The Florida Senate

1006.71  Gender equity in intercollegiate athletics.--

(1)  GENDER EQUITY PLAN.--

(a)  Each community college and state university shall develop a gender equity plan pursuant to s. 1000.05

(b)  The plan shall include consideration of equity in sports offerings, participation, availability of facilities, scholarship offerings, and funds allocated for administration, recruitment, comparable coaching, publicity and promotion, and other support costs.

(c)  The Commissioner of Education shall annually assess the progress of each institution's plan and advise the State Board of Education regarding compliance.

(d)  Each board of trustees of a public community college or state university shall annually evaluate the presidents on the extent to which the gender equity goals have been achieved.

(e)  To determine the proper level of support for women's athletic scholarships, an equity plan may determine, where appropriate, that support for women's scholarships may be disproportionate to the support of scholarships for men.

(f)  If a community college or state university is not in compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Florida Educational Equity Act, the State Board of Education shall:

1.  Declare the institution ineligible for competitive state grants.

2.  Withhold funds sufficient to obtain compliance.

The institution shall remain ineligible and the funds shall not be paid until the institution comes into compliance or the Commissioner of Education approves a plan for compliance.

(2)  FUNDING.--

(a)  An equitable portion of all separate athletic fees shall be designated for women's intercollegiate athletics.

(b)  The level of funding and percentage share of support for women's intercollegiate athletics shall be determined by the State Board of Education. The level of funding and percentage share attained in the 1980-1981 fiscal year shall be the minimum level and percentage maintained by each institution, except as the State Board of Education otherwise directs for the purpose of assuring equity. Consideration shall be given by the State Board of Education to emerging athletic programs at institutions which may not have the resources to secure external funds to provide athletic opportunities for women. It is the intent that the effect of any redistribution of funds among institutions shall not negate the requirements as set forth in this section.

(c)  In addition to the above amount, an amount equal to the sales taxes collected from admission to athletic events sponsored by a state university shall be retained and utilized by each university to support women's athletics.

(3)  STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.--The State Board of Education shall assure equal opportunity for female athletes and establish:

(a)  Guidelines for reporting of intercollegiate athletics data concerning financial, program, and facilities information for review by the State Board of Education annually.

(b)  Systematic audits for the evaluation of such data.

(c)  Criteria for determining and assuring equity.

History.--s. 341, ch. 2002-387.