The Florida Senate

229.003  Florida education governance reorganization.--

(1)  The Florida Board of Education, created pursuant to s. 229.004, shall be responsible for overseeing kindergarten through graduate school education, in accordance with the implementation process in s. 229.0072 and the policies and guiding principles in s. 229.002 and the mission and goals of s. 229.007.

(2)  There are established the following education governance officers in addition to the Commissioner of Education:

(a)  Chancellor of Public Schools.

(b)  Chancellor of Colleges and Universities.

(c)  Chancellor of Community Colleges.

(d)  Executive Director of Independent Education.

Each chancellor and the executive director shall be appointed by the Florida Board of Education and shall serve at the pleasure and under the authority of the Secretary of the Florida Board of Education.

(3)  The Governor shall appoint a seven-member board of trustees for the Florida Virtual High School, which shall be a body corporate with all the powers of a body corporate.

(4)  The Governor shall appoint for each university in the State University System a 12-member board of trustees, which shall be a body corporate with all the powers of a body corporate. In addition to the 12 members, a student body president shall serve as a voting member of the board of trustees. There shall be no state residency requirement for university board members, but the Governor shall consider diversity and regional representation. Each appointee is subject to confirmation by the Senate in the regular legislative session immediately following his or her appointment.

(5)  Effective July 1, 2001:

(a)  The Board of Regents is abolished.

(b)  All of the powers, duties, functions, records, personnel, and property; unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, and other funds; administrative authority; administrative rules; pending issues; and existing contracts of the Board of Regents are transferred by a type two transfer, pursuant to s. 20.06(2), to the Florida Board of Education.

(c)  The State Board of Community Colleges is abolished.

(d)  All of the powers, duties, functions, records, personnel, and property; unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, and other funds; administrative authority; administrative rules; pending issues; and existing contracts of the State Board of Community Colleges are transferred by a type two transfer, pursuant to s. 20.06(2), from the Department of Education to the Florida Board of Education.

(e)  The Postsecondary Education Planning Commission is abolished.

(f)  The Council for Education Policy Research and Improvement is created as an independent office under the Office of Legislative Services.

(g)  All personnel, unexpended balances of appropriations, and allocations of the Postsecondary Education Planning Commission are transferred to the Council for Education Policy Research and Improvement.

(h)  The Articulation Coordinating Committee and the Education Standards Commission are transferred by a type two transfer, pursuant to s. 20.06(2), from the Department of Education to the Florida Board of Education.

(i)  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 20.15, the Commissioner of Education and the Secretary of the Florida Board of Education shall work together to commence the reorganization of the Department of Education in accordance with s. 229.0073, which shall include an Office of the Commissioner of Education comprised of the general areas of operation that are common to all delivery sectors and, in addition, shall include:

1.  The creation of an Office of Technology and Information Services, an Office of Workforce and Economic Development, an Office of Educational Facilities and SMART Schools Clearinghouse, and an Office of Student Financial Assistance.

2.  The creation of a Division of Colleges and Universities.

3.  The creation of a Division of Community Colleges.

4.  The creation of a Division of Public Schools.

5.  The creation of a Division of Independent Education.

6.  The merger of the powers, duties, and staffs of the State Board of Independent Colleges and Universities and the State Board of Nonpublic Career Education, except as relating to any independent nonprofit college or university whose students are eligible to receive the William L. Boyd, IV, Florida resident access grants pursuant to s. 240.605, into a single Commission for Independent Education administratively housed within the Division of Independent Education.

History.--s. 3, ch. 2000-321; s. 3, ch. 2001-170.