The Florida Senate

¹246.031  State Board of Independent Colleges and Universities.--

(1)  There shall be established in the Department of Education a State Board of Independent Colleges and Universities. The department shall serve as the administrative agent of the board by providing services, including payroll, procurement, and legal counsel. The board shall exercise independently all duties prescribed by law.

(2)  The State Board of Independent Colleges and Universities shall consist of nine citizens who are residents of this state, a majority of whom represent nonpublic colleges and universities within the state. Members shall be selected from the state at large and shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. To be consistent with an independent rulemaking board, members, except members appointed pursuant to paragraph (e), must be employees, consultants, board members, or trustees of a nonpublic college or university that is under the State Board of Independent Colleges and Universities. At least one member must be appointed from each of the following categories:

(a)  A college or university holding a certificate of exemption from licensure pursuant to s. 246.085(1)(a) and accredited by a regional accrediting agency.

(b)  A college or university holding a certificate of exemption from licensure pursuant to s. 246.085(1)(a) and accredited by a national accrediting agency.

(c)  A college or university licensed by the board pursuant to s. 246.087.

(d)  A college or university holding a certificate of exemption from licensure pursuant to s. 246.085(1)(b) or a college or university issued an authorization pursuant to s. 246.084.

(e)  Lay citizens of the state who derive no income from a nonpublic college or university.

Accreditation of an institution pursuant to the requirements of this subsection must be by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.

(3)  The terms of office for the members of the board shall be 3 years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. If a vacancy on the board occurs before the expiration of a term, the Governor shall appoint a successor to serve the unexpired term.

(4)  The board shall meet not less than four times in every fiscal year.

(5)  Members of the board are entitled to reimbursement for travel and per diem expenses, as provided in s. 112.061, while performing their duties.

(6)  Each board member is accountable to the Governor for the proper performance of the duties of his or her office. The Governor may remove from office any member for cause.

History.--s. 3, ch. 71-128; s. 70, ch. 72-221; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 3, ch. 77-85; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 4, ch. 78-323; ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 81-65; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 4, 23, 24, ch. 82-203; s. 25, ch. 86-145; s. 4, ch. 89-344; ss. 4, 19, 20, ch. 92-321; s. 89, ch. 95-148; s. 7, ch. 98-309; s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321.

¹Note.--Repealed January 7, 2003, by s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321, and shall be reviewed by the Legislature prior to that date.