Florida Senate - 2026                                    SB 1376
       
       
        
       By Senator Burgess
       
       
       
       
       
       23-01386A-26                                          20261376__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to grants for genetic counseling
    3         education; creating s. 1009.8963, F.S.; creating the
    4         Genetic Counseling Education Enhancement Grant Program
    5         within the State University System; providing the
    6         purpose of the program; requiring the Board of
    7         Governors, subject to legislative appropriation, to
    8         award grant funds to state universities for specified
    9         purposes; requiring the program to reward excellence
   10         among genetic counseling programs based on specified
   11         criteria; providing authorized uses of grant funds;
   12         prohibiting such funds from being used for specified
   13         purposes; requiring state universities participating
   14         in the program to maintain specified records;
   15         requiring such state universities to submit an annual
   16         report; requiring the Board of Governors to submit an
   17         annual summary of such reports to the Governor and
   18         Legislature by a specified date; requiring the Board
   19         of Governors to adopt regulations; providing an
   20         effective date.
   21          
   22  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   23  
   24         Section 1. Section 1009.8963, Florida Statutes, is created
   25  to read:
   26         1009.8963 The Genetic Counseling Education Enhancement
   27  Grant Program.—
   28         (1) The Genetic Counseling Education Enhancement Grant
   29  Program is created within the State University System to support
   30  the development, growth, and sustainability of graduate level
   31  genetic counseling programs accredited by the American Board of
   32  Genetic Counseling, Inc. The Board of Governors shall award
   33  competitive grants to state universities to address faculty
   34  shortages, student financial barriers, and clinical training
   35  needs in genetic counseling.
   36         (2) Subject to appropriation, the board shall award funds
   37  to:
   38         (a) Establish an accredited program at a state university
   39  through a one-time start-up grant based upon an application
   40  submitted in a format prescribed by the board. The application
   41  must include:
   42         1. A detailed plan demonstrating how grant funds will be
   43  used to achieve program accreditation.
   44         2. The projected outcomes of establishing the program,
   45  including all of the following:
   46         a. The anticipated program enrollment.
   47         b. The plan for hiring and retaining faculty for the
   48  program.
   49         c. The anticipated program completion rates.
   50         d. The anticipated first-time American Board of Genetic
   51  Counseling, Inc., board certification examination passage rates.
   52         e. The anticipated program contributions to the state’s
   53  genetic counseling workforce.
   54         (b) Accredited programs based on program performance
   55  according to the following metrics:
   56         1. The number of students completing the genetic counseling
   57  program.
   58         2. The first-time American Board of Genetic Counseling,
   59  Inc., board certification examination passage rate for students
   60  completing the state university’s genetic counseling program.
   61  
   62  The program shall reward excellence among genetic counseling
   63  programs with an average first-time American Board of Genetic
   64  Counseling, Inc., board certification examination passage rate
   65  above the national average.
   66         (3)(a) Grant funds provided through the program must be
   67  used for:
   68         1. The recruitment and retention of qualified faculty,
   69  including, but not limited to, salaries, professional
   70  development, and incentives.
   71         2. Financial assistance to students enrolled in the
   72  accredited program. Such financial assistance must be in the
   73  form of scholarships that cover tuition, required books and
   74  materials, and reasonable living expenses.
   75         3. The establishment and maintenance of clinical rotations
   76  required for completion of the master’s degree in genetic
   77  counseling, including partnerships with health care facilities
   78  for supervised practicum experiences, simulation training
   79  resources, and faculty oversight.
   80         (b) Grant funds may not be used for:
   81         1. General administrative overhead costs.
   82         2. The construction of new facilities.
   83         3. Nonprogram-related activities.
   84         (c) State universities that receive a grant through the
   85  program must maintain records sufficient to demonstrate
   86  compliance with this subsection.
   87         (4)(a) Each state university receiving funds pursuant to
   88  this section shall submit an annual report to the board. The
   89  report must include:
   90         1. Expenditures.
   91         2. The outcomes achieved using grant funds.
   92         3. Plans for the upcoming fiscal year for the program.
   93         (b) The board shall annually compile the reports into a
   94  statewide summary. The summary must be submitted to the
   95  Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
   96  House of Representatives by July 1 of each year.
   97         (5) The Board of Governors shall adopt regulations to
   98  administer this section.
   99         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.