Florida Senate - 2023 PROPOSED COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
Bill No. SB 266
Ì562218)Î562218
HE.HE.02443
Proposed Committee Substitute by the Committee on Education
Postsecondary
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to higher education; amending s.
3 1001.706, F.S.; revising requirements in the Board of
4 Governors duties relating to the mission of each state
5 university; revising requirements for the Board of
6 Governors’ strategic plan relating to the goals and
7 objectives of the State University System; requiring
8 the Board of Governors to annually require each state
9 university to include certain information in its
10 economic security report; authorizing a Board of
11 Governors regulation to include a post-tenure review
12 of state university faculty at any time, with cause;
13 amending s. 1001.7065, F.S.; requiring each state
14 university to annually report certain research
15 expenditures of a specified amount; creating s.
16 1001.725, F.S.; providing that each state university
17 board of trustees is responsible for hiring full-time
18 faculty; authorizing the board to delegate hiring
19 authority to the president; prohibiting the president
20 from delegating hiring authority except as specified;
21 prohibiting a university from using specified methods
22 in its admissions or personnel processes; requiring
23 each state university board of trustees to confirm
24 specified employee reappointments and contracts;
25 requiring each state university president to annually
26 present specified performance evaluations and salaries
27 to the board of trustees; amending s. 1004.06, F.S.;
28 expanding definition of discrimination; prohibiting
29 specified educational institutions from expending
30 funds to promote specified concepts; providing
31 exceptions; amending s. 1004.6496, F.S.; authorizing
32 the Board of Trustees of the University of Florida to
33 use funds to establish and fund the Hamilton College
34 for Classical and Civic Education; revising the goals
35 of the college; providing powers of the college;
36 amending s. 1004.6499, F.S.; renaming the Florida
37 Institute of Politics at the Florida State University
38 as the Florida Institute for Governance and Civics;
39 providing the goals of the institute; amending s.
40 1004.64991, F.S.; authorizing the Adam Smith Center
41 for the Study of Economic Freedom to perform certain
42 tasks in order to carry out its established purpose;
43 amending s. 1007.25, F.S.; revising how general
44 education core courses are established; requiring the
45 Commissioner of Education and Chancellor of the State
46 University System to consider approval of certain
47 courses; requiring faculty committees to submit
48 recommendations to the Articulation Coordinating
49 Committee and the commissioner relating to certain
50 courses by a specified date and every three years
51 thereafter; prohibiting general education core courses
52 from teaching certain topics or presenting information
53 in specified ways; providing requirements for general
54 education core courses; requiring specified
55 educational institutions to offer certain courses;
56 prohibiting public postsecondary educational
57 institutions from requiring students to take certain
58 additional general education core courses; creating s.
59 1007.55, F.S.; providing legislative findings;
60 requiring the Articulation Coordinating Committee to
61 submit an annual report to specified entities relating
62 to courses that have been approved as meeting
63 specified requirements to be used by public
64 postsecondary educational institutions; providing
65 requirements for general education courses; requiring
66 public postsecondary educational institution boards of
67 trustees and presidents to annually review and approve
68 general education requirements; providing a penalty
69 for failing to meet such review and approval
70 requirements; requiring public postsecondary
71 educational institutions to report certain courses to
72 the department; prohibiting public postsecondary
73 educational institutions from requiring students to
74 take certain additional general education courses;
75 amending s. 1008.47, F.S.; specifying a one-time limit
76 on the requirement to change accrediting agencies;
77 amending s. 1009.26, F.S.; providing that certain
78 postsecondary fee waivers continue until specified
79 criteria are met; providing an effective date.
80
81 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
82
83 Section 1. Paragraphs (a) through (d) of subsection (5) and
84 paragraph (b) of subsection (6) of section 1001.706, Florida
85 Statutes, are amended to read:
86 1001.706 Powers and duties of the Board of Governors.—
87 (5) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO ACCOUNTABILITY.—
88 (a) The Legislature intends that the Board of Governors
89 shall align the missions of each constituent university with the
90 academic success of its students; the existing and emerging
91 economic development needs of the state; the national reputation
92 of its faculty and its academic and research programs; the
93 quantity of externally generated research, patents, and
94 licenses; and the strategic and accountability plans required in
95 paragraphs (b) and (c). The Board of Governors shall
96 periodically review the mission of each constituent university
97 and make updates or revisions as needed. Upon completion of a
98 review of the mission, the board shall review existing academic
99 programs to ensure alignment with the mission. The board shall
100 include in its review direction to each constituent university
101 to examine its programs for any violation of s. 1000.05(4)(a).
102 The mission alignment and strategic plan shall consider peer
103 institutions at the constituent universities. The mission
104 alignment and strategic plan shall acknowledge that universities
105 that have a national and international impact have the greatest
106 capacity to promote the state’s economic development through:
107 new discoveries, patents, licenses, and technologies that
108 generate state businesses of global importance; research
109 achievements through external grants and contracts that are
110 comparable to nationally recognized and ranked universities; the
111 creation of a resource rich academic environment that attracts
112 high-technology business and venture capital to the state; and
113 this generation’s finest minds focusing on solving the state’s
114 economic, social, environmental, and legal problems in the areas
115 of life sciences, water, sustainability, energy, and health
116 care. A nationally recognized and ranked university that has a
117 global perspective and impact shall be afforded the opportunity
118 to enable and protect the university’s competitiveness on the
119 global stage in fair competition with other institutions of
120 other states in the highest Carnegie Classification.
121 (b) The Board of Governors shall develop a strategic plan
122 specifying goals and objectives for the State University System
123 and each constituent university, including each university’s
124 contribution to overall system goals and objectives. The
125 strategic plan must:
126 1. Include performance metrics and standards common for all
127 institutions and metrics and standards unique to institutions
128 depending on institutional core missions, including, but not
129 limited to, student admission requirements, retention,
130 graduation, percentage of graduates who have attained
131 employment, percentage of graduates enrolled in continued
132 education, licensure passage, nondegree credential attainment,
133 average wages of employed graduates, average cost per graduate,
134 excess hours, student loan burden and default rates, faculty
135 awards, total annual research expenditures, patents, licenses
136 and royalties, intellectual property, startup companies, annual
137 giving, endowments, and well-known, highly respected national
138 rankings for institutional and program achievements.
139 2. Consider reports and recommendations of the Florida
140 Talent Development Council under s. 1004.015 and the
141 Articulation Coordinating Committee under s. 1007.01.
142 3. Include student enrollment and performance data
143 delineated by method of instruction, including, but not limited
144 to, traditional, online, and distance learning instruction.
145 4. Include criteria for designating baccalaureate degree
146 and master’s degree programs at specified universities as high
147 demand programs of emphasis. The programs of emphasis list
148 adopted by the Board of Governors before July 1, 2021, shall be
149 used for the 2021-2022 academic year. Beginning in the 2022-2023
150 academic year, the Board of Governors shall adopt the criteria
151 to determine value for and prioritization of degree credentials
152 and degree programs established by the Credentials Review
153 Committee under s. 445.004 for designating high-demand programs
154 of emphasis. The Board of Governors must review designated
155 programs of emphasis, at a minimum, every 3 years to ensure
156 alignment with the prioritization of degree credentials and
157 degree programs identified by the Credentials Review Committee.
158 5. Include criteria for nondegree credentials.
159 (c) The Board of Governors shall develop an accountability
160 plan for the State University System and each constituent
161 university. The accountability plan must address institutional
162 and system achievement of goals and objectives specified in the
163 strategic plan adopted pursuant to paragraph (b) and must be
164 submitted as part of its legislative budget request. Each
165 university shall submit, as a component of the university’s
166 annual accountability plan:,
167 1. Information on the effectiveness of its plan for
168 improving 4-year graduation rates; and
169 2. The level of financial assistance provided to students
170 pursuant to paragraph (h).
171 (d) Beginning in the 2014-2015 academic year and annually
172 thereafter, The Board of Governors shall annually require a
173 state university prior to registration to provide each enrolled
174 student electronic access to the economic security report of
175 employment and earning outcomes prepared by the Department of
176 Economic Opportunity pursuant to s. 445.07. In addition, the
177 Board of Governors shall require a state university to provide
178 each student electronic access to the following information each
179 year prior to registration using the data described in s.
180 1008.39:
181 1. The top 25 percent of degrees reported by the university
182 in terms of highest full-time job placement and highest average
183 annualized earnings in the year after earning the degree.
184 2. The bottom 10 percent of degrees reported by the
185 university in terms of lowest full-time job placement and lowest
186 average annualized earnings in the year after earning the
187 degree.
188 (6) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO PERSONNEL.—
189 (b) The Board of Governors may adopt a regulation requiring
190 each tenured state university faculty member to undergo a
191 comprehensive post-tenure review every 5 years. The regulation
192 must include a process and criteria for each university to
193 initiate a post-tenure review of a faculty member at any time,
194 with cause. The board may include other considerations in the
195 regulation, but the regulation must address:
196 1. Accomplishments and productivity;
197 2. Assigned duties in research, teaching, and service;
198 3. Performance metrics, evaluations, and ratings; and
199 4. Recognition and compensation considerations, as well as
200 improvement plans and consequences for underperformance.
201 Section 2. Paragraph (m) is added to subsection (2) of
202 section 1001.7065, Florida Statutes, to read:
203 1001.7065 Preeminent state research universities program.—
204 (2) ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH EXCELLENCE STANDARDS.—The
205 following academic and research excellence standards are
206 established for the preeminent state research universities
207 program and shall be reported annually in the Board of Governors
208 Accountability Plan:
209 (m) Total annual research expenditures of $50 million or
210 more benefiting STEM-related occupations, businesses, or
211 industry partners located in this state and currently employing,
212 or seeking to employ, residents of this state
213 Section 3. Section 1001.725, Florida Statutes, is created
214 to read:
215 1001.725 University boards of trustees; personnel.—
216 (1) Each university board of trustees is responsible for
217 hiring full-time faculty. The president may provide hiring
218 recommendations to the board. The president and the board are
219 not bound by recommendations or opinions of faculty or other
220 individuals or groups.
221 (a) The board may delegate its hiring authority to the
222 president; however, the president may not delegate hiring
223 authority, to anyone outside the executive management team
224 within the president's office.
225 (b) A university is prohibited from using diversity,
226 equity, and inclusion statements, critical race theory, or other
227 forms of political identity filters that violate s.
228 1000.05(4)(a) in any university admissions, hiring, promotion,
229 tenure, or evaluation process.
230 (2) Each university board of trustees shall confirm its
231 president’s selection and reappointment of the university’s
232 executive management team members and their respective contracts
233 and annual salaries, in accordance with the university’s
234 personnel program established by the Board of Governors.
235 Contracts and responsibilities of the president and executive
236 team members, including, but not limited to, provost positions,
237 must explicitly delineate that the duties of positions, other
238 than the president, are limited to administrative oversight and
239 operational supervision of curricular, instructional, and
240 research affairs, as applicable to the position.
241 (4) Each university president shall annually present to his
242 or her board of trustees for review the results of performance
243 evaluations and associated salaries of all evaluated personnel
244 earning an annual compensation of $200,000 or more, regardless
245 of fund source.
246 Section 4. Section 1004.06, Florida Statutes, is amended to
247 read:
248 1004.06 Prohibited expenditures.—
249 (1) No Florida College System institution, state
250 university, Florida College System institution direct-support
251 organization, or state university direct-support organization
252 shall expend any funds, regardless of source, to purchase
253 membership in, or goods and services from, any organization that
254 discriminates on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex,
255 disability gender, or religion.
256 (2)(a) No Florida College System institution, state
257 university, Florida College System institution direct-support
258 organization, or state university direct-support organization
259 may expend any funds, regardless of source, to promote, support,
260 or maintain any programs or campus activities that violate s.
261 1000.05(4)(a).
262 (b) Programs required for compliance with federal
263 regulations, or access programs for military veterans, Pell
264 Grant recipients, first generation college students,
265 nontraditional students, “2+2” transfer students from the
266 Florida College System, students from low-income families, or
267 students with unique abilities, are not prohibited by this
268 subsection.
269 (3) The State Board of Education and the Board of Governors
270 shall adopt rules and regulations, respectively, to implement
271 this section.
272 Section 5. Section 1004.6496, Florida Statutes, is amended
273 to read:
274 1004.6496 Hamilton College Center for Classical and Civic
275 Education.—
276 (1) By July 1, 2024, the Board of Trustees of the
277 University of Florida may use funds as provided in the General
278 Appropriations Act and charitable donations to establish and
279 fund the Hamilton College Center for Classical and Civic
280 Education as an academic unit within the University of Florida.
281 The purpose of the college center is to support teaching and
282 research concerning the ideas, traditions, and texts that form
283 the foundations of Western and American civilization.
284 (2) The goals of the college center are to:
285 (a) Educate university students in core texts and great
286 debates of Western civilization and the Great Books.
287 (b) Educate university students in the principles, ideals,
288 and institutions of the American political order.
289 (c) Educate university students in the foundations of
290 responsible leadership and informed citizenship.
291 (d) Provide programming and training related to civic
292 education and the values of open inquiry and civil discourse to
293 support the K-20 system.
294 (e) Coordinate with the Florida Institute for Governance
295 and Civics of Politics created pursuant to s. 1004.6499 and the
296 Adam Smith Center for the Study of Economic Freedom created
297 pursuant to s. 1004.64991 and assist in the curation and
298 implementation of Portraits in Patriotism created pursuant to s.
299 1003.44.
300 (3) In order to carry out the purposes set forth in
301 subsection (2), the college is authorized to:
302 (a) Hire necessary faculty and staff pursuant to s.
303 1001.725;
304 (b) Enroll students;
305 (c) Develop curriculum and offer new courses, including
306 honors courses, certificates, and major and minor programs;
307 (d) Award degrees;
308 (e) Hold events, including fundraisers;
309 (f) Fulfill other actions approved by the president of the
310 university; and
311 (g) Generate resources based on student credit hour
312 enrollment, in the same manner as any other college within the
313 institution.
314 (4) The president of the university may hire a dean for the
315 college, subject to the approval of the board of trustees.
316 (a) If at any time the position of dean becomes vacant, the
317 president of the university may appoint a faculty member of the
318 college to serve as the acting dean. The president of the
319 university may remove the dean in accordance with the policies
320 and procedures established at the university.
321 (b) The dean of the college must report directly to the
322 president of the university.
323 (c) The dean of the college has the same delegated
324 authority, in the same manner, as any other dean at the
325 university.
326 (5) Faculty of the college may be awarded tenure subject to
327 the tenure policies of the university.
328 (6) Funds appropriated specifically to the college may not
329 be used for any other purpose at the university; however, the
330 university can provide additional funding as available to the
331 college.
332 Section 6. Section 1004.6499, Florida Statutes, is amended
333 to read:
334 1004.6499 Florida Institute for Governance and Civics of
335 Politics.—
336 (1) The Florida Institute for Governance and Civics of
337 Politics is established at the Florida State University within
338 the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy. The purpose of
339 the institute is to provide the southeastern region of the
340 United States with a world class, bipartisan, nationally
341 renowned institute of politics.
342 (2) The goals of the institute are to:
343 (a) Provide students with access to an interdisciplinary
344 hub that will develop academically rigorous scholarship and
345 coursework on the origins of the American system of government,
346 its foundational documents, its subsequent political traditions
347 and evolutions, and its impact on comparative political systems
348 Motivate students throughout the Florida State University to
349 become aware of the significance of government and civic
350 engagement at all levels and politics in general.
351 (b) Encourage civic literacy in this state through the
352 development of educational tools and resources for K-12 and
353 postsecondary students which foster an understanding of how
354 individual rights, constitutionalism, separation of powers, and
355 federalism function within the American system Provide students
356 with an opportunity to be politically active and civically
357 engaged.
358 (c) Model civic discourse that recognizes the importance of
359 viewpoint diversity, intellectual rigor, and an evidence-based
360 approach to history Nurture a greater awareness of and passion
361 for public service and politics.
362 (d) Plan and host forums to allow students and guests to
363 hear from exceptional individuals who have excelled in a wide
364 range of sectors of American life, to highlight the
365 possibilities created by individual achievement and
366 entrepreneurial vision and interact with experts from
367 government, politics, policy, and journalism on a frequent
368 basis.
369 (e) Become a national and state resource on using polling
370 instruments and other assessments to measure civic literacy and
371 make recommendations for improving civic education information
372 and survey methodology.
373 (f) Provide fellowships and internship opportunities to
374 students in government, nonprofit organizations, and community
375 organizations.
376 (g) Create through scholarship, original research,
377 publications, symposia, testimonials, and other means a body of
378 resources that can be accessed by students, scholars, and
379 government officials to understand the innovations in public
380 policy in this state over a rolling 30-year time period Provide
381 training sessions for newly elected state and local public
382 officials.
383 (h) Organize and sponsor conferences, symposia, and
384 workshops throughout this state to educate and inform citizens,
385 elected officials, and appointed policymakers regarding
386 effective policymaking techniques and processes.
387 (i) Create and promote research and awareness regarding
388 politics, citizen involvement, and public service.
389 (j) Collaborate with related policy institutes and research
390 activities at the Florida State University and other
391 institutions of higher education to motivate, increase, and
392 sustain citizen involvement in public affairs.
393 Section 7. Subsection (3) is added to section 1004.64991,
394 Florida Statutes, to read:
395 1004.64991 The Adam Smith Center for the Study of Economic
396 Freedom.—
397 (3) In order to carry out the purpose set forth in this
398 section, the institute is authorized to:
399 (a) Hire necessary faculty and staff pursuant to s.
400 1001.725;
401 (b) Enroll students;
402 (c) Develop curriculum and offer new courses, including
403 honors courses, certificates, and major and minor programs;
404 (d) Award degrees;
405 (e) Hold events, including fundraisers;
406 (f) Fulfill other actions approved by the president of the
407 university; and
408 (g) Generate resources based on student credit hour
409 enrollment, in the same manner as any other college within the
410 institution
411 Section 8. Subsection (3) of section 1007.25, Florida
412 Statutes, is amended to read:
413 1007.25 General education courses; common prerequisites;
414 other degree requirements.—
415 (3) The chair of the State Board of Education and the chair
416 of the Board of Governors, or their designees, shall jointly
417 appoint faculty committees to review and recommend to the
418 Articulation Coordinating Committee for approval by the
419 Commissioner of Education and Chancellor of the State University
420 System identify statewide general education core course options
421 for inclusion in the statewide course numbering system
422 established under s. 1007.24. Faculty committees shall, by
423 December 1, 2023, and by December 1 every 3 years thereafter,
424 review and submit recommendations to the Articulation
425 Coordinating Committee and the commissioner for the removal,
426 alignment, realignment, or addition of general education core
427 courses that satisfy the requirements of this subsection.
428 (a) General education core course options shall consist of
429 a maximum of five courses within each of the subject areas of
430 communication, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, and
431 natural sciences. The core courses may be revised, or the five
432 course maximum within each subject area may be exceeded, if
433 approved by the State Board of Education and the Board of
434 Governors, as recommended by the subject area faculty committee
435 and approved by the Articulation Coordinating Committee as
436 necessary for a subject area.
437 (b) Each general education core course option must contain
438 high-level academic and critical thinking skills and common
439 competencies that students must demonstrate to successfully
440 complete the course.
441 (c) General education core courses may not distort
442 significant historical events or include a curriculum that
443 teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05(4)(a), or defines
444 American history as contrary to the creation of a new nation
445 based on universal principles stated in the Declaration of
446 Independence.
447 (d) General education core courses must meet the following
448 standards:
449 1. Communication courses must afford students the ability
450 to communicate effectively, including the ability to write
451 clearly and engage in public speaking.
452 2. Humanities courses must afford students the ability to
453 think critically through the mastering of subjects concerned
454 with human culture, especially literature, history, art, music,
455 and philosophy, and must include selections from the Western
456 canon.
457 3. Social science courses must afford students an
458 understanding of the basic social and behavioral science
459 concepts and principles used in the analysis of behavior and
460 past and present social, political, and economic issues.
461 4. Natural science courses must afford students the ability
462 to critically examine and evaluate the principles of the
463 scientific method, model construction, and use the scientific
464 method to explain natural experiences and phenomena.
465 5. Mathematics courses must afford students a mastery of
466 foundational mathematical and computation models and methods by
467 applying such models and methods in problem solving.
468 (e) Beginning with students initially entering a Florida
469 College System institution or state university in 2015-2016 and
470 thereafter, each student must complete at least one identified
471 core course in each subject area as part of the general
472 education course requirements. Beginning in the 2022-2023
473 academic year and thereafter, students entering a technical
474 degree education program as defined in s. 1004.02(13) must
475 complete at least one identified core course in each subject
476 area as part of the general education course requirements before
477 a degree is awarded.
478 (f) All public postsecondary educational institutions shall
479 offer at least one general education core course in each of the
480 identified subject areas and accept these courses as meeting
481 general education core course requirements upon transfer,
482 regardless of whether the receiving institution offers the
483 identical general education core courses. The remaining general
484 education course requirements shall be identified by each
485 institution as approved in accordance with this section and
486 listed in the statewide course numbering system and reported to
487 the department by their statewide course number.
488 (g) A public postsecondary educational institution may not
489 require a student to complete an additional course to meet a
490 subject area distribution requirement that was completed by the
491 student with a course that has since been removed as a general
492 education core course.
493 (h) The general education core course options shall be
494 adopted in rule by the State Board of Education and in
495 regulation by the Board of Governors.
496 Section 9. Section 1007.55, Florida Statutes, is created to
497 read:
498 1007.55 General education course principles, standards, and
499 content.—
500 (1) The Legislature finds it necessary to ensure that every
501 undergraduate student of a Florida public postsecondary
502 educational institution graduates as an informed citizen through
503 participation in rigorous general education courses that promote
504 and preserve the constitutional republic through traditional,
505 historically accurate, and high-quality coursework. Courses with
506 a curriculum based on unproven, speculative, or exploratory
507 content are best suited as elective or specific program
508 prerequisite credit, not general education credit.
509 (2) In performing its duties under ss. 1007.24 and 1007.25,
510 by July 1, 2024, and each July 1 thereafter, the Articulation
511 Coordinating Committee shall submit to the State Board of
512 Education and Board of Governors courses that have been approved
513 to be used by public postsecondary educational institutions as
514 meeting the additional general education requirements.
515 (3) General education courses must meet the following
516 criteria:
517 (a) Be in the general education core subject areas and meet
518 the course standards as provided in s. 1007.25;
519 (b) Be offered by at least half of all public postsecondary
520 educational institutions;
521 (c) Be identified as lower level in the statewide course
522 numbering system; and
523 (d) Whenever applicable, provide instruction on the
524 historical background and philosophical foundation of Western
525 civilization and this nation’s historical documents, such as the
526 Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the
527 Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments, and the Federalist
528 Papers.
529 (4) If a course is approved as a general education course,
530 that course must be accepted as a general education course, in
531 the same subject area and regardless of whether it is offered by
532 the institution, by all public postsecondary educational
533 institutions.
534 (5) Public postsecondary educational institution boards of
535 trustees and presidents are responsible for annually reviewing
536 and approving, at a public meeting, general education course
537 requirements, as authorized and approved in accordance with ss.
538 1007.24 and 1007.25 and this section, at their respective
539 institutions. Public postsecondary educational institutions that
540 fail to comply with the requirements of this section are not
541 eligible to receive performance-based funding pursuant to ss.
542 1001.66 and 1001.92.
543 (6) Public postsecondary educational institutions must
544 report courses meeting institutional general education subject
545 requirements to the department by their statewide course number.
546 (7) A public postsecondary educational institution may not
547 require a student to take an additional course to meet a subject
548 area distribution requirement that was completed by the student
549 with a course that has since been removed as a general education
550 course.
551 (8) The State Board of Education and the Board of Governors
552 shall adopt rules and regulations, respectively, to implement
553 this section.
554 Section 10. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
555 1008.47, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
556 1008.47 Postsecondary education institution accreditation.—
557 (2) ACCREDITATION.—
558 (a) By September 1, 2022, the Board of Governors or the
559 State Board of Education, as applicable, shall identify and
560 determine the accrediting agencies or associations best suited
561 to serve as an accreditor for public postsecondary institutions.
562 Such accrediting agencies or associations must be recognized by
563 the database created and maintained by the United States
564 Department of Education. A public postsecondary institution may
565 not be accredited by the same accrediting agency or association
566 for consecutive accreditation cycles. In the year following
567 reaffirmation or fifth-year review by its accrediting agencies
568 or associations, each public postsecondary institution must seek
569 and obtain accreditation from an accrediting agency or
570 association identified by the Board of Governors or State Board
571 of Education, respectively, before its next reaffirmation or
572 fifth-year review date. The requirements in this section are
573 limited to a one-time change in accreditation. The requirements
574 of this subsection are not applicable to those professional,
575 graduate, departmental, or certificate programs at public
576 postsecondary institutions that have specific accreditation
577 requirements or best practices, including, but not limited to,
578 law, pharmacy, engineering, or other similarly situated
579 educational programs.
580 Section 11. Paragraph (b) of subsection (18) of section
581 1009.26, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
582 1009.26 Fee Waivers.—
583 (18)
584 (b) A waiver granted under this subsection is applicable
585 only for upper-level courses and up to 110 percent of the number
586 of required credit hours of the baccalaureate degree program for
587 which the student is enrolled. A student granted a waiver under
588 this subsection shall continue receiving the waiver until the
589 student graduates, exceeds the number of allowable credit hours,
590 or withdraws from an eligible program, regardless of whether the
591 program is removed from the approved list of eligible programs
592 subsequent to the student's enrollment.
593 Section 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.