The Florida Senate

241.001  Definitions.

241.002  Duties of the Department of Education.

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

241.004  Educational Technology Grant Program.

241.001  Definitions.--As used in ss. 241.001-241.004, the term:

(1)  "Advanced telecommunications services" means network-based or wireless services that provide additional communications capabilities enabling the use of applications such as distance learning, video conferencing, data communications, and access to the Internet.

(2)  "Department" means the Department of Education.

(3)  "Eligible facilities" includes all approved campuses and instructional centers of all public universities, public community colleges, area technical centers, public elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools, including school administrative offices, public libraries, teaching hospitals, the research institute described in s. 240.512, and rural public hospitals as defined in s. 395.602. If no rural public hospital exists in a community, the public health clinic that is responsible for individuals before they can be transferred to a regional hospital shall be considered eligible.

History.--s. 6, ch. 99-354.

¹241.002  Duties of the Department of Education.--The duties of the Department of Education concerning distance learning include, but are not limited to, the duty to:

(1)  Facilitate the implementation of a statewide coordinated system and resource system for cost-efficient advanced telecommunications services and distance education which will increase overall student access to education.

(2)  Coordinate the use of existing resources, including, but not limited to, the state's satellite transponders on the education satellites, the SUNCOM Network, the Florida Information Resource Network (FIRN), the Department of Management Services, the Department of Corrections, and the Department of Children and Family Services' satellite communication facilities to support a statewide advanced telecommunications services and distance learning network.

(3)  Assist in the coordination of the utilization of the production and uplink capabilities available through Florida's public television stations, eligible facilities, independent colleges and universities, private firms, and others as needed.

(4)  Seek the assistance and cooperation of Florida's cable television providers in the implementation of the statewide advanced telecommunications services and distance learning network.

(5)  Seek the assistance and cooperation of Florida's telecommunications carriers to provide affordable student access to advanced telecommunications services and to distance learning.

(6)  Coordinate partnerships for development, acquisition, use, and distribution of distance learning.

(7)  Secure and administer funding for programs and activities for distance learning from federal, state, local, and private sources and from fees derived from services and materials.

(8)  Manage the state's satellite transponder resources and enter into lease agreements to maximize the use of available transponder time. All net revenue realized through the leasing of available transponder time, after deducting the costs of performing the management function, shall be recycled to support the public education distance learning in this state based upon an allocation formula of one-third to the Department of Education, one-third to the State Board of Community Colleges, and one-third to the State University System.

(9)  Hire appropriate staff which may include a position that shall be exempt from part II of chapter 110 and is included in the Senior Management Service in accordance with s. 110.205.

Nothing in ss. 241.001-241.004 shall be construed to abrogate, supersede, alter, or amend the powers and duties of any state agency, district school board, community college board of trustees, the State Board of Community Colleges, or the Board of Regents.

History.--s. 7, ch. 99-354; s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321.

¹Note.--Repealed January 7, 2003, by s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321, and shall be reviewed by the Legislature prior to that date.

¹241.003  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; s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321.

¹Note.--Repealed January 7, 2003, by s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321, and shall be reviewed by the Legislature prior to that date.

¹241.004  Educational Technology Grant Program.--

(1)  The Department of Education shall annually award grants to school districts, area technical centers, community colleges, state universities, and independent institutions eligible to participate in state student assistance programs established in part IV of chapter 240. The department shall give priority to cooperative proposals submitted by two or more institutions or delivery systems. The proposals shall include:

(a)  Information which describes the educational significance of the program or service in addressing state educational priorities.

(b)  The target population for the program.

(c)  The program content to be transmitted.

(d)  The support services to be provided.

(e)  Provisions to use at least 20 percent of any funds awarded for training both faculty and student learners in the use and application of the products developed.

(2)  Programs and courses developed through the grant program shall be marketed statewide and nationwide with a portion of any profits from the sale or use of such programs retained by the developing institutions or systems and a portion reinvested in the grant program for further program development. The distribution of any revenues received shall be determined by formal agreement between the department and the developing system or institution.

(3)  The department shall identify state educational priorities and issue a request for proposals by June 1 in every year in which funds are available for grants. The department shall ensure the quality of the programs and courses produced through the grants and produce an annual status report by March 1 describing the projects funded and accounting for any proceeds.

History.--s. 9, ch. 99-354; s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321.

¹Note.--Repealed January 7, 2003, by s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321, and shall be reviewed by the Legislature prior to that date.