Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 7038
By the Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education; and the
Committee on Education Postsecondary
602-02969-26 20267038c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to education; amending s. 251.001,
3 F.S.; requiring each Florida College System
4 institution and state university to waive tuition and
5 fees for members of the Florida State Guard if certain
6 conditions are met; creating s. 413.0114, F.S.;
7 requiring entities that offer fee-based services to
8 individuals who are blind or visually impaired to
9 disclose in writing whether the service may be
10 obtained elsewhere at no cost; providing requirements
11 for the disclosure; authorizing the State Board of
12 Education to adopt rules; amending s. 413.208, F.S.;
13 requiring certain service providers to apply to,
14 rather than register with, the Division of Vocational
15 Rehabilitation; requiring the division to establish
16 minimum qualifications for service providers;
17 requiring the division to establish an annual
18 application period; authorizing the division to
19 approve or deny any service provider application;
20 providing that, as of a specified date, only certain
21 service providers may participate in the vocational
22 rehabilitation program; requiring the division to
23 develop and make publicly available a certain annual
24 report; requiring service providers to meet certain
25 standards to maintain approved status; requiring that
26 the rates for vocational rehabilitation services meet
27 certain criteria; amending s. 491.005, F.S.; revising
28 the date for a requirement to obtain a license as a
29 marriage and family therapist; amending s. 1001.92,
30 F.S.; revising access rate performance-based metric;
31 amending s. 1003.437, F.S.; requiring the State Board
32 of Education to establish a statewide uniform weighted
33 grading system for specified courses and articulated
34 acceleration mechanisms; requiring district school
35 boards to use the system for a specified purpose;
36 amending s. 1005.06, F.S.; revising the list of
37 institutions that are not under the jurisdiction of
38 the Commission for Independent Education; amending s.
39 1007.25, F.S.; revising the timeframe for Florida
40 College System institutions and state universities to
41 submit comments in response to a specified notice of
42 intent; amending s. 1007.271, F.S.; revising the list
43 of postsecondary institutions that are eligible to
44 participate in a dual enrollment program; amending s.
45 1008.30, F.S.; deleting a requirement for the State
46 Board of Education to adopt rules; authorizing school
47 district career centers to use alternative methods
48 adopted by the board in lieu of common placement tests
49 to assess students in basic communication and
50 computation skills; authorizing Florida College System
51 institutions to request approval of institution
52 specific alternative methods; making conforming
53 changes; amending s. 1008.44, F.S.; deleting a
54 provision limiting how supplemental funding may be
55 earned for the CAPE Industry Certification Funding
56 List; amending s. 1008.47, F.S.; revising the
57 timeframe for a public postsecondary institution to
58 seek and obtain accreditation; amending s. 1009.21,
59 F.S.; providing that a person may not lose his or her
60 resident status for tuition purposes due to
61 incarceration; providing that a person may not lose
62 his or her resident status for tuition purposes due to
63 his or her parent serving outside this state in
64 certain capacities; amending s. 1009.26, F.S.;
65 providing that a fee waiver only applies to a full
66 time undergraduate student, beginning with a specified
67 academic year; revising requirements for a fee waiver;
68 amending s. 1009.30, F.S.; requiring that certain
69 postsecondary institutions be reimbursed for public
70 school students under the Dual Enrollment Scholarship
71 Program; amending s. 1009.536, F.S.; revising student
72 eligibility requirements for the Florida Gold Seal
73 Vocational Scholars and Florida Gold Seal CAPE
74 Scholars awards; authorizing a student to apply for
75 the Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award within a
76 specified timeframe; amending s. 1009.893, F.S.;
77 authorizing a student to defer an award under the
78 Benacquisto Scholarship Program; amending s. 1009.983,
79 F.S.; authorizing a specified designee with certain
80 credentials to serve as director of the direct-support
81 organization for the Florida Prepaid College
82 Foundation, Inc.; amending s. 1009.986, F.S.; revising
83 the membership of the board of directors of Florida
84 ABLE, Inc.; amending s. 1011.62, F.S.; revising the
85 academic acceleration options supplement in the
86 Florida Education Finance Program to include a method
87 for calculating additional full-time equivalent
88 membership based on a specified course and test score;
89 providing specified bonuses; amending s. 1011.84,
90 F.S.; revising the components to be considered by the
91 Legislature in determining an apportionment of state
92 funds to a Florida College System institution;
93 deleting obsolete provisions; amending s. 1013.841,
94 F.S.; requiring all Florida College System
95 institutions, rather than only certain institutions,
96 to maintain a specified carry forward balance;
97 providing that a Florida College System institution
98 may retain an annual reserve amount exceeding the
99 carry forward balance; deleting obsolete provisions;
100 authorizing the inclusion in a carry forward spending
101 plan of the retention of a carry forward balance as a
102 reserve fund for a specified use; providing an
103 effective date.
104
105 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
106
107 Section 1. Subsection (9) of section 251.001, Florida
108 Statutes, is amended to read:
109 251.001 Florida State Guard Act.—
110 (9) REIMBURSEMENT, BENEFIT, AND COMPENSATION.—
111 (a) The division shall reimburse members of the Florida
112 State Guard for per diem and travel expenses incurred to attend
113 required training or in the course of active service as provided
114 in s. 112.061.
115 (b) Members of the Florida State Guard may be compensated
116 for time spent training or in the course of active service at
117 rates established by the director, subject to appropriation.
118 (c) A member of the Florida State Guard may not make any
119 purchase or enter into any contract or agreement for purchases
120 or services as a charge against the state without the authority
121 of the director.
122 (d) As a benefit to the active members of the Florida State
123 Guard, subject to approval by the director of the Division of
124 the State Guard, each Florida College System institution and
125 state university shall waive tuition and fees for active members
126 of the Florida State Guard to enroll for up to 6 credit hours of
127 courses per term on a space-available basis.
128 Section 2. Section 413.0114, Florida Statutes, is created
129 to read:
130 413.0114 Consumer disclosure for blind-related services.—
131 (1) An individual, business, nonprofit, or other entity
132 offering fee-based services to individuals who are blind or
133 visually impaired shall, before entering into a contract or
134 accepting payment, disclose in writing whether equivalent or
135 substantially similar services may be available at no cost
136 through the Division of Blind Services or another public agency.
137 (2) The written disclosure must:
138 (a) Be provided in plain language and, upon request, in an
139 accessible format, such as braille, large print, or audio.
140 (b) Include contact information for the Division of Blind
141 Services.
142 (c) Be signed or electronically acknowledged by the
143 consumer or his or her representative.
144 (3) A violation of this section constitutes an unfair or
145 deceptive trade practice under part II of chapter 501 and is
146 subject to penalties and enforcement as provided therein.
147 (4) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to
148 implement this section.
149 Section 3. Subsection (1) of section 413.208, Florida
150 Statutes, is amended to read:
151 413.208 Service providers; quality assurance; fitness for
152 responsibilities; background screening.—
153 (1) Service providers must apply to register with the
154 division. To qualify for approval, a registration, the division
155 must ensure that the service provider must maintain maintains an
156 internal system of quality assurance, have has proven functional
157 systems, meet the minimum qualifications, and be is subject to a
158 due-diligence inquiry as to its fitness to undertake service
159 responsibilities.
160 (a) The division shall establish minimum qualifications for
161 service providers. The division shall establish an annual
162 application period for service providers to submit applications.
163 The division may approve or deny any service provider
164 application. Beginning January 1, 2027, only service providers
165 that meet the minimum qualifications established by the division
166 and that have been approved to provide employment-related
167 services to individuals with disabilities may participate in the
168 vocational rehabilitation program.
169 (b) The division shall develop and make publicly available
170 an annual report of service provider effectiveness which
171 includes an evaluation system measuring the effectiveness of all
172 service providers that are approved by the division to provide
173 employment-related services to individuals with disabilities.
174 (c) In order to maintain approved status with the division,
175 service providers must meet minimum standards of effectiveness
176 in the provision of vocational rehabilitation services,
177 including placement of individuals in competitive and integrated
178 employment.
179 (d) Rates for vocational rehabilitation services must be
180 allocable, reasonable, and necessary, as determined by the
181 division.
182 Section 4. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
183 491.005, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
184 491.005 Licensure by examination.—
185 (3) MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY.—Upon verification of
186 documentation and payment of a fee not to exceed $200, as set by
187 board rule, the department shall issue a license as a marriage
188 and family therapist to an applicant whom the board certifies
189 has met all of the following criteria:
190 (c)1. Attained one of the following:
191 a. A minimum of a master’s degree in marriage and family
192 therapy from a program accredited by the Commission on
193 Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education.
194 b. A minimum of a master’s degree with a major emphasis in
195 marriage and family therapy or a closely related field from a
196 university program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of
197 Counseling and Related Educational Programs and graduate courses
198 approved by the board.
199 c. A minimum of a master’s degree with an emphasis in
200 marriage and family therapy or a closely related field, with a
201 degree conferred before September 1, 2032 2027, from an
202 institutionally accredited college or university and graduate
203 courses approved by the board.
204 2. If the course title that appears on the applicant’s
205 transcript does not clearly identify the content of the
206 coursework, the applicant provided additional documentation,
207 including, but not limited to, a syllabus or catalog description
208 published for the course. The required master’s degree must have
209 been received in an institution of higher education that, at the
210 time the applicant graduated, was fully accredited by an
211 institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for
212 Higher Education Accreditation or its successor organization or
213 was a member in good standing with Universities Canada, or an
214 institution of higher education located outside the United
215 States and Canada which, at the time the applicant was enrolled
216 and at the time the applicant graduated, maintained a standard
217 of training substantially equivalent to the standards of
218 training of those institutions in the United States which are
219 accredited by an institutional accrediting body recognized by
220 the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or its successor
221 organization. Such foreign education and training must have been
222 received in an institution or program of higher education
223 officially recognized by the government of the country in which
224 it is located as an institution or program to train students to
225 practice as professional marriage and family therapists or
226 psychotherapists. The applicant has the burden of establishing
227 that the requirements of this provision have been met, and the
228 board shall require documentation, such as an evaluation by a
229 foreign equivalency determination service, as evidence that the
230 applicant’s graduate degree program and education were
231 equivalent to an accredited program in this country. An
232 applicant with a master’s degree from a program that did not
233 emphasize marriage and family therapy may complete the
234 coursework requirement in a training institution fully
235 accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and
236 Family Therapy Education recognized by the United States
237 Department of Education.
238
239 For the purposes of dual licensure, the department shall license
240 as a marriage and family therapist any person who meets the
241 requirements of s. 491.0057. Fees for dual licensure may not
242 exceed those stated in this subsection.
243 Section 5. Subsection (1) of section 1001.92, Florida
244 Statutes, is amended to read:
245 1001.92 State University System Performance-Based
246 Incentive.—
247 (1) A State University System Performance-Based Incentive
248 shall be awarded to state universities using performance-based
249 metrics adopted by the Board of Governors of the State
250 University System. Beginning with the Board of Governors’
251 determination of each university’s performance improvement and
252 achievement ratings, and the related distribution of annual
253 fiscal year appropriation, the performance-based metrics must
254 include:
255 (a) The 4-year graduation rate for first-time-in-college
256 students;
257 (b) Beginning in fiscal year 2022-2023, the 3-year
258 graduation rate for associate in arts transfer students;
259 (c) Retention rates;
260 (d) Postgraduation education rates;
261 (e) Degree production;
262 (f) Affordability;
263 (g) Postgraduation employment and salaries, including wage
264 thresholds that reflect the added value of a baccalaureate
265 degree;
266 (h) Access rate, based on the percentage of first-year
267 undergraduate students enrolled during the fall term who
268 received a Pell Grant during the fall term; and
269 (i) Beginning in fiscal year 2021-2022, the 6-year
270 graduation rate for students who are awarded a Pell Grant in
271 their first year.
272
273 The Board of Governors may approve other metrics in a publicly
274 noticed meeting. The board shall adopt benchmarks to evaluate
275 each state university’s performance on the metrics to measure
276 the state university’s achievement of institutional excellence
277 or need for improvement and minimum requirements for eligibility
278 to receive performance funding. Benchmarks and metrics may not
279 be adjusted after university performance data has been received
280 by the Board of Governors.
281 Section 6. Section 1003.437, Florida Statutes, is amended
282 to read:
283 1003.437 Middle and high school grading system.—The grading
284 system and interpretation of letter grades used to measure
285 student success in grade 6 through grade 12 courses for students
286 in public schools shall be as follows:
287 (1) Grade “A” equals 90 percent through 100 percent, has a
288 grade point average value of 4, and is defined as “outstanding
289 progress.”
290 (2) Grade “B” equals 80 percent through 89 percent, has a
291 grade point average value of 3, and is defined as “above average
292 progress.”
293 (3) Grade “C” equals 70 percent through 79 percent, has a
294 grade point average value of 2, and is defined as “average
295 progress.”
296 (4) Grade “D” equals 60 percent through 69 percent, has a
297 grade point average value of 1, and is defined as “lowest
298 acceptable progress.”
299 (5) Grade “F” equals zero percent through 59 percent, has a
300 grade point average value of zero, and is defined as “failure.”
301 (6) Grade “I” equals zero percent, has a grade point
302 average value of zero, and is defined as “incomplete.”
303
304 The State Board of Education must establish a statewide uniform
305 weighted grading system for honors courses and articulated
306 acceleration mechanisms identified in s. 1007.27. For the
307 purposes of class ranking, District school boards shall use the
308 may exercise a weighted grading system to calculate weighted
309 high school grade point averages pursuant to s. 1007.271.
310 Section 7. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
311 1005.06, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
312 1005.06 Institutions not under the jurisdiction or purview
313 of the commission.—
314 (1) Except as otherwise provided in law, the following
315 institutions are not under the jurisdiction or purview of the
316 commission and are not required to obtain licensure:
317 (b) Any college or, school, or course licensed or approved
318 as an institution for establishment and operation by another
319 state agency. A college or school, or any of its programs or
320 courses, does not qualify for exemption from the commission’s
321 jurisdiction under this paragraph solely because another state
322 agency licenses or approves one or more of its programs or
323 courses for establishment and operation under part I of chapter
324 464, chapter 466, or chapter 475, or any other chapter of the
325 Florida Statutes requiring licensing or approval as defined in
326 this chapter.
327 Section 8. Paragraph (b) of subsection (9) of section
328 1007.25, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
329 1007.25 General education courses; common prerequisites;
330 other degree requirements.—
331 (9)
332 (b) An associate in arts specialized transfer degree must
333 include 36 semester hours of general education coursework and
334 require 60 semester hours or more of college credit. Specialized
335 transfer degrees are designed for Florida College System
336 institution students who need supplemental lower-level
337 coursework in preparation for transfer to another institution.
338 The State Board of Education shall establish criteria for the
339 review and approval of new specialized transfer degrees. The
340 approval process must require:
341 1. A Florida College System institution to submit a notice
342 of its intent to propose a new associate in arts specialized
343 degree program to the Division of Florida Colleges. The notice
344 must include the recommended credit hours, the rationale for the
345 specialization, the demand for students entering the field, and
346 the coursework being proposed to be included beyond the 60
347 semester hours required for the general transfer degree, if
348 applicable. Notices of intent may be submitted by a Florida
349 College System institution at any time.
350 2. The Division of Florida Colleges to forward the notice
351 of intent within 10 business days after receipt to all Florida
352 College System institutions and to the Chancellor of the State
353 University System, who shall forward the notice to all state
354 universities. State universities and Florida College System
355 institutions shall have 30 60 days after receipt of the notice
356 to submit comments to the proposed associate in arts specialized
357 transfer degree.
358 3. After the submission of comments pursuant to
359 subparagraph 2., the requesting Florida College System
360 institution to submit a proposal that, at a minimum, includes:
361 a. Evidence that the coursework for the associate in arts
362 specialized transfer degree includes demonstration of competency
363 in a foreign language pursuant to s. 1007.262 and demonstration
364 of civic literacy competency as provided in subsection (5).
365 b. Demonstration that all required coursework will count
366 toward the associate in arts degree or the baccalaureate degree.
367 c. An analysis of demand and unmet need for students
368 entering the specialized field of study at the baccalaureate
369 level.
370 d. Justification for the program length if it exceeds 60
371 credit hours, including references to the common prerequisite
372 manual or other requirements for the baccalaureate degree. This
373 includes documentation of alignment between the exit
374 requirements of a Florida College System institution and the
375 admissions requirements of a baccalaureate program at a state
376 university to which students would typically transfer.
377 e. Articulation agreements for graduates of the associate
378 in arts specialized transfer degree.
379 f. Responses to the comments received under subparagraph 2.
380 Section 9. Subsections (1) and (16) of section 1007.271,
381 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
382 1007.271 Dual enrollment programs.—
383 (1) The dual enrollment program is the enrollment of an
384 eligible secondary student in this state or home education
385 student in this state in a postsecondary course creditable
386 toward high school completion and a career certificate or an
387 associate or baccalaureate degree. Postsecondary institutions
388 that are eligible to participate in the dual enrollment program
389 are Florida public postsecondary institutions and eligible not
390 for-profit independent colleges and universities pursuant to s.
391 1011.62(1)(i). A student who is enrolled in postsecondary
392 instruction that is not creditable toward a high school diploma
393 may not be classified as a dual enrollment student.
394 (16) Students who meet the eligibility requirements of this
395 section and who choose to participate in dual enrollment
396 programs are exempt from the payment of registration, tuition,
397 and laboratory fees.
398 Section 10. Subsections (2) and (3) and paragraphs (a) and
399 (b) of subsection (4) of section 1008.30, Florida Statutes, are
400 amended to read:
401 1008.30 Assessing college-level communication and
402 computation skills for public postsecondary education.—
403 (2) By January 31, 2022, the State Board of Education shall
404 adopt rules to develop and implement alternative methods for
405 assessing the basic communication and computation skills of
406 students who intend to enter a degree program at a Florida
407 College System institution. Florida College System institutions
408 and school district career centers may use these alternative
409 methods adopted by the State Board of Education for assessing
410 the basic communication and computation skills of students who
411 intend to enter a degree program at a Florida College System
412 institution or school district career center in lieu of the
413 common placement tests under subsection (1) to assess student
414 readiness for college-level work in communication and
415 computation. Florida College System institutions may request
416 approval of institution-specific alternative methods in
417 accordance with State Board of Education rules.
418 (3) The rules adopted under subsection (2) must specify the
419 following:
420 (a) A student who entered 9th grade in a Florida public
421 school in the 2003-2004 school year, or any year thereafter, and
422 earned a Florida standard high school diploma and who
423 demonstrated readiness for college-level communication and
424 computation skills by any of the approved common placement tests
425 or alternative methods pursuant to this section or a student who
426 is serving as an active duty member of any branch of the United
427 States Armed Services is not required to be assessed for
428 readiness for college-level work in communication and
429 computation and is not required to enroll in developmental
430 education instruction in a Florida College System institution or
431 a school district career center. However, a student who is not
432 required to be assessed for readiness for college-level work in
433 communication and computation and is not required to enroll in
434 developmental education under this paragraph may opt to be
435 assessed and to enroll in developmental education instruction,
436 and the college or school district career center shall provide
437 such assessment and instruction upon the student’s request.
438 (b) A student who earned a Florida standard high school
439 diploma and has not demonstrated readiness for college-level
440 courses pursuant to subsection (1) or subsection (2) must be
441 offered the opportunity to be is assessed for readiness for
442 college-level communication and computation and, if the
443 student’s whose assessment results indicate a need for
444 developmental education, he or she must be advised of all the
445 developmental education options offered at the institution. and,
446 After advisement, the student may enroll in the developmental
447 education option of his or her choice.
448 (c) A student who demonstrates readiness by achieving or
449 exceeding the test scores established under subsection (1) by
450 the state board and enrolls in a Florida College System
451 institution or a school district career center within 2 years
452 after achieving such scores may shall not be required to retest
453 or complete developmental education when admitted to any Florida
454 College System institution or school district career center.
455 (4)(a) Each Florida College System institution and school
456 district career center shall implement the developmental
457 education strategies defined in s. 1008.02 and rules established
458 by the State Board of Education.
459 (b) Each Florida College System institution and school
460 district career center shall use placement test results or
461 alternative methods as established by the State Board of
462 Education to determine the extent to which each student
463 demonstrates sufficient communication and computation skills to
464 indicate readiness for his or her chosen meta-major. Florida
465 College System institutions and school district career centers
466 shall counsel students into college credit courses as quickly as
467 possible, with developmental education limited to that content
468 needed for success in the meta-major.
469 Section 11. Subsection (1) of section 1008.44, Florida
470 Statutes, is amended to read:
471 1008.44 CAPE Industry Certification Funding List.—
472 (1) The State Board of Education shall adopt, at least
473 annually, based upon recommendations by the Commissioner of
474 Education, the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List that
475 assigns categories of certificates and certifications as
476 provided for in s. 1003.4203 to certifications identified in the
477 Master Credentials List under s. 445.004(4) which meet a
478 statewide, regional, or local demand. Supplemental funding for
479 regional and local demand certifications may only be earned in
480 those areas with regional or local demand as identified by the
481 Credentials Review Committee.
482 Section 12. Subsection (2) of section 1008.47, Florida
483 Statutes, is amended to read:
484 1008.47 Postsecondary education institution accreditation.—
485 (2) ACCREDITATION.—
486 (a) By September 1, 2022, The Board of Governors or the
487 State Board of Education, as applicable, shall identify and
488 determine the accrediting agencies or associations best suited
489 to serve as an accreditor for public postsecondary institutions.
490 Such accrediting agencies or associations must be recognized by
491 the database created and maintained by the United States
492 Department of Education. Within 3 years In the year following
493 reaffirmation or fifth-year review by its accrediting agencies
494 or associations, each public postsecondary institution must seek
495 and obtain accreditation from an accrediting agency or
496 association identified by the Board of Governors or State Board
497 of Education, respectively, before its next reaffirmation or
498 fifth-year review date. The requirements in this section are
499 limited to a one-time change in accreditation. The requirements
500 of this subsection are not applicable to those professional,
501 graduate, departmental, or certificate programs at public
502 postsecondary institutions that have specific accreditation
503 requirements or best practices, including, but not limited to,
504 law, pharmacy, engineering, or other similarly situated
505 educational programs.
506 (b) Once a public postsecondary institution is required to
507 seek and obtain accreditation from an agency or association
508 identified pursuant to paragraph (a), the institution shall seek
509 accreditation from an a regional accrediting agency or
510 association and provide quarterly reports of its progress to the
511 Board of Governors or State Board of Education, as applicable.
512 If each regional accreditation agency or association identified
513 pursuant to paragraph (a) has refused to grant candidacy status
514 to an institution, the institution must seek and obtain
515 accreditation from any accrediting agency or association that is
516 different from its current accrediting agency or association and
517 is recognized by the database created and maintained by the
518 United States Department of Education. If a public postsecondary
519 institution is not granted candidacy status before its next
520 reaffirmation or fifth-year review date, the institution may
521 remain with its current accrediting agency or association.
522 (c) This subsection expires December 31, 2032.
523 Section 13. Present subsections (4) through (13) of section
524 1009.21, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (5)
525 through (14), respectively, a new subsection (4) is added to
526 that section, and present subsection (7) of that section is
527 amended, to read:
528 1009.21 Determination of resident status for tuition
529 purposes.—Students shall be classified as residents or
530 nonresidents for the purpose of assessing tuition in
531 postsecondary educational programs offered by charter technical
532 career centers or career centers operated by school districts,
533 in Florida College System institutions, and in state
534 universities.
535 (4) An individual may not lose his or her resident status
536 for tuition purposes solely by reason of his or her
537 incarceration in a state or federal correctional facility in
538 this state.
539 (8)(7) A person may shall not lose his or her resident
540 status for tuition purposes solely by reason of his or her
541 serving, or, if such person is a dependent child, by reason of
542 his or her parent’s or parents’ serving outside this state as
543 active duty or civilian personnel:,
544 (a) In the Armed Forces outside this state.
545 (b) On assignment for the United States Department of State
546 or Department of Defense.
547 (c) Teaching at a Department of Defense Dependent School.
548 Section 14. Paragraph (a) of subsection (20) of section
549 1009.26, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
550 1009.26 Fee waivers.—
551 (20)(a) Beginning with the 2026-2027 2022-2023 academic
552 year, a state university shall waive the out-of-state fee for a
553 full-time undergraduate student who:
554 1. Has a grandparent who is a legal resident as defined in
555 s. 1009.21(1). For purposes of this subsection, the term
556 “grandparent” means a person who has a legal relationship to a
557 student’s parent as the natural or adoptive parent or legal
558 guardian of the student’s parent.
559 2. Earns a high school diploma comparable to a Florida
560 standard high school diploma, or its equivalent, or completes a
561 home education program.
562 3.a. Achieves an SAT combined score no lower than the 89th
563 national percentile on the SAT;
564 b. Achieves an ACT score concordant to the required SAT
565 score in sub-subparagraph a., using the latest published
566 national concordance table developed jointly by the College
567 Board and ACT, Inc.; or
568 c. If a state university accepts the Classic Learning Test
569 (CLT) for admission purposes, achieves a CLT score concordant to
570 the required SAT score specified in sub-subparagraph a., using
571 the latest published scoring comparison developed by Classic
572 Learning Initiatives.
573 4. Beginning with students who initially enroll in the 2022
574 fall academic term and thereafter, enrolls as a full-time
575 undergraduate student at a state university in the fall academic
576 term immediately following high school graduation.
577 Section 15. Subsection (3) of section 1009.30, Florida
578 Statutes, is amended to read:
579 1009.30 Dual Enrollment Scholarship Program.—
580 (3)(a) The program shall reimburse eligible postsecondary
581 institutions for tuition and related instructional materials
582 costs for dual enrollment courses taken during the fall or
583 spring terms by eligible students, consisting of:
584 1. Private school students who take dual enrollment courses
585 pursuant to s. 1007.271(24)(b);
586 2. Home education program secondary students; or
587 3. Personalized education program secondary students.
588 (b) The program shall reimburse eligible independent
589 postsecondary institutions for tuition and related instructional
590 materials costs for dual enrollment courses taken by public
591 school students during the fall or spring terms.
592 (c) The program shall reimburse institutions for tuition
593 and related instructional materials costs for dual enrollment
594 courses taken by public school, private school, home education
595 program, or personalized education program secondary students
596 during the summer term.
597 Section 16. Subsection (2) of section 1009.536, Florida
598 Statutes, is amended, and subsection (6) is added to that
599 section, to read:
600 1009.536 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars and Florida
601 Gold Seal CAPE Scholars awards.—The Florida Gold Seal Vocational
602 Scholars award and the Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award are
603 created within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program to
604 recognize and reward academic achievement and career preparation
605 by high school students who wish to continue their education.
606 (2) A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal CAPE
607 Scholars award if he or she meets the general eligibility
608 requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program,
609 and the student:
610 (a) Earns a minimum of 3 5 postsecondary credits credit
611 hours through CAPE industry certifications approved pursuant to
612 s. 1008.44 which articulate for college credit; and
613 (b) Earns a minimum cumulative weighted grade point average
614 of 2.5, as calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, on all subjects
615 required for a standard high school diploma, excluding elective
616 courses; and
617 (c) Completes at least 30 hours of volunteer service, or 75
618 hours of volunteer service for students entering grade 9 in the
619 2024-2025 school year and thereafter, or 100 hours of paid work,
620 approved by the district school board, the administrators of a
621 nonpublic school, or the Department of Education for home
622 education program students, or 100 hours of a combination of
623 both. The student may identify a social or civic issue or a
624 professional area that interests him or her and develop a plan
625 for his or her personal involvement in addressing the issue or
626 learning about the area. The student must, through papers or
627 other presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or her
628 experience. Such volunteer service or paid work may include, but
629 is not limited to, a business or governmental internship, work
630 for a nonprofit community service organization, or activities on
631 behalf of a candidate for public office. The hours of volunteer
632 service or paid work must be documented in writing, and the
633 document must be signed by the student, the student’s parent or
634 guardian, and a representative of the organization for which the
635 student performed the volunteer service or paid work.
636 (6) Before or within 3 months after completion of the GATE
637 Program as provided in s. 1004.933, a student may apply for the
638 Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award.
639 Section 17. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
640 1009.893, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
641 1009.893 Benacquisto Scholarship Program.—
642 (4) In order to be eligible for an initial award under the
643 scholarship program, a student must meet the requirements of
644 paragraph (a) or paragraph (b).
645 (a) A student who is a resident of this state, as
646 determined in s. 1009.40 and rules of the State Board of
647 Education, must:
648 1. Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its
649 equivalent pursuant to s. 1002.3105, s. 1003.4281, s. 1003.4282,
650 or s. 1003.435 unless:
651 a. The student completes a home education program according
652 to s. 1002.41; or
653 b. The student earns a high school diploma from a non
654 Florida school while living with a parent who is on military or
655 public service assignment out of this state;
656 2. Be accepted by and enroll in a Florida public or
657 independent postsecondary educational institution that is
658 regionally accredited; and
659 3. Be enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate degree program
660 at an eligible regionally accredited Florida public or
661 independent postsecondary educational institution during the
662 fall academic term following high school graduation. A student
663 may defer the initial scholarship award for up to 1 year.
664 Section 18. Subsection (5) of section 1009.983, Florida
665 Statutes, is amended to read:
666 1009.983 Direct-support organization; authority.—
667 (5) The chair of the board or a designee who possesses
668 knowledge, skill, and experience in the areas of accounting,
669 risk management, or investment management shall serve as a
670 director of the direct-support organization. The chair and the
671 executive director of the board shall jointly name, at a
672 minimum, four other individuals to serve as directors of the
673 organization.
674 Section 19. Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section
675 1009.986, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
676 1009.986 Florida ABLE program.—
677 (3) DIRECT-SUPPORT ORGANIZATION; FLORIDA ABLE, INC.—
678 (d)1. The board of directors of Florida ABLE, Inc., shall
679 consist of:
680 a. The chair of the Florida Prepaid College Board, or a his
681 or her designee who possesses knowledge, skill, and experience
682 in the areas of accounting, risk management, or investment
683 management.
684 b. Up to three individuals who possess knowledge, skill,
685 and experience in the areas of accounting, risk management, or
686 investment management, one of whom may be a current member of
687 the Florida Prepaid College Board, who shall be appointed by the
688 Florida Prepaid College Board.
689 c. One individual who possesses knowledge, skill, and
690 experience in the areas of accounting, risk management, or
691 investment management, who shall be appointed by the Governor.
692 d. Two individuals who are advocates of persons with
693 disabilities, one of whom shall be appointed by the President of
694 the Senate and one of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of
695 the House of Representatives. At least one of the individuals
696 appointed under this sub-subparagraph must be an advocate of
697 persons with developmental disabilities, as that term is defined
698 in s. 393.063.
699 2.a. The term of the appointees under sub-subparagraph 1.b.
700 shall be up to 3 years as determined by the Florida Prepaid
701 College Board. Such appointees may be reappointed.
702 b. The term of the appointees under sub-subparagraphs 1.c.
703 and d. shall be 3 years. Such appointees may be reappointed.
704 3. Unless authorized by the board of directors of Florida
705 ABLE, Inc., an individual director has no authority to control
706 or direct the operations of Florida ABLE, Inc., or the actions
707 of its officers and employees.
708 4. The board of directors of Florida ABLE, Inc.:
709 a. Shall meet at least quarterly and at other times upon
710 the call of the chair.
711 b. May use any method of telecommunications to conduct, or
712 establish a quorum at, its meetings or the meetings of a
713 subcommittee or other subdivision if the public is given proper
714 notice of the telecommunications meeting and provided reasonable
715 access to observe and, if appropriate, to participate.
716 c. Shall annually elect a board member to serve as chair.
717 5. A majority of the total current membership of the board
718 of directors of Florida ABLE, Inc., constitutes a quorum of the
719 board.
720 6. Members of the board of directors of Florida ABLE, Inc.,
721 and the board’s subcommittees or other subdivisions shall serve
722 without compensation; however, the members may be reimbursed for
723 reasonable, necessary, and actual travel expenses pursuant to s.
724 112.061.
725 Section 20. Present paragraphs (h) and (i) of subsection
726 (17) of section 1011.62, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
727 paragraphs (i) and (j), respectively, and a new paragraph (h) is
728 added to that subsection, to read:
729 1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
730 allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
731 district for operation of schools is not determined in the
732 annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
733 the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
734 follows:
735 (17) ACADEMIC ACCELERATION OPTIONS SUPPLEMENT.—The academic
736 acceleration options supplement is created to assist school
737 districts in providing academic acceleration options, career
738 themed courses, and courses that lead to digital tool
739 certificates and industry certifications for prekindergarten
740 through grade 12 students and shall be allocated annually in the
741 General Appropriations Act.
742 (h) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent
743 membership based on the Florida Advanced Courses and Tests
744 (FACT) College Algebra course and test score of students.—A
745 value of 0.16 full-time equivalent student membership shall be
746 calculated for each student in the Florida Advanced Courses and
747 Tests (FACT) College Algebra course who achieves a minimum score
748 on an assessment identified by the Department of Education
749 pursuant to s. 1007.27(2) and added to the total full-time
750 equivalent student membership in basic programs for grades 9
751 through 12 in the subsequent fiscal year. Each district shall
752 allocate at least 80 percent of the funds provided to the
753 district for the FACT College Algebra course instruction, in
754 accordance with this paragraph, to the high school that
755 generates the funds. The school district shall distribute to
756 each classroom teacher who provided the FACT College Algebra
757 course instruction:
758 1. A bonus in the amount of $50 for each student taught by
759 the FACT College Algebra course teacher in each FACT College
760 Algebra course who achieves a minimum score on an assessment
761 identified by the Department of Education pursuant to s.
762 1007.27(2).
763 2. An additional bonus of $500 to each FACT College Algebra
764 course teacher in a school designated with a grade of “D” or “F”
765 who has at least one student who achieves a minimum score on an
766 assessment identified by the Department of Education pursuant to
767 s. 1007.27(2), regardless of the number of classes taught or of
768 the number of students who achieve a minimum score on an
769 assessment identified by the Department of Education pursuant to
770 s. 1007.27(2).
771 Section 21. Paragraphs (b) and (e) of subsection (3) of
772 section 1011.84, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
773 1011.84 Procedure for determining state financial support
774 and annual apportionment of state funds to each Florida College
775 System institution district.—The procedure for determining state
776 financial support and the annual apportionment to each Florida
777 College System institution district authorized to operate a
778 Florida College System institution under the provisions of s.
779 1001.61 shall be as follows:
780 (3) DETERMINING THE APPORTIONMENT FROM STATE FUNDS.—
781 (b) The apportionment to each Florida College System
782 institution from the Florida College System Program Fund shall
783 be determined annually in the General Appropriations Act. In
784 determining each college’s apportionment, the Legislature shall
785 consider the following components:
786 1. Base budget, which includes the state appropriation to
787 the Florida College System Program Fund in the current year plus
788 the related student tuition and out-of-state fees assigned in
789 the current General Appropriations Act.
790 2. The cost-to-continue allocation, which consists of
791 incremental changes to the base budget, including salaries,
792 price levels, and other related costs allocated through a
793 funding model developed by the Florida College System presidents
794 in consultation with the Department of Education and approved by
795 the Legislature. The model must which may recognize a minimum
796 level of funding per FTE and differing economic factors arising
797 from the individual educational approaches of the various
798 Florida College System institutions, including, but not limited
799 to:
800 a. Program offerings, weighting workforce FTE to account
801 for priorities and costs Direct Instructional Funding, including
802 class size, faculty productivity factors, average faculty
803 salary, ratio of full-time to part-time faculty, costs of
804 programs, and enrollment factors.
805 b. Completion of credentials, including certificates,
806 certifications, and degrees Academic Support, including small
807 colleges factor, multicampus factor, and enrollment factor.
808 c. Size of the college Student Services Support, including
809 headcount of students as well as FTE count and enrollment
810 factors.
811 d. Economies of scale Library Support, including volume and
812 other materials/audiovisual requirements.
813 e. Regional cost differentials Special Projects.
814 f. Operations and Maintenance of Plant, including square
815 footage and utilization factors.
816 g. Comparable wage factor.
817 3. Students enrolled in a recreation and leisure program
818 and students enrolled in a lifelong learning program who may not
819 be counted as full-time equivalent enrollments for purposes of
820 enrollment workload adjustments.
821 4. Operating costs of new facilities adjustments, which
822 shall be provided, from funds available, for each new facility
823 that is owned by the college and is recommended in accordance
824 with s. 1013.31.
825 5. New and improved program enhancements, which shall be
826 determined by the Legislature.
827
828 Student fees in the base budget plus student fee revenues
829 generated by increases in fee rates shall be deducted from the
830 sum of the components determined in subparagraphs 1.-5. The
831 amount remaining shall be the net annual state apportionment to
832 each college.
833 (e) If at any time the unencumbered balance in the general
834 fund of the Florida College System institution board of trustees
835 approved operating budget goes below 7 5 percent for a Florida
836 College System institution with a final FTE less than 15,000 for
837 the prior year, or below 7 percent for a Florida College System
838 institution with a final FTE of 15,000 or greater for the prior
839 year, the president must shall provide written notification to
840 the State Board of Education. By September 30 of each year, the
841 chief financial officer of each Florida College System
842 institution shall certify the unexpended amount of state funds
843 remaining in the general fund of an institution as of June 30 of
844 the previous fiscal year.
845 Section 22. Subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section
846 1013.841, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
847 1013.841 End of year balance of Florida College System
848 institution funds.—
849 (2)(a) Each Florida College System institution with a final
850 FTE less than 15,000 for the prior year shall maintain a minimum
851 carry forward balance of at least 7 5 percent of its state
852 operating budget; however, a Florida College System institution
853 may retain and report to the State Board of Education an annual
854 reserve balance exceeding that amount. If a Florida College
855 System institution fails to maintain a 7 5 percent balance in
856 state operating funds, the president must shall provide written
857 notification to the State Board of Education.
858 (b) Each Florida College System institution with a final
859 FTE less than 15,000 for the prior year that retains a state
860 operating fund carry forward balance in excess of the 7 5
861 percent minimum shall submit a spending plan for its excess
862 carry forward balance. The spending plan must shall include all
863 excess carry forward funds from state operating funds. The
864 spending plan must shall be submitted to the Florida College
865 System institution’s board of trustees for approval by September
866 30 of each year, 2020, and each September 30 thereafter. The
867 State Board of Education shall review and publish each Florida
868 College System institution’s carry forward spending plan by
869 November 15 of each year, 2020, and each November 15 thereafter.
870 (3)(a) Each Florida College System institution with a final
871 FTE of 15,000 or greater for the prior year shall maintain a
872 minimum carry forward balance of at least 7 percent of its state
873 operating budget. If a Florida College System institution fails
874 to maintain a 7 percent balance in state operating funds, the
875 institution shall submit a plan to the State Board of Education
876 to attain the minimum balance.
877 (b) Each Florida College System institution with a final
878 FTE of 15,000 or greater for the prior year that retains a state
879 operating fund carry forward balance in excess of the 7 percent
880 minimum shall submit a spending plan for its excess carry
881 forward balance. The spending plan shall include all excess
882 carry forward funds from state operating funds. The spending
883 plan shall be submitted to the Florida College System
884 institution’s board of trustees for approval by September 30,
885 2020, and each September 30 thereafter. The State Board of
886 Education shall review and publish each Florida College System
887 institution’s carry forward spending plan by November 15, 2020,
888 and each November 15 thereafter.
889 (4) A Florida College System institution identified in
890 paragraph (2)(b) (3)(b) must include in its carry forward
891 spending plan the estimated cost per planned expenditure and a
892 timeline for completion of the expenditure. A carry forward
893 spending plan may include retention of the carry forward balance
894 as a reserve fund to be used for authorized expenses in
895 subsequent years. Authorized expenditures in a carry forward
896 spending plan may include:
897 (a) Commitment of funds to a public education capital
898 outlay project for which an appropriation was previously
899 provided, which requires additional funds for completion, and
900 which is included in the list required by s. 1001.03(18)(d);
901 (b) Completion of a renovation, repair, or maintenance
902 project that is consistent with s. 1013.64(1) or replacement of
903 a minor facility;
904 (c) Completion of a remodeling or infrastructure project,
905 if such project is survey recommended pursuant to s. 1013.31;
906 (d) Completion of a repair or replacement project necessary
907 due to damage caused by a natural disaster for buildings
908 included in the inventory required pursuant to s. 1013.31;
909 (e) Operating expenditures that support the Florida College
910 System institution’s mission;
911 (f) Any purpose approved by the state board or specified in
912 the General Appropriations Act; and
913 (g) A commitment of funds to a contingency reserve for
914 expenses incurred as a result of a state of emergency declared
915 by the Governor pursuant to s. 252.36.
916 Section 23. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.