Florida Senate - 2017 SB 1276
By Senator Stargel
22-00752A-17 20171276__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to postsecondary educational
3 institution affordability; amending s. 1009.22, F.S.;
4 prohibiting the Board of Trustees of Santa Fe College
5 from increasing its transportation access fee;
6 amending s. 1009.23, F.S.; providing that Florida
7 College System institution boards of trustees may not
8 increase certain student fees after a specified date;
9 requiring the Chancellor of the Florida College System
10 to submit a report detailing the revenue generated by
11 the distance learning course user fee to the Governor
12 and the Legislature by a specified date; amending s.
13 1009.24, F.S.; providing that state universities may
14 not increase certain student fees after a specified
15 date; deleting obsolete language; removing a provision
16 authorizing the Board of Governors to establish new
17 student fees; requiring a university board of trustees
18 to report the amount of revenue generated by the
19 distance learning course fee to the Chancellor of the
20 State University System by a specified date; requiring
21 the chancellor to report to the Governor and the
22 Legislature by a specified date; amending s. 1009.26,
23 F.S.; requiring a state university to waive certain
24 fees for specified graduate students; providing an
25 effective date.
26
27 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
28
29 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (12) of section
30 1009.22, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
31 1009.22 Workforce education postsecondary student fees.—
32 (12)(a) The Board of Trustees of Santa Fe College may
33 establish a transportation access fee. Revenue from the fee may
34 be used only to provide or improve access to transportation
35 services for students enrolled at Santa Fe College. The fee may
36 not exceed $6 per credit hour. Effective July 1, 2017, the Board
37 of Trustees of Santa Fe College may not An increase in the
38 transportation access fee may occur only once each fiscal year
39 and must be implemented beginning with the fall term. A
40 referendum must be held by the student government to approve the
41 application of the fee.
42 Section 2. Upon the expiration and reversion of the
43 amendment to section 1009.23, Florida Statutes, pursuant to
44 section 36 of chapter 2016-62, Laws of Florida, subsection (4),
45 paragraph (b) of subsection (6), subsection (7), paragraph (a)
46 of subsection (8), subsection (10), paragraph (a) of subsection
47 (11), paragraph (a) of subsection (12), subsection (15),
48 paragraph (b) of subsection (16), subsection (17), and paragraph
49 (a) of subsection (18) of section 1009.23, Florida Statutes, are
50 amended to read:
51 1009.23 Florida College System institution student fees.—
52 (4) Each Florida College System institution board of
53 trustees shall establish tuition and out-of-state fees; however,
54 such tuition and fees, which may not exceed the amounts
55 established and effective as of June 30, 2017 vary no more than
56 10 percent below and 15 percent above the combined total of the
57 standard tuition and fees established in subsection (3).
58 (6)
59 (b) A Florida College System institution board of trustees
60 may establish a differential out-of-state fee for a student who
61 has been determined to be a nonresident for tuition purposes
62 pursuant to s. 1009.21 and is enrolled in a distance learning
63 course offered by the institution. Effective July 1, 2017, a
64 Florida College System institution board of trustees may not
65 increase the differential out-of-state fee. A differential out
66 of-state fee established pursuant to this paragraph applies
67 shall be applicable only to distance learning courses and must
68 be established such that the sum of tuition and the differential
69 out-of-state fee is sufficient to defray the full cost of
70 instruction.
71 (7) Each Florida College System institution board of
72 trustees may establish a separate activity and service fee not
73 to exceed 10 percent of the tuition fee, according to rules of
74 the State Board of Education. Effective July 1, 2017, a Florida
75 College System institution board of trustees may not increase
76 the activity and service fee. The student activity and service
77 fee shall be collected as a component part of the tuition and
78 fees. The student activity and service fees shall be paid into a
79 student activity and service fund at the Florida College System
80 institution and shall be expended for lawful purposes to benefit
81 the student body in general. These purposes include, but are not
82 limited to, student publications and grants to duly recognized
83 student organizations, the membership of which is open to all
84 students at the Florida College System institution without
85 regard to race, sex, or religion. A No Florida College System
86 institution may not shall be required to lower any activity and
87 service fee approved by the board of trustees of the Florida
88 College System institution and in effect prior to October 26,
89 2007, in order to comply with the provisions of this subsection.
90 (8)(a) Each Florida College System institution board of
91 trustees is authorized to establish a separate fee for financial
92 aid purposes in an additional amount up to, but not to exceed, 5
93 percent of the total student tuition or out-of-state fees
94 collected. Each Florida College System institution board of
95 trustees may collect up to an additional 2 percent if the amount
96 generated by the total financial aid fee is less than $500,000.
97 If the amount generated is less than $500,000, a Florida College
98 System institution that charges tuition and out-of-state fees at
99 least equal to the average fees established by rule may transfer
100 from the general current fund to the scholarship fund an amount
101 equal to the difference between $500,000 and the amount
102 generated by the total financial aid fee assessment. No other
103 transfer from the general current fund to the loan, endowment,
104 or scholarship fund, by whatever name known, is authorized.
105 Effective July 1, 2017, a Florida College System institution
106 board of trustees may not increase the financial aid fee.
107 (10) Each Florida College System institution board of
108 trustees is authorized to establish a separate fee for
109 technology, which may not exceed 5 percent of tuition per credit
110 hour or credit-hour equivalent for resident students and may not
111 exceed 5 percent of tuition and the out-of-state fee per credit
112 hour or credit-hour equivalent for nonresident students.
113 Effective July 1, 2017, a Florida College System institution
114 board of trustees may not increase the technology fee. Revenues
115 generated from the technology fee shall be used to enhance
116 instructional technology resources for students and faculty. The
117 technology fee may apply to both college credit and
118 developmental education and shall not be included in any award
119 under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. Fifty
120 percent of technology fee revenues may be pledged by a Florida
121 College System institution board of trustees as a dedicated
122 revenue source for the repayment of debt, including lease
123 purchase agreements, not to exceed the useful life of the asset
124 being financed. Revenues generated from the technology fee may
125 not be bonded.
126 (11)(a) Each Florida College System institution board of
127 trustees may establish a separate fee for capital improvements,
128 technology enhancements, equipping student buildings, or the
129 acquisition of improved real property which may not exceed 20
130 percent of tuition for resident students or 20 percent of the
131 sum of tuition and out-of-state fees for nonresident students.
132 Effective July 1, 2017, a Florida College System institution
133 board of trustees may not increase the capital improvement The
134 fee for resident students shall be limited to an increase of $2
135 per credit hour over the prior year. Funds collected by Florida
136 College System institutions through the fee may be bonded only
137 as provided in this subsection for the purpose of financing or
138 refinancing new construction and equipment, renovation,
139 remodeling of educational facilities, or the acquisition and
140 renovation or remodeling of improved real property for use as
141 educational facilities. The fee shall be collected as a
142 component part of the tuition and fees, paid into a separate
143 account, and expended only to acquire improved real property or
144 construct and equip, maintain, improve, or enhance the
145 educational facilities of the Florida College System
146 institution. Projects and acquisitions of improved real property
147 funded through the use of the capital improvement fee shall meet
148 the survey and construction requirements of chapter 1013.
149 Pursuant to s. 216.0158, each Florida College System institution
150 shall identify each project, including maintenance projects,
151 proposed to be funded in whole or in part by such fee.
152 (12)(a) In addition to tuition, out-of-state, financial
153 aid, capital improvement, student activity and service, and
154 technology fees authorized in this section, each Florida College
155 System institution board of trustees is authorized to establish
156 fee schedules for the following user fees and fines: laboratory
157 fees, which do not apply to a distance learning course; parking
158 fees and fines; library fees and fines; fees and fines relating
159 to facilities and equipment use or damage; access or
160 identification card fees; duplicating, photocopying, binding, or
161 microfilming fees; standardized testing fees; diploma
162 replacement fees; transcript fees; application fees; graduation
163 fees; and late fees related to registration and payment. Such
164 user fees and fines shall not exceed the cost of the services
165 provided and shall only be charged to persons receiving the
166 service. A Florida College System institution may not charge any
167 fee except as authorized by law. Parking fee revenues may be
168 pledged by a Florida College System institution board of
169 trustees as a dedicated revenue source for the repayment of
170 debt, including lease-purchase agreements, with an overall term
171 of not more than 7 years, including renewals, extensions, and
172 refundings, and revenue bonds with a term not exceeding 20 years
173 and not exceeding the useful life of the asset being financed.
174 Florida College System institutions shall use the services of
175 the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of
176 Administration to issue any revenue bonds authorized by this
177 subsection. Any such bonds issued by the Division of Bond
178 Finance shall be in compliance with the provisions of the State
179 Bond Act. Bonds issued pursuant to the State Bond Act may be
180 validated in the manner established in chapter 75. The complaint
181 for such validation shall be filed in the circuit court of the
182 county where the seat of state government is situated, the
183 notice required to be published by s. 75.06 shall be published
184 only in the county where the complaint is filed, and the
185 complaint and order of the circuit court shall be served only on
186 the state attorney of the circuit in which the action is
187 pending. Effective July 1, 2017, a Florida College System
188 institution board of trustees may not increase any fee
189 authorized in this paragraph.
190 (15) Each Florida College System institution may assess a
191 service charge for the payment of tuition and fees in
192 installments and a convenience fee for the processing of
193 automated or online credit card payments. However, the amount of
194 the convenience fee may not exceed the total cost charged by the
195 credit card company to the Florida College System institution.
196 Such service charge or convenience fee must be approved by the
197 Florida College System institution board of trustees. Effective
198 July 1, 2017, a Florida College System institution board of
199 trustees may not increase the service charge.
200 (16)
201 (b) The amount of the distance learning course user fee may
202 not exceed the additional costs of the services provided which
203 are attributable to the development and delivery of the distance
204 learning course. If a Florida College System institution
205 assesses the distance learning course user fee, the institution
206 may not assess any other fees to cover the additional costs.
207 Effective July 1, 2017, a Florida College System institution may
208 not increase the distance learning course user fee in excess of
209 the amount established and effective as of June 30, 2017. By
210 September 1 of each year, each board of trustees shall report to
211 the Division of Florida Colleges the total amount of revenue
212 generated by the distance learning course user fee for the prior
213 fiscal year and how the revenue was expended. By November 1 of
214 each year, the Chancellor of the Florida College System shall
215 submit a report totaling the amount of revenue generated by the
216 distance learning course user fee for the prior fiscal year and
217 how the revenue was expended, systemwide and for each
218 institution, to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and
219 the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
220 (17) Each Florida College System institution that accepts
221 transient students, pursuant to s. 1006.735, may establish a
222 transient student fee not to exceed $5 per course for processing
223 the transient student admissions application. Effective July 1,
224 2017, a Florida College System institution board of trustees may
225 not increase the transient student fee.
226 (18)(a) The Board of Trustees of Santa Fe College may
227 establish a transportation access fee. Revenue from the fee may
228 be used only to provide or improve access to transportation
229 services for students enrolled at Santa Fe College. The fee may
230 not exceed $6 per credit hour. Effective July 1, 2017, the Board
231 of Trustees of Santa Fe College may not An increase in the
232 transportation access fee may occur only once each fiscal year
233 and must be implemented beginning with the fall term. A
234 referendum must be held by the student government to approve the
235 application of the fee.
236 Section 3. Upon the expiration and reversion of the
237 amendment to section 1009.24, Florida Statutes, pursuant to
238 section 36 of chapter 2016-62, Laws of Florida, paragraph (d) of
239 subsection (4), subsections (7) through (15), and paragraph (b)
240 of subsection (17) of section 1009.24, Florida Statutes, are
241 amended to read:
242 1009.24 State university student fees.—
243 (4)
244 (d) The sum of the activity and service, health, and
245 athletic fees a student is required to pay to register for a
246 course may not exceed 40 percent of the tuition established in
247 law or in the General Appropriations Act. A No university may
248 not shall be required to lower any fee in effect on the
249 effective date of this act in order to comply with this
250 subsection. Within the 40 percent cap, universities may not
251 increase the aggregate sum of activity and service, health, and
252 athletic fees more than 5 percent per year unless specifically
253 authorized in law or in the General Appropriations Act.
254 Effective July 1, 2017, a university may not increase its
255 athletic fee to defray the costs associated with changing
256 National Collegiate Athletic Association divisions. Any such
257 increase in the athletic fee may exceed both the 40 percent cap
258 and the 5 percent cap imposed by this subsection. Any such
259 increase must be approved by the athletic fee committee in the
260 process outlined in subsection (12) and may not exceed $2 per
261 credit hour. Notwithstanding ss. 1009.534, 1009.535, and
262 1009.536, that portion of any increase in an athletic fee
263 pursuant to this subsection which causes the sum of the activity
264 and service, health, and athletic fees to exceed the 40 percent
265 cap or the annual increase in such fees to exceed the 5 percent
266 cap may not be included in calculating the amount a student
267 receives for a Florida Academic Scholars award, a Florida
268 Medallion Scholars award, or a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
269 Scholars award. Notwithstanding this paragraph and subject to
270 approval by the board of trustees, each state university may
271 exceed the 5-percent cap on the annual increase to the aggregate
272 sum of activity and service, health, and athletic fees for the
273 2010-2011 fiscal year. Any such increase may not exceed 15
274 percent or the amount required to reach the 2009-2010 fiscal
275 year statewide average for the aggregate sum of activity and
276 service, health, and athletic fees at the main campuses,
277 whichever is greater. The aggregate sum of the activity and
278 service, health, and athletic fees may not exceed 40 percent of
279 tuition. Any increase in the activity and service fee, health
280 fee, or athletic fee must be approved by the appropriate fee
281 committee pursuant to subsection (10), subsection (11), or
282 subsection (12).
283 (7) A university board of trustees is authorized to collect
284 for financial aid purposes an amount not to exceed 5 percent of
285 the tuition and out-of-state fee. Effective July 1, 2017, a
286 university board of trustees may not increase the financial aid
287 fee. The revenues from fees are to remain at each campus and
288 replace existing financial aid fees. Such funds shall be
289 disbursed to students as quickly as possible. A minimum of 75
290 percent of funds from the student financial aid fee shall be
291 used to provide financial aid based on absolute need. The Board
292 of Governors shall develop criteria for making financial aid
293 awards. Each university shall report annually to the Board of
294 Governors and the Department of Education on the revenue
295 collected pursuant to this subsection, the amount carried
296 forward, the criteria used to make awards, the amount and number
297 of awards for each criterion, and a delineation of the
298 distribution of such awards. The report shall include an
299 assessment by category of the financial need of every student
300 who receives an award, regardless of the purpose for which the
301 award is received. Awards that which are based on financial need
302 shall be distributed in accordance with a nationally recognized
303 system of need analysis approved by the Board of Governors. An
304 award for academic merit requires shall require a minimum
305 overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or the
306 equivalent for both initial receipt of the award and renewal of
307 the award.
308 (8)(a) The Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee is
309 established as $4.76 per credit hour per semester.
310 (b) Beginning with the 2012 fall term, each university
311 board of trustees may increase the Capital Improvement Trust
312 Fund fee. Any increase in the fee must be recommended by a
313 Capital Improvement Trust Fund committee, at least half of whom
314 are students appointed by the student body president. The
315 remainder of the committee shall be appointed by the university
316 president. A chair, appointed jointly by the university
317 president and the student body president, shall vote only in the
318 case of a tie. The recommendations of the committee shall take
319 effect only after approval by the university president, after
320 consultation with the student body president, with final
321 approval by the university board of trustees. An increase in the
322 fee may occur only once each fiscal year and must be implemented
323 beginning with the fall term. The Board of Governors shall adopt
324 regulations and timetables to implement the fee.
325 (c) The fee may not exceed 10 percent of the tuition for
326 resident students or 10 percent of the sum of tuition and out
327 of-state fees for nonresident students. The fee for resident
328 students shall be limited to an increase of $2 per credit hour
329 over the prior year. The Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee may
330 be used to fund any project or real property acquisition that
331 meets the requirements of chapter 1013. The Division of Bond
332 Finance of the State Board of Administration shall analyze any
333 proposed reductions to the Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee to
334 ensure consistency with prudent financial management of the bond
335 program associated with the revenues from the fee. Effective
336 July 1, 2017, a university board of trustees may not increase
337 the Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee The Board of Governors
338 shall approve any proposed fee reductions provided that no such
339 reduction reduces the fee below the level established in
340 paragraph (a).
341 (9) Each university board of trustees is authorized to
342 establish separate activity and service, health, and athletic
343 fees. Effective July 1, 2017, a university board of trustees may
344 not increase these fees. When duly established, the fees shall
345 be collected as component parts of tuition and fees and shall be
346 retained by the university and paid into the separate activity
347 and service, health, and athletic funds. Notwithstanding any
348 other provision of law to the contrary, a university may
349 transfer revenues derived from the fees authorized pursuant to
350 this subsection to a university direct-support organization of
351 the university to be used only for the purpose of paying and
352 securing debt on projects approved pursuant to s. 1010.62 and
353 pursuant to a written agreement approved by the Board of
354 Governors. The amount transferred may not exceed the amount
355 authorized for annual debt service pursuant to s. 1010.62.
356 (10)(a) Each university board of trustees shall establish a
357 student activity and service fee on the main campus of the
358 university. The university board may also establish a student
359 activity and service fee on any branch campus or center.
360 Effective July 1, 2017, a university board of trustees may not
361 increase these student activity and service fees Any subsequent
362 increase in the activity and service fee must be recommended by
363 an activity and service fee committee, at least one-half of whom
364 are students appointed by the student body president. The
365 remainder of the committee shall be appointed by the university
366 president. A chairperson, appointed jointly by the university
367 president and the student body president, shall vote only in the
368 case of a tie. The recommendations of the committee shall take
369 effect only after approval by the university president, after
370 consultation with the student body president, with final
371 approval by the university board of trustees. An increase in the
372 activity and service fee may occur only once each fiscal year
373 and must be implemented beginning with the fall term. The Board
374 of Governors is responsible for adopting the regulations and
375 timetables necessary to implement these fees this fee.
376 (b) The student activity and service fees shall be expended
377 for lawful purposes to benefit the student body in general. This
378 shall include, but shall not be limited to, student publications
379 and grants to duly recognized student organizations, the
380 membership of which is open to all students at the university
381 without regard to race, sex, or religion. The fund may not
382 benefit activities for which an admission fee is charged to
383 students, except for student-government-association-sponsored
384 concerts. The allocation and expenditure of the fund shall be
385 determined by the student government association of the
386 university, except that the president of the university may veto
387 any line item or portion thereof within the budget when
388 submitted by the student government association legislative
389 body. The university president shall have 15 school days from
390 the date of presentation of the budget to act on the allocation
391 and expenditure recommendations, which shall be deemed approved
392 if no action is taken within the 15 school days. If any line
393 item or portion thereof within the budget is vetoed, the student
394 government association legislative body shall within 15 school
395 days make new budget recommendations for expenditure of the
396 vetoed portion of the fund. If the university president vetoes
397 any line item or portion thereof within the new budget
398 revisions, the university president may reallocate by line item
399 that vetoed portion to bond obligations guaranteed by activity
400 and service fees. Unexpended funds and undisbursed funds
401 remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall be carried over and
402 remain in the student activity and service fund and be available
403 for allocation and expenditure during the next fiscal year.
404 (11) Each university board of trustees shall establish a
405 student health fee on the main campus of the university. The
406 university board of trustees may also establish a student health
407 fee on any branch campus or center. Effective July 1, 2017, a
408 university board of trustees may not Any subsequent increase
409 these in the health fees fee must be recommended by a health
410 committee, at least one-half of whom are students appointed by
411 the student body president. The remainder of the committee shall
412 be appointed by the university president. A chairperson,
413 appointed jointly by the university president and the student
414 body president, shall vote only in the case of a tie. The
415 recommendations of the committee shall take effect only after
416 approval by the university president, after consultation with
417 the student body president, with final approval by the
418 university board of trustees. An increase in the health fee may
419 occur only once each fiscal year and must be implemented
420 beginning with the fall term. The Board of Governors shall adopt
421 is responsible for adopting the regulations and timetables
422 necessary to implement these fees this fee.
423 (12) Each university board of trustees shall establish a
424 separate athletic fee on the main campus of the university. The
425 university board may also establish a separate athletic fee on
426 any branch campus or center. Effective July 1, 2017, a
427 university board of trustees may not Any subsequent increase
428 these in the athletic fees fee must be recommended by an
429 athletic fee committee, at least one-half of whom are students
430 appointed by the student body president. The remainder of the
431 committee shall be appointed by the university president. A
432 chairperson, appointed jointly by the university president and
433 the student body president, shall vote only in the case of a
434 tie. The recommendations of the committee shall take effect only
435 after approval by the university president, after consultation
436 with the student body president, with final approval by the
437 university board of trustees. An increase in the athletic fee
438 may occur only once each fiscal year and must be implemented
439 beginning with the fall term. The Board of Governors is
440 responsible for adopting the regulations and timetables
441 necessary to implement these fees this fee.
442 (13) Each university board of trustees may establish a
443 technology fee of up to 5 percent of the tuition per credit
444 hour. Effective July 1, 2017, a university board of trustees may
445 not increase the technology fee. The revenue from this fee must
446 shall be used to enhance instructional technology resources for
447 students and faculty. The technology fee may not be included in
448 any award under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
449 established pursuant to ss. 1009.53-1009.538.
450 (14) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (15), each
451 university board of trustees is authorized to establish the
452 following fees:
453 (a) A nonrefundable application fee in an amount not to
454 exceed $30.
455 (b) An orientation fee in an amount not to exceed $35.
456 (c) A fee for security, access, or identification cards.
457 The annual fee for such a card may not exceed $10 per card. The
458 maximum amount charged for a replacement card may not exceed
459 $15.
460 (d) Registration fees for audit and zero-hours
461 registration; a service charge, which may not exceed $15, for
462 the payment of tuition and fees in installments; and a late
463 registration fee in an amount not less than $50 nor more than
464 $100 to be imposed on students who fail to initiate registration
465 during the regular registration period.
466 (e) A late-payment fee in an amount not less than $50 nor
467 more than $100 to be imposed on students who fail to pay or fail
468 to make appropriate arrangements to pay (by means of installment
469 payment, deferment, or third-party billing) tuition by the
470 deadline set by each university. Each university may adopt
471 specific procedures or policies for waiving the late-payment fee
472 for minor underpayments.
473 (f) Fees for transcripts and diploma replacement, not to
474 exceed $10 per item.
475 (g) A nonrefundable admissions deposit for undergraduate,
476 graduate, and professional degree programs in an amount not to
477 exceed $200. The admissions deposit shall be imposed at the time
478 of an applicant’s acceptance to the university and shall be
479 applied toward tuition upon enrollment. If the applicant does
480 not enroll in the university, the admissions deposit shall be
481 deposited in an auxiliary account of the university and used to
482 expand financial assistance, scholarships, and student academic
483 and career counseling services at the university. The Board of
484 Governors shall adopt a policy that provides for the waiver of
485 such admissions deposit on the basis of financial hardship.
486 (h) A fee for miscellaneous health-related charges for
487 services provided at cost by the university health center which
488 are not covered by the health fee set under subsection (11).
489 (i) Materials and supplies fees to offset the cost of
490 materials or supplies that are consumed in the course of the
491 student’s instructional activities, excluding the cost of
492 equipment replacement, repairs, and maintenance.
493 (j) Housing rental rates and miscellaneous housing charges
494 for services provided by the university at the request of the
495 student.
496 (k) A charge representing the reasonable cost of efforts to
497 collect payment of overdue accounts.
498 (l) A service charge on university loans in lieu of
499 interest and administrative handling charges.
500 (m) A fee for off-campus course offerings when the location
501 results in specific, identifiable increased costs to the
502 university.
503 (n) Library fees and fines, including charges for damaged
504 and lost library materials, overdue reserve library books,
505 interlibrary loans, and literature searches.
506 (o) Fees relating to duplicating, photocopying, binding,
507 and microfilming; copyright services; and standardized testing.
508 These fees may be charged only to those who receive the
509 services.
510 (p) Fees and fines relating to the use, late return, and
511 loss and damage of facilities and equipment.
512 (q) A returned-check fee as authorized by s. 832.07(1) for
513 unpaid checks returned to the university.
514 (r) Traffic and parking fines, charges for parking decals,
515 and transportation access fees.
516 (s) An Educational Research Center for Child Development
517 fee for child care and services offered by the center.
518 (t) A transient student fee that may not exceed $5 per
519 course for accepting a transient student and processing the
520 transient student admissions application pursuant to s.
521 1006.735.
522
523 Effective July 1, 2017, a university board of trustees may not
524 increase the fees established under this subsection With the
525 exception of housing rental rates and except as otherwise
526 provided, fees assessed pursuant to paragraphs (h)-(s) shall be
527 based on reasonable costs of services. The Board of Governors
528 shall adopt regulations and timetables necessary to implement
529 the fees and fines authorized under this subsection. The fees
530 assessed under this subsection may be used for debt only as
531 authorized under s. 1010.62.
532 (15)(a) The Board of Governors may approve:
533 1. A proposal from a university board of trustees to
534 establish a new student fee that is not specifically authorized
535 by this section.
536 2. A proposal from a university board of trustees to
537 increase the current cap for an existing fee authorized pursuant
538 to paragraphs (14)(a)-(g).
539 3. a proposal from a university board of trustees to
540 implement flexible tuition policies, such as undergraduate or
541 graduate block tuition, block tuition differential, or market
542 tuition rates for graduate-level online courses or graduate
543 level courses offered through a university’s continuing
544 education program. A block tuition policy for resident
545 undergraduate students or undergraduate-level courses shall be
546 based on the per-credit-hour undergraduate tuition established
547 under subsection (4). A block tuition policy for nonresident
548 undergraduate students shall be based on the per-credit-hour
549 undergraduate tuition and out-of-state fee established under
550 subsection (4). Flexible tuition policies, including block
551 tuition, may not increase the state’s fiscal liability or
552 obligation.
553 (b) A proposal developed pursuant to paragraph (a) shall be
554 submitted in accordance with guidelines established by the Board
555 of Governors. Approval by the Board of Governors of such
556 proposal must be made in accordance with the provisions of this
557 subsection.
558 (c) In reviewing a proposal to establish a new fee under
559 subparagraph (a)1., the Board of Governors shall consider:
560 1. The purpose to be served or accomplished by the new fee.
561 2. Whether there is a demonstrable student-based need for
562 the new fee that is not currently being met through existing
563 university services, operations, or another fee.
564 3. Whether the financial impact on students is warranted in
565 light of other charges assessed to students for tuition and
566 associated fees.
567 4. Whether any restrictions, limitations, or conditions
568 should be placed on the use of the fee.
569 5. Whether there are outcome measures to indicate if the
570 purpose for which the fee was established is accomplished.
571 (d) In reviewing a proposal to increase or exceed the
572 current cap for an existing fee under subparagraph (a)2., the
573 Board of Governors shall consider:
574 1. The services or operations currently being funded by the
575 fee.
576 2. Whether those services or operations can be performed
577 more efficiently to alleviate the need for any increase.
578 3. The additional or enhanced services or operations to be
579 funded by the increase.
580 4. Whether any alternative resources are available to meet
581 the need.
582 5. Whether the financial impact on students is warranted in
583 light of other charges assessed to students for tuition and
584 associated fees.
585 (c)(e) In reviewing a proposal to implement a flexible
586 tuition policy under paragraph (a) subparagraph (a)3., the Board
587 of Governors shall consider:
588 1. Whether the proposed tuition flexibility policy is
589 aligned with the mission of the university.
590 2. Whether the proposed tuition flexibility policy
591 increases the state’s fiscal liabilities or obligations and, if
592 so, the proposal shall be denied.
593 3. Whether any restrictions, limitations, or conditions
594 should be placed on the policy.
595 4. How the proposed tuition flexibility policy will be
596 implemented to honor the advance payment contracts of students
597 who are beneficiaries of prepaid tuition contracts under s.
598 1009.98.
599 (d)(f) The Board of Governors shall submit an annual report
600 to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
601 Representatives, and the Governor summarizing the proposals
602 received by the board during the preceding year and actions
603 taken by the board in response to such proposals. The Board of
604 Governors shall also include in the annual report the following
605 information for each fee established pursuant to subparagraph
606 (a)1.:
607 1. The amount of the fee.
608 2. The total revenues generated by the fee.
609 3. Detailed expenditures of the revenues generated by the
610 fee.
611 (g) The aggregate sum of any fees established pursuant to
612 subparagraph (a)1. that a student is required to pay to register
613 for a course shall not exceed 10 percent of tuition.
614 (h) Any fee established pursuant to subparagraph (a)1.
615 shall not be included in any award under the Florida Bright
616 Futures Scholarship Program established pursuant to ss. 1009.53
617 1009.538.
618 (i) The revenues generated by a fee established pursuant to
619 subparagraph (a)1. may not be transferred to an auxiliary
620 enterprise or a direct-support organization and may not be used
621 for the purpose of paying or securing debt.
622 (j) If the Board of Governors approves a university
623 proposal to establish a fee pursuant to subparagraph (a)1., a
624 fee committee shall be established at the university to make
625 recommendations to the university president and the university
626 board of trustees regarding how the revenue from the fee is to
627 be spent and any subsequent changes to the fee. At least one
628 half of the committee must be students appointed by the student
629 body president. The remainder of the committee shall be
630 appointed by the university president. A chair, appointed
631 jointly by the university president and the student body
632 president, shall vote only in the case of a tie.
633 (k) An increase to an existing fee or a fee established
634 pursuant to subparagraph (a)1. may occur no more than once each
635 fiscal year and must be implemented beginning with the fall
636 term.
637 (17)
638 (b) The amount of the distance learning course fee may not
639 exceed the additional costs of the services provided which are
640 attributable to the development and delivery of the distance
641 learning course. If the distance learning course fee is assessed
642 by a state university, the institution may not assess
643 duplicative fees to cover the additional costs. Effective July
644 1, 2017, a state university may not increase the distance
645 learning course fee in excess of the amount established and
646 effective as of June 30, 2017. By September 1 of each year, each
647 board of trustees shall report to the Chancellor of the State
648 University System the total amount of revenue generated by the
649 distance learning course fee for the prior fiscal year and how
650 the revenue was expended. By November 1 of each year, the
651 Chancellor of the State University System shall report the total
652 amount of revenue generated by the distance learning course fee
653 for the prior fiscal year and how the revenue was expended,
654 systemwide and for each institution, to the Governor, the
655 President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
656 Representatives.
657 Section 4. Subsection (15) is added to section 1009.26,
658 Florida Statutes, to read:
659 1009.26 Fee waivers.—
660 (15) Each state university shall waive 25 percent of the
661 cost of fees described in ss. 1009.24(7)-(14) and (17) for a
662 graduate student who has a 0.25, or greater, full-time
663 equivalent appointment as a graduate assistant, graduate
664 research assistant, graduate teaching assistant, graduate
665 research associate, or graduate teaching associate.
666 Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.