Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 1376
By the Committee on Education Postsecondary; and Senators
Burgess, Sharief, and Berman
589-02281-26 20261376c1
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 Accreditation
32 Council for Genetic Counseling. The Board of Governors shall
33 award competitive grants to state universities to address
34 faculty shortages, student financial barriers, and clinical
35 training 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 board certification examination passage rates.
52 e. The anticipated program contributions to the state’s
53 genetic counseling workforce.
54 3. Documentation demonstrating that the proposed program is
55 supported by sufficient clinical training capacity consistent
56 with nationally recognized accreditation standards and that the
57 proposed growth represents a net increase in statewide training
58 opportunities rather than a redistribution of existing
59 supervision resources.
60 (b) Accredited programs based on program performance
61 according to the following metrics:
62 1. The number of students completing the genetic counseling
63 program.
64 2. The first-time American Board of Genetic Counseling,
65 Inc., board certification examination passage rate for students
66 completing the state university’s genetic counseling program.
67
68 The program shall reward excellence among genetic counseling
69 programs with an average first-time American Board of Genetic
70 Counseling, Inc., board certification examination passage rate
71 above the national average.
72 (3)(a) Grant funds provided through the program must be
73 used for:
74 1. The recruitment and retention of qualified faculty,
75 including, but not limited to, salaries, professional
76 development, and incentives.
77 2. Financial assistance to students enrolled in the
78 accredited program. Such financial assistance must be in the
79 form of scholarships that cover tuition, required books and
80 materials, and reasonable living expenses.
81 3. The establishment and maintenance of clinical rotations
82 required for completion of the master’s degree in genetic
83 counseling, including partnerships with health care facilities
84 for supervised practicum experiences, simulation training
85 resources, and faculty oversight.
86 (b) Grant funds may not be used for:
87 1. General administrative overhead costs.
88 2. The construction of new facilities.
89 3. Nonprogram-related activities.
90 (c) State universities that receive a grant through the
91 program must maintain records sufficient to demonstrate
92 compliance with this subsection.
93 (4)(a) Each state university receiving funds pursuant to
94 this section shall submit an annual report to the board. The
95 report must include:
96 1. Expenditures.
97 2. The outcomes achieved using grant funds.
98 3. Plans for the upcoming fiscal year for the program.
99 (b) The board shall annually compile the reports into a
100 statewide summary. The summary must be submitted to the
101 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
102 House of Representatives by July 1 of each year.
103 (5) The Board of Governors shall adopt regulations to
104 administer this section.
105 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.