Florida Senate - 2025 SENATOR AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS/HB 1321, 1st Eng.
Ì816520vÎ816520
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
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Senator Calatayud moved the following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete everything after the enacting clause
4 and insert:
5 Section 1. Section 20.701, Florida Statutes, is created to
6 read:
7 20.701 Residency requirements.—Notwithstanding any other
8 law:
9 (1) Effective January 6, 2027, each member of a state
10 university board of trustees must be a United States citizen and
11 either a resident of this state or a graduate of the state
12 university, the administration of which is overseen by such
13 board of trustees. If any member of a state university board of
14 trustees does not meet the requirements of this subsection, such
15 member’s office is automatically deemed vacant.
16 (2) Effective January 6, 2027, each member of the Board of
17 Governors must be a United States citizen and either a resident
18 of this state or a graduate of a state university, as defined in
19 s. 1000.21. If any member of the Board of Governors does not
20 meet the requirements of this subsection, such member’s office
21 is automatically deemed vacant.
22 Section 2. Paragraph (f) is added to subsection (1) of
23 section 112.3144, Florida Statutes, to read:
24 112.3144 Full and public disclosure of financial
25 interests.—
26 (1)
27 (f) Beginning January 1, 2026, each citizen member of the
28 Board of Governors of the State University System must comply
29 with the financial disclosure requirements of this section and
30 s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution.
31 Section 3. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1001.01,
32 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
33 1001.01 State Board of Education; generally.—
34 (1) The State Board of Education is established as a body
35 corporate. The state board shall be a citizen board consisting
36 of seven members who are residents of the state appointed by the
37 Governor to staggered 4-year terms, subject to confirmation by
38 the Senate. Members of the state board shall serve without
39 compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement of travel
40 and per diem expenses in accordance with s. 112.061. Members may
41 only serve two be reappointed by the Governor for additional
42 terms not to exceed 8 years of consecutive service.
43 (2) The State Board of Education shall select a chair and a
44 vice chair from its appointed members. The chair shall serve a
45 single 2-year term and may be reselected for one additional
46 consecutive term.
47 Section 4. Subsections (2) and (4) of section 1001.61,
48 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
49 1001.61 Florida College System institution boards of
50 trustees; membership.—
51 (2) Trustees shall be appointed by the Governor to
52 staggered 4-year terms, subject to confirmation by the Senate in
53 regular session. A trustee may continue to serve until a
54 successor is appointed. Trustees may be reappointed by the
55 Governor for one additional term, not to exceed 8 consecutive
56 years of service.
57 (4) At its first regular meeting after July 1 of each year,
58 each Florida College System institution board of trustees shall
59 organize by electing a chair, whose duty as such is to preside
60 at all meetings of the board, to call special meetings thereof,
61 and to attest to actions of the board, and a vice chair, whose
62 duty as such is to act as chair during the absence or disability
63 of the elected chair. It is the further duty of the chair of
64 each board of trustees to notify the Governor, in writing,
65 whenever a board member fails to attend three consecutive
66 regular board meetings in any one fiscal year, which absences
67 may be grounds for removal. The chair shall serve a single 2
68 year term.
69 Section 5. Subsection (19) of section 1001.64, Florida
70 Statutes, is amended to read:
71 1001.64 Florida College System institution boards of
72 trustees; powers and duties.—
73 (19) Each board of trustees shall appoint, suspend, or
74 remove the president of the Florida College System institution.
75 Such appointments, reappointments, suspensions, and extensions
76 of a president, including associated contracts, are not subject
77 to approval or confirmation by the State Board of Education. In
78 appointing a permanent president, the chair of the institution’s
79 board of trustees shall appoint a presidential search committee.
80 The presidential search committee shall be composed of at least
81 two members of the board of trustees and may include persons
82 from the institution’s faculty, student body, foundation board,
83 financing corporation board, if applicable, alumni, donors, and
84 members from the community the institution serves. However, none
85 of the persons appointed to serve on the presidential search
86 committee may hold positions that report directly to the
87 president. The Commissioner of Education or a member of the
88 State Board of Education may not serve on a presidential search
89 committee. The permanent president appointed by the
90 institution’s board of trustees must be recommended by the
91 presidential search committee The board of trustees may appoint
92 a search committee. The board of trustees shall conduct annual
93 evaluations of the president in accordance with rules of the
94 State Board of Education and submit such evaluations to the
95 State Board of Education for review. The evaluation must address
96 the achievement of the performance goals established by the
97 accountability process implemented pursuant to s. 1008.45. A
98 presidential contract may be renewed for a term exceeding 1
99 year, but not exceeding the term of the original contract.
100 Section 6. Subsection (1) of section 1001.70, Florida
101 Statutes, is amended to read:
102 1001.70 Board of Governors of the State University System.—
103 (1) Pursuant to s. 7(d), Art. IX of the State Constitution,
104 the Board of Governors is established as a body corporate
105 composed comprised of 17 members as follows: 14 citizen members
106 appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the Senate;
107 the Commissioner of Education; the chair of the advisory council
108 of faculty senates or the equivalent; and the president of the
109 Florida student association or the equivalent. The appointed
110 members may only shall serve a single staggered 7-year term
111 terms. In order to achieve staggered terms, beginning July 1,
112 2003, of the initial appointments, 4 members shall serve 2-year
113 terms, 5 members shall serve 3-year terms, and 5 members shall
114 serve 7-year terms.
115 Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) and paragraph
116 (c) of subsection (12) of section 1001.706, Florida Statutes,
117 are amended, and paragraph (k) is added to subsection (3) of
118 that section, to read:
119 1001.706 Powers and duties of the Board of Governors.—
120 (3) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO ORGANIZATION AND
121 OPERATION OF STATE UNIVERSITIES.—
122 (k) The Board of Governors shall adopt regulations
123 prohibiting universities that conduct public opinion survey
124 research from polling activities related to candidates for any
125 federal, state, or local office. A university may conduct survey
126 research to measure opinions and inform the public about social,
127 political, and economic issues unrelated to candidate
128 preference.
129 (5) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO ACCOUNTABILITY.—
130 (a)1. The Legislature intends that the Board of Governors
131 shall align the missions of each constituent university with the
132 academic success of its students; the existing and emerging
133 economic development needs of the state; the national reputation
134 of its faculty and its academic and research programs; the
135 quantity of externally generated research, patents, and
136 licenses; and the strategic and accountability plans required in
137 paragraphs (b) and (c). The Board of Governors shall
138 periodically review the mission of each constituent university
139 and make updates or revisions as needed. Upon completion of a
140 review of the mission, the board shall review existing academic
141 programs, including admission criteria, for alignment with the
142 mission. The board shall include in its review a directive to
143 each constituent university regarding its programs for any
144 curriculum or admission criteria that violates s. 1000.05 or
145 that is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism,
146 oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of
147 the United States and were created to maintain social,
148 political, and economic inequities. The mission alignment and
149 strategic plan must consider peer institutions at the
150 constituent universities. The mission alignment and strategic
151 plan must acknowledge that universities that have a national and
152 international impact have the greatest capacity to promote the
153 state’s economic development through: new discoveries, patents,
154 licenses, and technologies that generate state businesses of
155 global importance; research achievements through external grants
156 and contracts that are comparable to nationally recognized and
157 ranked universities; the creation of a resource rich academic
158 environment that attracts high-technology business and venture
159 capital to the state; and this generation’s finest minds
160 focusing on solving the state’s economic, social, environmental,
161 and legal problems in the areas of life sciences, water,
162 sustainability, energy, and health care. A nationally recognized
163 and ranked university that has a global perspective and impact
164 must be afforded the opportunity to enable and protect the
165 university’s competitiveness on the global stage in fair
166 competition with other institutions of other states in the
167 highest Carnegie Classification.
168 2. To assist the Board of Governors in its review of
169 admission criteria, each constituent university shall post
170 program admission criteria on its website.
171 (12) PUBLIC EDUCATION CAPITAL OUTLAY.—The Board of
172 Governors shall submit the prioritized list as required by s.
173 1013.64(4). Projects considered for prioritization shall be
174 chosen from a preliminary selection group which shall include
175 the list of projects maintained pursuant to paragraph (d) and
176 the top two priorities of each state university.
177 (c) A new construction, remodeling, or renovation project
178 that has not received an appropriation in a previous year may
179 shall not be considered for inclusion on the prioritized list
180 required by s. 1013.64(4), unless:
181 1. A plan is provided to reserve funds in an escrow
182 account, specific to the project, into which shall be deposited
183 each year an amount of funds equal to 1 percent of the total
184 value of the building for future maintenance;
185 2. There exists sufficient capacity within the cash and
186 bonding estimate of funds by the Revenue Estimating Conference
187 to accommodate the project within the 3-year Public Education
188 Capital Outlay funding cycle; and
189 3. The project has been recommended pursuant to s. 1013.31.
190 Section 8. Subsection (1) of section 1001.71, Florida
191 Statutes, is amended to read:
192 1001.71 University boards of trustees; membership.—
193 (1) Pursuant to s. 7(c), Art. IX of the State Constitution,
194 each local constituent university shall be administered by a
195 university board of trustees composed comprised of 13 members as
196 follows: 6 citizen members appointed by the Governor subject to
197 confirmation by the Senate; 5 citizen members appointed by the
198 Board of Governors subject to confirmation by the Senate; the
199 chair of the faculty senate or the equivalent; and the president
200 of the student body of the university. The appointed members
201 shall serve staggered 5-year terms. Appointed members may be
202 reappointed for one additional term, not to exceed 10 years of
203 consecutive service. In order to achieve staggered terms,
204 beginning July 1, 2003, of the initial appointments by the
205 Governor, 2 members shall serve 2-year terms, 3 members shall
206 serve 3-year terms, and 1 member shall serve a 5-year term and
207 of the initial appointments by the Board of Governors, 2 members
208 shall serve 2-year terms, 2 members shall serve 3-year terms,
209 and 1 member shall serve a 5-year term. There shall be no state
210 residency requirement for university board members, but The
211 Governor and the Board of Governors shall consider diversity and
212 regional representation when appointing members. An appointed
213 board member may continue to serve until a successor is
214 appointed. Beginning July 2, 2020, For purposes of this
215 subsection, regional representation includes shall include the
216 chair of a campus board established pursuant to s. 1004.341.
217 Section 9. Section 1001.93, Florida Statutes, is amended to
218 read:
219 1001.93 Offices of Public policy events within the State
220 University System.—
221 (1) The Legislature finds that the advancement of knowledge
222 is the fundamental purpose of the State University System and
223 that such advancement is facilitated by the fearless sifting and
224 winnowing of a wide diversity of views and that the open
225 discussion and debate of contested public policy issues from
226 diverse perspectives provides essential preparation for mature
227 citizenship and an informed exercise of the right to vote.
228 (2) For purposes of this section, the term:
229 (a) “Debate” means an event at which two or more
230 participants speak in favor of opposing approaches to the same
231 public policy dispute, after which each participant is allotted
232 time to address and rebut the position presented by the opposing
233 speakers.
234 (b) “Group forum” means an event at which two or more
235 speakers address a public policy dispute from divergent or
236 opposing perspectives, after which each participant is allotted
237 time to address questions from the audience and to comment on
238 the other speakers’ positions.
239 (3) Each state university within the State University
240 System must have an Office of Public Policy Events and must
241 appoint a Director of Public Policy Events who is responsible
242 for the duties and reporting responsibilities of the office. The
243 office must, at a minimum:
244 (a)1. Organize, publicize, and stage debates or group
245 forums at the state university. These events must address, from
246 multiple, divergent, and opposing perspectives, an extensive
247 range of public policy issues widely discussed and debated in
248 society at large. Each such The university shall sponsor no less
249 than four events each academic year. At least two events must
250 occur during the fall semester and at least two events must
251 occur during the spring semester.
252 1.2. Such debates and group forums must include speakers
253 who represent widely held views on opposing sides of the most
254 widely discussed public policy issues of the day and who hold a
255 wide diversity of perspectives from within and outside of the
256 state university community.
257 2.3. If a state university the office is unable to readily
258 find an advocate from within the state university community who
259 is well-versed in a perspective, as required in subparagraph 1.,
260 the state university must office shall invite a speaker who is
261 able to represent such perspective. The state university may
262 reimburse office shall, when necessary, provide such speakers
263 who are not from within the state university community with per
264 diem and a reimbursement for travel expenses and per diem.
265 (b) Maintain on its website a permanent, publicly
266 accessible listing of all of the events sponsored by the state
267 university during the prior and current academic years,
268 searchable, and up-to-date calendar in print, on the office’s
269 website, and on the state university’s website listing all of
270 the events sponsored by the office and all other debates, group
271 forums, and events open to the entire campus community at the
272 state university that address public policy issues. The calendar
273 must itemize the title of the event; the name and institutional
274 affiliation of the speaker or speakers; and the office,
275 institute, department, program, or organization that sponsored
276 the event, excluding those events sponsored by off-campus groups
277 in rented state university facilities. Such calendars must be
278 kept in the library system of each state university.
279 (c) Beginning September 1, 2024, and annually each
280 September 1 thereafter, provide to the Board of Governors a
281 report, which must reflect prior academic year statistics,
282 detailing all of the following:
283 1. The number of debates and group forums.
284 2. In chronological order, an itemization of the calendars
285 itemizing the title of each event; the name and institutional
286 affiliation of the speaker or speakers; and the office,
287 institute, department, program, or organization that sponsored
288 the event.
289 3. The number of people enrolled students attending each
290 event.
291 4. Expenditure information relating to any per diem or
292 reimbursement for travel expenses.
293
294 The report must reflect prior academic year statistics.
295 (d) Make publicly available, in an online format, a
296 complete video recording record of every debate and group forum
297 organized by the state university office. The video recording
298 for an event organized by the state university office must be
299 posted on the state university’s office’s website within 10
300 business days after the event. Such video must remain publicly
301 accessible on the state university’s office’s website for at
302 least 1 year 5 years after the date of the event. Such videos
303 must also be permanently preserved within, and made available to
304 the public through, the library of the state university that
305 hosted the event.
306 (4) Upon approval of the board of trustees of the state
307 university and the Board of Governors, a state university may
308 assign the duties of the office to an existing administrative
309 office within the state university rather than establish a
310 separate office.
311 (5) Each office shall report directly to either the state
312 university’s office that is responsible for compiling and
313 reporting the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System’s
314 graduation rate survey or Office of General Counsel.
315 (6) Each debate and group forum organized under subsection
316 (3) by the office must be open to all students, faculty, and
317 staff of the state university and, unless restricting attendance
318 to such event is necessary to achieve a compelling governmental
319 interest, to the general public.
320 Section 10. Subsections (1) and (5) of section 1004.085,
321 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
322 1004.085 Textbook and instructional materials affordability
323 and transparency.—
324 (1) As used in this section, the term:,
325 (a) The term “Instructional materials” means educational
326 materials for use within a course which may be available in
327 printed or digital format.
328 (b) “Syllabus” or “syllabi” means the course syllabus or
329 syllabi developed by the instructor assigned to the course.
330 (c) “Term” includes the fall, spring, and summer terms.
331 (5)(a) Each Florida College System institution and state
332 university shall post prominently in the course registration
333 system and on its website a hyperlink to lists of required and
334 recommended textbooks and instructional materials, including
335 those that are open access or an open educational resource or
336 for which there is no cost, for at least 95 percent of all
337 courses and course sections offered at the institution during
338 the upcoming term. The lists must include the International
339 Standard Book Number (ISBN) or a unique identifier for each
340 required and recommended textbook and instructional material and
341 or other identifying information, which must include, at a
342 minimum, all of the following: the title, all authors listed,
343 publishers, edition number, copyright date, published date, and
344 other relevant information necessary to identify the specific
345 textbooks or instructional materials required and recommended
346 for each course. The State Board of Education and the Board of
347 Governors shall include in the policies, procedures, and
348 guidelines adopted under subsection (6) certain limited
349 exceptions to this notification requirement for classes added
350 after the notification deadline.
351 (b) The lists of required and recommended textbooks and
352 instructional materials required in paragraph (a) must be based
353 on a list submitted by the instructor and:
354 1. Be posted as early as is feasible but at least 45 days
355 before the first day of class for each term.
356 2. Remain posted for at least 5 academic years.
357 3. Be searchable by the general education status, the
358 course subject, the course section, the course number, the
359 course title, the name of the instructor of the course, the
360 title of each assigned textbook or instructional material, and
361 each author of an assigned textbook or instructional material.
362 4. Include the duration of any license allowing access to
363 the textbook or instructional material.
364 5. Display corresponding retail costs, when applicable, to
365 students to help determine the value of any bulk pricing
366 program.
367 6.4. Be easily downloadable by current and prospective
368 students.
369 (c) To maximize informed student choice, the current
370 syllabus for each If a course subject to paragraphs (a) and (b)
371 shall be posted prominently as a hyperlink in the course
372 registration system. Each syllabus must contain is a general
373 education core course option identified pursuant to s. 1007.25,
374 course syllabi information containing sufficient detail to
375 inform students of all of the following must be included:
376 1. The course curriculum, including the required,
377 recommended, and supplemental textbooks and instructional
378 materials regardless of cost or whether the materials are open
379 access or open educational resource.
380 2. Specific The goals, objectives, and student expectations
381 of the course.
382 3. How student performance will be evaluated, including the
383 grading scale and methodology measured.
384 Section 11. Section 1004.0982, Florida Statutes, is created
385 to read:
386 1004.0982 Presidential succession at state universities and
387 Florida College System institutions.—
388 (1) Each state university and Florida College System
389 institution board of trustees must adopt a presidential
390 succession plan specifying lines of authority should the
391 president not fulfill his or her full term as president. To
392 promote continuity and efficiency in government, each successor
393 identified in the plan must be a current employee of the state
394 university or Florida College System institution.
395 (2) A state university or Florida College System
396 institution may not appoint or select an interim president
397 unless the appointment or selection conforms to its succession
398 plan or the university or institution conducts a search pursuant
399 to s. 1001.706(6)(a) or s. 1001.64(19), as applicable.
400 Section 12. Section 1004.89, Florida Statutes, is amended
401 to read:
402 1004.89 Institute for Freedom in the Americas.—
403 (1) The Institute for Freedom in the Americas is hereby
404 created at Miami Dade College to preserve the ideals of a free
405 society and promote democracy in the Americas. The institute
406 shall be located at the Freedom Tower and shall:
407 (1)(a) Partner with the Adam Smith Center for Economic
408 Freedom to Hold workshops, symposiums, and conferences that
409 provide networking opportunities for leaders throughout the
410 region to gain new insights and ideas for promoting democracy,
411 including knowledge of and insight into the intellectual,
412 political, and economic freedoms that are foundational to a
413 democratic society.
414 (2)(b) Enter into an agreement with the Adam Smith Center
415 for Economic Freedom to provide participants with academic
416 coursework and programs that advance democratic practices and
417 economic and legal reforms.
418 (3)(c) Provide educational and experiential opportunities
419 for regional leaders committed to careers in democracy and
420 governance.
421 (2) Miami Dade College, in accordance with s. 1004.70,
422 shall approve a direct-support organization to support the
423 institute in its mission to develop partnerships throughout the
424 Americas. Notwithstanding s. 1004.70(2), the board of the
425 direct-support organization shall be composed of five members,
426 as follows: one member appointed by the President of the Senate;
427 one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of
428 Representatives; and three members appointed by the Governor,
429 including a representative from Miami Dade College and a
430 representative from the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom.
431 Section 13. Subsection (15) is added to section 1007.25,
432 Florida Statutes, to read:
433 1007.25 General education courses; common prerequisites;
434 other degree requirements.—
435 (15) A Florida College System institution or state
436 university may not impose an institution-wide or university-wide
437 graduation requirement that includes a course in conflict with
438 paragraph (3)(c).
439 Section 14. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
440
441 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
442 And the title is amended as follows:
443 Delete everything before the enacting clause
444 and insert:
445 A bill to be entitled
446 An act relating to higher education; creating s.
447 20.701, F.S.; requiring that members of a state
448 university board of trustees and members of the Board
449 of Governors be United States citizens and either
450 residents of this state or graduates of a state
451 university beginning on a specified date; providing
452 that specified offices are deemed vacant under certain
453 circumstances; amending s. 112.3144, F.S.; requiring
454 certain members of the Board of Governors to comply
455 with specified financial disclosure requirements
456 beginning on a specified date; amending s. 1001.01,
457 F.S.; revising term limits for members and the chair
458 of the State Board of Education; amending s. 1001.61,
459 F.S.; providing term limits for members and the chairs
460 of the Florida College System institution boards of
461 trustees; authorizing trustees to serve until the
462 appointment of a successor; amending s. 1001.64, F.S.;
463 providing that certain actions related to the
464 president of a Florida College System institution are
465 not subject to approval by the State Board of
466 Education; requiring that a presidential search
467 committee be appointed to make the appointment of such
468 president; providing requirements for such committee;
469 requiring that such president be recommended by the
470 committee; authorizing the renewal of a presidential
471 contract for a specified period; amending s. 1001.70,
472 F.S.; providing term limits for appointed members of
473 the Board of Governors; amending s. 1001.706, F.S.;
474 requiring the Board of Governors to adopt regulations
475 regarding state university public opinion survey
476 research; requiring the Board of Governors to review
477 the admission criteria of state universities;
478 requiring that state university program admission
479 criteria be posted on state university websites;
480 authorizing the renewal of a presidential contract for
481 a specified period; revising the requirements for
482 certain state university capital outlay projects to be
483 included on a specified list; amending s. 1001.71,
484 F.S.; providing term limits for appointed members of
485 university boards of trustees; deleting obsolete
486 language and a certain consideration for appointed
487 members; authorizing appointed members to serve until
488 a successor is appointed; amending s. 1001.93, F.S.;
489 deleting a requirement for each state university to
490 have an Office of Public Policy Events; deleting a
491 requirement that each state university appoint a
492 Director of Public Policy Events; revising the
493 timeframe within which a video recording of a debate
494 or group forum must remain publicly accessible; making
495 technical changes; amending s. 1004.085, F.S.;
496 defining the terms “syllabus” or “syllabi” and “term”;
497 adding certain materials to lists of textbooks and
498 instructional materials; requiring that the current
499 syllabi for specified courses be posted as a hyperlink
500 in a specified system and include specified
501 information; creating s. 1004.0982, F.S.; requiring
502 each state university and Florida College System
503 institution board of trustees to adopt a presidential
504 succession plan; requiring each successor identified
505 in the plan to be a current employee of a state
506 university or Florida College System institution;
507 requiring an interim presidential appointment or
508 selection to conform to the plan or specified search
509 requirements; amending s. 1004.89, F.S.; deleting a
510 requirement for the Institute for Freedom in the
511 Americas to partner with the Adam Smith Center for
512 Economic Freedom; deleting a requirement for Miami
513 Dade College to approve a direct-support organization
514 to support the Institute for Freedom in the Americas;
515 deleting a provision providing for the composition of
516 the board of the organization; amending s. 1007.25,
517 F.S.; prohibiting a Florida College System institution
518 or state university from imposing a certain graduation
519 requirement; providing an effective date.