Senate Bill sb1356

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
    Florida Senate - 2002                                  SB 1356

    By Senator Lawson





    3-1169A-02                                              See HB

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to education and training

  3         opportunities for state employees; amending s.

  4         110.1099, F.S.; authorizing certain state

  5         employees to enroll in tuition-free courses on

  6         a space-available basis; providing for

  7         appropriation of funds to reimburse education

  8         institutions for administrative costs;

  9         providing duties of the Auditor General and the

10         State Comptroller; clarifying language and

11         deleting obsolete provisions; providing an

12         effective date.

13

14         WHEREAS, space-available tuition waivers have been

15  offered to Florida's state employees as an important benefit

16  to allow productive employees an opportunity to enhance their

17  education, and

18         WHEREAS, valued and valuable employees, and potential

19  employees, have always considered space-available tuition

20  waivers to be of tremendous benefit, and

21         WHEREAS, one of the most effective methods for

22  accomplishing tasks more efficiently is to provide access to

23  education and training, and

24         WHEREAS, with fewer employees handling more tasks,

25  education and training provide avenues to meet these

26  challenges, enhance performance, and reward outstanding

27  productivity, and

28         WHEREAS, the results of this benefit will be a more

29  educated, well-rounded, productive, driven, appreciative, and

30  efficient workforce, NOW, THEREFORE,

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    Florida Senate - 2002                                  SB 1356
    3-1169A-02                                              See HB




  1  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

  2

  3         Section 1.  Subsection (1) of section 110.1099, Florida

  4  Statutes, is amended to read:

  5         110.1099  Education and training opportunities for

  6  state employees.--

  7         (1)(a)  Education and training are an integral

  8  component in improving the delivery of services to the public.

  9  Recognizing that the application of productivity-enhancing

10  technology and practice demands continuous educational and

11  training opportunities, a state employee may be authorized to

12  receive a voucher or grant, for matriculation fees, to attend

13  work-related courses at public community colleges, public

14  technical centers, or public universities. Student credit

15  hours generated by state employee fee waivers shall be

16  fundable credit hours. The department may implement the

17  provisions of this paragraph section from funds appropriated

18  to the department for this purpose. In the event insufficient

19  funds are appropriated to the department, each state agency

20  may supplement these funds to support the training and

21  education needs of its employees from funds appropriated to

22  the agency.

23         (b)1.  As a benefit to employers and employees of the

24  state, subject to approval of an employee's agency head, a

25  non-State-University-System state employee who meets academic

26  requirements may enroll for up to 6 credit hours of

27  tuition-free courses per term on a space-available basis at a

28  public community college or public university. From funds

29  appropriated by the Legislature for implementation of this

30  paragraph, public community colleges and public universities

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    Florida Senate - 2002                                  SB 1356
    3-1169A-02                                              See HB




  1  shall be reimbursed for administrative costs on a pro rata

  2  basis according to the Auditor General's cost assessment.

  3         2.  The State Comptroller, in cooperation with the

  4  Florida Community College System and the State University

  5  System, shall identify and implement ways to ease the

  6  administrative burden to public community colleges and public

  7  universities, including, but not limited to, providing easier

  8  access to verify state employment.

  9         3.  The Auditor General shall provide a true cost

10  accounting for administrative expenses in conjunction with

11  annual audit responsibilities for public community colleges

12  and public universities.

13         (b)  For the 2001-2002 fiscal year only and

14  notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a), state

15  employees may not be authorized to receive fundable tuition

16  waivers on a space-available basis. This paragraph expires

17  July 1, 2002.

18         Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2002.

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20            *****************************************

21                          HOUSE SUMMARY

22
      Authorizes non-State-University-System state employees to
23    enroll for up to 6 credit hours of tuition-free courses
      per term on a space-available basis at public community
24    colleges and public universities. Provides for
      appropriation of funds to reimburse education
25    institutions for administrative costs. Provides duties of
      the Auditor General and the State Comptroller.
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