Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 1726
By the Committee on Rules; the Appropriations Committee on
Higher Education; and Senator Calatayud
595-03802-25 20251726c2
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to higher education; creating s.
3 20.701, F.S.; requiring members of a state university
4 board of trustees and members of the Board of
5 Governors to be United States citizens and either
6 residents of this state or graduates of a state
7 university beginning on a specified date; providing
8 that specified offices are deemed vacant under certain
9 circumstances; amending s. 112.3144, F.S.; requiring
10 certain members of the Board of Governors to comply
11 with specified financial disclosure requirements
12 beginning on a specified date; amending s. 1001.01,
13 F.S.; revising term limits for members and the chair
14 of the State Board of Education; amending s. 1001.61,
15 F.S.; providing term limits for members and the chairs
16 of the Florida College System institution boards of
17 trustees; authorizing trustees to serve until the
18 appointment of a successor; amending s. 1001.64, F.S.;
19 providing that certain actions related to the
20 president of a Florida College System institution are
21 not subject to approval by the State Board of
22 Education; requiring that a presidential search
23 committee be appointed to make the appointment of such
24 president; providing requirements for such committee;
25 requiring that such president be recommended by the
26 committee; authorizing the renewal of a presidential
27 contract for a specified period; amending s. 1001.70,
28 F.S.; providing term limits for appointed members of
29 the Board of Governors; amending s. 1001.706, F.S.;
30 requiring the Board of Governors to adopt regulations
31 regarding state university public opinion survey
32 research; requiring the Board of Governors to review
33 the admission criteria of state universities;
34 requiring that state university program admission
35 criteria be posted on state university websites;
36 providing that the president of a state university is
37 appointed by the university board of trustees;
38 requiring that a presidential search committee be
39 appointed to make the appointment of such president;
40 providing requirements for such committee; requiring
41 that such president be recommended by the committee;
42 authorizing the renewal of a presidential contract for
43 a specified period; deleting a requirement that the
44 Board of Governors confirm the selection and
45 reappointment of such president; revising the
46 requirements for certain state university capital
47 outlay projects to be included on a specified list;
48 amending s. 1001.71, F.S.; providing term limits for
49 appointed members of university boards of trustees;
50 deleting obsolete language and a certain consideration
51 for appointed members; authorizing appointed members
52 to serve until a successor is appointed; amending s.
53 1001.93, F.S.; deleting a requirement for each state
54 university to have an Office of Public Policy Events;
55 deleting a requirement that each state university
56 appoint a Director of Public Policy Events; revising
57 the timeframe within which a video recording of a
58 debate or group forum must remain publicly accessible;
59 making technical changes; amending s. 1004.085, F.S.;
60 defining the terms “syllabus” or “syllabi” and “term”;
61 adding certain materials to lists of textbooks and
62 instructional materials; requiring that the current
63 syllabi for specified courses be posted as a hyperlink
64 in a specified system and include specified
65 information; amending s. 1004.098, F.S.; defining the
66 term “final group of applicants”; amending s. 1004.89,
67 F.S.; deleting a requirement for the Institute for
68 Freedom in the Americas to partner with the Adam Smith
69 Center for Economic Freedom; deleting a requirement
70 for Miami Dade College to approve a direct-support
71 organization to support the Institute for Freedom in
72 the Americas; deleting a provision providing for the
73 composition of the board of the organization; amending
74 s. 1007.25, F.S.; prohibiting a Florida College System
75 institution or state university from imposing a
76 certain graduation requirement; amending s. 1011.47,
77 F.S.; authorizing a university board of trustees to
78 approve the transfer of unreserved cash from one
79 auxiliary enterprise to support another auxiliary
80 enterprise under certain conditions; requiring such
81 transfers to be reported annually to the Board of
82 Governors; providing for expiration; providing
83 effective dates.
84
85 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
86
87 Section 1. Section 20.701, Florida Statutes, is created to
88 read:
89 20.701 Residency requirements.—Notwithstanding any other
90 law:
91 (1) Effective January 6, 2027, each member of a state
92 university board of trustees must be a United States citizen and
93 either a resident of this state or a graduate of the university,
94 the administration of which is overseen by the board. The office
95 of any member who does not meet the requirements of this
96 subsection is automatically deemed vacant.
97 (2) Effective January 6, 2027, each member of the Board of
98 Governors must be a United States citizen and either a resident
99 of this state or a graduate of a state university, as defined in
100 s. 1000.21. The office of any member of the Board of Governors
101 who does not meet the requirements of this subsection is
102 automatically deemed vacant.
103 Section 2. Paragraph (f) is added to subsection (1) of
104 section 112.3144, Florida Statutes, to read:
105 112.3144 Full and public disclosure of financial
106 interests.—
107 (1)
108 (f) Beginning January 1, 2026, each citizen member of the
109 Board of Governors of the State University System must comply
110 with the financial disclosure requirements of this section and
111 s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution.
112 Section 3. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1001.01,
113 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
114 1001.01 State Board of Education; generally.—
115 (1) The State Board of Education is established as a body
116 corporate. The state board shall be a citizen board consisting
117 of seven members who are residents of the state appointed by the
118 Governor to staggered 4-year terms, subject to confirmation by
119 the Senate. Members of the state board shall serve without
120 compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement of travel
121 and per diem expenses in accordance with s. 112.061. Members may
122 only serve two be reappointed by the Governor for additional
123 terms not to exceed 8 years of consecutive service.
124 (2) The State Board of Education shall select a chair and a
125 vice chair from its appointed members. The chair shall serve a
126 single 2-year term and may be reselected for one additional
127 consecutive term.
128 Section 4. Subsections (2) and (4) of section 1001.61,
129 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
130 1001.61 Florida College System institution boards of
131 trustees; membership.—
132 (2) Trustees shall be appointed by the Governor to
133 staggered 4-year terms, subject to confirmation by the Senate in
134 regular session. A trustee may continue to serve until a
135 successor is appointed. Trustees may be reappointed by the
136 Governor for one additional term, not to exceed 8 consecutive
137 years of service.
138 (4) At its first regular meeting after July 1 of each year,
139 each Florida College System institution board of trustees shall
140 organize by electing a chair, whose duty as such is to preside
141 at all meetings of the board, to call special meetings thereof,
142 and to attest to actions of the board, and a vice chair, whose
143 duty as such is to act as chair during the absence or disability
144 of the elected chair. It is the further duty of the chair of
145 each board of trustees to notify the Governor, in writing,
146 whenever a board member fails to attend three consecutive
147 regular board meetings in any one fiscal year, which absences
148 may be grounds for removal. The chair shall serve a single 2
149 year term.
150 Section 5. Subsection (19) of section 1001.64, Florida
151 Statutes, is amended to read:
152 1001.64 Florida College System institution boards of
153 trustees; powers and duties.—
154 (19) Each board of trustees shall appoint, suspend, or
155 remove the president of the Florida College System institution.
156 Such appointments, reappointments, suspensions, and extensions
157 of a president, including associated contracts, are not subject
158 to approval or confirmation by the State Board of Education. In
159 appointing a permanent president, the chair of the institution’s
160 board of trustees shall appoint a presidential search committee.
161 The presidential search committee shall be composed of at least
162 two members of the board of trustees and may include persons
163 from the institution’s faculty, student body, foundation board,
164 financing corporation board, if applicable, alumni, donors, and
165 members from the community the institution serves. However, none
166 of the persons appointed to serve on the presidential search
167 committee may hold positions that report directly to the
168 president. The Commissioner of Education or a member of the
169 State Board of Education may not serve on a presidential search
170 committee. The permanent president appointed by the
171 institution’s board of trustees must be recommended by the
172 presidential search committee The board of trustees may appoint
173 a search committee. The board of trustees shall conduct annual
174 evaluations of the president in accordance with rules of the
175 State Board of Education and submit such evaluations to the
176 State Board of Education for review. The evaluation must address
177 the achievement of the performance goals established by the
178 accountability process implemented pursuant to s. 1008.45. A
179 presidential contract may be renewed for a term exceeding 1
180 year, but not exceeding the term of the original contract.
181 Section 6. Subsection (1) of section 1001.70, Florida
182 Statutes, is amended to read:
183 1001.70 Board of Governors of the State University System.—
184 (1) Pursuant to s. 7(d), Art. IX of the State Constitution,
185 the Board of Governors is established as a body corporate
186 composed comprised of 17 members as follows: 14 citizen members
187 appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the Senate;
188 the Commissioner of Education; the chair of the advisory council
189 of faculty senates or the equivalent; and the president of the
190 Florida student association or the equivalent. The appointed
191 members may only shall serve a single staggered 7-year term
192 terms. In order to achieve staggered terms, beginning July 1,
193 2003, of the initial appointments, 4 members shall serve 2-year
194 terms, 5 members shall serve 3-year terms, and 5 members shall
195 serve 7-year terms.
196 Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5), paragraph (a)
197 of subsection (6), and paragraph (c) of subsection (12) of
198 section 1001.706, Florida Statutes, are amended, and paragraph
199 (k) is added to subsection (3) of that section, to read:
200 1001.706 Powers and duties of the Board of Governors.—
201 (3) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO ORGANIZATION AND
202 OPERATION OF STATE UNIVERSITIES.—
203 (k) The Board of Governors shall adopt regulations
204 prohibiting universities that conduct public opinion survey
205 research from polling activities related to candidates for any
206 federal, state, or local office. A university may conduct survey
207 research to measure opinions and inform the public about social,
208 political, and economic issues unrelated to candidate
209 preference.
210 (5) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO ACCOUNTABILITY.—
211 (a)1. The Legislature intends that the Board of Governors
212 shall align the missions of each constituent university with the
213 academic success of its students; the existing and emerging
214 economic development needs of the state; the national reputation
215 of its faculty and its academic and research programs; the
216 quantity of externally generated research, patents, and
217 licenses; and the strategic and accountability plans required in
218 paragraphs (b) and (c). The Board of Governors shall
219 periodically review the mission of each constituent university
220 and make updates or revisions as needed. Upon completion of a
221 review of the mission, the board shall review existing academic
222 programs, including admission criteria, for alignment with the
223 mission. The board shall include in its review a directive to
224 each constituent university regarding its programs for any
225 curriculum or admission criteria that violates s. 1000.05 or
226 that is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism,
227 oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of
228 the United States and were created to maintain social,
229 political, and economic inequities. The mission alignment and
230 strategic plan must consider peer institutions at the
231 constituent universities. The mission alignment and strategic
232 plan must acknowledge that universities that have a national and
233 international impact have the greatest capacity to promote the
234 state’s economic development through: new discoveries, patents,
235 licenses, and technologies that generate state businesses of
236 global importance; research achievements through external grants
237 and contracts that are comparable to nationally recognized and
238 ranked universities; the creation of a resource rich academic
239 environment that attracts high-technology business and venture
240 capital to the state; and this generation’s finest minds
241 focusing on solving the state’s economic, social, environmental,
242 and legal problems in the areas of life sciences, water,
243 sustainability, energy, and health care. A nationally recognized
244 and ranked university that has a global perspective and impact
245 must be afforded the opportunity to enable and protect the
246 university’s competitiveness on the global stage in fair
247 competition with other institutions of other states in the
248 highest Carnegie Classification.
249 2. To assist the Board of Governors in its review of
250 admission criteria, each constituent university shall post
251 program admission criteria on its website.
252 (6) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO PERSONNEL.—
253 (a) The Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, shall
254 establish the personnel program for all employees of a state
255 university, except the president. The board of trustees of a
256 state university shall select and reappoint the university
257 president. In appointing a permanent president, the chair of the
258 university board of trustees shall appoint a presidential search
259 committee. The presidential search committee shall be composed
260 of 15 members, of whom at least three must be members of the
261 board of trustees, and may include persons from the university’s
262 faculty, the student body, the university’s foundation board,
263 the university’s financing corporation board, if applicable,
264 alumni, donors, and members from the community in which the
265 university serves. However, none of the persons appointed to
266 serve on the presidential search committee may hold positions
267 that report directly to the president. The Chancellor of the
268 State University System or a member of the Board of Governors
269 may not serve on the presidential search committee. The
270 permanent president selected by the board of trustees must have
271 been recommended by the presidential search committee.
272 Selections, reappointments, and extensions of a president,
273 including associated contracts, are not subject to approval or
274 confirmation by the Board of Governors. A presidential contract
275 may be renewed for a term exceeding 1 year, but not exceeding
276 the term of the original contract. The Board of Governors shall
277 confirm the presidential selection and reappointment by a
278 university board of trustees as a means of acknowledging that
279 system cooperation is expected.
280 (12) PUBLIC EDUCATION CAPITAL OUTLAY.—The Board of
281 Governors shall submit the prioritized list as required by s.
282 1013.64(4). Projects considered for prioritization shall be
283 chosen from a preliminary selection group which shall include
284 the list of projects maintained pursuant to paragraph (d) and
285 the top two priorities of each state university.
286 (c) A new construction, remodeling, or renovation project
287 that has not received an appropriation in a previous year may
288 shall not be considered for inclusion on the prioritized list
289 required by s. 1013.64(4), unless:
290 1. A plan is provided to reserve funds in an escrow
291 account, specific to the project, into which shall be deposited
292 each year an amount of funds equal to 1 percent of the total
293 value of the building for future maintenance;
294 2. There exists sufficient capacity within the cash and
295 bonding estimate of funds by the Revenue Estimating Conference
296 to accommodate the project within the 3-year Public Education
297 Capital Outlay funding cycle; and
298 3. The project has been recommended pursuant to s. 1013.31.
299 Section 8. Subsection (1) of section 1001.71, Florida
300 Statutes, is amended to read:
301 1001.71 University boards of trustees; membership.—
302 (1) Pursuant to s. 7(c), Art. IX of the State Constitution,
303 each local constituent university shall be administered by a
304 university board of trustees composed comprised of 13 members as
305 follows: 6 citizen members appointed by the Governor subject to
306 confirmation by the Senate; 5 citizen members appointed by the
307 Board of Governors subject to confirmation by the Senate; the
308 chair of the faculty senate or the equivalent; and the president
309 of the student body of the university. The appointed members
310 shall serve staggered 5-year terms. Appointed members may be
311 reappointed for one additional term, not to exceed 10 years of
312 consecutive service. In order to achieve staggered terms,
313 beginning July 1, 2003, of the initial appointments by the
314 Governor, 2 members shall serve 2-year terms, 3 members shall
315 serve 3-year terms, and 1 member shall serve a 5-year term and
316 of the initial appointments by the Board of Governors, 2 members
317 shall serve 2-year terms, 2 members shall serve 3-year terms,
318 and 1 member shall serve a 5-year term. There shall be no state
319 residency requirement for university board members, but The
320 Governor and the Board of Governors shall consider diversity and
321 regional representation when appointing members. An appointed
322 board member may continue to serve until a successor is
323 appointed. Beginning July 2, 2020, For purposes of this
324 subsection, regional representation includes shall include the
325 chair of a campus board established pursuant to s. 1004.341.
326 Section 9. Section 1001.93, Florida Statutes, is amended to
327 read:
328 1001.93 Offices of Public policy events within the State
329 University System.—
330 (1) The Legislature finds that the advancement of knowledge
331 is the fundamental purpose of the State University System and
332 that such advancement is facilitated by the fearless sifting and
333 winnowing of a wide diversity of views and that the open
334 discussion and debate of contested public policy issues from
335 diverse perspectives provides essential preparation for mature
336 citizenship and an informed exercise of the right to vote.
337 (2) For purposes of this section, the term:
338 (a) “Debate” means an event at which two or more
339 participants speak in favor of opposing approaches to the same
340 public policy dispute, after which each participant is allotted
341 time to address and rebut the position presented by the opposing
342 speakers.
343 (b) “Group forum” means an event at which two or more
344 speakers address a public policy dispute from divergent or
345 opposing perspectives, after which each participant is allotted
346 time to address questions from the audience and to comment on
347 the other speakers’ positions.
348 (3) Each state university within the State University
349 System must have an Office of Public Policy Events and must
350 appoint a Director of Public Policy Events who is responsible
351 for the duties and reporting responsibilities of the office. The
352 office must, at a minimum:
353 (a)1. Organize, publicize, and stage debates or group
354 forums at the state university. These events must address, from
355 multiple, divergent, and opposing perspectives, an extensive
356 range of public policy issues widely discussed and debated in
357 society at large. Each such The university shall sponsor no less
358 than four events each academic year. At least two events must
359 occur during the fall semester and at least two events must
360 occur during the spring semester.
361 1.2. Such debates and group forums must include speakers
362 who represent widely held views on opposing sides of the most
363 widely discussed public policy issues of the day and who hold a
364 wide diversity of perspectives from within and outside of the
365 state university community.
366 2.3. If a state university the office is unable to readily
367 find an advocate from within the state university community who
368 is well-versed in a perspective, as required in subparagraph 1.,
369 the state university must office shall invite a speaker who is
370 able to represent such perspective. The state university may
371 reimburse office shall, when necessary, provide such speakers
372 who are not from within the state university community with per
373 diem and a reimbursement for travel expenses and per diem.
374 (b) Maintain on its website a permanent, publicly
375 accessible listing of all of the events sponsored by the state
376 university during the prior and current academic year,
377 searchable, and up-to-date calendar in print, on the office’s
378 website, and on the state university’s website listing all of
379 the events sponsored by the office and all other debates, group
380 forums, and events open to the entire campus community at the
381 state university that address public policy issues. The calendar
382 must itemize the title of the event; the name and institutional
383 affiliation of the speaker or speakers; and the office,
384 institute, department, program, or organization that sponsored
385 the event, excluding those events sponsored by off-campus groups
386 in rented state university facilities. Such calendars must be
387 kept in the library system of each state university.
388 (c) Beginning September 1, 2024, and annually each
389 September 1 thereafter, provide to the Board of Governors a
390 report, which must reflect prior academic year statistics,
391 detailing all of the following:
392 1. The number of debates and group forums.
393 2. In chronological order, an itemization of the calendars
394 itemizing the title of each event; the name and institutional
395 affiliation of the speaker or speakers; and the office,
396 institute, department, program, or organization that sponsored
397 the event.
398 3. The number of people enrolled students attending each
399 event.
400 4. Expenditure information relating to any per diem or
401 reimbursement for travel expenses.
402
403 The report must reflect prior academic year statistics.
404 (d) Make publicly available, in an online format, a
405 complete video recording record of every debate and group forum
406 organized by the state university office. The video recording
407 for an event organized by the state university office must be
408 posted on the state university’s office’s website within 10
409 business days after the event. Such video must remain publicly
410 accessible on the state university’s office’s website for at
411 least 1 year 5 years after the date of the event. Such videos
412 must also be permanently preserved within, and made available to
413 the public through, the library of the state university that
414 hosted the event.
415 (4) Upon approval of the board of trustees of the state
416 university and the Board of Governors, a state university may
417 assign the duties of the office to an existing administrative
418 office within the state university rather than establish a
419 separate office.
420 (5) Each office shall report directly to either the state
421 university’s office that is responsible for compiling and
422 reporting the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System’s
423 graduation rate survey or Office of General Counsel.
424 (6) Each debate and group forum organized under subsection
425 (3) by the office must be open to all students, faculty, and
426 staff of the state university and, unless restricting attendance
427 to such event is necessary to achieve a compelling governmental
428 interest, to the general public.
429 Section 10. Subsections (1) and (5) of section 1004.085,
430 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
431 1004.085 Textbook and instructional materials affordability
432 and transparency.—
433 (1) As used in this section, the term:,
434 (a) The term “Instructional materials” means educational
435 materials for use within a course which may be available in
436 printed or digital format.
437 (b) “Syllabus” or “syllabi” means the course syllabus or
438 syllabi developed by the instructor assigned to the course.
439 (c) “Term” includes the fall, spring, and summer terms.
440 (5)(a) Each Florida College System institution and state
441 university shall post prominently in the course registration
442 system and on its website a hyperlink to lists of required and
443 recommended textbooks and instructional materials for at least
444 95 percent of all courses and course sections offered at the
445 institution during the upcoming term. The lists must include the
446 International Standard Book Number (ISBN) for each required and
447 recommended textbook and instructional material or other
448 identifying information, which must include, at a minimum, all
449 of the following: the title, all authors listed, publishers,
450 edition number, copyright date, published date, and other
451 relevant information necessary to identify the specific
452 textbooks or instructional materials required and recommended
453 for each course. The lists must include those materials that are
454 open access or an open educational resource for which there is
455 no cost, must include a unique identifier, if available, and
456 must include any relevant information necessary to identify the
457 specific resource. The State Board of Education and the Board of
458 Governors shall include in the policies, procedures, and
459 guidelines adopted under subsection (6) certain limited
460 exceptions to this notification requirement for classes added
461 after the notification deadline.
462 (b) The lists of required and recommended textbooks and
463 instructional materials required in paragraph (a) must be, to
464 the maximum extent possible, based on a list submitted by the
465 instructor and must:
466 1. Be posted as early as is feasible but at least 45 days
467 before the first day of class for each term.
468 2. Remain posted for at least 5 academic years.
469 3. Be searchable by the general education status, the
470 course subject, the course section, the course number, the
471 course title, the name of the instructor of the course, the
472 title of each assigned textbook or instructional material, and
473 each author of an assigned textbook or instructional material.
474 4. Include the duration of any license allowing access to
475 the textbook or instructional material for which students must
476 purchase or pay for access.
477 5.4. Be easily downloadable by current and prospective
478 students.
479 (c) To maximize informed student choice, courses If a
480 course subject to paragraphs (a) and (b) must include the
481 current is a general education core course option identified
482 pursuant to s. 1007.25, course syllabi posted in the same
483 location as the postings of required and recommended textbooks
484 and instructional materials at least 10 business days before the
485 start of the term. Individualized courses, such as directed
486 individual studies, thesis, dissertation defense, and
487 performance, are exempt from this requirement. Each syllabus
488 must contain syllabi information containing sufficient detail to
489 inform students of all of the following must be included:
490 1. The course curriculum, including the required and
491 recommended textbooks and instructional materials regardless of
492 cost or whether the materials are open access or an open
493 educational resource.
494 2. Specific The goals, objectives, and student expectations
495 of the course.
496 3. How student performance will be evaluated, including the
497 grading scale and methodology measured.
498 Section 11. Present subsections (1), (2), and (3) of
499 section 1004.098, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
500 subsections (2), (3), and (4), respectively, a new subsection
501 (1) is added to that section, and paragraph (a) of present
502 subsection (2) of that section is amended, to read:
503 1004.098 Applicants for president of a state university or
504 Florida College System institution; public records exemption;
505 public meetings exemption.—
506 (1) For the purposes of this section, the term “final group
507 of applicants” means no fewer than three applicants who will
508 receive final consideration for president of a state university
509 or Florida College System institution.
510 (3)(a)(2)(a) Any portion of a meeting held for the purpose
511 of identifying or vetting applicants for president of a state
512 university or a Florida College System institution, including
513 any portion of a meeting which would disclose personal
514 identifying information of such applicants which is otherwise
515 confidential and exempt under subsection (2) (1), is exempt from
516 s. 286.011 and s. 24(b), Art. I of the State Constitution.
517 Section 12. Section 1004.89, Florida Statutes, is amended
518 to read:
519 1004.89 Institute for Freedom in the Americas.—
520 (1) The Institute for Freedom in the Americas is hereby
521 created at Miami Dade College to preserve the ideals of a free
522 society and promote democracy in the Americas. The institute
523 shall be located at the Freedom Tower and shall:
524 (1)(a) Partner with the Adam Smith Center for Economic
525 Freedom to Hold workshops, symposiums, and conferences that
526 provide networking opportunities for leaders throughout the
527 region to gain new insights and ideas for promoting democracy,
528 including knowledge of and insight into the intellectual,
529 political, and economic freedoms that are foundational to a
530 democratic society.
531 (2)(b) Enter into an agreement with the Adam Smith Center
532 for Economic Freedom to provide participants with academic
533 coursework and programs that advance democratic practices and
534 economic and legal reforms.
535 (3)(c) Provide educational and experiential opportunities
536 for regional leaders committed to careers in democracy and
537 governance.
538 (2) Miami Dade College, in accordance with s. 1004.70,
539 shall approve a direct-support organization to support the
540 institute in its mission to develop partnerships throughout the
541 Americas. Notwithstanding s. 1004.70(2), the board of the
542 direct-support organization shall be composed of five members,
543 as follows: one member appointed by the President of the Senate;
544 one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of
545 Representatives; and three members appointed by the Governor,
546 including a representative from Miami Dade College and a
547 representative from the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom.
548 Section 13. Subsection (15) is added to section 1007.25,
549 Florida Statutes, to read:
550 1007.25 General education courses; common prerequisites;
551 other degree requirements.—
552 (15) A Florida College System institution or state
553 university may not impose an institution-wide or university-wide
554 graduation requirement that includes a course in conflict with
555 paragraph (3)(c).
556 Section 14. Subsection (1) of section 1011.47, Florida
557 Statutes, is amended to read:
558 1011.47 Auxiliary enterprises; contracts, grants, and
559 donations.—As used in s. 19(f)(3), Art. III of the State
560 Constitution, the term:
561 (1)(a) “Auxiliary enterprises” includes activities that
562 directly or indirectly provide a product or a service, or both,
563 to a university or its students, faculty, or staff and for which
564 a charge is made. These auxiliary enterprises are business
565 activities of a university which require no support from the
566 General Revenue Fund, and include activities such as housing,
567 bookstores, student health services, continuing education
568 programs, food services, college stores, operation of vending
569 machines, specialty shops, day care centers, golf courses,
570 student activities programs, data center operations, and
571 intercollegiate athletics programs.
572 (b) Each university board of trustees may determine whether
573 its auxiliary enterprises, including intercollegiate athletics
574 programs, will be self-supporting on an individual or collective
575 basis. A university board of trustees may approve the transfer
576 of unreserved cash from one auxiliary enterprise to support
577 another auxiliary enterprise as long as such transfer does not
578 reduce revenues necessary to cover all expenditures of the
579 auxiliary enterprise, violate any bond covenants, or impact debt
580 service payments and required reserves. Transfers made under
581 this paragraph must be reported to the Board of Governors
582 annually. This paragraph expires June 30, 2030.
583 Section 15. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
584 act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon
585 becoming a law, this act shall take effect July 1, 2025.