, the commissioner, or at such times as its membership prescribes.

(2)  The advisory council may study and recommend to the department concerning:

(a)  A marketing program statewide, nationally, and internationally, as deemed appropriate.

(b)  The recipients of the Educational Technology Grant Program provided in s. 241.004.

(c)  Suggested legislation concerning distance learning.

(d)  Any other issue regarding distance learning that the council deems appropriate.

(3)  The department shall provide administrative and support services to the advisory council.

History.--s. 8, ch. 99-354.