Florida Senate - 2026 (PROPOSED BILL) SPB 7038
FOR CONSIDERATION By the Committee on Education Postsecondary
589-02271A-26 20267038pb
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 Department 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. 1003.437, F.S.;
28 requiring the State Board of Education to establish a
29 uniform weighted grading system for specified courses
30 and articulated acceleration mechanisms; requiring
31 district school boards to use such system for a
32 specified purpose; amending s. 1005.06, F.S.; revising
33 the list of institutions that are not under the
34 jurisdiction of the Commission for Independent
35 Education; amending s. 1007.25, F.S.; revising the
36 timeframe for Florida College System institutions and
37 state universities to submit comments in response to a
38 specified notice of intent; amending s. 1007.271,
39 F.S.; revising the list of postsecondary institutions
40 that are eligible to participate in a dual enrollment
41 program; amending s. 1008.30, F.S.; deleting a
42 requirement for the State Board of Education to adopt
43 rules; authorizing school district career centers to
44 use alternative methods adopted by the board in lieu
45 of common placement tests to assess students in basic
46 communication and computation skills; authorizing
47 Florida College System institutions to request
48 approval of institution-specific alternative methods;
49 making conforming changes; amending s. 1008.44, F.S.;
50 deleting a provision limiting how supplemental funding
51 may be earned for the CAPE Industry Certification
52 Funding List; amending s. 1009.21, F.S.; providing
53 that a person may not lose his or her resident status
54 for tuition purposes due to incarceration; amending s.
55 1009.26, F.S.; providing that a fee waiver only
56 applies to a full-time undergraduate student,
57 beginning with a specified academic year; revising
58 requirements for a fee waiver; amending s. 1009.30,
59 F.S.; requiring that certain postsecondary
60 institutions be reimbursed for public school students
61 under the Dual Enrollment Scholarship Program;
62 amending s. 1009.536, F.S.; revising student
63 eligibility requirements for the Florida Gold Seal
64 Vocational Scholars and Florida Gold Seal CAPE
65 Scholars awards; authorizing a student to apply for
66 the Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award within a
67 specified timeframe; amending s. 1009.893, F.S.;
68 authorizing a student to defer an award under the
69 Benacquisto Scholarship Program; amending s. 1009.983,
70 F.S.; authorizing a specified designee with certain
71 credentials to serve as director of the direct-support
72 organization for the Florida Prepaid College
73 Foundation, Inc.; amending s. 1009.986, F.S.; revising
74 the membership of the board of directors of Florida
75 ABLE, Inc.; amending s. 1011.62, F.S.; revising the
76 academic acceleration options supplement in the
77 Florida Education Finance Program to include a method
78 for calculating additional full-time equivalent
79 membership based on a specified course and test score;
80 providing specified bonuses; amending s. 1011.84,
81 F.S.; revising the components to be considered by the
82 Legislature in determining an apportionment of state
83 funds to a Florida College System institution;
84 deleting obsolete provisions; amending s. 1013.841,
85 F.S.; requiring all Florida College System
86 institutions, rather than only certain institutions,
87 to maintain a specified carry forward balance;
88 providing that a Florida College System institution
89 may retain an annual reserve amount exceeding the
90 carry forward balance; deleting obsolete provisions;
91 authorizing the inclusion in a carry forward spending
92 plan of the retention of a carry forward balance as a
93 reserve fund for a specified use; providing an
94 effective date.
95
96 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
97
98 Section 1. Subsection (9) of section 251.001, Florida
99 Statutes, is amended to read:
100 251.001 Florida State Guard Act.—
101 (9) REIMBURSEMENT, BENEFIT, AND COMPENSATION.—
102 (a) The division shall reimburse members of the Florida
103 State Guard for per diem and travel expenses incurred to attend
104 required training or in the course of active service as provided
105 in s. 112.061.
106 (b) Members of the Florida State Guard may be compensated
107 for time spent training or in the course of active service at
108 rates established by the director, subject to appropriation.
109 (c) A member of the Florida State Guard may not make any
110 purchase or enter into any contract or agreement for purchases
111 or services as a charge against the state without the authority
112 of the director.
113 (d) As a benefit to the active members of the Florida State
114 Guard, subject to approval by the director of the Division of
115 the State Guard, each Florida College System institution and
116 state university shall waive tuition and fees for active members
117 of the Florida State Guard to enroll for up to 6 credit hours of
118 courses per term on a space-available basis.
119 Section 2. Section 413.0114, Florida Statutes, is created
120 to read:
121 413.0114 Consumer disclosure for blind-related services.—
122 (1) An individual, business, nonprofit, or other entity
123 offering fee-based services to individuals who are blind or
124 visually impaired shall, before entering into a contract or
125 accepting payment, disclose in writing whether equivalent or
126 substantially similar services may be available at no cost
127 through the Division of Blind Services or another public agency.
128 (2) The written disclosure must:
129 (a) Be provided in plain language and, upon request, in an
130 accessible format, such as braille, large print, or audio.
131 (b) Include contact information for the Division of Blind
132 Services.
133 (c) Be signed or electronically acknowledged by the
134 consumer or his or her representative.
135 (3) A violation of this section constitutes an unfair or
136 deceptive trade practice under part II of chapter 501 and is
137 subject to penalties and enforcement as provided therein.
138 (4) The Department of Education may adopt rules to
139 implement this section.
140 Section 3. Subsection (1) of section 413.208, Florida
141 Statutes, is amended to read:
142 413.208 Service providers; quality assurance; fitness for
143 responsibilities; background screening.—
144 (1) Service providers must apply to register with the
145 division. To qualify for approval, a registration, the division
146 must ensure that the service provider must maintain maintains an
147 internal system of quality assurance, have has proven functional
148 systems, meet the minimum qualifications, and be is subject to a
149 due-diligence inquiry as to its fitness to undertake service
150 responsibilities.
151 (a) The division shall establish minimum qualifications for
152 service providers. The division shall establish an annual
153 application period for service providers to submit applications.
154 The division may approve or deny any service provider
155 application. Beginning January 1, 2027, only service providers
156 that meet the minimum qualifications established by the division
157 and that have been approved to provide employment-related
158 services to individuals with disabilities may participate in the
159 vocational rehabilitation program.
160 (b) The division shall develop and make publicly available
161 an annual report of service provider effectiveness which
162 includes an evaluation system measuring the effectiveness of all
163 service providers that are approved by the division to provide
164 employment-related services to individuals with disabilities.
165 (c) In order to maintain approved status with the division,
166 service providers must meet minimum standards of effectiveness
167 in the provision of vocational rehabilitation services,
168 including placement of individuals in competitive and integrated
169 employment.
170 (d) Rates for vocational rehabilitation services must be
171 allocable, reasonable, and necessary, as determined by the
172 division.
173 Section 4. Section 1003.437, Florida Statutes, is amended
174 to read:
175 1003.437 Middle and high school grading system.—The grading
176 system and interpretation of letter grades used to measure
177 student success in grade 6 through grade 12 courses for students
178 in public schools shall be as follows:
179 (1) Grade “A” equals 90 percent through 100 percent, has a
180 grade point average value of 4, and is defined as “outstanding
181 progress.”
182 (2) Grade “B” equals 80 percent through 89 percent, has a
183 grade point average value of 3, and is defined as “above average
184 progress.”
185 (3) Grade “C” equals 70 percent through 79 percent, has a
186 grade point average value of 2, and is defined as “average
187 progress.”
188 (4) Grade “D” equals 60 percent through 69 percent, has a
189 grade point average value of 1, and is defined as “lowest
190 acceptable progress.”
191 (5) Grade “F” equals zero percent through 59 percent, has a
192 grade point average value of zero, and is defined as “failure.”
193 (6) Grade “I” equals zero percent, has a grade point
194 average value of zero, and is defined as “incomplete.”
195
196 The State Board of Education must establish a statewide uniform
197 weighted grading system for honors courses and articulated
198 acceleration mechanisms identified in s. 1007.27. For the
199 purposes of class ranking, District school boards shall use the
200 may exercise a weighted grading system to calculate weighted
201 high school grade point averages pursuant to s. 1007.271.
202 Section 5. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
203 1005.06, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
204 1005.06 Institutions not under the jurisdiction or purview
205 of the commission.—
206 (1) Except as otherwise provided in law, the following
207 institutions are not under the jurisdiction or purview of the
208 commission and are not required to obtain licensure:
209 (b) Any college or, school, or course licensed or approved,
210 as an institution, for establishment and operation by another
211 state agency. A college or school, or any of its programs or
212 courses, does not qualify for exemption from the commission’s
213 jurisdiction under this paragraph solely because another state
214 agency licenses or approves one or more of its programs or
215 courses for establishment and operation under part I of chapter
216 464, chapter 466, or chapter 475, or any other chapter of the
217 Florida Statutes requiring licensing or approval as defined in
218 this chapter.
219 Section 6. Paragraph (b) of subsection (9) of section
220 1007.25, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
221 1007.25 General education courses; common prerequisites;
222 other degree requirements.—
223 (9)
224 (b) An associate in arts specialized transfer degree must
225 include 36 semester hours of general education coursework and
226 require 60 semester hours or more of college credit. Specialized
227 transfer degrees are designed for Florida College System
228 institution students who need supplemental lower-level
229 coursework in preparation for transfer to another institution.
230 The State Board of Education shall establish criteria for the
231 review and approval of new specialized transfer degrees. The
232 approval process must require:
233 1. A Florida College System institution to submit a notice
234 of its intent to propose a new associate in arts specialized
235 degree program to the Division of Florida Colleges. The notice
236 must include the recommended credit hours, the rationale for the
237 specialization, the demand for students entering the field, and
238 the coursework being proposed to be included beyond the 60
239 semester hours required for the general transfer degree, if
240 applicable. Notices of intent may be submitted by a Florida
241 College System institution at any time.
242 2. The Division of Florida Colleges to forward the notice
243 of intent within 10 business days after receipt to all Florida
244 College System institutions and to the Chancellor of the State
245 University System, who shall forward the notice to all state
246 universities. State universities and Florida College System
247 institutions shall have 30 60 days after receipt of the notice
248 to submit comments to the proposed associate in arts specialized
249 transfer degree.
250 3. After the submission of comments pursuant to
251 subparagraph 2., the requesting Florida College System
252 institution to submit a proposal that, at a minimum, includes:
253 a. Evidence that the coursework for the associate in arts
254 specialized transfer degree includes demonstration of competency
255 in a foreign language pursuant to s. 1007.262 and demonstration
256 of civic literacy competency as provided in subsection (5).
257 b. Demonstration that all required coursework will count
258 toward the associate in arts degree or the baccalaureate degree.
259 c. An analysis of demand and unmet need for students
260 entering the specialized field of study at the baccalaureate
261 level.
262 d. Justification for the program length if it exceeds 60
263 credit hours, including references to the common prerequisite
264 manual or other requirements for the baccalaureate degree. This
265 includes documentation of alignment between the exit
266 requirements of a Florida College System institution and the
267 admissions requirements of a baccalaureate program at a state
268 university to which students would typically transfer.
269 e. Articulation agreements for graduates of the associate
270 in arts specialized transfer degree.
271 f. Responses to the comments received under subparagraph 2.
272 Section 7. Subsections (1) and (16) of section 1007.271,
273 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
274 1007.271 Dual enrollment programs.—
275 (1) The dual enrollment program is the enrollment of an
276 eligible secondary student in this state or home education
277 student in this state in a postsecondary course creditable
278 toward high school completion and a career certificate or an
279 associate or baccalaureate degree. Postsecondary institutions
280 that are eligible to participate in the dual enrollment program
281 are Florida public postsecondary institutions and eligible not
282 for-profit independent colleges and universities pursuant to s.
283 1011.62(1)(i). A student who is enrolled in postsecondary
284 instruction that is not creditable toward a high school diploma
285 may not be classified as a dual enrollment student.
286 (16) Students who meet the eligibility requirements of this
287 section and who choose to participate in dual enrollment
288 programs are exempt from the payment of registration, tuition,
289 and laboratory fees.
290 Section 8. Subsections (2) and (3) and paragraphs (a) and
291 (b) of subsection (4) of section 1008.30, Florida Statutes, are
292 amended to read:
293 1008.30 Assessing college-level communication and
294 computation skills for public postsecondary education.—
295 (2) By January 31, 2022, the State Board of Education shall
296 adopt rules to develop and implement alternative methods for
297 assessing the basic communication and computation skills of
298 students who intend to enter a degree program at a Florida
299 College System institution. Florida College System institutions
300 and school district career centers may use these alternative
301 methods adopted by the State Board of Education for assessing
302 the basic communication and computation skills of students who
303 intend to enter a degree program at a Florida College System
304 institution or school district career center in lieu of the
305 common placement tests under subsection (1) to assess student
306 readiness for college-level work in communication and
307 computation. Florida College System institutions may request
308 approval of institution-specific alternative methods in
309 accordance with State Board of Education rules.
310 (3) The rules adopted under subsection (2) must specify the
311 following:
312 (a) A student who entered 9th grade in a Florida public
313 school in the 2003-2004 school year, or any year thereafter, and
314 earned a Florida standard high school diploma and who
315 demonstrated readiness for college-level communication and
316 computation skills by any of the approved common placement tests
317 or alternative methods pursuant to this section or a student who
318 is serving as an active duty member of any branch of the United
319 States Armed Services is not required to be assessed for
320 readiness for college-level work in communication and
321 computation and is not required to enroll in developmental
322 education instruction in a Florida College System institution or
323 a school district career center. However, a student who is not
324 required to be assessed for readiness for college-level work in
325 communication and computation and is not required to enroll in
326 developmental education under this paragraph may opt to be
327 assessed and to enroll in developmental education instruction,
328 and the college or school district career center shall provide
329 such assessment and instruction upon the student’s request.
330 (b) A student who earned a Florida standard high school
331 diploma and has not demonstrated readiness for college-level
332 courses pursuant to subsection (1) or subsection (2) must be
333 offered the opportunity to be is assessed for readiness for
334 college-level communication and computation and, if the
335 student’s whose assessment results indicate a need for
336 developmental education, he or she must be advised of all the
337 developmental education options offered at the institution. and,
338 After advisement, the student may enroll in the developmental
339 education option of his or her choice.
340 (c) A student who demonstrates readiness by achieving or
341 exceeding the test scores established under subsection (1) by
342 the state board and enrolls in a Florida College System
343 institution or a school district career center within 2 years
344 after achieving such scores may shall not be required to retest
345 or complete developmental education when admitted to any Florida
346 College System institution or school district career center.
347 (4)(a) Each Florida College System institution and school
348 district career center shall implement the developmental
349 education strategies defined in s. 1008.02 and rules established
350 by the State Board of Education.
351 (b) Each Florida College System institution and school
352 district career center shall use placement test results or
353 alternative methods as established by the State Board of
354 Education to determine the extent to which each student
355 demonstrates sufficient communication and computation skills to
356 indicate readiness for his or her chosen meta-major. Florida
357 College System institutions and school district career centers
358 shall counsel students into college credit courses as quickly as
359 possible, with developmental education limited to that content
360 needed for success in the meta-major.
361 Section 9. Subsection (1) of section 1008.44, Florida
362 Statutes, is amended to read:
363 1008.44 CAPE Industry Certification Funding List.—
364 (1) The State Board of Education shall adopt, at least
365 annually, based upon recommendations by the Commissioner of
366 Education, the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List that
367 assigns categories of certificates and certifications as
368 provided for in s. 1003.4203 to certifications identified in the
369 Master Credentials List under s. 445.004(4) which meet a
370 statewide, regional, or local demand. Supplemental funding for
371 regional and local demand certifications may only be earned in
372 those areas with regional or local demand as identified by the
373 Credentials Review Committee.
374 Section 10. Present subsections (4) through (13) of section
375 1009.21, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (5)
376 through (14), respectively, and a new subsection (4) is added to
377 that section, to read:
378 1009.21 Determination of resident status for tuition
379 purposes.—Students shall be classified as residents or
380 nonresidents for the purpose of assessing tuition in
381 postsecondary educational programs offered by charter technical
382 career centers or career centers operated by school districts,
383 in Florida College System institutions, and in state
384 universities.
385 (4) An individual may not lose his or her resident status
386 for tuition purposes solely by reason of incarceration in a
387 state or federal correctional facility in this state.
388 Section 11. Paragraph (a) of subsection (20) of section
389 1009.26, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
390 1009.26 Fee waivers.—
391 (20)(a) Beginning with the 2026-2027 2022-2023 academic
392 year, a state university shall waive the out-of-state fee for a
393 full-time undergraduate student who:
394 1. Has a grandparent who is a legal resident as defined in
395 s. 1009.21(1). For purposes of this subsection, the term
396 “grandparent” means a person who has a legal relationship to a
397 student’s parent as the natural or adoptive parent or legal
398 guardian of the student’s parent.
399 2. Earns a high school diploma comparable to a Florida
400 standard high school diploma, or its equivalent, or completes a
401 home education program.
402 3.a. Achieves an SAT combined score no lower than the 89th
403 national percentile on the SAT; or
404 b. Achieves an ACT score concordant to the required SAT
405 score in sub-subparagraph a., using the latest published
406 national concordance table developed jointly by the College
407 Board and ACT, Inc.; or
408 c. If a state university accepts the Classic Learning Test
409 (CLT) for admission purposes, achieves a CLT score concordant to
410 the required SAT score specified in sub-subparagraph a., using
411 the latest published scoring comparison developed by Classic
412 Learning Initiatives.
413 4. Beginning with students who initially enroll in the 2022
414 fall academic term and thereafter, enrolls as a full-time
415 undergraduate student at a state university in the fall academic
416 term immediately following high school graduation.
417 Section 12. Subsection (3) of section 1009.30, Florida
418 Statutes, is amended to read:
419 1009.30 Dual Enrollment Scholarship Program.—
420 (3)(a) The program shall reimburse eligible postsecondary
421 institutions for tuition and related instructional materials
422 costs for dual enrollment courses taken during the fall or
423 spring terms by eligible students, consisting of:
424 1. Private school students who take dual enrollment courses
425 pursuant to s. 1007.271(24)(b);
426 2. Home education program secondary students; or
427 3. Personalized education program secondary students.
428 (b) The program shall reimburse eligible independent
429 postsecondary institutions for tuition and related instructional
430 materials costs for dual enrollment courses taken by public
431 school students during the fall or spring terms.
432 (c) The program shall reimburse institutions for tuition
433 and related instructional materials costs for dual enrollment
434 courses taken by public school, private school, home education
435 program, or personalized education program secondary students
436 during the summer term.
437 Section 13. Subsection (2) of section 1009.536, Florida
438 Statutes, is amended, and subsection (6) is added to that
439 section, to read:
440 1009.536 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars and Florida
441 Gold Seal CAPE Scholars awards.—The Florida Gold Seal Vocational
442 Scholars award and the Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award are
443 created within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program to
444 recognize and reward academic achievement and career preparation
445 by high school students who wish to continue their education.
446 (2) A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal CAPE
447 Scholars award if he or she meets the general eligibility
448 requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program,
449 and the student:
450 (a) Earns a minimum of 3 5 postsecondary credits credit
451 hours through CAPE industry certifications approved pursuant to
452 s. 1008.44 which articulate for college credit; and
453 (b) Earns a minimum cumulative weighted grade point average
454 of 2.5, as calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, on all subjects
455 required for a standard high school diploma, excluding elective
456 courses; and
457 (c) Completes at least 30 hours of volunteer service, or 75
458 hours of volunteer service for students entering grade 9 in the
459 2024-2025 school year and thereafter, or 100 hours of paid work,
460 approved by the district school board, the administrators of a
461 nonpublic school, or the Department of Education for home
462 education program students, or 100 hours of a combination of
463 both. The student may identify a social or civic issue or a
464 professional area that interests him or her and develop a plan
465 for his or her personal involvement in addressing the issue or
466 learning about the area. The student must, through papers or
467 other presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or her
468 experience. Such volunteer service or paid work may include, but
469 is not limited to, a business or governmental internship, work
470 for a nonprofit community service organization, or activities on
471 behalf of a candidate for public office. The hours of volunteer
472 service or paid work must be documented in writing, and the
473 document must be signed by the student, the student’s parent or
474 guardian, and a representative of the organization for which the
475 student performed the volunteer service or paid work.
476 (6) Before or within 3 months after completion of the GATE
477 Program as provided in s. 1004.933, a student may apply for the
478 Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award.
479 Section 14. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
480 1009.893, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
481 1009.893 Benacquisto Scholarship Program.—
482 (4) In order to be eligible for an initial award under the
483 scholarship program, a student must meet the requirements of
484 paragraph (a) or paragraph (b).
485 (a) A student who is a resident of this state, as
486 determined in s. 1009.40 and rules of the State Board of
487 Education, must:
488 1. Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its
489 equivalent pursuant to s. 1002.3105, s. 1003.4281, s. 1003.4282,
490 or s. 1003.435 unless:
491 a. The student completes a home education program according
492 to s. 1002.41; or
493 b. The student earns a high school diploma from a non
494 Florida school while living with a parent who is on military or
495 public service assignment out of this state;
496 2. Be accepted by and enroll in a Florida public or
497 independent postsecondary educational institution that is
498 regionally accredited; and
499 3. Be enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate degree program
500 at an eligible regionally accredited Florida public or
501 independent postsecondary educational institution during the
502 fall academic term following high school graduation. A student
503 may defer the initial scholarship award for up to 1 year.
504 Section 15. Subsection (5) of section 1009.983, Florida
505 Statutes, is amended to read:
506 1009.983 Direct-support organization; authority.—
507 (5) The chair of the board or a designee who possesses
508 knowledge, skill, and experience in the areas of accounting,
509 risk management, or investment management shall serve as a
510 director of the direct-support organization. The chair and the
511 executive director of the board shall jointly name, at a
512 minimum, four other individuals to serve as directors of the
513 organization.
514 Section 16. Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section
515 1009.986, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
516 1009.986 Florida ABLE program.—
517 (3) DIRECT-SUPPORT ORGANIZATION; FLORIDA ABLE, INC.—
518 (d)1. The board of directors of Florida ABLE, Inc., shall
519 consist of:
520 a. The chair of the Florida Prepaid College Board, or a his
521 or her designee who possesses knowledge, skill, and experience
522 in the areas of accounting, risk management, or investment
523 management.
524 b. Up to three individuals who possess knowledge, skill,
525 and experience in the areas of accounting, risk management, or
526 investment management, one of whom may be a current member of
527 the Florida Prepaid College Board, who shall be appointed by the
528 Florida Prepaid College Board.
529 c. One individual who possesses knowledge, skill, and
530 experience in the areas of accounting, risk management, or
531 investment management, who shall be appointed by the Governor.
532 d. Two individuals who are advocates of persons with
533 disabilities, one of whom shall be appointed by the President of
534 the Senate and one of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of
535 the House of Representatives. At least one of the individuals
536 appointed under this sub-subparagraph must be an advocate of
537 persons with developmental disabilities, as that term is defined
538 in s. 393.063.
539 2.a. The term of the appointees under sub-subparagraph 1.b.
540 shall be up to 3 years as determined by the Florida Prepaid
541 College Board. Such appointees may be reappointed.
542 b. The term of the appointees under sub-subparagraphs 1.c.
543 and d. shall be 3 years. Such appointees may be reappointed.
544 3. Unless authorized by the board of directors of Florida
545 ABLE, Inc., an individual director has no authority to control
546 or direct the operations of Florida ABLE, Inc., or the actions
547 of its officers and employees.
548 4. The board of directors of Florida ABLE, Inc.:
549 a. Shall meet at least quarterly and at other times upon
550 the call of the chair.
551 b. May use any method of telecommunications to conduct, or
552 establish a quorum at, its meetings or the meetings of a
553 subcommittee or other subdivision if the public is given proper
554 notice of the telecommunications meeting and provided reasonable
555 access to observe and, if appropriate, to participate.
556 c. Shall annually elect a board member to serve as chair.
557 5. A majority of the total current membership of the board
558 of directors of Florida ABLE, Inc., constitutes a quorum of the
559 board.
560 6. Members of the board of directors of Florida ABLE, Inc.,
561 and the board’s subcommittees or other subdivisions shall serve
562 without compensation; however, the members may be reimbursed for
563 reasonable, necessary, and actual travel expenses pursuant to s.
564 112.061.
565 Section 17. Present paragraphs (h) and (i) of subsection
566 (17) of section 1011.62, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
567 paragraphs (i) and (j), respectively, and a new paragraph (h) is
568 added to that subsection, to read:
569 1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
570 allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
571 district for operation of schools is not determined in the
572 annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
573 the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
574 follows:
575 (17) ACADEMIC ACCELERATION OPTIONS SUPPLEMENT.—The academic
576 acceleration options supplement is created to assist school
577 districts in providing academic acceleration options, career
578 themed courses, and courses that lead to digital tool
579 certificates and industry certifications for prekindergarten
580 through grade 12 students and shall be allocated annually in the
581 General Appropriations Act.
582 (h) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent
583 membership based on the Florida Advanced Courses and Tests
584 (FACT) College Algebra course and test score of students.—A
585 value of 0.16 full-time equivalent student membership shall be
586 calculated for each student in the Florida Advanced Courses and
587 Tests (FACT) College Algebra course who achieves a minimum score
588 on an assessment identified by the Department of Education
589 pursuant to s. 1007.27(2) and added to the total full-time
590 equivalent student membership in basic programs for grades 9
591 through 12 in the subsequent fiscal year. Each district shall
592 allocate at least 80 percent of the funds provided to the
593 district for the FACT College Algebra course instruction, in
594 accordance with this paragraph, to the high school that
595 generates the funds. The school district shall distribute to
596 each classroom teacher who provided the FACT College Algebra
597 course instruction:
598 1. A bonus in the amount of $50 for each student taught by
599 the FACT College Algebra course teacher in each FACT College
600 Algebra course who achieves a minimum score on an assessment
601 identified by the Department of Education pursuant to s.
602 1007.27(2).
603 2. An additional bonus of $500 to each FACT College Algebra
604 course teacher in a school designated with a grade of “D” or “F”
605 who has at least one student who achieves a minimum score on an
606 assessment identified by the Department of Education pursuant to
607 s. 1007.27(2), regardless of the number of classes taught or of
608 the number of students who achieve a minimum score on an
609 assessment identified by the Department of Education pursuant to
610 s. 1007.27(2).
611 Section 18. Paragraphs (b) and (e) of subsection (3) of
612 section 1011.84, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
613 1011.84 Procedure for determining state financial support
614 and annual apportionment of state funds to each Florida College
615 System institution district.—The procedure for determining state
616 financial support and the annual apportionment to each Florida
617 College System institution district authorized to operate a
618 Florida College System institution under the provisions of s.
619 1001.61 shall be as follows:
620 (3) DETERMINING THE APPORTIONMENT FROM STATE FUNDS.—
621 (b) The apportionment to each Florida College System
622 institution from the Florida College System Program Fund shall
623 be determined annually in the General Appropriations Act. In
624 determining each college’s apportionment, the Legislature shall
625 consider the following components:
626 1. Base budget, which includes the state appropriation to
627 the Florida College System Program Fund in the current year plus
628 the related student tuition and out-of-state fees assigned in
629 the current General Appropriations Act.
630 2. The cost-to-continue allocation, which consists of
631 incremental changes to the base budget, including salaries,
632 price levels, and other related costs allocated through a
633 funding model developed by the Florida College System presidents
634 in consultation with the Department of Education and approved by
635 the Legislature. The model must which may recognize a minimum
636 level of funding per FTE and differing economic factors arising
637 from the individual educational approaches of the various
638 Florida College System institutions, including, but not limited
639 to:
640 a. Program offerings, weighting workforce FTE to account
641 for priorities and costs Direct Instructional Funding, including
642 class size, faculty productivity factors, average faculty
643 salary, ratio of full-time to part-time faculty, costs of
644 programs, and enrollment factors.
645 b. Completion of credentials, including certificates,
646 certifications, and degrees Academic Support, including small
647 colleges factor, multicampus factor, and enrollment factor.
648 c. Size of the college Student Services Support, including
649 headcount of students as well as FTE count and enrollment
650 factors.
651 d. Economies of scale Library Support, including volume and
652 other materials/audiovisual requirements.
653 e. Regional cost differentials Special Projects.
654 f. Operations and Maintenance of Plant, including square
655 footage and utilization factors.
656 g. Comparable wage factor.
657 3. Students enrolled in a recreation and leisure program
658 and students enrolled in a lifelong learning program who may not
659 be counted as full-time equivalent enrollments for purposes of
660 enrollment workload adjustments.
661 4. Operating costs of new facilities adjustments, which
662 shall be provided, from funds available, for each new facility
663 that is owned by the college and is recommended in accordance
664 with s. 1013.31.
665 5. New and improved program enhancements, which shall be
666 determined by the Legislature.
667
668 Student fees in the base budget plus student fee revenues
669 generated by increases in fee rates shall be deducted from the
670 sum of the components determined in subparagraphs 1.-5. The
671 amount remaining shall be the net annual state apportionment to
672 each college.
673 (e) If at any time the unencumbered balance in the general
674 fund of the Florida College System institution board of trustees
675 approved operating budget goes below 7 5 percent for a Florida
676 College System institution with a final FTE less than 15,000 for
677 the prior year, or below 7 percent for a Florida College System
678 institution with a final FTE of 15,000 or greater for the prior
679 year, the president must shall provide written notification to
680 the State Board of Education. By September 30 of each year, the
681 chief financial officer of each Florida College System
682 institution shall certify the unexpended amount of state funds
683 remaining in the general fund of an institution as of June 30 of
684 the previous fiscal year.
685 Section 19. Subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section
686 1013.841, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
687 1013.841 End of year balance of Florida College System
688 institution funds.—
689 (2)(a) Each Florida College System institution with a final
690 FTE less than 15,000 for the prior year shall maintain a minimum
691 carry forward balance of at least 7 5 percent of its state
692 operating budget; however, a Florida College System institution
693 may retain and report to the State Board of Education an annual
694 reserve balance exceeding that amount. If a Florida College
695 System institution fails to maintain a 7 5 percent balance in
696 state operating funds, the president must shall provide written
697 notification to the State Board of Education.
698 (b) Each Florida College System institution with a final
699 FTE less than 15,000 for the prior year that retains a state
700 operating fund carry forward balance in excess of the 7 5
701 percent minimum shall submit a spending plan for its excess
702 carry forward balance. The spending plan must shall include all
703 excess carry forward funds from state operating funds. The
704 spending plan must shall be submitted to the Florida College
705 System institution’s board of trustees for approval by September
706 30 of each year, 2020, and each September 30 thereafter. The
707 State Board of Education shall review and publish each Florida
708 College System institution’s carry forward spending plan by
709 November 15 of each year, 2020, and each November 15 thereafter.
710 (3)(a) Each Florida College System institution with a final
711 FTE of 15,000 or greater for the prior year shall maintain a
712 minimum carry forward balance of at least 7 percent of its state
713 operating budget. If a Florida College System institution fails
714 to maintain a 7 percent balance in state operating funds, the
715 institution shall submit a plan to the State Board of Education
716 to attain the minimum balance.
717 (b) Each Florida College System institution with a final
718 FTE of 15,000 or greater for the prior year that retains a state
719 operating fund carry forward balance in excess of the 7 percent
720 minimum shall submit a spending plan for its excess carry
721 forward balance. The spending plan shall include all excess
722 carry forward funds from state operating funds. The spending
723 plan shall be submitted to the Florida College System
724 institution’s board of trustees for approval by September 30,
725 2020, and each September 30 thereafter. The State Board of
726 Education shall review and publish each Florida College System
727 institution’s carry forward spending plan by November 15, 2020,
728 and each November 15 thereafter.
729 (4) A Florida College System institution identified in
730 paragraph (2)(b) (3)(b) must include in its carry forward
731 spending plan the estimated cost per planned expenditure and a
732 timeline for completion of the expenditure. A carry forward
733 spending plan may include retention of the carry forward balance
734 as a reserve fund to be used for authorized expenses in
735 subsequent years. Authorized expenditures in a carry forward
736 spending plan may include:
737 (a) Commitment of funds to a public education capital
738 outlay project for which an appropriation was previously
739 provided, which requires additional funds for completion, and
740 which is included in the list required by s. 1001.03(18)(d);
741 (b) Completion of a renovation, repair, or maintenance
742 project that is consistent with s. 1013.64(1) or replacement of
743 a minor facility;
744 (c) Completion of a remodeling or infrastructure project,
745 if such project is survey recommended pursuant to s. 1013.31;
746 (d) Completion of a repair or replacement project necessary
747 due to damage caused by a natural disaster for buildings
748 included in the inventory required pursuant to s. 1013.31;
749 (e) Operating expenditures that support the Florida College
750 System institution’s mission;
751 (f) Any purpose approved by the state board or specified in
752 the General Appropriations Act; and
753 (g) A commitment of funds to a contingency reserve for
754 expenses incurred as a result of a state of emergency declared
755 by the Governor pursuant to s. 252.36.
756 Section 20. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.