Florida Senate - 2026                                     SB 486
       
       
        
       By Senator Polsky
       
       
       
       
       
       30-00314B-26                                           2026486__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to discrimination in education;
    3         amending s. 1001.42, F.S.; requiring each district
    4         school board to designate a Title VI coordinator;
    5         specifying requirements for and duties of the
    6         coordinator; authorizing a person alleging
    7         discrimination to file a complaint with the district
    8         school superintendent or the Title VI coordinator;
    9         authorizing a parent or guardian to submit a complaint
   10         on behalf of a minor child; requiring the State Board
   11         of Education to adopt rules; creating s. 1004.041,
   12         F.S.; requiring each Florida College System
   13         institution and state university to designate a Title
   14         VI coordinator; specifying requirements for and duties
   15         of the coordinator; authorizing a person alleging
   16         discrimination to file a complaint with the dean of
   17         students or the Title VI coordinator; authorizing a
   18         parent or guardian to submit a complaint on behalf of
   19         a minor child; requiring the State Board of Education
   20         and Board of Governors to adopt rules and regulations,
   21         respectively; providing an effective date.
   22          
   23  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   24  
   25         Section 1. Present subsection (29) of section 1001.42,
   26  Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (30), and a new
   27  subsection (29) is added to that section, to read:
   28         1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.—The
   29  district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all
   30  powers and perform all duties listed below:
   31         (29) TITLE VI COORDINATOR.—
   32         (a) Each district school board shall designate a Title VI
   33  coordinator. The coordinator shall:
   34         1. Have expertise in and oversee compliance with Title VI
   35  of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and compliance with s. 1000.05.
   36         2. Promote equal access to and participation in the
   37  programs and activities of the institution.
   38         3. Provide training and educational resources regarding
   39  Title VI law and regulations, including, at a minimum, those who
   40  are responsible for receiving reports on potential Title VI
   41  complaints.
   42         4. Maintain records and reports related to Title VI
   43  compliance, including a summary of the allegations, the
   44  complainant’s protected category, the disposition of the
   45  complaint, and the corrective actions taken, so that the Title
   46  VI coordinator can assess compliance.
   47         5. Provide advice and consultation on supportive and
   48  corrective measures.
   49         6. Perform any other relevant duty established by the
   50  institution.
   51         (b)1. A person alleging discrimination in violation of
   52  Title VI may file a complaint with the district school
   53  superintendent or the Title VI coordinator of the school
   54  district.
   55         2. A parent or guardian may submit a complaint on behalf of
   56  his or her minor child.
   57         (c) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
   58  implement this subsection.
   59         Section 2. Section 1004.041, Florida Statutes, is created
   60  to read:
   61         1004.041 Title VI coordinator.—
   62         (1) Each Florida College System institution and state
   63  university shall designate a Title VI coordinator. The
   64  coordinator shall:
   65         (a) Have expertise in and oversee compliance with Title VI
   66  of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and compliance with s. 1000.05.
   67         (b) Promote equal access to and participation in the
   68  programs and activities of the institution.
   69         (c) Provide training and educational resources regarding
   70  Title VI law and regulations, including, at a minimum, those who
   71  are responsible for receiving reports on potential Title VI
   72  complaints.
   73         (d) Maintain records and reports related to Title VI
   74  compliance, including a summary of the allegations, the
   75  complainant’s protected category, the disposition of the
   76  complaint, and the corrective actions taken, so that the Title
   77  VI coordinator can assess compliance.
   78         (e) Provide advice and consultation on supportive and
   79  corrective measures.
   80         (f) Perform any other relevant duty established by the
   81  institution.
   82         (2)(a) A person alleging discrimination in violation of
   83  Title VI may file a complaint with the college’s or university’s
   84  dean of students or Title VI coordinator.
   85         (b) A parent or guardian may submit a complaint on behalf
   86  of his or her minor child.
   87         (3) The State Board of Education and Board of Governors
   88  shall adopt rules and regulations, respectively, to implement
   89  this section.
   90         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.