| 1 | A reviser's bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to the Florida Statutes; amending ss. |
| 3 | 1000.01, 1000.02, 1000.04, 1000.05, 1000.06, 1000.07, |
| 4 | 1000.21, 1001.02, 1001.03, 1001.10, 1001.11, 1001.20, |
| 5 | 1001.27, 1001.271, 1001.28, 1001.43, 1001.60, 1001.61, |
| 6 | 1001.62, 1001.63, 1001.64, 1001.65, 1001.705, 1001.706, |
| 7 | 1002.20, 1002.21, 1002.33, 1002.34, 1002.41, 1002.45, |
| 8 | 1003.03, 1003.41, 1003.4156, 1003.433, 1003.435, 1003.49, |
| 9 | 1003.51, 1003.52, 1004.02, 1004.03, 1004.04, 1004.05, |
| 10 | 1004.06, 1004.07, 1004.085, 1004.095, 1004.226, 1004.645, |
| 11 | 1004.648, 1004.65, 1004.66, 1004.67, 1004.68, 1004.70, |
| 12 | 1004.71, 1004.725, 1004.726, 1004.74, 1004.75, 1004.77, |
| 13 | 1004.78, 1004.79, 1004.80, 1004.81, 1004.86, 1004.91, |
| 14 | 1004.92, 1004.93, 1004.94, 1004.95, 1004.97, 1004.98, |
| 15 | 1004.99, 1005.21, 1006.15, 1006.17, 1006.50, 1006.51, |
| 16 | 1006.55, 1006.60, 1006.62, 1006.63, 1006.65, 1006.68, |
| 17 | 1006.70, 1006.71, 1006.72, 1007.21, 1007.22, 1007.23, |
| 18 | 1007.235, 1007.24, 1007.25, 1007.2615, 1007.262, 1007.263, |
| 19 | 1007.264, 1007.265, 1007.27, 1007.271, 1007.272, 1007.28, |
| 20 | 1007.33, 1007.34, 1007.35, 1008.30, 1008.31, 1008.32, |
| 21 | 1008.345, 1008.385, 1008.405, 1008.41, 1008.42, 1008.43, |
| 22 | 1008.45, 1009.21, 1009.22, 1009.23, 1009.25, 1009.26, |
| 23 | 1009.265, 1009.27, 1009.28, 1009.285, 1009.286, 1009.29, |
| 24 | 1009.40, 1009.42, 1009.44, 1009.50, 1009.505, 1009.533, |
| 25 | 1009.535, 1009.55, 1009.56, 1009.60, 1009.605, 1009.65, |
| 26 | 1009.67, 1009.70, 1009.72, 1009.77, 1009.89, 1009.891, |
| 27 | 1009.97, 1009.971, 1009.98, 1009.981, 1010.01, 1010.02, |
| 28 | 1010.03, 1010.04, 1010.06, 1010.07, 1010.08, 1010.09, |
| 29 | 1010.11, 1010.22, 1010.23, 1010.30, 1010.33, 1010.34, |
| 30 | 1010.58, 1011.01, 1011.011, 1011.012, 1011.30, 1011.31, |
| 31 | 1011.32, 1011.51, 1011.62, 1011.68, 1011.75, 1011.80, |
| 32 | 1011.801, 1011.81, 1011.82, 1011.83, 1011.84, 1011.85, |
| 33 | 1011.86, 1012.01, 1012.35, 1012.56, 1012.80, 1012.81, |
| 34 | 1012.82, 1012.83, 1012.84, 1012.85, 1012.855, 1012.86, |
| 35 | 1012.865, 1012.87, 1012.875, 1012.88, 1012.885, 1012.98, |
| 36 | 1013.01, 1013.02, 1013.03, 1013.12, 1013.13, 1013.19, |
| 37 | 1013.23, 1013.231, 1013.25, 1013.27, 1013.28, 1013.31, |
| 38 | 1013.36, 1013.37, 1013.371, 1013.40, 1013.44, 1013.51, |
| 39 | 1013.52, 1013.60, 1013.64, 1013.65, and 1013.81, F.S., to |
| 40 | conform to the directive in section 21 of chapter 2010-70, |
| 41 | Laws of Florida, to prepare a reviser's bill for |
| 42 | consideration by the 2011 Regular Session of the |
| 43 | Legislature to substitute the term "Florida College System |
| 44 | Institution" for the terms "Florida college," "community |
| 45 | college," and "junior college" where those terms appear in |
| 46 | the Florida K-20 Education Code; providing an effective |
| 47 | date. |
| 48 |
|
| 49 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 50 |
|
| 51 | Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section |
| 52 | 1000.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 53 | 1000.01 The Florida K-20 education system; technical |
| 54 | provisions.- |
| 55 | (5) EDUCATION GOVERNANCE TRANSFERS.- |
| 56 | (b) All rules of the State Board of Education, the |
| 57 | Commissioner of Education, and the Department of Education, and |
| 58 | all rules of the district school boards, the Florida College |
| 59 | System institution community college boards of trustees, and the |
| 60 | state university boards of trustees, in effect on January 2, |
| 61 | 2003, remain in effect until specifically amended or repealed in |
| 62 | the manner provided by law. |
| 63 | Section 2. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section |
| 64 | 1000.02, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 65 | 1000.02 Policy and guiding principles for the Florida K-20 |
| 66 | education system.- |
| 67 | (1) It is the policy of the Legislature: |
| 68 | (e) To provide for the decentralization of authority to |
| 69 | the schools, Florida College System institutions community |
| 70 | colleges, universities, and other education institutions that |
| 71 | deliver educational services to the public. |
| 72 | Section 3. Section 1000.04, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 73 | to read: |
| 74 | 1000.04 Components for the delivery of public education |
| 75 | within the Florida K-20 education system.-Florida's K-20 |
| 76 | education system provides for the delivery of public education |
| 77 | through publicly supported and controlled K-12 schools, Florida |
| 78 | College System institutions community colleges, state |
| 79 | universities and other postsecondary educational institutions, |
| 80 | other educational institutions, and other educational services |
| 81 | as provided or authorized by the Constitution and laws of the |
| 82 | state. |
| 83 | (1) PUBLIC K-12 SCHOOLS.-The public K-12 schools include |
| 84 | charter schools and consist of kindergarten classes; elementary, |
| 85 | middle, and high school grades and special classes; school |
| 86 | district virtual instruction programs; workforce education; |
| 87 | career centers; adult, part-time, and evening schools, courses, |
| 88 | or classes, as authorized by law to be operated under the |
| 89 | control of district school boards; and lab schools operated |
| 90 | under the control of state universities. |
| 91 | (2) PUBLIC POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.-Public |
| 92 | postsecondary educational institutions include workforce |
| 93 | education; Florida College System institutions community |
| 94 | colleges; colleges; state universities; and all other state- |
| 95 | supported postsecondary educational institutions that are |
| 96 | authorized and established by law. |
| 97 | (3) FLORIDA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND THE BLIND.-The Florida |
| 98 | School for the Deaf and the Blind is a component of the delivery |
| 99 | of public education within Florida's K-20 education system. |
| 100 | (4) THE FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL.-The Florida Virtual School |
| 101 | is a component of the delivery of public education within |
| 102 | Florida's K-20 education system. |
| 103 | Section 4. Paragraphs (d) and (e) of subsection (3), |
| 104 | subsection (4), paragraph (a) of subsection (5), and paragraphs |
| 105 | (a), (b), (c), (e), (f), and (g) of subsection (6) of section |
| 106 | 1000.05, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 107 | 1000.05 Discrimination against students and employees in |
| 108 | the Florida K-20 public education system prohibited; equality of |
| 109 | access required.- |
| 110 | (3) |
| 111 | (d) A public K-20 educational institution which operates |
| 112 | or sponsors interscholastic, intercollegiate, club, or |
| 113 | intramural athletics shall provide equal athletic opportunity |
| 114 | for members of both genders. |
| 115 | 1. The Board of Governors shall determine whether equal |
| 116 | opportunities are available at state universities. |
| 117 | 2. The Commissioner of Education shall determine whether |
| 118 | equal opportunities are available in school districts and |
| 119 | Florida College System institutions community colleges. In |
| 120 | determining whether equal opportunities are available in school |
| 121 | districts and Florida College System institutions community |
| 122 | colleges, the Commissioner of Education shall consider, among |
| 123 | other factors: |
| 124 | a. Whether the selection of sports and levels of |
| 125 | competition effectively accommodate the interests and abilities |
| 126 | of members of both genders. |
| 127 | b. The provision of equipment and supplies. |
| 128 | c. Scheduling of games and practice times. |
| 129 | d. Travel and per diem allowances. |
| 130 | e. Opportunities to receive coaching and academic |
| 131 | tutoring. |
| 132 | f. Assignment and compensation of coaches and tutors. |
| 133 | g. Provision of locker room, practice, and competitive |
| 134 | facilities. |
| 135 | h. Provision of medical and training facilities and |
| 136 | services. |
| 137 | i. Provision of housing and dining facilities and |
| 138 | services. |
| 139 | j. Publicity. |
| 140 |
|
| 141 | Unequal aggregate expenditures for members of each gender or |
| 142 | unequal expenditures for male and female teams if a public |
| 143 | school or Florida College System institution community college |
| 144 | operates or sponsors separate teams do not constitute |
| 145 | nonimplementation of this subsection, but the Commissioner of |
| 146 | Education shall consider the failure to provide necessary funds |
| 147 | for teams for one gender in assessing equality of opportunity |
| 148 | for members of each gender. |
| 149 | (e) A public school or Florida College System institution |
| 150 | community college may provide separate toilet, locker room, and |
| 151 | shower facilities on the basis of gender, but such facilities |
| 152 | shall be comparable to such facilities provided for students of |
| 153 | the other gender. |
| 154 | (4) Public schools and Florida College System institutions |
| 155 | community colleges shall develop and implement methods and |
| 156 | strategies to increase the participation of students of a |
| 157 | particular race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability, |
| 158 | or marital status in programs and courses in which students of |
| 159 | that particular race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, |
| 160 | disability, or marital status have been traditionally |
| 161 | underrepresented, including, but not limited to, mathematics, |
| 162 | science, computer technology, electronics, communications |
| 163 | technology, engineering, and career education. |
| 164 | (5)(a) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to |
| 165 | implement this section as it relates to school districts and |
| 166 | Florida College System institutions community colleges. |
| 167 | (6) The functions of the Office of Equal Educational |
| 168 | Opportunity of the Department of Education shall include, but |
| 169 | are not limited to: |
| 170 | (a) Requiring all district school boards and Florida |
| 171 | College System institution community college boards of trustees |
| 172 | to develop and submit plans for the implementation of this |
| 173 | section to the Department of Education. |
| 174 | (b) Conducting periodic reviews of school districts and |
| 175 | Florida College System institutions community colleges to |
| 176 | determine compliance with this section and, after a finding that |
| 177 | a school district or a Florida College System institution |
| 178 | community college is not in compliance with this section, |
| 179 | notifying the entity of the steps that it must take to attain |
| 180 | compliance and performing followup monitoring. |
| 181 | (c) Providing technical assistance, including assisting |
| 182 | school districts or Florida College System institutions |
| 183 | community colleges in identifying unlawful discrimination and |
| 184 | instructing them in remedies for correction and prevention of |
| 185 | such discrimination and performing followup monitoring. |
| 186 | (e) Requiring all district school boards and Florida |
| 187 | College System institution community college boards of trustees |
| 188 | to submit data and information necessary to determine compliance |
| 189 | with this section. The Commissioner of Education shall prescribe |
| 190 | the format and the date for submission of such data and any |
| 191 | other educational equity data. If any board does not submit the |
| 192 | required compliance data or other required educational equity |
| 193 | data by the prescribed date, the commissioner shall notify the |
| 194 | board of this fact and, if the board does not take appropriate |
| 195 | action to immediately submit the required report, the State |
| 196 | Board of Education shall impose monetary sanctions. |
| 197 | (f) Based upon rules of the State Board of Education, |
| 198 | developing and implementing enforcement mechanisms with |
| 199 | appropriate penalties to ensure that public K-12 schools and |
| 200 | Florida College System institutions community colleges comply |
| 201 | with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and subsection |
| 202 | (3) of this section. However, the State Board of Education may |
| 203 | not force a public school or Florida College System institution |
| 204 | community college to conduct, nor penalize such entity for not |
| 205 | conducting, a program of athletic activity or athletic |
| 206 | scholarship for female athletes unless it is an athletic |
| 207 | activity approved for women by a recognized association whose |
| 208 | purpose is to promote athletics and a conference or league |
| 209 | exists to promote interscholastic or intercollegiate competition |
| 210 | for women in that athletic activity. |
| 211 | (g) Reporting to the Commissioner of Education any |
| 212 | district school board or Florida College System institution |
| 213 | community college board of trustees found to be out of |
| 214 | compliance with rules of the State Board of Education adopted as |
| 215 | required by paragraph (f) or paragraph (3)(d). To penalize the |
| 216 | board, the State Board of Education shall: |
| 217 | 1. Declare the school district or Florida College System |
| 218 | institution community college ineligible for competitive state |
| 219 | grants. |
| 220 | 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.192, direct |
| 221 | the Chief Financial Officer to withhold general revenue funds |
| 222 | sufficient to obtain compliance from the school district or |
| 223 | Florida College System institution community college. |
| 224 |
|
| 225 | The school district or Florida College System institution |
| 226 | community college shall remain ineligible and the funds shall |
| 227 | not be paid until the institution comes into compliance or the |
| 228 | State Board of Education approves a plan for compliance. |
| 229 | Section 5. Subsection (2) of section 1000.06, Florida |
| 230 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 231 | 1000.06 Display of flags.- |
| 232 | (2) Each public K-20 educational institution that is |
| 233 | provided or authorized by the Constitution and laws of Florida |
| 234 | shall display daily in each classroom the flag of the United |
| 235 | States. The flag must be made in the United States, must be at |
| 236 | least 2 feet by 3 feet, and must be properly displayed in |
| 237 | accordance with Title 4 U.S.C. Each educational institution |
| 238 | shall acquire the necessary number of flags to implement the |
| 239 | provisions of this subsection. The principal, director, or |
| 240 | president of each educational institution shall attempt to |
| 241 | acquire the flags through donations or fundraising for 1 year |
| 242 | prior to securing other funding sources or allocating funds for |
| 243 | the purchase of flags. The president of each state university or |
| 244 | Florida College System institution community college must |
| 245 | present to the governing board of the institution the results of |
| 246 | donations and fundraising activities relating to the acquisition |
| 247 | of flags prior to requesting the governing board to approve a |
| 248 | funding source for the purchase of flags. A flag must be |
| 249 | displayed in each classroom pursuant to this subsection no later |
| 250 | than August 1, 2005. |
| 251 | Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section |
| 252 | 1000.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 253 | 1000.07 Florida Business and Education Collaborative.- |
| 254 | (2) The Florida Business and Education Collaborative is |
| 255 | established as a state-level advisory group to the Governor; the |
| 256 | Legislature; the State Board of Education; the Board of |
| 257 | Governors of the State University System; boards of independent |
| 258 | colleges, universities, and career schools; and other interested |
| 259 | parties. |
| 260 | (a) Members of the collaborative shall be appointed by the |
| 261 | Governor and shall include state business leaders; state |
| 262 | legislative members; representative leaders of state and |
| 263 | nonpublic community colleges, colleges, universities, career |
| 264 | schools, and workforce education institutions and entities; and |
| 265 | national education and economic development policy leaders. |
| 266 | Section 7. Subsection (3) of section 1000.21, Florida |
| 267 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 268 | 1000.21 Systemwide definitions.-As used in the Florida K- |
| 269 | 20 Education Code: |
| 270 | (3) "Florida College System institution Florida college" |
| 271 | or "community college," except as otherwise specifically |
| 272 | provided, includes all of the following public postsecondary |
| 273 | educational institutions in the Florida College System and any |
| 274 | branch campuses, centers, or other affiliates of the |
| 275 | institution: |
| 276 | (a) Brevard Community College, which serves Brevard |
| 277 | County. |
| 278 | (b) Broward College, which serves Broward County. |
| 279 | (c) College of Central Florida, which serves Citrus, Levy, |
| 280 | and Marion Counties. |
| 281 | (d) Chipola College, which serves Calhoun, Holmes, |
| 282 | Jackson, Liberty, and Washington Counties. |
| 283 | (e) Daytona State College, which serves Flagler and |
| 284 | Volusia Counties. |
| 285 | (f) Edison State College, which serves Charlotte, Collier, |
| 286 | Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties. |
| 287 | (g) Florida State College at Jacksonville, which serves |
| 288 | Duval and Nassau Counties. |
| 289 | (h) Florida Keys Community College, which serves Monroe |
| 290 | County. |
| 291 | (i) Gulf Coast Community College, which serves Bay, |
| 292 | Franklin, and Gulf Counties. |
| 293 | (j) Hillsborough Community College, which serves |
| 294 | Hillsborough County. |
| 295 | (k) Indian River State College, which serves Indian River, |
| 296 | Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie Counties. |
| 297 | (l) Florida Gateway College, which serves Baker, Columbia, |
| 298 | Dixie, Gilchrist, and Union Counties. |
| 299 | (m) Lake-Sumter Community College, which serves Lake and |
| 300 | Sumter Counties. |
| 301 | (n) State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, which |
| 302 | serves Manatee and Sarasota Counties. |
| 303 | (o) Miami Dade College, which serves Miami-Dade County. |
| 304 | (p) North Florida Community College, which serves |
| 305 | Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, and Taylor |
| 306 | Counties. |
| 307 | (q) Northwest Florida State College, which serves Okaloosa |
| 308 | and Walton Counties. |
| 309 | (r) Palm Beach State College, which serves Palm Beach |
| 310 | County. |
| 311 | (s) Pasco-Hernando Community College, which serves |
| 312 | Hernando and Pasco Counties. |
| 313 | (t) Pensacola Junior College, which serves Escambia and |
| 314 | Santa Rosa Counties. |
| 315 | (u) Polk State College, which serves Polk County. |
| 316 | (v) St. Johns River Community College, which serves Clay, |
| 317 | Putnam, and St. Johns Counties. |
| 318 | (w) St. Petersburg College, which serves Pinellas County. |
| 319 | (x) Santa Fe College, which serves Alachua and Bradford |
| 320 | Counties. |
| 321 | (y) Seminole State College of Florida, which serves |
| 322 | Seminole County. |
| 323 | (z) South Florida Community College, which serves DeSoto, |
| 324 | Hardee, and Highlands Counties. |
| 325 | (aa) Tallahassee Community College, which serves Gadsden, |
| 326 | Leon, and Wakulla Counties. |
| 327 | (bb) Valencia Community College, which serves Orange and |
| 328 | Osceola Counties. |
| 329 | Section 8. Paragraph (u) of subsection (2), paragraph (a) |
| 330 | of subsection (3), paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and |
| 331 | (g) of subsection (4), and subsections (5) and (6) of section |
| 332 | 1001.02, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 333 | 1001.02 General powers of State Board of Education.- |
| 334 | (2) The State Board of Education has the following duties: |
| 335 | (u) To adopt criteria and implementation plans for future |
| 336 | growth issues, such as new Florida College System institutions |
| 337 | community colleges and Florida College System institution |
| 338 | community college campus mergers, and to provide for cooperative |
| 339 | agreements between and within public and private education |
| 340 | sectors. |
| 341 | (3)(a) The State Board of Education shall adopt a |
| 342 | strategic plan that specifies goals and objectives for the |
| 343 | state's public schools and Florida College System institutions |
| 344 | community colleges. The plan shall be formulated in conjunction |
| 345 | with plans of the Board of Governors in order to provide for the |
| 346 | roles of the universities and Florida College System |
| 347 | institutions community colleges to be coordinated to best meet |
| 348 | state needs and reflect cost-effective use of state resources. |
| 349 | The strategic plan must clarify mission statements and identify |
| 350 | degree programs to be offered at each Florida College System |
| 351 | institution community college in accordance with the objectives |
| 352 | provided in this subsection. The strategic plan must cover a |
| 353 | period of 5 years, with modification of the program lists after |
| 354 | 2 years. Development of each 5-year plan must be coordinated |
| 355 | with and initiated after completion of the master plan. The |
| 356 | strategic plans must specifically include programs and |
| 357 | procedures for responding to the educational needs of teachers |
| 358 | and students in the public schools of this state. The state |
| 359 | board shall submit a report to the President of the Senate and |
| 360 | the Speaker of the House of Representatives upon modification of |
| 361 | the plan. |
| 362 | (4) The State Board of Education shall: |
| 363 | (a) Provide for each Florida College System institution |
| 364 | community college to offer educational training and service |
| 365 | programs designed to meet the needs of both students and the |
| 366 | communities served. |
| 367 | (b) Specify, by rule, procedures to be used by the Florida |
| 368 | College System institution community college boards of trustees |
| 369 | in the annual evaluations of presidents and review the |
| 370 | evaluations of presidents by the boards of trustees. |
| 371 | (c) Establish, in conjunction with the Board of Governors, |
| 372 | an effective information system that will provide composite data |
| 373 | concerning the Florida College System institutions community |
| 374 | colleges and state universities and ensure that special analyses |
| 375 | and studies concerning the institutions are conducted, as |
| 376 | necessary, for provision of accurate and cost-effective |
| 377 | information concerning the institutions. |
| 378 | (d) Establish criteria for making recommendations for |
| 379 | modifying district boundary lines for Florida College System |
| 380 | institutions community colleges. |
| 381 | (e) Establish criteria for making recommendations |
| 382 | concerning all proposals for the establishment of additional |
| 383 | centers or campuses for Florida College System institutions |
| 384 | community colleges. |
| 385 | (f) Examine the annual administrative review of each |
| 386 | Florida College System institution community college. |
| 387 | (g) Specify, by rule, the college credit courses that may |
| 388 | be taken by Florida College System institution community college |
| 389 | students concurrently enrolled in college-preparatory |
| 390 | instruction. |
| 391 | (5) The State Board of Education is responsible for |
| 392 | reviewing and administering the state program of support for the |
| 393 | Florida College System institutions community colleges and, |
| 394 | subject to existing law, shall establish the tuition and out-of- |
| 395 | state fees for college-preparatory instruction and for credit |
| 396 | instruction that may be counted toward an associate in arts |
| 397 | degree, an associate in applied science degree, or an associate |
| 398 | in science degree. |
| 399 | (6) The State Board of Education shall prescribe minimum |
| 400 | standards, definitions, and guidelines for Florida College |
| 401 | System institutions community colleges that will ensure the |
| 402 | quality of education, coordination among the Florida College |
| 403 | System institutions community colleges and state universities, |
| 404 | and efficient progress toward accomplishing the Florida College |
| 405 | System institution community college mission. At a minimum, |
| 406 | these rules must address: |
| 407 | (a) Personnel. |
| 408 | (b) Contracting. |
| 409 | (c) Program offerings and classification, including |
| 410 | college-level communication and computation skills associated |
| 411 | with successful performance in college and with tests and other |
| 412 | assessment procedures that measure student achievement of those |
| 413 | skills. The performance measures must provide that students |
| 414 | moving from one level of education to the next acquire the |
| 415 | necessary competencies for that level. |
| 416 | (d) Provisions for curriculum development, graduation |
| 417 | requirements, college calendars, and program service areas. |
| 418 | These provisions must include rules that: |
| 419 | 1. Provide for the award of an associate in arts degree to |
| 420 | a student who successfully completes 60 semester credit hours at |
| 421 | the Florida College System institution community college. |
| 422 | 2. Require all of the credits accepted for the associate |
| 423 | in arts degree to be in the statewide course numbering system as |
| 424 | credits toward a baccalaureate degree offered by a state |
| 425 | university or a Florida College System institution community |
| 426 | college. |
| 427 | 3. Require no more than 36 semester credit hours in |
| 428 | general education courses in the subject areas of communication, |
| 429 | mathematics, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences. |
| 430 |
|
| 431 | The rules should encourage Florida College System institutions |
| 432 | community colleges to enter into agreements with state |
| 433 | universities that allow Florida College System institution |
| 434 | community college students to complete upper-division-level |
| 435 | courses at a Florida College System institution community |
| 436 | college. An agreement may provide for concurrent enrollment at |
| 437 | the Florida College System institution community college and the |
| 438 | state university and may authorize the Florida College System |
| 439 | institution community college to offer an upper-division-level |
| 440 | course or distance learning. |
| 441 | (e) Student admissions, conduct and discipline, |
| 442 | nonclassroom activities, and fees. |
| 443 | (f) Budgeting. |
| 444 | (g) Business and financial matters. |
| 445 | (h) Student services. |
| 446 | (i) Reports, surveys, and information systems, including |
| 447 | forms and dates of submission. |
| 448 | Section 9. Subsections (10), (13), and (15) of section |
| 449 | 1001.03, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 450 | 1001.03 Specific powers of State Board of Education.- |
| 451 | (10) COMMON PLACEMENT TESTING FOR PUBLIC POSTSECONDARY |
| 452 | EDUCATION.-The State Board of Education, in conjunction with the |
| 453 | Board of Governors, shall develop and implement a common |
| 454 | placement test to assess the basic computation and communication |
| 455 | skills of students who intend to enter a degree program at any |
| 456 | Florida College System institution community college or state |
| 457 | university. |
| 458 | (13) CYCLIC REVIEW OF POSTSECONDARY ACADEMIC PROGRAMS.-The |
| 459 | State Board of Education shall provide for the cyclic review of |
| 460 | all academic programs in Florida College System institutions |
| 461 | community colleges at least every 7 years. Program reviews shall |
| 462 | document how individual academic programs are achieving stated |
| 463 | student learning and program objectives within the context of |
| 464 | the institution's mission. The results of the program reviews |
| 465 | shall inform strategic planning, program development, and |
| 466 | budgeting decisions at the institutional level. |
| 467 | (15) FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM INSTITUTION COMMUNITY COLLEGE |
| 468 | BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAMS.-The State Board of Education |
| 469 | shall provide for the review and approval of proposals by |
| 470 | Florida College System institutions community colleges to offer |
| 471 | baccalaureate degree programs pursuant to s. 1007.33. A Florida |
| 472 | College System institution community college, as defined in s. |
| 473 | 1000.21, that is approved to offer baccalaureate degrees |
| 474 | pursuant to s. 1007.33 remains under the authority of the State |
| 475 | Board of Education and the Florida College System institution's |
| 476 | community college's board of trustees. |
| 477 | Section 10. Paragraph (k) of subsection (6) of section |
| 478 | 1001.10, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 479 | 1001.10 Commissioner of Education; general powers and |
| 480 | duties.- |
| 481 | (6) Additionally, the commissioner has the following |
| 482 | general powers and duties: |
| 483 | (k) To implement a program of school improvement and |
| 484 | education accountability designed to provide all students the |
| 485 | opportunity to make adequate learning gains in each year of |
| 486 | school as provided by statute and State Board of Education rule |
| 487 | based upon the achievement of the state education goals, |
| 488 | recognizing the following: |
| 489 | 1. The district school board is responsible for school and |
| 490 | student performance. |
| 491 | 2. The individual school is the unit for education |
| 492 | accountability. |
| 493 | 3. The Florida College System institution community |
| 494 | college board of trustees is responsible for Florida College |
| 495 | System institution community college performance and student |
| 496 | performance. |
| 497 | Section 11. Paragraphs (d) and (e) of subsection (1) of |
| 498 | section 1001.11, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 499 | 1001.11 Commissioner of Education; other duties.- |
| 500 | (1) The Commissioner of Education must independently |
| 501 | perform the following duties: |
| 502 | (d) Integrally work with the boards of trustees of the |
| 503 | Florida College System institutions community colleges. |
| 504 | (e) Monitor the activities of the State Board of Education |
| 505 | and provide information related to current and pending policies |
| 506 | to the members of the boards of trustees of the Florida College |
| 507 | System institutions community colleges and state universities. |
| 508 | Section 12. Paragraph (e) of subsection (4) of section |
| 509 | 1001.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 510 | 1001.20 Department under direction of state board.- |
| 511 | (4) The Department of Education shall establish the |
| 512 | following offices within the Office of the Commissioner of |
| 513 | Education which shall coordinate their activities with all other |
| 514 | divisions and offices: |
| 515 | (e) Office of Inspector General.-Organized using existing |
| 516 | resources and funds and responsible for promoting |
| 517 | accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness and detecting |
| 518 | fraud and abuse within school districts, the Florida School for |
| 519 | the Deaf and the Blind, and Florida College System institutions |
| 520 | community colleges in Florida. If the Commissioner of Education |
| 521 | determines that a district school board, the Board of Trustees |
| 522 | for the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, or a Florida |
| 523 | College System institution community college board of trustees |
| 524 | is unwilling or unable to address substantiated allegations made |
| 525 | by any person relating to waste, fraud, or financial |
| 526 | mismanagement within the school district, the Florida School for |
| 527 | the Deaf and the Blind, or the Florida College System |
| 528 | institution community college, the office shall conduct, |
| 529 | coordinate, or request investigations into such substantiated |
| 530 | allegations. The office shall have access to all information and |
| 531 | personnel necessary to perform its duties and shall have all of |
| 532 | its current powers, duties, and responsibilities authorized in |
| 533 | s. 20.055. |
| 534 | Section 13. Subsection (2) and paragraphs (b) and (c) of |
| 535 | subsection (3) of section 1001.27, Florida Statutes, are amended |
| 536 | to read: |
| 537 | 1001.27 State satellite network.- |
| 538 | (2) The network shall consist of compatible satellite |
| 539 | receiving equipment at public educational institutions in each |
| 540 | of the 28 Florida College System institution community college |
| 541 | regions. |
| 542 | (3) The department, in consultation with the Department of |
| 543 | Management Services, shall implement the provisions of this |
| 544 | section and coordinate the network. Specifically, the department |
| 545 | shall: |
| 546 | (b) Acquire by competitive sealed bid and place |
| 547 | appropriate receiving equipment in those Florida College System |
| 548 | institution community college regions of the state in which such |
| 549 | equipment is presently not available at a public postsecondary |
| 550 | educational institution. |
| 551 | (c) Develop an implementation plan that provides for |
| 552 | designation of a site in each Florida College System institution |
| 553 | community college region for inclusion in the initial network. |
| 554 | Criteria for selection shall include: |
| 555 | 1. Accessibility to a substantial portion of the |
| 556 | population of the region. |
| 557 | 2. Demonstrated institutional commitment to support and |
| 558 | encourage use of the network both within the region and |
| 559 | statewide. |
| 560 | 3. Willingness to complement state support with matching |
| 561 | institutional resources. |
| 562 | 4. Evidence of cooperation and coordinated planning with |
| 563 | other postsecondary educational institutions in the region. |
| 564 | 5. Availability of existing telecommunications equipment |
| 565 | which is compatible or adaptable for use in the network. |
| 566 | Section 14. Section 1001.271, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 567 | to read: |
| 568 | 1001.271 Florida Information Resource Network.-Upon |
| 569 | requisition by school districts, Florida College System |
| 570 | institutions community colleges, universities, or other eligible |
| 571 | users of the Florida Information Resource Network, the |
| 572 | Commissioner of Education shall purchase the nondiscounted |
| 573 | portion of Internet access services, including, but not limited |
| 574 | to, circuits, encryption, content filtering, support, and any |
| 575 | other services needed for the effective and efficient operation |
| 576 | of the network. For the 2009-2010 fiscal year, each school |
| 577 | district, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, and the |
| 578 | regional educational consortia eligible for the e-rate must |
| 579 | submit a requisition to the Commissioner of Education for at |
| 580 | least the same level of Internet access services used through |
| 581 | the Florida Information Resource Network contract in the 2008- |
| 582 | 2009 fiscal year. Each user shall identify in its requisition |
| 583 | the source of funds from which the commissioner is to make |
| 584 | payments. |
| 585 | Section 15. Section 1001.28, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 586 | to read: |
| 587 | 1001.28 Distance learning duties.-The duties of the |
| 588 | Department of Education concerning distance learning include, |
| 589 | but are not limited to, the duty to: |
| 590 | (1) Facilitate the implementation of a statewide |
| 591 | coordinated system and resource system for cost-efficient |
| 592 | advanced telecommunications services and distance education |
| 593 | which will increase overall student access to education. |
| 594 | (2) Coordinate the use of existing resources, including, |
| 595 | but not limited to, the state's satellite transponders, the |
| 596 | Florida Information Resource Network (FIRN), the Florida |
| 597 | Knowledge Network, and distance learning initiatives. |
| 598 | (3) Assist in the coordination of the utilization of the |
| 599 | production and uplink capabilities available through Florida's |
| 600 | public television stations, eligible facilities, independent |
| 601 | colleges and universities, private firms, and others as needed. |
| 602 | (4) Seek the assistance and cooperation of Florida's cable |
| 603 | television providers in the implementation of the statewide |
| 604 | advanced telecommunications services and distance learning |
| 605 | network. |
| 606 | (5) Seek the assistance and cooperation of Florida's |
| 607 | telecommunications carriers to provide affordable student access |
| 608 | to advanced telecommunications services and to distance |
| 609 | learning. |
| 610 | (6) Coordinate partnerships for development, acquisition, |
| 611 | use, and distribution of distance learning. |
| 612 | (7) Secure and administer funding for programs and |
| 613 | activities for distance learning from federal, state, local, and |
| 614 | private sources and from fees derived from services and |
| 615 | materials. |
| 616 | (8) Manage the state's satellite transponder resources and |
| 617 | enter into lease agreements to maximize the use of available |
| 618 | transponder time. All net revenue realized through the leasing |
| 619 | of available transponder time, after deducting the costs of |
| 620 | performing the management function, shall be recycled to support |
| 621 | the public education distance learning in this state based upon |
| 622 | an allocation formula of one-third to the Department of |
| 623 | Education, one-third to Florida College System institutions |
| 624 | community colleges, and one-third to state universities. |
| 625 | (9) Hire appropriate staff which may include a position |
| 626 | that shall be exempt from part II of chapter 110 and is included |
| 627 | in the Senior Management Service in accordance with s. 110.205. |
| 628 |
|
| 629 | Nothing in this section shall be construed to abrogate, |
| 630 | supersede, alter, or amend the powers and duties of any state |
| 631 | agency, district school board, Florida College System |
| 632 | institution community college board of trustees, university |
| 633 | board of trustees, the Board of Governors, or the State Board of |
| 634 | Education. |
| 635 | Section 16. Subsection (13) of section 1001.43, Florida |
| 636 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 637 | 1001.43 Supplemental powers and duties of district school |
| 638 | board.-The district school board may exercise the following |
| 639 | supplemental powers and duties as authorized by this code or |
| 640 | State Board of Education rule. |
| 641 | (13) COOPERATION WITH FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM INSTITUTIONS |
| 642 | COMMUNITY COLLEGES.-The district school board shall work with |
| 643 | the Florida College System institutions community colleges in |
| 644 | the district to ensure that the Florida College System |
| 645 | institution community college students have access to remedial |
| 646 | education. |
| 647 | Section 17. Subsection (2) of section 1001.60, Florida |
| 648 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 649 | 1001.60 Florida College System.- |
| 650 | (2) FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM.-There shall be a single |
| 651 | Florida College System comprised of the Florida College System |
| 652 | institutions colleges identified in s. 1000.21(3). A Florida |
| 653 | College System institution college may not offer graduate degree |
| 654 | programs. |
| 655 | (a) The programs and services offered by Florida College |
| 656 | System institutions colleges in providing associate and |
| 657 | baccalaureate degrees shall be delivered in a cost-effective |
| 658 | manner that demonstrates substantial savings to the student and |
| 659 | to the state over the cost of providing the degree at a state |
| 660 | university. |
| 661 | (b)1. With the approval of its district board of trustees, |
| 662 | a Florida College System institution college may change the |
| 663 | institution's name set forth in s. 1000.21(3) and use the |
| 664 | designation "college" or "state college" if it has been |
| 665 | authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees pursuant to s. 1007.33 |
| 666 | and has been accredited as a baccalaureate-degree-granting |
| 667 | institution by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern |
| 668 | Association of Colleges and Schools. |
| 669 | 2. With the approval of its district board of trustees, a |
| 670 | Florida College System institution college that does not meet |
| 671 | the criteria in subparagraph 1. may request approval from the |
| 672 | State Board of Education to change the institution's name set |
| 673 | forth in s. 1000.21(3) and use the designation "college." The |
| 674 | State Board of Education may approve the request if the Florida |
| 675 | College System institution college enters into an agreement with |
| 676 | the State Board of Education to do the following: |
| 677 | a. Maintain as its primary mission responsibility for |
| 678 | responding to community needs for postsecondary academic |
| 679 | education and career degree education as prescribed in s. |
| 680 | 1004.65(5). |
| 681 | b. Maintain an open-door admissions policy for associate- |
| 682 | level degree programs and workforce education programs. |
| 683 | c. Continue to provide outreach to underserved |
| 684 | populations. |
| 685 | d. Continue to provide remedial education. |
| 686 | e. Comply with all provisions of the statewide |
| 687 | articulation agreement that relate to 2-year and 4-year public |
| 688 | degree-granting institutions as adopted by the State Board of |
| 689 | Education pursuant to s. 1007.23. |
| 690 | (c) A district board of trustees that approves a change to |
| 691 | the name of an institution under paragraph (b) must seek |
| 692 | statutory codification of such name change in s. 1000.21(3) |
| 693 | during the next regular legislative session. |
| 694 | (d) A Florida College System institution college may not |
| 695 | use the designation "university." |
| 696 | Section 18. Section 1001.61, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 697 | to read: |
| 698 | 1001.61 Florida College System institution Community |
| 699 | college boards of trustees; membership.- |
| 700 | (1) Florida College System institution Community college |
| 701 | boards of trustees shall be comprised of five members when a |
| 702 | Florida College System institution community college district is |
| 703 | confined to one school board district; seven members when a |
| 704 | Florida College System institution community college district is |
| 705 | confined to one school board district and the board of trustees |
| 706 | so elects; and not more than nine members when the district |
| 707 | contains two or more school board districts, as provided by |
| 708 | rules of the State Board of Education. However, Florida State |
| 709 | College at Jacksonville shall have an odd number of trustees. |
| 710 | (2) Trustees shall be appointed by the Governor and |
| 711 | confirmed by the Senate in regular session. |
| 712 | (3) Members of the board of trustees shall receive no |
| 713 | compensation but may receive reimbursement for expenses as |
| 714 | provided in s. 112.061. |
| 715 | (4) At its first regular meeting after July 1 of each |
| 716 | year, each Florida College System institution community college |
| 717 | board of trustees shall organize by electing a chair, whose duty |
| 718 | as such is to preside at all meetings of the board, to call |
| 719 | special meetings thereof, and to attest to actions of the board, |
| 720 | and a vice chair, whose duty as such is to act as chair during |
| 721 | the absence or disability of the elected chair. It is the |
| 722 | further duty of the chair of each board of trustees to notify |
| 723 | the Governor, in writing, whenever a board member fails to |
| 724 | attend three consecutive regular board meetings in any one |
| 725 | fiscal year, which absences may be grounds for removal. |
| 726 | (5) A Florida College System institution community college |
| 727 | president shall serve as the executive officer and corporate |
| 728 | secretary of the board of trustees and shall be responsible to |
| 729 | the board of trustees for setting the agenda for meetings of the |
| 730 | board of trustees in consultation with the chair. The president |
| 731 | also serves as the chief administrative officer of the Florida |
| 732 | College System institution community college, and all the |
| 733 | components of the institution and all aspects of its operation |
| 734 | are responsible to the board of trustees through the president. |
| 735 | Section 19. Section 1001.62, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 736 | to read: |
| 737 | 1001.62 Transfer of benefits arising under local or |
| 738 | special acts.-All local or special acts in force on July 1, |
| 739 | 1968, that provide benefits for a Florida College System |
| 740 | institution community college through a district school board |
| 741 | shall continue in full force and effect, and such benefits shall |
| 742 | be transmitted to the Florida College System institution |
| 743 | community college board of trustees. |
| 744 | Section 20. Section 1001.63, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 745 | to read: |
| 746 | 1001.63 Florida College System institution Community |
| 747 | college board of trustees; board of trustees to constitute a |
| 748 | corporation.-Each Florida College System institution community |
| 749 | college board of trustees is constituted a body corporate by the |
| 750 | name of "The District Board of Trustees of ...(name of Florida |
| 751 | College System institution community college)..., Florida" with |
| 752 | all the powers and duties of a body corporate, including the |
| 753 | power to adopt a corporate seal, to contract and be contracted |
| 754 | with, to sue or be sued, to plead and be impleaded in all courts |
| 755 | of law or equity, and to give and receive donations. In all |
| 756 | suits against a board of trustees, service of process shall be |
| 757 | made on the chair of the board of trustees or, in the absence of |
| 758 | the chair, the corporate secretary or designee of the chair. |
| 759 | Section 21. Section 1001.64, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 760 | to read: |
| 761 | 1001.64 Florida College System institution Community |
| 762 | college boards of trustees; powers and duties.- |
| 763 | (1) The boards of trustees shall be responsible for cost- |
| 764 | effective policy decisions appropriate to the Florida College |
| 765 | System institution's community college's mission, the |
| 766 | implementation and maintenance of high-quality education |
| 767 | programs within law and rules of the State Board of Education, |
| 768 | the measurement of performance, the reporting of information, |
| 769 | and the provision of input regarding state policy, budgeting, |
| 770 | and education standards. |
| 771 | (2) Each board of trustees is vested with the |
| 772 | responsibility to govern its respective Florida College System |
| 773 | institution community college and with such necessary authority |
| 774 | as is needed for the proper operation and improvement thereof in |
| 775 | accordance with rules of the State Board of Education. |
| 776 | (3) A board of trustees shall have the power to take |
| 777 | action without a recommendation from the president and shall |
| 778 | have the power to require the president to deliver to the board |
| 779 | of trustees all data and information required by the board of |
| 780 | trustees in the performance of its duties. |
| 781 | (4)(a) The board of trustees, after considering |
| 782 | recommendations submitted by the Florida College System |
| 783 | institution community college president, may adopt rules |
| 784 | pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the |
| 785 | provisions of law conferring duties upon it. These rules may |
| 786 | supplement those prescribed by the State Board of Education if |
| 787 | they will contribute to the more orderly and efficient operation |
| 788 | of Florida College System institutions community colleges. |
| 789 | (b) Each board of trustees is specifically authorized to |
| 790 | adopt rules, procedures, and policies, consistent with law and |
| 791 | rules of the State Board of Education, related to its mission |
| 792 | and responsibilities as set forth in s. 1004.65, its governance, |
| 793 | personnel, budget and finance, administration, programs, |
| 794 | curriculum and instruction, buildings and grounds, travel and |
| 795 | purchasing, technology, students, contracts and grants, or |
| 796 | college property. |
| 797 | (5) Each board of trustees shall have responsibility for |
| 798 | the use, maintenance, protection, and control of Florida College |
| 799 | System institution community college owned or Florida College |
| 800 | System institution community college controlled buildings and |
| 801 | grounds, property and equipment, name, trademarks and other |
| 802 | proprietary marks, and the financial and other resources of the |
| 803 | Florida College System institution community college. Such |
| 804 | authority may include placing restrictions on activities and on |
| 805 | access to facilities, firearms, food, tobacco, alcoholic |
| 806 | beverages, distribution of printed materials, commercial |
| 807 | solicitation, animals, and sound. |
| 808 | (6) Each board of trustees has responsibility for the |
| 809 | establishment and discontinuance of program and course offerings |
| 810 | in accordance with law and rule; provision for instructional and |
| 811 | noninstructional community services, location of classes, and |
| 812 | services provided; and dissemination of information concerning |
| 813 | such programs and services. New programs must be approved |
| 814 | pursuant to s. 1004.03. |
| 815 | (7) Each board of trustees has responsibility for: |
| 816 | ensuring that students have access to general education courses |
| 817 | as identified in rule; requiring no more than 60 semester hours |
| 818 | of degree program coursework, including 36 semester hours of |
| 819 | general education coursework, for an associate in arts degree; |
| 820 | notifying students that earned hours in excess of 60 semester |
| 821 | hours may not be accepted by state universities; notifying |
| 822 | students of unique program prerequisites; and ensuring that |
| 823 | degree program coursework beyond general education coursework is |
| 824 | consistent with degree program prerequisite requirements adopted |
| 825 | pursuant to s. 1007.25(5). |
| 826 | (8) Each board of trustees has authority for policies |
| 827 | related to students, enrollment of students, student records, |
| 828 | student activities, financial assistance, and other student |
| 829 | services. |
| 830 | (a) Each board of trustees shall govern admission of |
| 831 | students pursuant to s. 1007.263 and rules of the State Board of |
| 832 | Education. A board of trustees may establish additional |
| 833 | admissions criteria, which shall be included in the district |
| 834 | interinstitutional articulation agreement developed according to |
| 835 | s. 1007.235, to ensure student readiness for postsecondary |
| 836 | instruction. Each board of trustees may consider the past |
| 837 | actions of any person applying for admission or enrollment and |
| 838 | may deny admission or enrollment to an applicant because of |
| 839 | misconduct if determined to be in the best interest of the |
| 840 | Florida College System institution community college. |
| 841 | (b) Each board of trustees shall adopt rules establishing |
| 842 | student performance standards for the award of degrees and |
| 843 | certificates pursuant to s. 1004.68. |
| 844 | (c) Boards of trustees are authorized to establish |
| 845 | intrainstitutional and interinstitutional programs to maximize |
| 846 | articulation pursuant to s. 1007.22. |
| 847 | (d) Boards of trustees shall identify their core |
| 848 | curricula, which shall include courses required by the State |
| 849 | Board of Education, pursuant to the provisions of s. 1007.25(6). |
| 850 | (e) Each board of trustees must adopt a written antihazing |
| 851 | policy, provide a program for the enforcement of such rules, and |
| 852 | adopt appropriate penalties for violations of such rules |
| 853 | pursuant to the provisions of s. 1006.63. |
| 854 | (f) Each board of trustees may establish a uniform code of |
| 855 | conduct and appropriate penalties for violation of its rules by |
| 856 | students and student organizations, including rules governing |
| 857 | student academic honesty. Such penalties, unless otherwise |
| 858 | provided by law, may include fines, the withholding of diplomas |
| 859 | or transcripts pending compliance with rules or payment of |
| 860 | fines, and the imposition of probation, suspension, or |
| 861 | dismissal. |
| 862 | (g) Each board of trustees pursuant to s. 1006.53 shall |
| 863 | adopt a policy in accordance with rules of the State Board of |
| 864 | Education that reasonably accommodates the religious observance, |
| 865 | practice, and belief of individual students in regard to |
| 866 | admissions, class attendance, and the scheduling of examinations |
| 867 | and work assignments. |
| 868 | (9) A board of trustees may contract with the board of |
| 869 | trustees of a state university for the Florida College System |
| 870 | institution community college to provide college-preparatory |
| 871 | instruction on the state university campus. |
| 872 | (10) Each board of trustees shall establish fees pursuant |
| 873 | to ss. 1009.22, 1009.23, 1009.25, 1009.26, and 1009.27. |
| 874 | (11) Each board of trustees shall submit an institutional |
| 875 | budget request, including a request for fixed capital outlay, |
| 876 | and an operating budget to the State Board of Education for |
| 877 | approval in accordance with guidelines established by the State |
| 878 | Board of Education. |
| 879 | (12) Each board of trustees shall account for expenditures |
| 880 | of all state, local, federal and other funds in the manner |
| 881 | described by the Department of Education. |
| 882 | (13) Each board of trustees is responsible for the uses |
| 883 | for the proceeds of academic improvement trust funds pursuant to |
| 884 | s. 1011.85. |
| 885 | (14) Each board of trustees shall develop a strategic plan |
| 886 | specifying institutional goals and objectives for the Florida |
| 887 | College System institution community college for recommendation |
| 888 | to the State Board of Education. |
| 889 | (15) Each board of trustees shall develop an |
| 890 | accountability plan pursuant to s. 1008.45. |
| 891 | (16) Each board of trustees must expend performance funds |
| 892 | provided for workforce education pursuant to the provisions of |
| 893 | s. 1011.80. |
| 894 | (17) Each board of trustees is accountable for performance |
| 895 | in certificate career education and diploma programs pursuant to |
| 896 | s. 1008.43. |
| 897 | (18) Each board of trustees shall establish the personnel |
| 898 | program for all employees of the Florida College System |
| 899 | institution community college, including the president, pursuant |
| 900 | to the provisions of chapter 1012 and rules and guidelines of |
| 901 | the State Board of Education, including: compensation and other |
| 902 | conditions of employment; recruitment and selection; |
| 903 | nonreappointment; standards for performance and conduct; |
| 904 | evaluation; benefits and hours of work; leave policies; |
| 905 | recognition; inventions and work products; travel; learning |
| 906 | opportunities; exchange programs; academic freedom and |
| 907 | responsibility; promotion; assignment; demotion; transfer; |
| 908 | ethical obligations and conflict of interest; restrictive |
| 909 | covenants; disciplinary actions; complaints; appeals and |
| 910 | grievance procedures; and separation and termination from |
| 911 | employment. |
| 912 | (19) Each board of trustees shall appoint, suspend, or |
| 913 | remove the president of the Florida College System institution |
| 914 | community college. The board of trustees may appoint a search |
| 915 | committee. The board of trustees shall conduct annual |
| 916 | evaluations of the president in accordance with rules of the |
| 917 | State Board of Education and submit such evaluations to the |
| 918 | State Board of Education for review. The evaluation must address |
| 919 | the achievement of the performance goals established by the |
| 920 | accountability process implemented pursuant to s. 1008.45 and |
| 921 | the performance of the president in achieving the annual and |
| 922 | long-term goals and objectives established in the Florida |
| 923 | College System institution's community college's employment |
| 924 | accountability program implemented pursuant to s. 1012.86. |
| 925 | (20) Each board of trustees is authorized to enter into |
| 926 | contracts to provide a State Community College System Optional |
| 927 | Retirement Program pursuant to s. 1012.875 and to enter into |
| 928 | consortia with other boards of trustees for this purpose. |
| 929 | (21) Each board of trustees is authorized to purchase |
| 930 | annuities for its Florida College System institution community |
| 931 | college personnel who have 25 or more years of creditable |
| 932 | service and who have reached age 55 and have applied for |
| 933 | retirement under the Florida Retirement System pursuant to the |
| 934 | provisions of s. 1012.87. |
| 935 | (22) A board of trustees may defray all costs of defending |
| 936 | civil actions against officers, employees, or agents of the |
| 937 | board of trustees pursuant to s. 1012.85. |
| 938 | (23) Each board of trustees has authority for risk |
| 939 | management, safety, security, and law enforcement operations. |
| 940 | Each board of trustees is authorized to employ personnel, |
| 941 | including police officers pursuant to s. 1012.88, to carry out |
| 942 | the duties imposed by this subsection. |
| 943 | (24) Each board of trustees shall provide rules governing |
| 944 | parking and the direction and flow of traffic within campus |
| 945 | boundaries. Except for sworn law enforcement personnel, persons |
| 946 | employed to enforce campus parking rules have no authority to |
| 947 | arrest or issue citations for moving traffic violations. The |
| 948 | board of trustees may adopt a uniform code of appropriate |
| 949 | penalties for violations. Such penalties, unless otherwise |
| 950 | provided by law, may include the levying of fines, the |
| 951 | withholding of diplomas or transcripts pending compliance with |
| 952 | rules or payment of fines, and the imposition of probation, |
| 953 | suspension, or dismissal. Moneys collected from parking rule |
| 954 | infractions shall be deposited in appropriate funds at each |
| 955 | Florida College System institution community college for student |
| 956 | financial aid purposes. |
| 957 | (25) Each board of trustees constitutes the contracting |
| 958 | agent of the Florida College System institution community |
| 959 | college. It may when acting as a body make contracts, sue, and |
| 960 | be sued in the name of the board of trustees. In any suit, a |
| 961 | change in personnel of the board of trustees shall not abate the |
| 962 | suit, which shall proceed as if such change had not taken place. |
| 963 | (26) Each board of trustees is authorized to contract for |
| 964 | the purchase, sale, lease, license, or acquisition in any |
| 965 | manner, including purchase by installment or lease-purchase |
| 966 | contract which may provide for the payment of interest on the |
| 967 | unpaid portion of the purchase price and for the granting of a |
| 968 | security interest in the items purchased, subject to the |
| 969 | provisions of subsection (38) and ss. 1009.22 and 1009.23, of |
| 970 | goods, materials, equipment, and services required by the |
| 971 | Florida College System institution community college. The board |
| 972 | of trustees may choose to consolidate equipment contracts under |
| 973 | master equipment financing agreements made pursuant to s. |
| 974 | 287.064. |
| 975 | (27) Each board of trustees shall be responsible for |
| 976 | managing and protecting real and personal property acquired or |
| 977 | held in trust for use by and for the benefit of such Florida |
| 978 | College System institution community college. To that end, any |
| 979 | board of trustees is authorized to be self-insured, to enter |
| 980 | into risk management programs, or to purchase insurance for |
| 981 | whatever coverage it may choose, or to have any combination |
| 982 | thereof, in anticipation of any loss, damage, or destruction. A |
| 983 | board of trustees may contract for self-insurance services |
| 984 | pursuant to s. 1004.725. |
| 985 | (28) Each board of trustees is authorized to enter into |
| 986 | agreements for, and accept, credit card, charge card, and debit |
| 987 | card payments as compensation for goods, services, tuition, and |
| 988 | fees. Each Florida College System institution community college |
| 989 | is further authorized to establish accounts in credit card, |
| 990 | charge card, and debit card banks for the deposit of sales |
| 991 | invoices. |
| 992 | (29) Each board of trustees may provide incubator |
| 993 | facilities to eligible small business concerns pursuant to s. |
| 994 | 1004.79. |
| 995 | (30) Each board of trustees may establish a technology |
| 996 | transfer center for the purpose of providing institutional |
| 997 | support to local business and industry and governmental agencies |
| 998 | in the application of new research in technology pursuant to the |
| 999 | provisions of s. 1004.78. |
| 1000 | (31) Each board of trustees may establish economic |
| 1001 | development centers for the purpose of serving as liaisons |
| 1002 | between Florida College System institutions community colleges |
| 1003 | and the business sector pursuant to the provisions of s. |
| 1004 | 1004.80. |
| 1005 | (32) Each board of trustees may establish a child |
| 1006 | development training center pursuant to s. 1004.81. |
| 1007 | (33) Each board of trustees is authorized to develop and |
| 1008 | produce work products relating to educational endeavors that are |
| 1009 | subject to trademark, copyright, or patent statutes pursuant to |
| 1010 | chapter 1004. |
| 1011 | (34) Each board of trustees shall administer the |
| 1012 | facilities program pursuant to chapter 1013, including but not |
| 1013 | limited to: the construction of public educational and ancillary |
| 1014 | plants; the acquisition and disposal of property; compliance |
| 1015 | with building and life safety codes; submission of data and |
| 1016 | information relating to facilities and construction; use of |
| 1017 | buildings and grounds; establishment of safety and sanitation |
| 1018 | programs for the protection of building occupants; and site |
| 1019 | planning and selection. |
| 1020 | (35) Each board of trustees may exercise the right of |
| 1021 | eminent domain pursuant to the provisions of chapter 1013. |
| 1022 | (36) Each board of trustees may enter into lease-purchase |
| 1023 | arrangements with private individuals or corporations for |
| 1024 | necessary grounds and buildings for Florida College System |
| 1025 | institution community college purposes, other than dormitories, |
| 1026 | or for buildings other than dormitories to be erected for |
| 1027 | Florida College System institution community college purposes. |
| 1028 | Such arrangements shall be paid from capital outlay and debt |
| 1029 | service funds as provided by s. 1011.84(2), with terms not to |
| 1030 | exceed 30 years at a stipulated rate. The provisions of such |
| 1031 | contracts, including building plans, are subject to approval by |
| 1032 | the Department of Education, and no such contract may be entered |
| 1033 | into without such approval. |
| 1034 | (37) Each board of trustees may purchase, acquire, |
| 1035 | receive, hold, own, manage, lease, sell, dispose of, and convey |
| 1036 | title to real property, in the best interests of the Florida |
| 1037 | College System institution community college. |
| 1038 | (38) Each board of trustees is authorized to enter into |
| 1039 | short-term loans and installment, lease-purchase, and other |
| 1040 | financing contracts for a term of not more than 5 years, |
| 1041 | including renewals, extensions, and refundings. Payments on |
| 1042 | short-term loans and installment, lease-purchase, and other |
| 1043 | financing contracts pursuant to this subsection shall be subject |
| 1044 | to annual appropriation by the board of trustees. Each board of |
| 1045 | trustees is authorized to borrow funds and incur long-term debt, |
| 1046 | including promissory notes, installment sales agreements, lease- |
| 1047 | purchase agreements, certificates of participation, and other |
| 1048 | similar long-term financing arrangements, only as specifically |
| 1049 | provided in ss. 1009.22(6) and (9) and 1009.23(11) and (12). At |
| 1050 | the option of the board of trustees, bonds issued pursuant to |
| 1051 | ss. 1009.22(6) and (9) and 1009.23(11) and (12) may be secured |
| 1052 | by a combination of revenues authorized to be pledged to bonds |
| 1053 | pursuant to such subsections. Revenue bonds may not be secured |
| 1054 | by or paid from, directly or indirectly, tuition, financial aid |
| 1055 | fees, the Florida College System Community College Program Fund, |
| 1056 | or any other operating revenues of a Florida College System |
| 1057 | institution community college. Lease-purchase agreements may be |
| 1058 | secured by a combination of revenues as specifically authorized |
| 1059 | pursuant to ss. 1009.22(7) and 1009.23(10). |
| 1060 | (39) Each board of trustees shall prescribe conditions for |
| 1061 | direct-support organizations to be certified and to use Florida |
| 1062 | College System institution community college property and |
| 1063 | services. Conditions relating to certification must provide for |
| 1064 | audit review and oversight by the board of trustees. |
| 1065 | (40) Each board of trustees may adopt policies pursuant to |
| 1066 | s. 1010.02 that provide procedures for transferring to the |
| 1067 | direct-support organization of that Florida College System |
| 1068 | institution community college for administration by such |
| 1069 | organization contributions made to the Florida College System |
| 1070 | institution community college. |
| 1071 | (41) The board of trustees shall exert every effort to |
| 1072 | collect all delinquent accounts pursuant to s. 1010.03. |
| 1073 | (42) Each board of trustees shall implement a plan, in |
| 1074 | accordance with guidelines of the State Board of Education, for |
| 1075 | working on a regular basis with the other Florida College System |
| 1076 | institution community college boards of trustees, |
| 1077 | representatives of the university boards of trustees, and |
| 1078 | representatives of the district school boards to achieve the |
| 1079 | goals of the seamless education system. |
| 1080 | (43) Each board of trustees has responsibility for |
| 1081 | compliance with state and federal laws, rules, regulations, and |
| 1082 | requirements. |
| 1083 | (44) Each board of trustees may adopt rules, procedures, |
| 1084 | and policies related to institutional governance, |
| 1085 | administration, and management in order to promote orderly and |
| 1086 | efficient operation, including, but not limited to, financial |
| 1087 | management, budget management, physical plant management, and |
| 1088 | property management. |
| 1089 | (45) Each board of trustees may adopt rules and procedures |
| 1090 | related to data or technology, including, but not limited to, |
| 1091 | information systems, communications systems, computer hardware |
| 1092 | and software, and networks. |
| 1093 | (46) Each board of trustees may consider the past actions |
| 1094 | of any person applying for employment and may deny employment to |
| 1095 | a person because of misconduct if determined to be in the best |
| 1096 | interest of the Florida College System institution community |
| 1097 | college. |
| 1098 | (47) A board of trustees may not enter into an employment |
| 1099 | contract that requires the Florida College System institution |
| 1100 | community college to pay a Florida College System institution |
| 1101 | community college president an amount from state funds in excess |
| 1102 | of 1 year of the president's annual salary for termination, |
| 1103 | buyout, or any other type of contract settlement. This |
| 1104 | subsection does not prohibit the payment of leave and benefits |
| 1105 | accrued by the president in accordance with the Florida College |
| 1106 | System institution's community college's leave and benefits |
| 1107 | policies before the contract terminates. |
| 1108 | Section 22. Section 1001.65, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1109 | to read: |
| 1110 | 1001.65 Florida College System institution Community |
| 1111 | college presidents; powers and duties.-The president is the |
| 1112 | chief executive officer of the Florida College System |
| 1113 | institution community college, shall be corporate secretary of |
| 1114 | the Florida College System institution community college board |
| 1115 | of trustees, and is responsible for the operation and |
| 1116 | administration of the Florida College System institution |
| 1117 | community college. Each Florida College System institution |
| 1118 | community college president shall: |
| 1119 | (1) Recommend the adoption of rules, as appropriate, to |
| 1120 | the Florida College System institution community college board |
| 1121 | of trustees to implement provisions of law governing the |
| 1122 | operation and administration of the Florida College System |
| 1123 | institution community college, which shall include the specific |
| 1124 | powers and duties enumerated in this section. Such rules shall |
| 1125 | be consistent with law, the mission of the Florida College |
| 1126 | System institution community college and the rules and policies |
| 1127 | of the State Board of Education. |
| 1128 | (2) Prepare a budget request and an operating budget |
| 1129 | pursuant to s. 1011.30 for approval by the Florida College |
| 1130 | System institution community college board of trustees at such |
| 1131 | time and in such format as the State Board of Education may |
| 1132 | prescribe. |
| 1133 | (3) Establish and implement policies and procedures to |
| 1134 | recruit, appoint, transfer, promote, compensate, evaluate, |
| 1135 | reward, demote, discipline, and remove personnel, within law and |
| 1136 | rules of the State Board of Education and in accordance with |
| 1137 | rules or policies approved by the Florida College System |
| 1138 | institution community college board of trustees. |
| 1139 | (4) Govern admissions, subject to law and rules or |
| 1140 | policies of the Florida College System institution community |
| 1141 | college board of trustees and the State Board of Education. |
| 1142 | (5) Approve, execute, and administer contracts for and on |
| 1143 | behalf of the Florida College System institution community |
| 1144 | college board of trustees for licenses; the acquisition or |
| 1145 | provision of commodities, goods, equipment, and services; leases |
| 1146 | of real and personal property; and planning and construction to |
| 1147 | be rendered to or by the Florida College System institution |
| 1148 | community college, provided such contracts are within law and |
| 1149 | guidelines of the State Board of Education and in conformance |
| 1150 | with policies of the Florida College System institution |
| 1151 | community college board of trustees, and are for the |
| 1152 | implementation of approved programs of the Florida College |
| 1153 | System institution community college. |
| 1154 | (6) Act for the Florida College System institution |
| 1155 | community college board of trustees as custodian of all Florida |
| 1156 | College System institution community college property and |
| 1157 | financial resources. The authority vested in the Florida College |
| 1158 | System institution community college president under this |
| 1159 | subsection includes the authority to prioritize the use of |
| 1160 | Florida College System institution community college space, |
| 1161 | property, equipment, and resources and the authority to impose |
| 1162 | charges for the use of those items. |
| 1163 | (7) Establish the internal academic calendar of the |
| 1164 | Florida College System institution community college within |
| 1165 | general guidelines of the State Board of Education. |
| 1166 | (8) Administer the Florida College System institution's |
| 1167 | community college's program of intercollegiate athletics. |
| 1168 | (9) Recommend to the board of trustees the establishment |
| 1169 | and termination of programs within the approved role and scope |
| 1170 | of the Florida College System institution community college. |
| 1171 | (10) Award degrees. |
| 1172 | (11) Recommend to the board of trustees a schedule of |
| 1173 | tuition and fees to be charged by the Florida College System |
| 1174 | institution community college, within law and rules of the State |
| 1175 | Board of Education. |
| 1176 | (12) Organize the Florida College System institution |
| 1177 | community college to efficiently and effectively achieve the |
| 1178 | goals of the Florida College System institution community |
| 1179 | college. |
| 1180 | (13) Review periodically the operations of the Florida |
| 1181 | College System institution community college in order to |
| 1182 | determine how effectively and efficiently the Florida College |
| 1183 | System institution community college is being administered and |
| 1184 | whether it is meeting the goals of its strategic plan adopted by |
| 1185 | the State Board of Education. |
| 1186 | (14) Enter into agreements for student exchange programs |
| 1187 | that involve students at the Florida College System institution |
| 1188 | community college and students in other institutions of higher |
| 1189 | learning. |
| 1190 | (15) Approve the internal procedures of student government |
| 1191 | organizations and provide purchasing, contracting, and budgetary |
| 1192 | review processes for these organizations. |
| 1193 | (16) Ensure compliance with federal and state laws, rules, |
| 1194 | regulations, and other requirements that are applicable to the |
| 1195 | Florida College System institution community college. |
| 1196 | (17) Maintain all data and information pertaining to the |
| 1197 | operation of the Florida College System institution community |
| 1198 | college, and report on the attainment by the Florida College |
| 1199 | System institution community college of institutional and |
| 1200 | statewide performance accountability goals. |
| 1201 | (18) Certify to the department a project's compliance with |
| 1202 | the requirements for expenditure of PECO funds prior to release |
| 1203 | of funds pursuant to the provisions of chapter 1013. |
| 1204 | (19) Provide to the law enforcement agency and fire |
| 1205 | department that has jurisdiction over the Florida College System |
| 1206 | institution community college a copy of the floor plans and |
| 1207 | other relevant documents for each educational facility as |
| 1208 | defined in s. 1013.01(6). After the initial submission of the |
| 1209 | floor plans and other relevant documents, the Florida College |
| 1210 | System institution community college president shall submit, by |
| 1211 | October 1 of each year, revised floor plans and other relevant |
| 1212 | documents for each educational facility that was modified during |
| 1213 | the preceding year. |
| 1214 | (20) Establish a committee to consider requests for |
| 1215 | waivers from the provisions of s. 1008.29 and approve or |
| 1216 | disapprove the committee's recommendations. |
| 1217 | (21) Develop and implement jointly with school |
| 1218 | superintendents a comprehensive articulated acceleration |
| 1219 | program, including a comprehensive interinstitutional |
| 1220 | articulation agreement, for the students enrolled in their |
| 1221 | respective school districts and service areas pursuant to the |
| 1222 | provisions of s. 1007.235. |
| 1223 | (22) Have authority, after notice to the student of the |
| 1224 | charges and after a hearing thereon, to expel, suspend, or |
| 1225 | otherwise discipline any student who is found to have violated |
| 1226 | any law, ordinance, or rule or regulation of the State Board of |
| 1227 | Education or of the board of trustees of the Florida College |
| 1228 | System institution community college pursuant to the provisions |
| 1229 | of s. 1006.62. |
| 1230 | (23) Submit an annual employment accountability plan to |
| 1231 | the Department of Education pursuant to the provisions of s. |
| 1232 | 1012.86. |
| 1233 | (24) Annually evaluate, or have a designee annually |
| 1234 | evaluate, each department chairperson, dean, provost, and vice |
| 1235 | president in achieving the annual and long-term goals and |
| 1236 | objectives of the Florida College System institution's community |
| 1237 | college's employment accountability plan. |
| 1238 | (25) Have vested with the president or the president's |
| 1239 | designee the authority that is vested with the Florida College |
| 1240 | System institution community college. |
| 1241 | Section 23. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section |
| 1242 | 1001.705, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1243 | 1001.705 Responsibility for the State University System |
| 1244 | under s. 7, Art. IX of the State Constitution.- |
| 1245 | (2) CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE |
| 1246 | STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.-In accordance with s. 7, Art. IX of the |
| 1247 | State Constitution, the Board of Governors of the State |
| 1248 | University System has the duty to operate, regulate, control, |
| 1249 | and be fully responsible for the management of the whole |
| 1250 | publicly funded State University System and the board, or the |
| 1251 | board's designee, has responsibility for: |
| 1252 | (b) Defining the articulation of each constituent |
| 1253 | university in conjunction with the Legislature's authority over |
| 1254 | the public schools and Florida College System institutions |
| 1255 | community colleges. |
| 1256 | Section 24. Subsection (9) of section 1001.706, Florida |
| 1257 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1258 | 1001.706 Powers and duties of the Board of Governors.- |
| 1259 | (9) COOPERATION WITH OTHER BOARDS.-The Board of Governors |
| 1260 | shall implement a plan for working on a regular basis with the |
| 1261 | State Board of Education, the Commission for Independent |
| 1262 | Education, the university boards of trustees, representatives of |
| 1263 | the Florida College System institution community college boards |
| 1264 | of trustees, representatives of the private colleges and |
| 1265 | universities, and representatives of the district school boards |
| 1266 | to achieve a seamless education system. |
| 1267 | Section 25. Paragraph (d) of subsection (19) of section |
| 1268 | 1002.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1269 | 1002.20 K-12 student and parent rights.-Parents of public |
| 1270 | school students must receive accurate and timely information |
| 1271 | regarding their child's academic progress and must be informed |
| 1272 | of ways they can help their child to succeed in school. K-12 |
| 1273 | students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory |
| 1274 | rights including, but not limited to, the following: |
| 1275 | (19) INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS.- |
| 1276 | (d) Dual enrollment students.-Instructional materials |
| 1277 | purchased by a district school board or Florida College System |
| 1278 | institution community college board of trustees on behalf of |
| 1279 | public school dual enrollment students shall be made available |
| 1280 | to the dual enrollment students free of charge, in accordance |
| 1281 | with the provisions of s. 1007.271(14) and (15). |
| 1282 | Section 26. Subsections (4) and (5) of section 1002.21, |
| 1283 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 1284 | 1002.21 Postsecondary student and parent rights.- |
| 1285 | (4) STUDENT HANDBOOKS.-Each state university and Florida |
| 1286 | College System institution community college shall provide its |
| 1287 | students with an up-to-date student handbook that includes |
| 1288 | student rights and responsibilities, appeals processes available |
| 1289 | to students, contact persons available to help students, student |
| 1290 | conduct code, and information regarding HIV and AIDS, in |
| 1291 | accordance with the provisions of s. 1006.50. |
| 1292 | (5) STUDENT OMBUDSMAN OFFICE.-Each state university and |
| 1293 | Florida College System institution community college shall |
| 1294 | maintain a student ombudsman office and established procedures |
| 1295 | for students to appeal to the office regarding decisions about |
| 1296 | the student's access to courses and credit granted toward the |
| 1297 | student's degree, in accordance with the provisions of s. |
| 1298 | 1006.51. |
| 1299 | Section 27. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) and paragraph |
| 1300 | (c) of subsection (18) of section 1002.33, Florida Statutes, are |
| 1301 | amended to read: |
| 1302 | 1002.33 Charter schools.- |
| 1303 | (5) SPONSOR; DUTIES.- |
| 1304 | (b) Sponsor duties.- |
| 1305 | 1.a. The sponsor shall monitor and review the charter |
| 1306 | school in its progress toward the goals established in the |
| 1307 | charter. |
| 1308 | b. The sponsor shall monitor the revenues and expenditures |
| 1309 | of the charter school and perform the duties provided in s. |
| 1310 | 1002.345. |
| 1311 | c. The sponsor may approve a charter for a charter school |
| 1312 | before the applicant has identified space, equipment, or |
| 1313 | personnel, if the applicant indicates approval is necessary for |
| 1314 | it to raise working funds. |
| 1315 | d. The sponsor's policies shall not apply to a charter |
| 1316 | school unless mutually agreed to by both the sponsor and the |
| 1317 | charter school. |
| 1318 | e. The sponsor shall ensure that the charter is innovative |
| 1319 | and consistent with the state education goals established by s. |
| 1320 | 1000.03(5). |
| 1321 | f. The sponsor shall ensure that the charter school |
| 1322 | participates in the state's education accountability system. If |
| 1323 | a charter school falls short of performance measures included in |
| 1324 | the approved charter, the sponsor shall report such shortcomings |
| 1325 | to the Department of Education. |
| 1326 | g. The sponsor shall not be liable for civil damages under |
| 1327 | state law for personal injury, property damage, or death |
| 1328 | resulting from an act or omission of an officer, employee, |
| 1329 | agent, or governing body of the charter school. |
| 1330 | h. The sponsor shall not be liable for civil damages under |
| 1331 | state law for any employment actions taken by an officer, |
| 1332 | employee, agent, or governing body of the charter school. |
| 1333 | i. The sponsor's duties to monitor the charter school |
| 1334 | shall not constitute the basis for a private cause of action. |
| 1335 | j. The sponsor shall not impose additional reporting |
| 1336 | requirements on a charter school without providing reasonable |
| 1337 | and specific justification in writing to the charter school. |
| 1338 | 2. Immunity for the sponsor of a charter school under |
| 1339 | subparagraph 1. applies only with respect to acts or omissions |
| 1340 | not under the sponsor's direct authority as described in this |
| 1341 | section. |
| 1342 | 3. This paragraph does not waive a district school board's |
| 1343 | sovereign immunity. |
| 1344 | 4. A Florida College System institution community college |
| 1345 | may work with the school district or school districts in its |
| 1346 | designated service area to develop charter schools that offer |
| 1347 | secondary education. These charter schools must include an |
| 1348 | option for students to receive an associate degree upon high |
| 1349 | school graduation. District school boards shall cooperate with |
| 1350 | and assist the Florida College System institution community |
| 1351 | college on the charter application. Florida College System |
| 1352 | institution Community college applications for charter schools |
| 1353 | are not subject to the time deadlines outlined in subsection (6) |
| 1354 | and may be approved by the district school board at any time |
| 1355 | during the year. Florida College System institutions Community |
| 1356 | colleges may not report FTE for any students who receive FTE |
| 1357 | funding through the Florida Education Finance Program. |
| 1358 | (18) FACILITIES.- |
| 1359 | (c) Any facility, or portion thereof, used to house a |
| 1360 | charter school whose charter has been approved by the sponsor |
| 1361 | and the governing board, pursuant to subsection (7), shall be |
| 1362 | exempt from ad valorem taxes pursuant to s. 196.1983. Library, |
| 1363 | community service, museum, performing arts, theatre, cinema, |
| 1364 | church, Florida College System institution community college, |
| 1365 | college, and university facilities may provide space to charter |
| 1366 | schools within their facilities under their preexisting zoning |
| 1367 | and land use designations. |
| 1368 | Section 28. Subsections (1), (3), (4), (5), (6), (8), and |
| 1369 | (9), paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (11), paragraphs (e), |
| 1370 | (g), and (h) of subsection (12), and subsections (14) and (16) |
| 1371 | of section 1002.34, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 1372 | 1002.34 Charter technical career centers.- |
| 1373 | (1) AUTHORIZATION.-The Legislature finds that the |
| 1374 | establishment of charter technical career centers can assist in |
| 1375 | promoting advances and innovations in workforce preparation and |
| 1376 | economic development. A charter technical career center may |
| 1377 | provide a learning environment that better serves the needs of a |
| 1378 | specific population group or a group of occupations, thus |
| 1379 | promoting diversity and choices within the public education and |
| 1380 | public postsecondary technical education community in this |
| 1381 | state. Therefore, the creation of such centers is authorized as |
| 1382 | part of the state's program of public education. A charter |
| 1383 | technical career center may be formed by creating a new school |
| 1384 | or converting an existing school district or Florida College |
| 1385 | System institution community college program to charter |
| 1386 | technical status. |
| 1387 | (3) DEFINITIONS.-As used in this section, the term: |
| 1388 | (a) "Charter technical career center" or "center" means a |
| 1389 | public school or a public technical center operated under a |
| 1390 | charter granted by a district school board or Florida College |
| 1391 | System institution community college board of trustees or a |
| 1392 | consortium, including one or more district school boards and |
| 1393 | Florida College System institution community college boards of |
| 1394 | trustees, that includes the district in which the facility is |
| 1395 | located, that is nonsectarian in its programs, admission |
| 1396 | policies, employment practices, and operations, and is managed |
| 1397 | by a board of directors. |
| 1398 | (b) "Sponsor" means a district school board, a Florida |
| 1399 | College System institution community college board of trustees, |
| 1400 | or a consortium of one or more of each. |
| 1401 | (4) CHARTER.-A sponsor may designate centers as provided |
| 1402 | in this section. An application to establish a center may be |
| 1403 | submitted by a sponsor or another organization that is |
| 1404 | determined, by rule of the State Board of Education, to be |
| 1405 | appropriate. However, an independent school is not eligible for |
| 1406 | status as a center. The charter must be signed by the governing |
| 1407 | body of the center and the sponsor and must be approved by the |
| 1408 | district school board and Florida College System institution |
| 1409 | community college board of trustees in whose geographic region |
| 1410 | the facility is located. If a charter technical career center is |
| 1411 | established by the conversion to charter status of a public |
| 1412 | technical center formerly governed by a district school board, |
| 1413 | the charter status of that center takes precedence in any |
| 1414 | question of governance. The governance of the center or of any |
| 1415 | program within the center remains with its board of directors |
| 1416 | unless the board agrees to a change in governance or its charter |
| 1417 | is revoked as provided in subsection (15). Such a conversion |
| 1418 | charter technical career center is not affected by a change in |
| 1419 | the governance of public technical centers or of programs within |
| 1420 | other centers that are or have been governed by district school |
| 1421 | boards. A charter technical career center, or any program within |
| 1422 | such a center, that was governed by a district school board and |
| 1423 | transferred to a Florida College System institution community |
| 1424 | college prior to the effective date of this act is not affected |
| 1425 | by this provision. An applicant who wishes to establish a center |
| 1426 | must submit to the district school board or Florida College |
| 1427 | System institution community college board of trustees, or a |
| 1428 | consortium of one or more of each, an application on a form |
| 1429 | developed by the Department of Education which includes: |
| 1430 | (a) The name of the proposed center. |
| 1431 | (b) The proposed structure of the center, including a list |
| 1432 | of proposed members of the board of directors or a description |
| 1433 | of the qualifications for and method of their appointment or |
| 1434 | election. |
| 1435 | (c) The workforce development goals of the center, the |
| 1436 | curriculum to be offered, and the outcomes and the methods of |
| 1437 | assessing the extent to which the outcomes are met. |
| 1438 | (d) The admissions policy and criteria for evaluating the |
| 1439 | admission of students. |
| 1440 | (e) A description of the staff responsibilities and the |
| 1441 | proposed qualifications of the teaching staff. |
| 1442 | (f) A description of the procedures to be implemented to |
| 1443 | ensure significant involvement of representatives of business |
| 1444 | and industry in the operation of the center. |
| 1445 | (g) A method for determining whether a student has |
| 1446 | satisfied the requirements for graduation specified in s. |
| 1447 | 1003.43 and for completion of a postsecondary certificate or |
| 1448 | degree. |
| 1449 | (h) A method for granting secondary and postsecondary |
| 1450 | diplomas, certificates, and degrees. |
| 1451 | (i) A description of and address for the physical facility |
| 1452 | in which the center will be located. |
| 1453 | (j) A method for resolving conflicts between the governing |
| 1454 | body of the center and the sponsor and between consortium |
| 1455 | members, if applicable. |
| 1456 | (k) A method for reporting student data as required by law |
| 1457 | and rule. |
| 1458 | (l) A statement that the applicant has participated in the |
| 1459 | training provided by the Department of Education. |
| 1460 | (m) The identity of all relatives employed by the charter |
| 1461 | technical career center who are related to the center owner, |
| 1462 | president, chairperson of the governing board of directors, |
| 1463 | superintendent, governing board member, principal, assistant |
| 1464 | principal, or any other person employed by the center who has |
| 1465 | equivalent decisionmaking authority. As used in this paragraph, |
| 1466 | the term "relative" means father, mother, son, daughter, |
| 1467 | brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, |
| 1468 | husband, wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, |
| 1469 | daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, |
| 1470 | stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half |
| 1471 | brother, or half sister. |
| 1472 | (n) Other information required by the district school |
| 1473 | board or Florida College System institution community college |
| 1474 | board of trustees. |
| 1475 |
|
| 1476 | Students at a center must meet the same testing and academic |
| 1477 | performance standards as those established by law and rule for |
| 1478 | students at public schools and public technical centers. The |
| 1479 | students must also meet any additional assessment indicators |
| 1480 | that are included within the charter approved by the district |
| 1481 | school board or Florida College System institution community |
| 1482 | college board of trustees. |
| 1483 | (5) APPLICATION.-An application to establish a center must |
| 1484 | be submitted by February 1 of the year preceding the school year |
| 1485 | in which the center will begin operation. The sponsor must |
| 1486 | review the application using an evaluation instrument developed |
| 1487 | by the Department of Education and make a final decision on |
| 1488 | whether to approve the application and grant the charter by |
| 1489 | March 1, and may condition the granting of a charter on the |
| 1490 | center's taking certain actions or maintaining certain |
| 1491 | conditions. Such actions and conditions must be provided to the |
| 1492 | applicant in writing. The district school board or Florida |
| 1493 | College System institution community college board of trustees |
| 1494 | is not required to issue a charter to any person. |
| 1495 | (6) SPONSOR.-A district school board or Florida College |
| 1496 | System institution community college board of trustees or a |
| 1497 | consortium of one or more of each may sponsor a center in the |
| 1498 | county in which the board has jurisdiction. |
| 1499 | (a) A sponsor must review all applications for centers |
| 1500 | received through at least February 1 of each calendar year for |
| 1501 | centers to be opened at the beginning of the sponsor's next |
| 1502 | school year. A sponsor may receive applications later than this |
| 1503 | date if it so chooses. To facilitate an accurate budget |
| 1504 | projection process, a sponsor shall be held harmless for FTE |
| 1505 | students who are not included in the FTE projection due to |
| 1506 | approval of applications after the FTE projection deadline. A |
| 1507 | sponsor must, by a majority vote, approve or deny an application |
| 1508 | no later than 60 days after the application is received. If an |
| 1509 | application is denied, the sponsor must, within 10 days, notify |
| 1510 | the applicant in writing of the specific reasons for denial, |
| 1511 | which must be based upon good cause. Upon approval of a charter |
| 1512 | application, the initial startup must be consistent with the |
| 1513 | beginning of the public school or Florida College System |
| 1514 | institution community college calendar for the district in which |
| 1515 | the charter is granted, unless the sponsor allows a waiver of |
| 1516 | this provision for good cause. |
| 1517 | (b) An applicant may appeal any denial of its application |
| 1518 | to the State Board of Education within 30 days after the |
| 1519 | sponsor's denial and shall notify the sponsor of its appeal. Any |
| 1520 | response of the sponsor must be submitted to the state board |
| 1521 | within 30 days after notification of the appeal. The State Board |
| 1522 | of Education must, by majority vote, accept or reject the |
| 1523 | decision of the sponsor no later than 60 days after an appeal is |
| 1524 | filed, pursuant to State Board of Education rule. The State |
| 1525 | Board of Education may reject an appeal for failure to comply |
| 1526 | with procedural rules governing the appeals process, and the |
| 1527 | rejection must describe the submission errors. The appellant may |
| 1528 | have up to 15 days after notice of rejection to resubmit an |
| 1529 | appeal. An application for appeal submitted after a rejection is |
| 1530 | timely if the original appeal was filed within 30 days after the |
| 1531 | sponsor's denial. The State Board of Education shall remand the |
| 1532 | application to the sponsor with a written recommendation that |
| 1533 | the sponsor approve or deny the application, consistent with the |
| 1534 | state board's decision. The decision of the State Board of |
| 1535 | Education is not subject to the provisions of chapter 120. |
| 1536 | (c) The sponsor must act upon the recommendation of the |
| 1537 | State Board of Education within 30 days after it is received, |
| 1538 | unless the sponsor determines by competent substantial evidence |
| 1539 | that approving the state board's recommendation would be |
| 1540 | contrary to law or the best interests of the students or the |
| 1541 | community. The sponsor must notify the applicant in writing |
| 1542 | concerning the specific reasons for its failure to follow the |
| 1543 | state board's recommendation. The sponsor's action on the state |
| 1544 | board's recommendation is a final action, subject to judicial |
| 1545 | review. |
| 1546 | (d)1. The Department of Education shall offer or arrange |
| 1547 | for training and technical assistance to applicants in |
| 1548 | developing business plans and estimating costs and income. This |
| 1549 | assistance shall address estimating startup costs, projecting |
| 1550 | enrollment, and identifying the types and amounts of state and |
| 1551 | federal financial assistance the center may be eligible to |
| 1552 | receive. The training shall include instruction in accurate |
| 1553 | financial planning and good business practices. |
| 1554 | 2. An applicant must participate in the training provided |
| 1555 | by the Department of Education before filing an application. The |
| 1556 | Department of Education may provide technical assistance to an |
| 1557 | applicant upon written request. |
| 1558 | (e) The terms and conditions for the operation of a center |
| 1559 | must be agreed to by the sponsor and the applicant in a written |
| 1560 | contract. The sponsor may not impose unreasonable requirements |
| 1561 | that violate the intent of giving centers greater flexibility to |
| 1562 | meet educational goals. The applicant and sponsor must reach an |
| 1563 | agreement on the provisions of the contract or the application |
| 1564 | is deemed denied. |
| 1565 | (f) The sponsor shall monitor and review the center's |
| 1566 | progress toward charter goals and shall monitor the center's |
| 1567 | revenues and expenditures. The sponsor shall perform the duties |
| 1568 | provided in s. 1002.345. |
| 1569 | (8) ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.-A center must be open to all |
| 1570 | students as space is available and may not discriminate in |
| 1571 | admissions policies or practices on the basis of an individual's |
| 1572 | physical disability or proficiency in English or on any other |
| 1573 | basis that would be unlawful if practiced by a public school or |
| 1574 | a Florida College System institution community college. A center |
| 1575 | may establish reasonable criteria by which to evaluate |
| 1576 | prospective students, which criteria must be outlined in the |
| 1577 | charter. |
| 1578 | (9) FACILITIES.-A center may be located in any suitable |
| 1579 | location, including part of an existing public school or Florida |
| 1580 | College System institution community college building, space |
| 1581 | provided on a public worksite, or a public building. A center's |
| 1582 | facilities must comply with the State Uniform Building Code for |
| 1583 | Public Educational Facilities Construction adopted pursuant to |
| 1584 | s. 1013.37, or with applicable state minimum building codes |
| 1585 | pursuant to chapter 553, and state minimum fire protection codes |
| 1586 | pursuant to s. 633.025, adopted by the authority in whose |
| 1587 | jurisdiction the facility is located. If K-12 public school |
| 1588 | funds are used for construction, the facility must remain on the |
| 1589 | local school district's Florida Inventory of School Houses |
| 1590 | (FISH) school building inventory of the district school board |
| 1591 | and must revert to the district school board if the consortium |
| 1592 | dissolves and the program is discontinued. If Florida College |
| 1593 | System institution community college public school funds are |
| 1594 | used for construction, the facility must remain on the local |
| 1595 | Florida College System institution's community college's |
| 1596 | facilities inventory and must revert to the local Florida |
| 1597 | College System institution community college board of trustees |
| 1598 | if the consortium dissolves and the program is discontinued. The |
| 1599 | additional student capacity created by the addition of the |
| 1600 | center to the local school district's FISH may not be calculated |
| 1601 | in the permanent student capacity for the purpose of determining |
| 1602 | need or eligibility for state capital outlay funds while the |
| 1603 | facility is used as a center. If the construction of the center |
| 1604 | is funded jointly by K-12 public school funds and Florida |
| 1605 | College System institution community college funds, the |
| 1606 | sponsoring entities must agree, before granting the charter, on |
| 1607 | the appropriate owner and terms of transfer of the facility if |
| 1608 | the charter is dissolved. |
| 1609 | (11) FUNDING.- |
| 1610 | (b) Each district school board and Florida College System |
| 1611 | institution community college that sponsors a charter technical |
| 1612 | career center shall pay directly to the center an amount stated |
| 1613 | in the charter. State funding shall be generated for the center |
| 1614 | for its student enrollment and program outcomes as provided in |
| 1615 | law. A center is eligible for funding from workforce education |
| 1616 | funds, the Florida Education Finance Program, and the Florida |
| 1617 | College System Community College Program Fund, depending upon |
| 1618 | the programs conducted by the center. |
| 1619 | (c) A center may receive other state and federal aid, |
| 1620 | grants, and revenue through the district school board or Florida |
| 1621 | College System institution community college board of trustees. |
| 1622 | (12) EMPLOYEES OF A CENTER.- |
| 1623 | (e) As a public employer, a center may participate in: |
| 1624 | 1. The Florida Retirement System upon application and |
| 1625 | approval as a "covered group" under s. 121.021(34). If a center |
| 1626 | participates in the Florida Retirement System, its employees are |
| 1627 | compulsory members of the Florida Retirement System. |
| 1628 | 2. The State Community College System Optional Retirement |
| 1629 | Program pursuant to s. 1012.875(2), if the charter is granted by |
| 1630 | a Florida College System institution community college that |
| 1631 | participates in the optional retirement program and meets the |
| 1632 | eligibility criteria of s. 121.051(2)(c). |
| 1633 | (g) A public school or Florida College System institution |
| 1634 | community college teacher or administrator may take a leave of |
| 1635 | absence to accept employment in a charter technical career |
| 1636 | center upon the approval of the school district or Florida |
| 1637 | College System institution community college. |
| 1638 | (h) An employee who is on a leave of absence under this |
| 1639 | section may retain seniority accrued in that school district or |
| 1640 | Florida College System institution community college and may |
| 1641 | continue to be covered by the benefit programs of that district |
| 1642 | or Florida College System institution community college if the |
| 1643 | center and the district school board or Florida College System |
| 1644 | institution community college board of trustees agree to this |
| 1645 | arrangement and its financing. |
| 1646 | (14) ACCOUNTABILITY.-Each center must submit a report to |
| 1647 | the participating district school board or Florida College |
| 1648 | System institution community college board of trustees by August |
| 1649 | 1 of each year. The report must be in such form as the sponsor |
| 1650 | prescribes and must include: |
| 1651 | (a) A discussion of progress made toward the achievement |
| 1652 | of the goals outlined in the center's charter. |
| 1653 | (b) A financial statement setting forth by appropriate |
| 1654 | categories the revenue and expenditures for the previous school |
| 1655 | year. |
| 1656 | (16) TRANSPORTATION.-The center may provide |
| 1657 | transportation, pursuant to chapter 1006, through a contract |
| 1658 | with the district school board or the Florida College System |
| 1659 | institution community college board of trustees, a private |
| 1660 | provider, or parents of students. The center must ensure that |
| 1661 | transportation is not a barrier to equal access for all students |
| 1662 | in grades K-12 residing within a reasonable distance of the |
| 1663 | facility. |
| 1664 | Section 29. Subsection (7) of section 1002.41, Florida |
| 1665 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1666 | 1002.41 Home education programs.- |
| 1667 | (7) Home education students are eligible for admission to |
| 1668 | Florida College System institutions community colleges in |
| 1669 | accordance with the provisions of s. 1007.263. |
| 1670 | Section 30. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1), |
| 1671 | paragraph (a) of subsection (2), and paragraph (c) of subsection |
| 1672 | (7) of section 1002.45, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 1673 | 1002.45 School district virtual instruction programs.- |
| 1674 | (1) PROGRAM.- |
| 1675 | (a) For purposes of this section, the term: |
| 1676 | 1. "Approved provider" means a provider that is approved |
| 1677 | by the Department of Education under subsection (2), the Florida |
| 1678 | Virtual School, a franchise of the Florida Virtual School, or a |
| 1679 | Florida College System institution community college. |
| 1680 | 2. "Virtual instruction program" means a program of |
| 1681 | instruction provided in an interactive learning environment |
| 1682 | created through technology in which students are separated from |
| 1683 | their teachers by time or space, or both, and in which a |
| 1684 | Florida-certified teacher under chapter 1012 is responsible for |
| 1685 | at least: |
| 1686 | a. Fifty percent of the direct instruction to students in |
| 1687 | kindergarten through grade 5; or |
| 1688 | b. Eighty percent of the direct instruction to students in |
| 1689 | grades 6 through 12. |
| 1690 | (b) Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, each school |
| 1691 | district shall provide eligible students within its boundaries |
| 1692 | the option of participating in a virtual instruction program. |
| 1693 | The purpose of the program is to make instruction available to |
| 1694 | students using online and distance learning technology in the |
| 1695 | nontraditional classroom. The program shall be: |
| 1696 | 1. Full-time for students enrolled in kindergarten through |
| 1697 | grade 12. |
| 1698 | 2. Full-time or part-time for students in grades 9 through |
| 1699 | 12 who are enrolled in dropout prevention and academic |
| 1700 | intervention programs under s. 1003.53, Department of Juvenile |
| 1701 | Justice education programs under s. 1003.52, core-curricula |
| 1702 | courses to meet class size requirements under s. 1003.03, or |
| 1703 | Florida College System institutions community colleges under |
| 1704 | this section. |
| 1705 | (2) PROVIDER QUALIFICATIONS.- |
| 1706 | (a) The department shall annually provide school districts |
| 1707 | with a list of providers approved to offer virtual instruction |
| 1708 | programs. To be approved by the department, a provider must |
| 1709 | document that it: |
| 1710 | 1. Is nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies, |
| 1711 | employment practices, and operations; |
| 1712 | 2. Complies with the antidiscrimination provisions of s. |
| 1713 | 1000.05; |
| 1714 | 3. Locates an administrative office or offices in this |
| 1715 | state, requires its administrative staff to be state residents, |
| 1716 | requires all instructional staff to be Florida-certified |
| 1717 | teachers under chapter 1012, and conducts background screenings |
| 1718 | for all employees or contracted personnel, as required by s. |
| 1719 | 1012.32, using state and national criminal history records; |
| 1720 | 4. Possesses prior, successful experience offering online |
| 1721 | courses to elementary, middle, or high school students; |
| 1722 | 5. Is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges |
| 1723 | and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement, the |
| 1724 | North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School |
| 1725 | Improvement, the Middle States Association of Colleges and |
| 1726 | Schools Commission on Elementary Schools and Commission on |
| 1727 | Secondary Schools, the New England Association of Schools and |
| 1728 | Colleges, the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, the |
| 1729 | Western Association of Schools and Colleges, or the Commission |
| 1730 | on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation; and |
| 1731 | 6. If the provider is a Florida College System institution |
| 1732 | community college, employs instructors who meet the |
| 1733 | certification requirements for instructional staff under chapter |
| 1734 | 1012. |
| 1735 | (7) FUNDING.- |
| 1736 | (c) A Florida College System institution community college |
| 1737 | provider may not report students who are served in a school |
| 1738 | district virtual instruction program for funding under the |
| 1739 | Florida College System Community College Program Fund. |
| 1740 | Section 31. Paragraph (f) of subsection (3) of section |
| 1741 | 1003.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1742 | 1003.03 Maximum class size.- |
| 1743 | (3) IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS.-District school boards must |
| 1744 | consider, but are not limited to, implementing the following |
| 1745 | items in order to meet the constitutional class size maximums |
| 1746 | described in subsection (1): |
| 1747 | (f) Use joint-use facilities through partnerships with |
| 1748 | Florida College System institutions community colleges, state |
| 1749 | universities, and private colleges and universities. Joint-use |
| 1750 | facilities available for use as K-12 classrooms that do not meet |
| 1751 | the K-12 State Regulations for Educational Facilities in the |
| 1752 | Florida Building Code may be used at the discretion of the |
| 1753 | district school board provided that such facilities meet all |
| 1754 | other health, life, safety, and fire codes. |
| 1755 | Section 32. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section |
| 1756 | 1003.41, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1757 | 1003.41 Sunshine State Standards.- |
| 1758 | (3) |
| 1759 | (b) The commissioner shall submit the proposed standards |
| 1760 | for review and comment by Florida educators, school |
| 1761 | administrators, representatives of Florida College System |
| 1762 | institutions community colleges and state universities who have |
| 1763 | expertise in the content knowledge and skills necessary to |
| 1764 | prepare a student for postsecondary education, and leaders in |
| 1765 | business and industry. The commissioner, after considering any |
| 1766 | comments and making any revisions to the proposed standards, |
| 1767 | shall submit the standards for written evaluation by renowned |
| 1768 | experts on K-12 curricular standards and content. |
| 1769 | Section 33. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section |
| 1770 | 1003.4156, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1771 | 1003.4156 General requirements for middle grades |
| 1772 | promotion.- |
| 1773 | (1) Beginning with students entering grade 6 in the 2006- |
| 1774 | 2007 school year, promotion from a school composed of middle |
| 1775 | grades 6, 7, and 8 requires that: |
| 1776 | (a) The student must successfully complete academic |
| 1777 | courses as follows: |
| 1778 | 1. Three middle school or higher courses in English. These |
| 1779 | courses shall emphasize literature, composition, and technical |
| 1780 | text. |
| 1781 | 2. Three middle school or higher courses in mathematics. |
| 1782 | Each middle school must offer at least one high school level |
| 1783 | mathematics course for which students may earn high school |
| 1784 | credit. Successful completion of a high school level Algebra I |
| 1785 | or geometry course is not contingent upon the student's |
| 1786 | performance on the end-of-course assessment required under s. |
| 1787 | 1008.22(3)(c)2.a.(I). However, beginning with the 2011-2012 |
| 1788 | school year, to earn high school credit for an Algebra I course, |
| 1789 | a middle school student must pass the Algebra I end-of-course |
| 1790 | assessment, and beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, to |
| 1791 | earn high school credit for a geometry course, a middle school |
| 1792 | student must pass the geometry end-of-course assessment. |
| 1793 | 3. Three middle school or higher courses in social |
| 1794 | studies, one semester of which must include the study of state |
| 1795 | and federal government and civics education. Beginning with |
| 1796 | students entering grade 6 in the 2012-2013 school year, one of |
| 1797 | these courses must be at least a one-semester civics education |
| 1798 | course that a student successfully completes in accordance with |
| 1799 | s. 1008.22(3)(c) and that includes the roles and |
| 1800 | responsibilities of federal, state, and local governments; the |
| 1801 | structures and functions of the legislative, executive, and |
| 1802 | judicial branches of government; and the meaning and |
| 1803 | significance of historic documents, such as the Articles of |
| 1804 | Confederation, the Declaration of Independence, and the |
| 1805 | Constitution of the United States. |
| 1806 | 4. Three middle school or higher courses in science. |
| 1807 | Successful completion of a high school level Biology I course is |
| 1808 | not contingent upon the student's performance on the end-of- |
| 1809 | course assessment required under s. 1008.22(3)(c)2.a.(II). |
| 1810 | However, beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, to earn high |
| 1811 | school credit for a Biology I course, a middle school student |
| 1812 | must pass the Biology I end-of-course assessment. |
| 1813 | 5. One course in career and education planning to be |
| 1814 | completed in 7th or 8th grade. The course may be taught by any |
| 1815 | member of the instructional staff; must include career |
| 1816 | exploration using Florida CHOICES or a comparable cost-effective |
| 1817 | program; must include educational planning using the online |
| 1818 | student advising system known as Florida Academic Counseling and |
| 1819 | Tracking for Students at the Internet website FACTS.org; and |
| 1820 | shall result in the completion of a personalized academic and |
| 1821 | career plan. The required personalized academic and career plan |
| 1822 | must inform students of high school graduation requirements, |
| 1823 | high school assessment and college entrance test requirements, |
| 1824 | Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program requirements, state |
| 1825 | university and Florida College System institution admission |
| 1826 | requirements, and programs through which a high school student |
| 1827 | can earn college credit, including Advanced Placement, |
| 1828 | International Baccalaureate, Advanced International Certificate |
| 1829 | of Education, dual enrollment, career academy opportunities, and |
| 1830 | courses that lead to national industry certification. |
| 1831 |
|
| 1832 | Each school must hold a parent meeting either in the evening or |
| 1833 | on a weekend to inform parents about the course curriculum and |
| 1834 | activities. Each student shall complete an electronic personal |
| 1835 | education plan that must be signed by the student; the student's |
| 1836 | instructor, guidance counselor, or academic advisor; and the |
| 1837 | student's parent. The Department of Education shall develop |
| 1838 | course frameworks and professional development materials for the |
| 1839 | career exploration and education planning course. The course may |
| 1840 | be implemented as a stand-alone course or integrated into |
| 1841 | another course or courses. The Commissioner of Education shall |
| 1842 | collect longitudinal high school course enrollment data by |
| 1843 | student ethnicity in order to analyze course-taking patterns. |
| 1844 | Section 34. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section |
| 1845 | 1003.433, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1846 | 1003.433 Learning opportunities for out-of-state and out- |
| 1847 | of-country transfer students and students needing additional |
| 1848 | instruction to meet high school graduation requirements.- |
| 1849 | (2) Students who have met all requirements for the |
| 1850 | standard high school diploma except for passage of the grade 10 |
| 1851 | FCAT or an alternate assessment by the end of grade 12 must be |
| 1852 | provided the following learning opportunities: |
| 1853 | (b) Upon receipt of a certificate of completion, be |
| 1854 | allowed to take the College Placement Test and be admitted to |
| 1855 | remedial or credit courses at a Florida College System |
| 1856 | institution state community college, as appropriate. |
| 1857 | Section 35. Subsection (5) and paragraph (a) of subsection |
| 1858 | (6) of section 1003.435, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 1859 | 1003.435 High school equivalency diploma program.- |
| 1860 | (5) Each district school board shall develop, in |
| 1861 | cooperation with the area Florida College System institution |
| 1862 | community college board of trustees, a plan for the provision of |
| 1863 | advanced instruction for those students who attain satisfactory |
| 1864 | performance on the high school equivalency examination or the |
| 1865 | subject area examinations or who demonstrate through other means |
| 1866 | a readiness to engage in postsecondary-level academic work. The |
| 1867 | plan shall include provisions for the equitable distribution of |
| 1868 | generated funds to cover personnel, maintenance, and other costs |
| 1869 | of offering the advanced instruction. Priority shall be given to |
| 1870 | programs of advanced instruction offered in high school |
| 1871 | facilities. |
| 1872 | (6)(a) All high school equivalency diplomas issued under |
| 1873 | the provisions of this section shall have equal status with |
| 1874 | other high school diplomas for all state purposes, including |
| 1875 | admission to any state university or Florida College System |
| 1876 | institution community college. |
| 1877 | Section 36. Subsection (1) of section 1003.49, Florida |
| 1878 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1879 | 1003.49 Graduation and promotion requirements for publicly |
| 1880 | operated schools.- |
| 1881 | (1) Each state or local public agency, including the |
| 1882 | Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of |
| 1883 | Corrections, the boards of trustees of universities and Florida |
| 1884 | College System institutions community colleges, and the Board of |
| 1885 | Trustees of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, which |
| 1886 | agency is authorized to operate educational programs for |
| 1887 | students at any level of grades kindergarten through 12 shall be |
| 1888 | subject to all applicable requirements of ss. 1003.43, 1008.23, |
| 1889 | and 1008.25. Within the content of these cited statutes each |
| 1890 | such state or local public agency or entity shall be considered |
| 1891 | a "district school board." |
| 1892 | Section 37. Subsection (4) of section 1003.51, Florida |
| 1893 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1894 | 1003.51 Other public educational services.- |
| 1895 | (4) The Department of Education shall ensure that district |
| 1896 | school boards notify students in juvenile justice residential or |
| 1897 | nonresidential facilities who attain the age of 16 years of the |
| 1898 | provisions of law regarding compulsory school attendance and |
| 1899 | make available the option of enrolling in a program to attain a |
| 1900 | Florida high school diploma by taking the general educational |
| 1901 | development test prior to release from the facility. District |
| 1902 | school boards or Florida College System institutions community |
| 1903 | colleges, or both, shall waive GED testing fees for youth in |
| 1904 | Department of Juvenile Justice residential programs and shall, |
| 1905 | upon request, designate schools operating for the purpose of |
| 1906 | providing educational services to youth in Department of |
| 1907 | Juvenile Justice programs as GED testing centers, subject to GED |
| 1908 | testing center requirements. The administrative fees for the |
| 1909 | general education development test required by the Department of |
| 1910 | Education are the responsibility of district school boards and |
| 1911 | may be required of providers by contractual agreement. |
| 1912 | Section 38. Subsections (6) and (22) of section 1003.52, |
| 1913 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 1914 | 1003.52 Educational services in Department of Juvenile |
| 1915 | Justice programs.- |
| 1916 | (6) Participation in the program by students of compulsory |
| 1917 | school-attendance age as provided for in s. 1003.21 shall be |
| 1918 | mandatory. All students of noncompulsory school-attendance age |
| 1919 | who have not received a high school diploma or its equivalent |
| 1920 | shall participate in the educational program, unless the student |
| 1921 | files a formal declaration of his or her intent to terminate |
| 1922 | school enrollment as described in s. 1003.21 and is afforded the |
| 1923 | opportunity to take the general educational development test and |
| 1924 | attain a Florida high school diploma prior to release from a |
| 1925 | facility. A youth who has received a high school diploma or its |
| 1926 | equivalent and is not employed shall participate in workforce |
| 1927 | development or other career or technical education or Florida |
| 1928 | College System institution community college or university |
| 1929 | courses while in the program, subject to available funding. |
| 1930 | (22) The Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department |
| 1931 | of Education, in consultation with Workforce Florida, Inc., the |
| 1932 | statewide Workforce Development Youth Council, district school |
| 1933 | boards, Florida College System institutions community colleges, |
| 1934 | providers, and others, shall jointly develop a multiagency plan |
| 1935 | for career education which describes the funding, curriculum, |
| 1936 | transfer of credits, goals, and outcome measures for career |
| 1937 | education programming in juvenile commitment facilities, |
| 1938 | pursuant to s. 985.622. The plan must be reviewed annually. |
| 1939 | Section 39. Subsections (8), (18), (19), (20), and (23) of |
| 1940 | section 1004.02, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 1941 | 1004.02 Definitions.-As used in this chapter: |
| 1942 | (8) "Applied technology diploma program" means a course of |
| 1943 | study that is part of a technical degree program, is less than |
| 1944 | 60 credit hours, and leads to employment in a specific |
| 1945 | occupation. An applied technology diploma program may consist of |
| 1946 | either technical credit or college credit. A public school |
| 1947 | district may offer an applied technology diploma program only as |
| 1948 | technical credit, with college credit awarded to a student upon |
| 1949 | articulation to a Florida College System institution community |
| 1950 | college. Statewide articulation among public schools and Florida |
| 1951 | College System institutions community colleges is guaranteed by |
| 1952 | s. 1007.23, and is subject to guidelines and standards adopted |
| 1953 | by the State Board of Education pursuant to ss. 1007.24 and |
| 1954 | 1007.25. |
| 1955 | (18) "Lifelong learning" means a noncredit course or |
| 1956 | activity offered by a school district or Florida College System |
| 1957 | institution community college that seeks to address community |
| 1958 | social and economic issues related to health and human |
| 1959 | relations, government, parenting, consumer economics, and senior |
| 1960 | citizens. |
| 1961 | (19) "Local educational agency" means a Florida College |
| 1962 | System institution community college or school district. |
| 1963 | (20) "Local sponsor" means a district school board, |
| 1964 | Florida College System institution community college board of |
| 1965 | trustees, public library, other public entity, or private |
| 1966 | nonprofit entity, or any combination of these entities, that |
| 1967 | provides adult literacy instruction. |
| 1968 | (23) "Career education planning region" means the |
| 1969 | geographic area in which career or adult education is provided. |
| 1970 | Each career region is contiguous with one of the 28 Florida |
| 1971 | College System institution community college service areas. |
| 1972 | Section 40. Subsection (2) of section 1004.03, Florida |
| 1973 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1974 | 1004.03 Program approval.- |
| 1975 | (2) The State Board of Education shall establish criteria |
| 1976 | for the approval of new programs at Florida College System |
| 1977 | institutions community colleges, which criteria include, but are |
| 1978 | not limited to, the following: |
| 1979 | (a) New programs may not be approved unless the same |
| 1980 | objectives cannot be met through use of educational technology. |
| 1981 | (b) Unnecessary duplication of programs offered by |
| 1982 | independent institutions shall be avoided. |
| 1983 | (c) Cooperative programs, particularly within regions, |
| 1984 | should be encouraged. |
| 1985 | (d) New programs may be approved only if they are |
| 1986 | consistent with the state master plan adopted by the State Board |
| 1987 | of Education. |
| 1988 | Section 41. Subsections (9), (10), and (11) of section |
| 1989 | 1004.04, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 1990 | 1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for |
| 1991 | teacher preparation programs.- |
| 1992 | (9) FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM INSTITUTIONS COMMUNITY |
| 1993 | COLLEGES.-To the extent practical, postsecondary educational |
| 1994 | institutions offering teacher preparation programs shall |
| 1995 | establish articulation agreements on a core of liberal arts |
| 1996 | courses and introductory professional courses with field |
| 1997 | experience components which shall be offered at Florida College |
| 1998 | System institutions community colleges. |
| 1999 | (10) SHORT-TERM EXPERIENCES AS TEACHER ASSISTANTS.- |
| 2000 | Postsecondary institutions offering teacher preparation programs |
| 2001 | and Florida College System institutions community colleges, in |
| 2002 | collaboration with school districts, may develop and implement a |
| 2003 | program to provide short-term experiences as teacher assistants |
| 2004 | prior to beginning a teacher preparation program or alternative |
| 2005 | certification program. The program shall serve individuals with |
| 2006 | baccalaureate degrees who are interested in the teaching |
| 2007 | profession. This experience may be accepted for use in teacher |
| 2008 | preparation programs and competency-based alternative |
| 2009 | certification programs, where applicable. |
| 2010 | (11) PRETEACHER AND TEACHER EDUCATION PILOT PROGRAMS.- |
| 2011 | State universities and Florida College System institutions |
| 2012 | community colleges may establish preteacher education and |
| 2013 | teacher education pilot programs to encourage promising minority |
| 2014 | students to prepare for a career in education. These pilot |
| 2015 | programs shall be designed to recruit and provide additional |
| 2016 | academic, clinical, and counseling support for students whom the |
| 2017 | institution judges to be potentially successful teacher |
| 2018 | education candidates, but who may not meet teacher education |
| 2019 | program admission standards. Priority consideration shall be |
| 2020 | given to those pilot programs that are jointly submitted by |
| 2021 | Florida College System institutions community colleges and state |
| 2022 | universities. |
| 2023 | (a) These pilot programs shall be approved by the State |
| 2024 | Board of Education and shall be designed to provide help and |
| 2025 | support for program participants during the preteacher education |
| 2026 | period of general academic preparation at a Florida College |
| 2027 | System institution community college or state university and |
| 2028 | during professional preparation in a state-approved teacher |
| 2029 | education program. Emphasis shall be placed on development of |
| 2030 | the basic skills needed by successful teachers. |
| 2031 | (b) State universities and Florida College System |
| 2032 | institutions community colleges may admit into the pilot program |
| 2033 | those incoming students who demonstrate an interest in teaching |
| 2034 | as a career, but who may not meet the requirements for entrance |
| 2035 | into an approved teacher education program. |
| 2036 | 1. Flexibility may be given to colleges of education to |
| 2037 | develop and market innovative teacher training programs directed |
| 2038 | at specific target groups such as graduates from the colleges of |
| 2039 | arts and sciences, employed education paraprofessionals, |
| 2040 | substitute teachers, early federal retirees, and nontraditional |
| 2041 | college students. Programs must be submitted to the State Board |
| 2042 | of Education for approval. |
| 2043 | 2. Academically successful graduates in the fields of |
| 2044 | liberal arts and science may be encouraged to embark upon a |
| 2045 | career in education. |
| 2046 | 3. Models may be developed to provide a positive initial |
| 2047 | experience in teaching in order to encourage retention. Priority |
| 2048 | should be given to models that encourage minority graduates. |
| 2049 | (c) In order to be certified, a graduate from a pilot |
| 2050 | program shall meet all requirements for teacher certification |
| 2051 | specified by s. 1012.56. Should a graduate of a pilot program |
| 2052 | not meet the requirements of s. 1012.56, that person shall not |
| 2053 | be included in the calculations required by paragraph (5)(a) and |
| 2054 | State Board of Education rules for continued program approval, |
| 2055 | or in the statutes used by the State Board of Education in |
| 2056 | deciding which teacher education programs to approve. |
| 2057 | (d) Institutions participating in the pilot program shall |
| 2058 | submit an annual report evaluating the success of the program to |
| 2059 | the Commissioner of Education by March 1 of each year. The |
| 2060 | report shall include, at a minimum, the number of pilot program |
| 2061 | participants, including the number participating in general |
| 2062 | education and the number admitted to approved teacher education |
| 2063 | programs, the number of pilot program graduates, and the number |
| 2064 | of pilot program graduates who met the requirements of s. |
| 2065 | 1012.56. The commissioner shall consider the number of |
| 2066 | participants recruited, the number of graduates, and the number |
| 2067 | of graduates successfully meeting the requirements of s. 1012.56 |
| 2068 | reported by each institution, and shall make an annual |
| 2069 | recommendation to the State Board of Education regarding the |
| 2070 | institution's continued participation in the pilot program. |
| 2071 | Section 42. Subsection (1) of section 1004.05, Florida |
| 2072 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2073 | 1004.05 Substance abuse training programs.- |
| 2074 | (1) Each state university and Florida College System |
| 2075 | institution community college may develop courses designed for |
| 2076 | public school teachers, counselors, physicians, law enforcement |
| 2077 | personnel, and other professionals to assist them in recognizing |
| 2078 | symptoms of substance abuse impairment and identifying |
| 2079 | appropriate service providers for referral and treatment. |
| 2080 | Section 43. Section 1004.06, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2081 | to read: |
| 2082 | 1004.06 Prohibited expenditures.-No Florida College System |
| 2083 | institution community college, state university, Florida College |
| 2084 | System institution community college direct-support |
| 2085 | organization, or state university direct-support organization |
| 2086 | shall expend any funds, regardless of source, to purchase |
| 2087 | membership in, or goods and services from, any organization that |
| 2088 | discriminates on the basis of race, national origin, gender, or |
| 2089 | religion. |
| 2090 | Section 44. Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section |
| 2091 | 1004.07, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 2092 | 1004.07 Student withdrawal from courses due to military |
| 2093 | service; effect.- |
| 2094 | (1) Each district school board, Florida College System |
| 2095 | institution community college board of trustees, and state |
| 2096 | university board of trustees shall establish policies regarding |
| 2097 | currently enrolled students who are called to, or enlist in, |
| 2098 | active military service. |
| 2099 | (2) Such policies shall provide that any student enrolled |
| 2100 | in a postsecondary course or courses at a career center, a |
| 2101 | Florida College System institution public community college, a |
| 2102 | public college, or a state university shall not incur academic |
| 2103 | or financial penalties by virtue of performing military service |
| 2104 | on behalf of our country. Such student shall be permitted the |
| 2105 | option of either completing the course or courses at a later |
| 2106 | date without penalty or withdrawing from the course or courses |
| 2107 | with a full refund of fees paid. If the student chooses to |
| 2108 | withdraw, the student's record shall reflect that the withdrawal |
| 2109 | is due to active military service. |
| 2110 | (3) Policies of district school boards and Florida College |
| 2111 | System institution community college boards of trustees shall be |
| 2112 | established by rule and pursuant to guidelines of the State |
| 2113 | Board of Education. |
| 2114 | Section 45. Subsections (1), (3), and (4) of section |
| 2115 | 1004.085, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 2116 | 1004.085 Textbook affordability.- |
| 2117 | (1) No employee of a Florida College System institution |
| 2118 | community college or state university may demand or receive any |
| 2119 | payment, loan, subscription, advance, deposit of money, service, |
| 2120 | or anything of value, present or promised, in exchange for |
| 2121 | requiring students to purchase a specific textbook for |
| 2122 | coursework or instruction. |
| 2123 | (3) Florida College System institutions Community colleges |
| 2124 | and state universities shall post on their websites, as early as |
| 2125 | is feasible, but not less than 30 days prior to the first day of |
| 2126 | class for each term, a list of each textbook required for each |
| 2127 | course offered at the institution during the upcoming term. The |
| 2128 | posted list must include the International Standard Book Number |
| 2129 | (ISBN) for each required textbook or other identifying |
| 2130 | information, which must include, at a minimum, all of the |
| 2131 | following: the title, all authors listed, publishers, edition |
| 2132 | number, copyright date, published date, and other relevant |
| 2133 | information necessary to identify the specific textbook or |
| 2134 | textbooks required for each course. The State Board of Education |
| 2135 | and the Board of Governors shall include in the policies, |
| 2136 | procedures, and guidelines adopted under subsection (4) certain |
| 2137 | limited exceptions to this notification requirement for classes |
| 2138 | added after the notification deadline. |
| 2139 | (4) The State Board of Education and the Board of |
| 2140 | Governors each shall adopt policies, procedures, and guidelines |
| 2141 | for implementation by Florida College System institutions |
| 2142 | community colleges and state universities, respectively, that |
| 2143 | further efforts to minimize the cost of textbooks for students |
| 2144 | attending such institutions while maintaining the quality of |
| 2145 | education and academic freedom. The policies, procedures, and |
| 2146 | guidelines shall provide for the following: |
| 2147 | (a) That textbook adoptions are made with sufficient lead |
| 2148 | time to bookstores so as to confirm availability of the |
| 2149 | requested materials and, where possible, ensure maximum |
| 2150 | availability of used books. |
| 2151 | (b) That, in the textbook adoption process, the intent to |
| 2152 | use all items ordered, particularly each individual item sold as |
| 2153 | part of a bundled package, is confirmed by the course instructor |
| 2154 | or the academic department offering the course before the |
| 2155 | adoption is finalized. |
| 2156 | (c) That a course instructor or the academic department |
| 2157 | offering the course determines, before a textbook is adopted, |
| 2158 | the extent to which a new edition differs significantly and |
| 2159 | substantively from earlier versions and the value of changing to |
| 2160 | a new edition or the extent to which an open-access textbook may |
| 2161 | exist and be used. |
| 2162 | (d) That the establishment of policies shall address the |
| 2163 | availability of required textbooks to students otherwise unable |
| 2164 | to afford the cost, including consideration of the extent to |
| 2165 | which an open-access textbook may be used. |
| 2166 | (e) That course instructors and academic departments are |
| 2167 | encouraged to participate in the development, adaptation, and |
| 2168 | review of open-access textbooks and, in particular, open-access |
| 2169 | textbooks for high-demand general education courses. |
| 2170 | Section 46. Section 1004.095, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2171 | to read: |
| 2172 | 1004.095 Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps; military |
| 2173 | recruiters; access to Florida College System institution |
| 2174 | community college and state university campuses.- |
| 2175 | (1) A Florida College System institution community college |
| 2176 | or state university may not ban any branch of the United States |
| 2177 | Armed Forces from establishing, maintaining, or operating a unit |
| 2178 | of the Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps at the college or |
| 2179 | university. |
| 2180 | (2)(a) A Florida College System institution community |
| 2181 | college or state university shall grant military recruiters of |
| 2182 | the United States Armed Forces and United States Department of |
| 2183 | Homeland Security the same access to the college's or |
| 2184 | university's students, and to campus facilities and grounds, |
| 2185 | which the college or university grants to other employers. |
| 2186 | (b) A Florida College System institution community college |
| 2187 | or state university shall, to the extent required in 10 U.S.C. |
| 2188 | s. 983(b)(2), grant military recruiters access to the names, |
| 2189 | addresses, telephone listings, dates and places of birth, levels |
| 2190 | of education, academic majors, degrees received, and most recent |
| 2191 | educational institutions enrolled in by the college's or |
| 2192 | university's students. |
| 2193 | Section 47. Paragraphs (b) and (e) of subsection (3) and |
| 2194 | paragraph (b) of subsection (6) of section 1004.226, Florida |
| 2195 | Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 2196 | 1004.226 The 21st Century Technology, Research, and |
| 2197 | Scholarship Enhancement Act.- |
| 2198 | (3) DEFINITIONS.-As used in this section, the term: |
| 2199 | (b) "Applicant" means any state university, private |
| 2200 | university located in this state, or any private or public |
| 2201 | research center, Florida College System institution community |
| 2202 | college, or training center in this state which coordinates with |
| 2203 | a state university for purposes of this act. |
| 2204 | (e) "Florida College System institution Community college" |
| 2205 | means a Florida College System institution public community |
| 2206 | college in this state as defined in s. 1000.21. |
| 2207 | (6) CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.- |
| 2208 | (b) The following entities are eligible to submit |
| 2209 | proposals for a center of excellence: |
| 2210 | 1. Any state university. |
| 2211 | 2. Any private university. |
| 2212 | 3. The H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research |
| 2213 | Institute. |
| 2214 | 4. The Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, |
| 2215 | Inc. |
| 2216 | 5. Any Florida College System institution community |
| 2217 | college, training center, or other public or private research |
| 2218 | center in the state which coordinates with a state university |
| 2219 | for purposes of this act. |
| 2220 | Section 48. Section 1004.645, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2221 | to read: |
| 2222 | 1004.645 Florida Center for Reading Research.-There is |
| 2223 | created at the Florida State University, the Florida Center for |
| 2224 | Reading Research (FCRR). The center shall include two outreach |
| 2225 | centers, one at a Florida College System institution in central |
| 2226 | Florida community college and one at a south Florida state |
| 2227 | university. The center and the outreach centers, under the |
| 2228 | center's leadership, shall: |
| 2229 | (1) Provide technical assistance and support to all school |
| 2230 | districts and schools in this state in the implementation of |
| 2231 | evidence-based literacy instruction, assessments, programs, and |
| 2232 | professional development. |
| 2233 | (2) Conduct applied research that will have an immediate |
| 2234 | impact on policy and practices related to literacy instruction |
| 2235 | and assessment in this state with an emphasis on struggling |
| 2236 | readers and reading in the content area strategies and methods |
| 2237 | for secondary teachers. |
| 2238 | (3) Conduct basic research on reading, reading growth, |
| 2239 | reading assessment, and reading instruction which will |
| 2240 | contribute to scientific knowledge about reading. |
| 2241 | (4) Collaborate with the Just Read! Florida Office and |
| 2242 | school districts in the development of frameworks for |
| 2243 | comprehensive reading intervention courses for possible use in |
| 2244 | middle schools and secondary schools. |
| 2245 | (5) Collaborate with the Just Read! Florida Office and |
| 2246 | school districts in the development of frameworks for |
| 2247 | professional development activities, using multiple delivery |
| 2248 | methods for teaching reading in the content area. |
| 2249 | (6) Disseminate information about research-based practices |
| 2250 | related to literacy instruction, assessment, and programs for |
| 2251 | students in preschool through grade 12. |
| 2252 | (7) Collect, manage, and report on assessment information |
| 2253 | from screening, progress monitoring, and outcome assessments |
| 2254 | through the Florida Progress Monitoring and Reporting Network. |
| 2255 | The network is a statewide resource that is operated to provide |
| 2256 | valid and timely reading assessment data for parents, teachers, |
| 2257 | principals, and district-level and state-level staff in the |
| 2258 | management of instruction at the individual, classroom, and |
| 2259 | school levels. |
| 2260 | Section 49. Paragraph (d) of subsection (9) of section |
| 2261 | 1004.648, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2262 | 1004.648 Florida Energy Systems Consortium.- |
| 2263 | (9) Through collaborative research and development across |
| 2264 | the State University System and the industry, the goal of the |
| 2265 | consortium is to become a world leader in energy research, |
| 2266 | education, technology, and energy systems analysis. In so doing, |
| 2267 | the consortium shall: |
| 2268 | (d) Develop education and outreach programs to prepare a |
| 2269 | qualified energy workforce and informed public. Specifically, |
| 2270 | the faculty associated with the consortium shall coordinate a |
| 2271 | statewide workforce development initiative focusing on college- |
| 2272 | level degrees, technician training, and public and commercial |
| 2273 | sectors awareness. The consortium shall develop specific |
| 2274 | programs targeted at preparing graduates who have a background |
| 2275 | in energy, continuing education courses for technical and |
| 2276 | nontechnical professionals, and modules, laboratories, and |
| 2277 | courses to be shared among the universities. Additionally, the |
| 2278 | consortium shall work with the Florida Community College System |
| 2279 | using the Florida Advanced Technological Education Center for |
| 2280 | the coordination and design of industry-specific training |
| 2281 | programs for technicians. |
| 2282 | Section 50. Section 1004.65, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2283 | to read: |
| 2284 | 1004.65 Florida College System institutions colleges; |
| 2285 | governance, mission, and responsibilities.- |
| 2286 | (1) Each Florida College System institution shall be |
| 2287 | governed by a district board of trustees under statutory |
| 2288 | authority and rules of the State Board of Education. |
| 2289 | (2) Each Florida College System institution district |
| 2290 | shall: |
| 2291 | (a) Consist of the county or counties served by the |
| 2292 | Florida College System institution pursuant to s. 1000.21(3). |
| 2293 | (b) Be an independent, separate, legal entity created for |
| 2294 | the operation of a Florida College System institution. |
| 2295 | (3) Florida College System institutions colleges are |
| 2296 | locally based and governed entities with statutory and funding |
| 2297 | ties to state government. As such, the mission for Florida |
| 2298 | College System institutions colleges reflects a commitment to be |
| 2299 | responsive to local educational needs and challenges. In |
| 2300 | achieving this mission, Florida College System institutions |
| 2301 | colleges strive to maintain sufficient local authority and |
| 2302 | flexibility while preserving appropriate legal accountability to |
| 2303 | the state. |
| 2304 | (4) As comprehensive institutions, Florida College System |
| 2305 | institutions colleges shall provide high-quality, affordable |
| 2306 | education and training opportunities, shall foster a climate of |
| 2307 | excellence, and shall provide opportunities to all while |
| 2308 | combining high standards with an open-door admission policy for |
| 2309 | lower-division programs. Florida College System institutions |
| 2310 | colleges shall, as open-access institutions, serve all who can |
| 2311 | benefit, without regard to age, race, gender, creed, or ethnic |
| 2312 | or economic background, while emphasizing the achievement of |
| 2313 | social and educational equity so that all can be prepared for |
| 2314 | full participation in society. |
| 2315 | (5) The primary mission and responsibility of Florida |
| 2316 | College System institutions colleges is responding to community |
| 2317 | needs for postsecondary academic education and career degree |
| 2318 | education. This mission and responsibility includes being |
| 2319 | responsible for: |
| 2320 | (a) Providing lower level undergraduate instruction and |
| 2321 | awarding associate degrees. |
| 2322 | (b) Preparing students directly for careers requiring less |
| 2323 | than baccalaureate degrees. This may include preparing for job |
| 2324 | entry, supplementing of skills and knowledge, and responding to |
| 2325 | needs in new areas of technology. Career education in a Florida |
| 2326 | College System institution shall consist of career certificates, |
| 2327 | credit courses leading to associate in science degrees and |
| 2328 | associate in applied science degrees, and other programs in |
| 2329 | fields requiring substantial academic work, background, or |
| 2330 | qualifications. A Florida College System institution may offer |
| 2331 | career education programs in fields having lesser academic or |
| 2332 | technical requirements. |
| 2333 | (c) Providing student development services, including |
| 2334 | assessment, student tracking, support for disabled students, |
| 2335 | advisement, counseling, financial aid, career development, and |
| 2336 | remedial and tutorial services, to ensure student success. |
| 2337 | (d) Promoting economic development for the state within |
| 2338 | each Florida College System institution district through the |
| 2339 | provision of special programs, including, but not limited to, |
| 2340 | the: |
| 2341 | 1. Enterprise Florida-related programs. |
| 2342 | 2. Technology transfer centers. |
| 2343 | 3. Economic development centers. |
| 2344 | 4. Workforce literacy programs. |
| 2345 | (e) Providing dual enrollment instruction. |
| 2346 | (f) Providing upper level instruction and awarding |
| 2347 | baccalaureate degrees as specifically authorized by law. |
| 2348 | (6) A separate and secondary role for Florida College |
| 2349 | System institutions colleges includes the offering of programs |
| 2350 | in: |
| 2351 | (a) Community services that are not directly related to |
| 2352 | academic or occupational advancement. |
| 2353 | (b) Adult education services, including adult basic |
| 2354 | education, adult general education, adult secondary education, |
| 2355 | and General Educational Development test instruction. |
| 2356 | (c) Recreational and leisure services. |
| 2357 | (7) Funding for Florida College System institutions |
| 2358 | colleges shall reflect their mission as follows: |
| 2359 | (a) Postsecondary academic and career education programs |
| 2360 | and adult general education programs shall have first priority |
| 2361 | in Florida College System institution funding. |
| 2362 | (b) Community service programs shall be presented to the |
| 2363 | Legislature with rationale for state funding. The Legislature |
| 2364 | may identify priority areas for use of these funds. |
| 2365 | (c) The resources of a Florida College System institution, |
| 2366 | including staff, faculty, land, and facilities, shall not be |
| 2367 | used to support the establishment of a new independent nonpublic |
| 2368 | educational institution. If any institution uses resources for |
| 2369 | such purpose, the Division of Florida Colleges shall notify the |
| 2370 | President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of |
| 2371 | Representatives. |
| 2372 | (8) Florida College System institutions colleges are |
| 2373 | authorized to: |
| 2374 | (a) Offer such programs and courses as are necessary to |
| 2375 | fulfill their mission. |
| 2376 | (b) Grant associate in arts degrees, associate in science |
| 2377 | degrees, associate in applied science degrees, certificates, |
| 2378 | awards, and diplomas. |
| 2379 | (c) Make provisions for the General Educational |
| 2380 | Development test. |
| 2381 | (d) Provide access to and award baccalaureate degrees in |
| 2382 | accordance with law. |
| 2383 |
|
| 2384 | Authority to offer one or more baccalaureate degree programs |
| 2385 | does not alter the governance relationship of the Florida |
| 2386 | College System institution with its district board of trustees |
| 2387 | or the State Board of Education. |
| 2388 | Section 51. Section 1004.66, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2389 | to read: |
| 2390 | 1004.66 "Florida College System institution," "community |
| 2391 | college," and "junior college" used interchangeably.-Whenever |
| 2392 | the terms "Florida College System institution," "community |
| 2393 | college," and "junior college" appear in the Florida Statutes in |
| 2394 | reference to a tax-supported institution, they shall be |
| 2395 | construed identically. |
| 2396 | Section 52. Section 1004.67, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2397 | to read: |
| 2398 | 1004.67 Florida College System institutions Community |
| 2399 | colleges; legislative intent.-It is the legislative intent that |
| 2400 | Florida College System institutions community colleges, |
| 2401 | constituted as political subdivisions of the state, continue to |
| 2402 | be operated by Florida College System institution community |
| 2403 | college boards of trustees as provided in s. 1001.63 and that no |
| 2404 | department, bureau, division, agency, or subdivision of the |
| 2405 | state exercise any responsibility and authority to operate any |
| 2406 | Florida College System institution community college of the |
| 2407 | state except as specifically provided by law or rules of the |
| 2408 | State Board of Education. |
| 2409 | Section 53. Section 1004.68, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2410 | to read: |
| 2411 | 1004.68 Florida College System institution Community |
| 2412 | college; degrees and certificates; tests for certain skills.- |
| 2413 | (1) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 2414 | college board of trustees shall adopt rules establishing student |
| 2415 | performance standards for the award of degrees and certificates. |
| 2416 | (2) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 2417 | college board of trustees shall require the use of scores on |
| 2418 | tests for college-level communication and computation skills |
| 2419 | provided in s. 1008.345(7) as a condition for graduation with an |
| 2420 | associate in arts degree. |
| 2421 | Section 54. Section 1004.70, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2422 | to read: |
| 2423 | 1004.70 Florida College System institution Community |
| 2424 | college direct-support organizations.- |
| 2425 | (1) DEFINITIONS.-For the purposes of this section: |
| 2426 | (a) "Florida College System institution Community college |
| 2427 | direct-support organization" means an organization that is: |
| 2428 | 1. A Florida corporation not for profit, incorporated |
| 2429 | under the provisions of chapter 617 and approved by the |
| 2430 | Department of State. |
| 2431 | 2. Organized and operated exclusively to receive, hold, |
| 2432 | invest, and administer property and to make expenditures to, or |
| 2433 | for the benefit of, a Florida College System institution |
| 2434 | community college in this state. |
| 2435 | 3. An organization that the Florida College System |
| 2436 | institution community college board of trustees, after review, |
| 2437 | has certified to be operating in a manner consistent with the |
| 2438 | goals of the Florida College System institution community |
| 2439 | college and in the best interest of the state. Any organization |
| 2440 | that is denied certification by the board of trustees may not |
| 2441 | use the name of the Florida College System institution community |
| 2442 | college that it serves. |
| 2443 | (b) "Personal services" includes full-time or part-time |
| 2444 | personnel as well as payroll processing. |
| 2445 | (2) BOARD OF DIRECTORS.-The chair of the board of trustees |
| 2446 | shall appoint a representative to the board of directors and the |
| 2447 | executive committee of each direct-support organization |
| 2448 | established under this section, including those established |
| 2449 | before July 1, 1998. The president of the Florida College System |
| 2450 | institution community college for which the direct-support |
| 2451 | organization is established, or the president's designee, shall |
| 2452 | also serve on the board of directors and the executive committee |
| 2453 | of the direct-support organization, including any direct-support |
| 2454 | organization established before July 1, 1998. |
| 2455 | (3) USE OF PROPERTY.- |
| 2456 | (a) The board of trustees is authorized to permit the use |
| 2457 | of property, facilities, and personal services at any Florida |
| 2458 | College System institution community college by any Florida |
| 2459 | College System institution community college direct-support |
| 2460 | organization, subject to the provisions of this section. |
| 2461 | (b) The board of trustees is authorized to prescribe by |
| 2462 | rule any condition with which a Florida College System |
| 2463 | institution community college direct-support organization must |
| 2464 | comply in order to use property, facilities, or personal |
| 2465 | services at any Florida College System institution community |
| 2466 | college. |
| 2467 | (c) The board of trustees may not permit the use of |
| 2468 | property, facilities, or personal services at any Florida |
| 2469 | College System institution community college by any Florida |
| 2470 | College System institution community college direct-support |
| 2471 | organization that does not provide equal employment |
| 2472 | opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, national |
| 2473 | origin, gender, age, or religion. |
| 2474 | (4) ACTIVITIES; RESTRICTIONS.- |
| 2475 | (a) A direct-support organization may, at the request of |
| 2476 | the board of trustees, provide residency opportunities on or |
| 2477 | near campus for students. |
| 2478 | (b) A direct-support organization that constructs |
| 2479 | facilities for use by a Florida College System institution |
| 2480 | community college or its students must comply with all |
| 2481 | requirements of law relating to the construction of facilities |
| 2482 | by a Florida College System institution community college, |
| 2483 | including requirements for competitive bidding. |
| 2484 | (c) Any transaction or agreement between one direct- |
| 2485 | support organization and another direct-support organization or |
| 2486 | between a direct-support organization and a center of technology |
| 2487 | innovation designated under s. 1004.77 must be approved by the |
| 2488 | board of trustees. |
| 2489 | (d) A Florida College System institution community college |
| 2490 | direct-support organization is prohibited from giving, either |
| 2491 | directly or indirectly, any gift to a political committee or |
| 2492 | committee of continuous existence as defined in s. 106.011 for |
| 2493 | any purpose other than those certified by a majority roll call |
| 2494 | vote of the governing board of the direct-support organization |
| 2495 | at a regularly scheduled meeting as being directly related to |
| 2496 | the educational mission of the Florida College System |
| 2497 | institution community college. |
| 2498 | (e) A Florida College System institution community college |
| 2499 | board of trustees must authorize all debt, including lease- |
| 2500 | purchase agreements, incurred by a direct-support organization. |
| 2501 | Authorization for approval of short-term loans and lease- |
| 2502 | purchase agreements for a term of not more than 5 years, |
| 2503 | including renewals, extensions, and refundings, for goods, |
| 2504 | materials, equipment, and services may be delegated by the board |
| 2505 | of trustees to the board of directors of the direct-support |
| 2506 | organization. Trustees shall evaluate proposals for debt |
| 2507 | according to guidelines issued by the Division of Florida |
| 2508 | Colleges. Revenues of the Florida College System institution |
| 2509 | community college may not be pledged to debt issued by direct- |
| 2510 | support organizations. |
| 2511 | (5) ANNUAL BUDGETS AND REPORTS.-Each direct-support |
| 2512 | organization shall submit to the board of trustees its federal |
| 2513 | Internal Revenue Service Application for Recognition of |
| 2514 | Exemption form (Form 1023) and its federal Internal Revenue |
| 2515 | Service Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax form (Form |
| 2516 | 990). |
| 2517 | (6) ANNUAL AUDIT.-Each direct-support organization shall |
| 2518 | provide for an annual financial audit in accordance with rules |
| 2519 | adopted by the Auditor General pursuant to s. 11.45(8). The |
| 2520 | annual audit report must be submitted, within 9 months after the |
| 2521 | end of the fiscal year, to the Auditor General, the State Board |
| 2522 | of Education, and the board of trustees for review. The board of |
| 2523 | trustees, the Auditor General, and the Office of Program Policy |
| 2524 | Analysis and Government Accountability may require and receive |
| 2525 | from the organization or from its independent auditor any detail |
| 2526 | or supplemental data relative to the operation of the |
| 2527 | organization. The identity of donors who desire to remain |
| 2528 | anonymous shall be protected, and that anonymity shall be |
| 2529 | maintained in the auditor's report. All records of the |
| 2530 | organization, other than the auditor's report, any information |
| 2531 | necessary for the auditor's report, any information related to |
| 2532 | the expenditure of funds, and any supplemental data requested by |
| 2533 | the board of trustees, the Auditor General, and the Office of |
| 2534 | Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, shall be |
| 2535 | confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1). |
| 2536 | Section 55. Section 1004.71, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2537 | to read: |
| 2538 | 1004.71 Statewide Florida College System institution |
| 2539 | community college direct-support organizations.- |
| 2540 | (1) DEFINITIONS.-For the purposes of this section: |
| 2541 | (a) "Statewide Florida College System institution |
| 2542 | community college direct-support organization" means an |
| 2543 | organization that is: |
| 2544 | 1. A Florida corporation not for profit, incorporated |
| 2545 | under the provisions of chapter 617 and approved by the |
| 2546 | Department of State. |
| 2547 | 2. Organized and operated exclusively to receive, hold, |
| 2548 | invest, and administer property and to make expenditures to, or |
| 2549 | for the benefit of, the Florida College System institutions |
| 2550 | community colleges in this state. |
| 2551 | 3. An organization that the State Board of Education, |
| 2552 | after review, has certified to be operating in a manner |
| 2553 | consistent with the goals of the Florida College System |
| 2554 | institutions community colleges and in the best interest of the |
| 2555 | state. |
| 2556 | (b) "Personal services" includes full-time or part-time |
| 2557 | personnel as well as payroll processing. |
| 2558 | (2) BOARD OF DIRECTORS.-The chair of the State Board of |
| 2559 | Education may appoint a representative to the board of directors |
| 2560 | and the executive committee of any statewide, direct-support |
| 2561 | organization established under this section or s. 1004.70. The |
| 2562 | chair of the State Board of Education, or the chair's designee, |
| 2563 | shall also serve on the board of directors and the executive |
| 2564 | committee of any direct-support organization established to |
| 2565 | benefit Florida College System institutions the community |
| 2566 | colleges of Florida. |
| 2567 | (3) USE OF PROPERTY.- |
| 2568 | (a) The State Board of Education may permit the use of |
| 2569 | property, facilities, and personal services of the Department of |
| 2570 | Education by any statewide Florida College System institution |
| 2571 | community college direct-support organization, subject to the |
| 2572 | provisions of this section. |
| 2573 | (b) The State Board of Education may prescribe by rule any |
| 2574 | condition with which a statewide Florida College System |
| 2575 | institution community college direct-support organization must |
| 2576 | comply in order to use property, facilities, or personal |
| 2577 | services of the Department of Education. |
| 2578 | (c) The State Board of Education may not permit the use of |
| 2579 | property, facilities, or personal services of the Department of |
| 2580 | Education by any statewide Florida College System institution |
| 2581 | community college direct-support organization that does not |
| 2582 | provide equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless |
| 2583 | of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or religion. |
| 2584 | (4) RESTRICTIONS.- |
| 2585 | (a) A statewide, direct-support organization may not use |
| 2586 | public funds to acquire, construct, maintain, or operate any |
| 2587 | facilities. |
| 2588 | (b) Any transaction or agreement between a statewide, |
| 2589 | direct-support organization and any other direct-support |
| 2590 | organization or between a statewide, direct-support organization |
| 2591 | and a center of technology innovation designated under s. |
| 2592 | 1004.77 must be approved by the State Board of Education. |
| 2593 | (c) A statewide Florida College System institution |
| 2594 | community college direct-support organization is prohibited from |
| 2595 | giving, either directly or indirectly, any gift to a political |
| 2596 | committee or committee of continuous existence as defined in s. |
| 2597 | 106.011 for any purpose other than those certified by a majority |
| 2598 | roll call vote of the governing board of the direct-support |
| 2599 | organization at a regularly scheduled meeting as being directly |
| 2600 | related to the educational mission of the State Board of |
| 2601 | Education. |
| 2602 | (5) ANNUAL BUDGETS AND REPORTS.-Each direct-support |
| 2603 | organization shall submit to the State Board of Education its |
| 2604 | federal Internal Revenue Service Application for Recognition of |
| 2605 | Exemption form (Form 1023) and its federal Internal Revenue |
| 2606 | Service Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax form (Form |
| 2607 | 990). |
| 2608 | (6) ANNUAL AUDIT.-A statewide Florida College System |
| 2609 | institution community college direct-support organization shall |
| 2610 | provide for an annual financial audit in accordance with s. |
| 2611 | 1004.70. The identity of a donor or prospective donor who |
| 2612 | desires to remain anonymous and all information identifying such |
| 2613 | donor or prospective donor are confidential and exempt from the |
| 2614 | provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State |
| 2615 | Constitution. Such anonymity shall be maintained in the |
| 2616 | auditor's report. |
| 2617 | Section 56. Subsection (1) of section 1004.725, Florida |
| 2618 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2619 | 1004.725 Expenditures for self-insurance services; special |
| 2620 | account.- |
| 2621 | (1) The Florida College System institution community |
| 2622 | college boards of trustees, singly or collectively, are |
| 2623 | authorized to contract with an administrator or service company |
| 2624 | approved pursuant to chapter 626 to provide self-insurance |
| 2625 | services, including, but not limited to, the evaluation, |
| 2626 | settlement, and payment of self-insurance claims on behalf of |
| 2627 | the board of trustees or a consortium of boards of trustees. |
| 2628 | Section 57. Section 1004.726, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2629 | to read: |
| 2630 | 1004.726 Trademarks, copyrights, or patents.-Each Florida |
| 2631 | College System institution community college board of trustees |
| 2632 | may develop and produce work products relating to educational |
| 2633 | endeavors that are subject to trademark, copyright, or patent |
| 2634 | statutes. To this end, the board of trustees shall consider the |
| 2635 | relative contribution by the personnel employed in the |
| 2636 | development of such work products and shall enter into binding |
| 2637 | agreements with such personnel, organizations, corporations, or |
| 2638 | government entities, which agreements shall establish the |
| 2639 | percentage of ownership of such trademarks, copyrights, or |
| 2640 | patents. Any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, the |
| 2641 | board of trustees may in its own name: |
| 2642 | (1) Perform all things necessary to secure letters of |
| 2643 | patent, copyrights, and trademarks on any such work products and |
| 2644 | enforce its rights therein. |
| 2645 | (2) License, lease, assign, or otherwise give written |
| 2646 | consent to any person, firm, or corporation for the manufacture |
| 2647 | or use of its work products on a royalty basis or for such other |
| 2648 | consideration as the board of trustees deems proper. |
| 2649 | (3) Take any action necessary, including legal action, to |
| 2650 | protect its work products against improper or unlawful use of |
| 2651 | infringement. |
| 2652 | (4) Enforce the collection of any sums due the board of |
| 2653 | trustees for the manufacture or use of its work products by any |
| 2654 | other party. |
| 2655 | (5) Sell any of its work products and execute all |
| 2656 | instruments necessary to consummate any such sale. |
| 2657 | (6) Do all other acts necessary and proper for the |
| 2658 | execution of powers and duties provided by this section. |
| 2659 | Section 58. Subsection (4) of section 1004.74, Florida |
| 2660 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2661 | 1004.74 Florida School of the Arts.- |
| 2662 | (4) The Council for the Florida School of the Arts shall |
| 2663 | be established to advise the Florida College System institution |
| 2664 | community college district board of trustees on matters |
| 2665 | pertaining to the operation of the school. The council shall |
| 2666 | consist of nine members, appointed by the Commissioner of |
| 2667 | Education for 4-year terms. A member may serve three terms and |
| 2668 | may serve until replaced. |
| 2669 | Section 59. Subsections (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) of |
| 2670 | section 1004.75, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 2671 | 1004.75 Training school consolidation pilot projects.- |
| 2672 | (2) EXISTING PUBLIC CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING PROGRAMS.- |
| 2673 | Notwithstanding ss. 1001.31, 1001.33, and 1007.25, or any other |
| 2674 | provision of law to the contrary, criminal justice training |
| 2675 | programs in the pilot counties will transfer to Florida College |
| 2676 | System institutions community colleges, effective July 1, 1999, |
| 2677 | at which time responsibility for the provision of basic recruit, |
| 2678 | advanced, career development, and continuing training courses |
| 2679 | and programs offered in public criminal justice training |
| 2680 | programs and for the operation of existing public criminal |
| 2681 | justice training programs will be shifted from the school |
| 2682 | district to the Florida College System institution community |
| 2683 | college in whose service area the public criminal justice |
| 2684 | training program is located. Certification of the program |
| 2685 | granted by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training |
| 2686 | Commission will be transferred to the respective Florida College |
| 2687 | System institution community college and the college must |
| 2688 | continue to meet the requirements of the commission. |
| 2689 | (3) FACILITIES.- |
| 2690 | (a) Criminal justice training program educational |
| 2691 | facilities, educational plants, and related equipment as defined |
| 2692 | in s. 1013.01(6) and (7) which are owned by the state and paid |
| 2693 | for with only state funds shall be transferred to the Florida |
| 2694 | College System institution community college, except that, if |
| 2695 | such an educational facility or educational plant or part of |
| 2696 | such facility or plant is used for other purposes in addition to |
| 2697 | public criminal justice training, the Criminal Justice Standards |
| 2698 | and Training Commission shall mediate the transfer or a suitable |
| 2699 | multiuse arrangement. |
| 2700 | (b) Criminal justice training program educational |
| 2701 | facilities, educational plants, and related equipment as defined |
| 2702 | in s. 1013.01(6) and (7) which are owned by the school district |
| 2703 | and paid for in whole or in part with local tax funds shall be |
| 2704 | leased to the Florida College System institution community |
| 2705 | college. However, if such an educational facility or educational |
| 2706 | plant, or part of such facility or plant, is used for other |
| 2707 | purposes in addition to public criminal justice training, the |
| 2708 | Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission shall mediate |
| 2709 | a suitable lease agreement. If a school district and a Florida |
| 2710 | College System institution community college cannot agree on the |
| 2711 | terms and conditions of the lease agreement, the Criminal |
| 2712 | Justice Standards and Training Commission shall finalize the |
| 2713 | agreement and report its decision to the Legislature. The |
| 2714 | Department of Education, Office of Educational Facilities, shall |
| 2715 | conduct an analysis, by December 31, 1999, to determine the |
| 2716 | amount of local tax contribution used in the construction of a |
| 2717 | school-district-owned criminal justice training program, |
| 2718 | educational facility, or educational plant affected by the |
| 2719 | transfer. This analysis shall be used to establish a purchase |
| 2720 | price for the facility or plant. The Florida College System |
| 2721 | institution community college board of trustees may make a |
| 2722 | legislative budget request through the State Board of Education |
| 2723 | to purchase the facility or plant, or it may continue to lease |
| 2724 | the facility or plant. |
| 2725 | (4) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.-Each pilot training center will |
| 2726 | be regional in nature, as defined by the Criminal Justice |
| 2727 | Standards and Training Commission. Each Florida College System |
| 2728 | institution community college with responsibility for a public |
| 2729 | criminal justice training program must: |
| 2730 | (a) Establish a pilot training center advisory committee |
| 2731 | made up of professionals from the field of each training program |
| 2732 | included in the pilot project. |
| 2733 | (b) Provide certificate and noncredit options for students |
| 2734 | and training components of the pilot training center that so |
| 2735 | require. |
| 2736 | (c) Develop an articulation agreement with state |
| 2737 | universities to facilitate the transfer of graduates of a |
| 2738 | Florida College System institution community college degree |
| 2739 | training program to the upper division of a state university |
| 2740 | with a corresponding program. |
| 2741 | (5) STAFFING.-The Florida College System institution |
| 2742 | community college board of trustees may provide for school |
| 2743 | district public criminal justice training staff employed in |
| 2744 | full-time budgeted positions to be transferred into the Florida |
| 2745 | College System institution community college personnel system at |
| 2746 | the same rate of salary. Retirement and leave provisions will be |
| 2747 | transferred according to law. |
| 2748 | (6) FUNDING.-The Department of Education shall shift funds |
| 2749 | generated by students in the pilot training centers established |
| 2750 | by this section, including workforce development recurring and |
| 2751 | nonrecurring funds, from the appropriate school district to the |
| 2752 | respective Florida College System institution community college. |
| 2753 | The Florida College System institution community college shall |
| 2754 | qualify for future facilities funding upon transfer of the |
| 2755 | facility. |
| 2756 | (a) Consistent with s. 1011.62(8), school districts that |
| 2757 | transfer programs will receive an amount equal to 15 percent of |
| 2758 | the funding generated for the program under the FEFP in 1996- |
| 2759 | 1997. |
| 2760 | (b) Reflecting the lower program costs in Florida College |
| 2761 | System institutions community colleges, notwithstanding the |
| 2762 | funding generated in paragraph (a), Florida College System |
| 2763 | institutions community colleges will receive 90 percent of the |
| 2764 | funding generated for the program under the FEFP in 1996-1997. |
| 2765 | The school district will retain the remaining 10 percent. |
| 2766 | (c) Notwithstanding ss. 1009.22(3)(a) and 1011.80(5)(a), |
| 2767 | or any other provision of law to the contrary, fees for |
| 2768 | continuing workforce education for public law enforcement |
| 2769 | officers at these pilot centers shall not exceed 25 percent of |
| 2770 | the cost of the course, and state funding shall not under any |
| 2771 | circumstances exceed 50 percent of the cost of the course. |
| 2772 | Section 60. Subsections (1) and (2), paragraphs (a) and |
| 2773 | (b) of subsection (4), subsection (5), and paragraphs (b), (c), |
| 2774 | and (d) of subsection (7) of section 1004.77, Florida Statutes, |
| 2775 | are amended to read: |
| 2776 | 1004.77 Centers of technology innovation.- |
| 2777 | (1) The State Board of Education may designate centers of |
| 2778 | technology innovation at single Florida College System |
| 2779 | institutions community colleges, consortia of Florida College |
| 2780 | System institutions community colleges, or consortia of Florida |
| 2781 | College System institutions community colleges with other |
| 2782 | educational institutions. The state board shall adopt rules |
| 2783 | necessary to implement the provisions of this section. The state |
| 2784 | board shall cooperate with the Workforce Florida, Inc., in the |
| 2785 | designation of the centers as it relates to the centers of |
| 2786 | applied technology. |
| 2787 | (2) Centers shall be designated when a Florida College |
| 2788 | System institution community college or consortia provides |
| 2789 | evidence that it has developed expertise in one or more |
| 2790 | specialized technologies. To be designated, the Florida College |
| 2791 | System institution community college or consortia must provide |
| 2792 | benefits to the state, which may include, but are not limited |
| 2793 | to: |
| 2794 | (a) Curriculum development. |
| 2795 | (b) Faculty development. |
| 2796 | (c) Research, testing, and technology transfer. |
| 2797 | (d) Instructional equipment and materials identification |
| 2798 | and development. |
| 2799 | (e) Partnerships with industries dependent upon staying |
| 2800 | current in the related technologies and in the development of |
| 2801 | workforce capabilities. |
| 2802 | (f) Partnerships with industries needing to convert their |
| 2803 | existing technology base to other technologies in order to |
| 2804 | continue conducting business in Florida, including converting |
| 2805 | defense-related technologies to other technologies. |
| 2806 | (4) Centers may provide instruction, as follows: |
| 2807 | (a) To students enrolled in the Florida College System |
| 2808 | institution community college, especially for purposes of |
| 2809 | providing training for technicians in areas that support the |
| 2810 | employers involved in the technology specialization. |
| 2811 | (b) To students enrolled at the undergraduate and graduate |
| 2812 | level in a university, college, or Florida College System |
| 2813 | institution community college which is a member of the |
| 2814 | designated consortia. Such enrollment shall be funded by the |
| 2815 | enrolling institution. |
| 2816 | (5) The State Board of Education shall give priority in |
| 2817 | the designation of centers to those Florida College System |
| 2818 | institutions community colleges that specialize in technology in |
| 2819 | environmental areas and in areas related to target industries of |
| 2820 | Enterprise Florida, Inc. Priority in designation shall also be |
| 2821 | given to Florida College System institutions community colleges |
| 2822 | that develop new and improved manufacturing techniques and |
| 2823 | related business practices. |
| 2824 | (7) Each center shall have a board of directors with at |
| 2825 | least five members who shall be appointed by the district board |
| 2826 | of trustees. The board of directors is responsible for |
| 2827 | overseeing the operation of the center, approval of the annual |
| 2828 | budget, and setting policy to guide the director in the |
| 2829 | operation of the center. The board of directors shall consist of |
| 2830 | at least the following: |
| 2831 | (b) The vice president of academic affairs, or the |
| 2832 | equivalent, of the Florida College System institution community |
| 2833 | college. |
| 2834 | (c) The vice president of business affairs, or the |
| 2835 | equivalent, of the Florida College System institution community |
| 2836 | college. |
| 2837 | (d) Two members designated by the president of the Florida |
| 2838 | College System institution community college. |
| 2839 | Section 61. Section 1004.78, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2840 | to read: |
| 2841 | 1004.78 Technology transfer centers at Florida College |
| 2842 | System institutions community colleges.- |
| 2843 | (1) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 2844 | college may establish a technology transfer center for the |
| 2845 | purpose of providing institutional support to local business and |
| 2846 | industry and governmental agencies in the application of new |
| 2847 | research in technology. The primary responsibilities of such |
| 2848 | centers may include: identifying technology research developed |
| 2849 | by universities, research institutions, businesses, industries, |
| 2850 | the United States Armed Forces, and other state or federal |
| 2851 | governmental agencies; determining and demonstrating the |
| 2852 | application of technologies; training workers to integrate |
| 2853 | advanced equipment and production processes; and determining for |
| 2854 | business and industry the feasibility and efficiency of |
| 2855 | accommodating advanced technologies. |
| 2856 | (2) The Florida College System institution community |
| 2857 | college board of trustees shall set such policies to regulate |
| 2858 | the activities of the technology transfer center as it may |
| 2859 | consider necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section |
| 2860 | and to administer the programs of the center in a manner which |
| 2861 | assures efficiency and effectiveness, producing the maximum |
| 2862 | benefit for the educational programs and maximum service to the |
| 2863 | state. To this end, materials that relate to methods of |
| 2864 | manufacture or production, potential trade secrets, potentially |
| 2865 | patentable material, actual trade secrets, business |
| 2866 | transactions, or proprietary information received, generated, |
| 2867 | ascertained, or discovered during the course of activities |
| 2868 | conducted within the Florida College System institutions |
| 2869 | community colleges shall be confidential and exempt from the |
| 2870 | provisions of s. 119.07(1), except that a Florida College System |
| 2871 | institution community college shall make available upon request |
| 2872 | the title and description of a project, the name of the |
| 2873 | investigator, and the amount and source of funding provided for |
| 2874 | such project. |
| 2875 | (3) A technology transfer center created under the |
| 2876 | provisions of this section shall be under the supervision of the |
| 2877 | board of trustees of that Florida College System institution |
| 2878 | community college, which is authorized to appoint a director; to |
| 2879 | employ full-time and part-time staff, research personnel, and |
| 2880 | professional services; to employ on a part-time basis personnel |
| 2881 | of the Florida College System institution community college; and |
| 2882 | to employ temporary employees whose salaries are paid entirely |
| 2883 | from the permanent technology transfer fund or from that fund in |
| 2884 | combination with other nonstate sources, with such positions |
| 2885 | being exempt from the requirements of the Florida Statutes |
| 2886 | relating to salaries, except that no such appointment shall be |
| 2887 | made for a total period of longer than 1 year. |
| 2888 | (4) The board of trustees of the Florida College System |
| 2889 | institution community college in which a technology transfer |
| 2890 | center is created, or its designee, may negotiate, enter into, |
| 2891 | and execute contracts; solicit and accept grants and donations; |
| 2892 | and fix and collect fees, other payments, and donations that may |
| 2893 | accrue by reason thereof for technology transfer activities. The |
| 2894 | board of trustees or its designee may negotiate, enter into, and |
| 2895 | execute contracts on a cost-reimbursement basis and may provide |
| 2896 | temporary financing of such costs prior to reimbursement from |
| 2897 | moneys on deposit in the technology transfer fund, except as may |
| 2898 | be prohibited elsewhere by law. |
| 2899 | (5) A technology transfer center shall be financed from |
| 2900 | the Academic Improvement Program or from moneys of a Florida |
| 2901 | College System institution community college which are on |
| 2902 | deposit or received for use in the activities conducted in the |
| 2903 | center. Such moneys shall be deposited by the Florida College |
| 2904 | System institution community college in a permanent technology |
| 2905 | transfer fund in a depository or depositories approved for the |
| 2906 | deposit of state funds and shall be accounted for and disbursed |
| 2907 | subject to audit by the Auditor General. |
| 2908 | (6) The fund balance in any existing research trust fund |
| 2909 | of a Florida College System institution community college at the |
| 2910 | time a technology transfer center is created shall be |
| 2911 | transferred to a permanent technology transfer fund established |
| 2912 | for the Florida College System institution community college, |
| 2913 | and thereafter the fund balance of the technology transfer fund |
| 2914 | at the end of any fiscal period may be used during any |
| 2915 | succeeding period pursuant to this section. |
| 2916 | (7) Moneys deposited in the permanent technology transfer |
| 2917 | fund of a Florida College System institution community college |
| 2918 | shall be disbursed in accordance with the terms of the contract, |
| 2919 | grant, or donation under which they are received. Moneys |
| 2920 | received for overhead or indirect costs and other moneys not |
| 2921 | required for the payment of direct costs shall be applied to the |
| 2922 | cost of operating the technology transfer center. |
| 2923 | (8) All purchases of a technology transfer center shall be |
| 2924 | made in accordance with the policies and procedures of the |
| 2925 | Florida College System institution community college. |
| 2926 | (9) The Florida College System institution community |
| 2927 | college board of trustees may authorize the construction, |
| 2928 | alteration, or remodeling of buildings when the funds used are |
| 2929 | derived entirely from the technology transfer fund of a Florida |
| 2930 | College System institution community college or from that fund |
| 2931 | in combination with other nonstate sources, provided that such |
| 2932 | construction, alteration, or remodeling is for use exclusively |
| 2933 | by the center. It also may authorize the acquisition of real |
| 2934 | property when the cost is entirely from said funds. Title to all |
| 2935 | real property shall vest in the board of trustees. |
| 2936 | (10) The State Board of Education may award grants to |
| 2937 | Florida College System institutions community colleges, or |
| 2938 | consortia of public and private colleges and universities and |
| 2939 | other public and private entities, for the purpose of supporting |
| 2940 | the objectives of this section. Grants awarded pursuant to this |
| 2941 | subsection shall be in accordance with rules of the State Board |
| 2942 | of Education. Such rules shall include the following provisions: |
| 2943 | (a) The number of centers established with state funds |
| 2944 | provided expressly for the purpose of technology transfer shall |
| 2945 | be limited, but shall be geographically located to maximize |
| 2946 | public access to center resources and services. |
| 2947 | (b) Grants to centers funded with state revenues |
| 2948 | appropriated specifically for technology transfer activities |
| 2949 | shall be reviewed and approved by the State Board of Education |
| 2950 | using proposal solicitation, evaluation, and selection |
| 2951 | procedures established by the state board in consultation with |
| 2952 | Enterprise Florida, Inc. Such procedures may include designation |
| 2953 | of specific areas or applications of technology as priorities |
| 2954 | for the receipt of funding. |
| 2955 | (c) Priority for the receipt of state funds appropriated |
| 2956 | specifically for the purpose of technology transfer shall be |
| 2957 | given to grant proposals developed jointly by Florida College |
| 2958 | System institutions community colleges and public and private |
| 2959 | colleges and universities. |
| 2960 | (11) Each technology transfer center established under the |
| 2961 | provisions of this section shall establish a technology transfer |
| 2962 | center advisory committee. Each committee shall include |
| 2963 | representatives of a university or universities conducting |
| 2964 | research in the area of specialty of the center. Other members |
| 2965 | shall be determined by the Florida College System institution |
| 2966 | community college board of trustees. |
| 2967 | Section 62. Section 1004.79, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2968 | to read: |
| 2969 | 1004.79 Incubator facilities for small business concerns.- |
| 2970 | (1) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 2971 | college established pursuant to s. 1004.02(2) may provide |
| 2972 | incubator facilities to eligible small business concerns. As |
| 2973 | used in this section, "small business concern" shall be defined |
| 2974 | as an independently owned and operated business concern |
| 2975 | incorporated in Florida which is not an affiliate or a |
| 2976 | subsidiary of a business dominant in its field of operation, and |
| 2977 | which employs 25 or fewer full-time employees. "Incubator |
| 2978 | facility" shall be defined as a facility in which small business |
| 2979 | concerns share common space, equipment, and support personnel |
| 2980 | and through which such concerns have access to professional |
| 2981 | consultants for advice related to the technical and business |
| 2982 | aspects of conducting a commercial enterprise. The Florida |
| 2983 | College System institution community college board of trustees |
| 2984 | shall authorize concerns for inclusion in the incubator |
| 2985 | facility. |
| 2986 | (2) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 2987 | college that provides an incubator facility shall provide the |
| 2988 | following: |
| 2989 | (a) Management and maintenance of the incubator facility. |
| 2990 | (b) Secretarial and other support personnel, equipment, |
| 2991 | and utilities. |
| 2992 | (c) Mechanisms to assist with the acquisition of |
| 2993 | technical, management, and entrepreneurial expertise to resident |
| 2994 | and other local small business concerns. |
| 2995 | (3) The incubator facility and any improvements to the |
| 2996 | facility shall be owned or leased by the Florida College System |
| 2997 | institution community college. The Florida College System |
| 2998 | institution community college may charge residents of the |
| 2999 | facility all or part of the cost for facilities, utilities, and |
| 3000 | support personnel and equipment. No small business concern shall |
| 3001 | reside in the incubator facility for more than 5 calendar years. |
| 3002 | The state shall not be liable for any act or failure to act of |
| 3003 | any small business concern residing in an incubator facility |
| 3004 | pursuant to this section or of any such concern benefiting from |
| 3005 | the incubator facilities program. |
| 3006 | (4) Florida College System institutions Community colleges |
| 3007 | are encouraged to establish incubator facilities through which |
| 3008 | emerging small businesses supportive of spaceport endeavors and |
| 3009 | other high-technology enterprises may be served. |
| 3010 | (5) Florida College System institutions Community colleges |
| 3011 | are encouraged to establish incubator facilities through which |
| 3012 | emerging small businesses supportive of development of content |
| 3013 | and technology for digital broadband media and digital |
| 3014 | broadcasting may be served. |
| 3015 | Section 63. Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section |
| 3016 | 1004.80, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 3017 | 1004.80 Economic development centers.- |
| 3018 | (1) Florida College System institutions Community colleges |
| 3019 | may establish economic development centers for the purpose of |
| 3020 | serving as liaisons between Florida College System institutions |
| 3021 | community colleges and the business sector. The responsibilities |
| 3022 | of each center shall include: |
| 3023 | (a) Promoting the economic well-being of businesses and |
| 3024 | industries. |
| 3025 | (b) Coordinating, with chambers of commerce, government |
| 3026 | agencies, district school boards, and other organizations, |
| 3027 | efforts to provide educational programs which promote economic |
| 3028 | development, including, but not limited to, business incubators, |
| 3029 | industrial development and research parks, industry recruitment |
| 3030 | efforts, publication of business research and resource guides, |
| 3031 | and sponsorship of workshops, conferences, seminars, and |
| 3032 | consultation services. |
| 3033 | (2) The board of trustees of a Florida College System |
| 3034 | institution community college in which an economic development |
| 3035 | center is created, or its designee, may negotiate, enter into, |
| 3036 | and execute contracts; solicit and accept grants and donations; |
| 3037 | and fix and collect fees, other payments, and donations that may |
| 3038 | accrue by reason of activities of the center and its staff. |
| 3039 | (3) Economic development centers shall operate under |
| 3040 | policies and procedures established by the Florida College |
| 3041 | System institution community college board of trustees. |
| 3042 | Section 64. Section 1004.81, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 3043 | to read: |
| 3044 | 1004.81 Establishment of child development training |
| 3045 | centers at Florida College System institutions community |
| 3046 | colleges.- |
| 3047 | (1) The Legislature recognizes the importance of preschool |
| 3048 | developmental education and the need for adult students with |
| 3049 | limited economic resources to have access to high-quality, |
| 3050 | affordable child care at variable hours for their children. It |
| 3051 | is therefore the intent of the Legislature that Florida College |
| 3052 | System institutions community colleges provide high-quality, |
| 3053 | affordable child care to the children of adult students enrolled |
| 3054 | in Florida College System institutions community colleges. The |
| 3055 | primary purpose of these child development training centers is |
| 3056 | to provide affordable child care for children of adult students, |
| 3057 | particularly those who demonstrate financial need, as well as |
| 3058 | for employees and staff of the institution. Further, the child |
| 3059 | development training centers are intended to provide both |
| 3060 | preschool instruction to the children and clinical experiences |
| 3061 | for prospective child care and early childhood instructional and |
| 3062 | administrative personnel. A secondary mission of the centers |
| 3063 | shall be to provide instruction in parenting skills for the |
| 3064 | clients of the center as well as for the community. |
| 3065 | (2) In consultation with the student government |
| 3066 | association or a recognized student group representing the |
| 3067 | student body, a Florida College System institution community |
| 3068 | college board of trustees may establish a child development |
| 3069 | training center in accordance with this section. Each child |
| 3070 | development training center shall be a child care center |
| 3071 | established to provide child care during the day and at variable |
| 3072 | hours, including evenings and weekends, for the children of |
| 3073 | students. Emphasis should be placed on serving students who |
| 3074 | demonstrate financial need as defined by the board of trustees. |
| 3075 | At least 50 percent of the child care slots must be made |
| 3076 | available to students, and financially needy students, as |
| 3077 | defined by the board of trustees, shall receive child care slots |
| 3078 | first. The center may serve the children of staff, employees, |
| 3079 | and faculty; however, a designated number of child care slots |
| 3080 | shall not be allocated for employees. Whenever possible, the |
| 3081 | center shall be located on the campus of the Florida College |
| 3082 | System institution community college. However, the board may |
| 3083 | elect to provide child care services for students through |
| 3084 | alternative mechanisms, which may include contracting with |
| 3085 | private providers. |
| 3086 | (3) There shall be a board of directors of each child |
| 3087 | development training center, consisting of the president or his |
| 3088 | or her designee, the student government president or his or her |
| 3089 | designee, the chair of the department participating in the |
| 3090 | center or his or her designee, and one parent for each 25 |
| 3091 | children enrolled in the center, elected by the parents of the |
| 3092 | children enrolled in the center. There shall be a director of |
| 3093 | each center, selected by the board of directors of the center. |
| 3094 | The director shall be an ex officio, nonvoting member of the |
| 3095 | board. The board of trustees shall establish local policies and |
| 3096 | perform local oversight and operational guidance for the center. |
| 3097 | (4) Each center may charge fees for the care and services |
| 3098 | it provides. Each board of trustees shall establish mechanisms |
| 3099 | to facilitate access to center services for students with |
| 3100 | financial need, which shall include a sliding fee scale and |
| 3101 | other methods adopted by the board of trustees to reduce or |
| 3102 | defray payment of fees for students. The board of trustees is |
| 3103 | authorized to seek and receive grants and other resources to |
| 3104 | support the operation of the child development center. |
| 3105 | (5) In addition to revenues derived from child care fees |
| 3106 | charged to parents and other external resources, each child |
| 3107 | development training center may be funded by a portion of funds |
| 3108 | from the student activity and service fee authorized by s. |
| 3109 | 1009.23(7) and the capital improvement fee authorized by s. |
| 3110 | 1009.23(11). Florida College System institutions Community |
| 3111 | colleges are authorized to transfer funds as necessary from the |
| 3112 | Florida College System institution's community college's general |
| 3113 | fund to support the operation of the child development training |
| 3114 | center. |
| 3115 | (6) This section does not preclude the continuation of or |
| 3116 | in any way affect child care centers operated by Florida College |
| 3117 | System institutions community colleges that were established by |
| 3118 | the district board of trustees prior to July 1, 1994. |
| 3119 | Section 65. Paragraph (g) of subsection (1) of section |
| 3120 | 1004.86, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 3121 | 1004.86 Florida Center for Mathematics and Science |
| 3122 | Education Research.- |
| 3123 | (1) The Department of Education shall contract with a |
| 3124 | competitively selected public or private university to create |
| 3125 | and operate the Florida Center for Mathematics and Science |
| 3126 | Education Research. The purpose of the center is increasing |
| 3127 | student achievement in mathematics and science, with an emphasis |
| 3128 | on K-12 education. The center shall: |
| 3129 | (g) Establish partnerships with public and private |
| 3130 | universities, Florida College System institutions community |
| 3131 | colleges, school districts, and other appropriate entities to |
| 3132 | further increase student achievement in mathematics and science. |
| 3133 | Section 66. Subsection (1) of section 1004.91, Florida |
| 3134 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 3135 | 1004.91 Career-preparatory instruction.- |
| 3136 | (1) The State Board of Education shall adopt, by rule, |
| 3137 | standards of basic skill mastery for certificate career |
| 3138 | education programs. Each school district and Florida College |
| 3139 | System institution community college that conducts programs that |
| 3140 | confer career credit shall provide career-preparatory |
| 3141 | instruction through which students receive the basic skills |
| 3142 | instruction required pursuant to this section. |
| 3143 | Section 67. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1004.92, |
| 3144 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 3145 | 1004.92 Purpose and responsibilities for career |
| 3146 | education.- |
| 3147 | (1) The purpose of career education is to enable students |
| 3148 | who complete career programs to attain and sustain employment |
| 3149 | and realize economic self-sufficiency. The purpose of this |
| 3150 | section is to identify issues related to career education for |
| 3151 | which school boards and Florida College System institution |
| 3152 | community college boards of trustees are accountable. It is the |
| 3153 | intent of the Legislature that the standards articulated in |
| 3154 | subsection (2) be considered in the development of |
| 3155 | accountability standards for public schools pursuant to ss. |
| 3156 | 1000.03, 1001.42(18), and 1008.345 and for Florida College |
| 3157 | System institutions community colleges pursuant to s. 1008.45. |
| 3158 | (2)(a) School board, superintendent, and career center, |
| 3159 | and Florida College System institution community college board |
| 3160 | of trustees and president, accountability for career education |
| 3161 | programs includes, but is not limited to: |
| 3162 | 1. Student demonstration of the academic skills necessary |
| 3163 | to enter an occupation. |
| 3164 | 2. Student preparation to enter an occupation in an entry- |
| 3165 | level position or continue postsecondary study. |
| 3166 | 3. Career program articulation with other corresponding |
| 3167 | postsecondary programs and job training experiences. |
| 3168 | 4. Employer satisfaction with the performance of students |
| 3169 | who complete career education or reach occupational completion |
| 3170 | points. |
| 3171 | 5. Student completion, placement, and retention rates |
| 3172 | pursuant to s. 1008.43. |
| 3173 | (b) Department of Education accountability for career |
| 3174 | education includes, but is not limited to: |
| 3175 | 1. The provision of timely, accurate technical assistance |
| 3176 | to school districts and Florida College System institutions |
| 3177 | community colleges. |
| 3178 | 2. The provision of timely, accurate information to the |
| 3179 | State Board of Education, the Legislature, and the public. |
| 3180 | 3. The development of policies, rules, and procedures that |
| 3181 | facilitate institutional attainment of the accountability |
| 3182 | standards and coordinate the efforts of all divisions within the |
| 3183 | department. |
| 3184 | 4. The development of program standards and industry- |
| 3185 | driven benchmarks for career, adult, and community education |
| 3186 | programs, which must be updated every 3 years. The standards |
| 3187 | must include career, academic, and workplace skills; viability |
| 3188 | of distance learning for instruction; and work/learn cycles that |
| 3189 | are responsive to business and industry. |
| 3190 | 5. Overseeing school district and Florida College System |
| 3191 | institution community college compliance with the provisions of |
| 3192 | this chapter. |
| 3193 | 6. Ensuring that the educational outcomes for the |
| 3194 | technical component of career programs are uniform and designed |
| 3195 | to provide a graduate who is capable of entering the workforce |
| 3196 | on an equally competitive basis regardless of the institution of |
| 3197 | choice. |
| 3198 | Section 68. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (3), |
| 3199 | paragraphs (d) and (e) of subsection (4), and subsections (6) |
| 3200 | and (7) of section 1004.93, Florida Statutes, are amended to |
| 3201 | read: |
| 3202 | 1004.93 Adult general education.- |
| 3203 | (3)(a) Each district school board or Florida College |
| 3204 | System institution community college board of trustees shall |
| 3205 | negotiate with the regional workforce board for basic and |
| 3206 | functional literacy skills assessments for participants in the |
| 3207 | welfare transition employment and training programs. Such |
| 3208 | assessments shall be conducted at a site mutually acceptable to |
| 3209 | the district school board or Florida College System institution |
| 3210 | community college board of trustees and the regional workforce |
| 3211 | board. |
| 3212 | (b) State employees who are employed in local or regional |
| 3213 | offices of state agencies shall inform clients of the |
| 3214 | availability of adult basic and secondary programs in the |
| 3215 | region. The identities of clients who do not possess high school |
| 3216 | diplomas or who demonstrate skills below the level of functional |
| 3217 | literacy shall be conveyed, with their consent, to the local |
| 3218 | school district or Florida College System institution community |
| 3219 | college, or both. |
| 3220 | (4) |
| 3221 | (d) Expenditures for college-preparatory and lifelong |
| 3222 | learning students shall be reported separately. Allocations for |
| 3223 | college-preparatory courses shall be based on proportional full- |
| 3224 | time equivalent enrollment. Program review results shall be |
| 3225 | included in the determination of subsequent allocations. A |
| 3226 | student shall be funded to enroll in the same college- |
| 3227 | preparatory class within a skill area only twice, after which |
| 3228 | time the student shall pay 100 percent of the full cost of |
| 3229 | instruction to support the continuous enrollment of that student |
| 3230 | in the same class; however, students who withdraw or fail a |
| 3231 | class due to extenuating circumstances may be granted an |
| 3232 | exception only once for each class, provided approval is granted |
| 3233 | according to policy established by the board of trustees. Each |
| 3234 | Florida College System institution community college shall have |
| 3235 | the authority to review and reduce payment for increased fees |
| 3236 | due to continued enrollment in a college-preparatory class on an |
| 3237 | individual basis contingent upon the student's financial |
| 3238 | hardship, pursuant to definitions and fee levels established by |
| 3239 | the State Board of Education. College-preparatory and lifelong |
| 3240 | learning courses do not generate credit toward an associate or |
| 3241 | baccalaureate degree. |
| 3242 | (e) A district school board or a Florida College System |
| 3243 | institution community college board of trustees may negotiate a |
| 3244 | contract with the regional workforce board for specialized |
| 3245 | services for participants in the welfare transition program, |
| 3246 | beyond what is routinely provided for the general public, to be |
| 3247 | funded by the regional workforce board. |
| 3248 | (6) The commissioner shall recommend the level of funding |
| 3249 | for public school and Florida College System institution |
| 3250 | community college adult education within the legislative budget |
| 3251 | request and make other recommendations and reports considered |
| 3252 | necessary or required by rules of the State Board of Education. |
| 3253 | (7) Buildings, land, equipment, and other property owned |
| 3254 | by a district school board or Florida College System institution |
| 3255 | community college board of trustees may be used for the conduct |
| 3256 | of the adult education program. Buildings, land, equipment, and |
| 3257 | other property owned or leased by cooperating public or private |
| 3258 | agencies, organizations, or institutions may also be used for |
| 3259 | the purposes of this section. |
| 3260 | Section 69. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and subsection |
| 3261 | (4) of section 1004.94, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 3262 | 1004.94 Adult literacy.- |
| 3263 | (1)(a) An adult, individualized literacy instruction |
| 3264 | program is created for adults who possess literacy skills below |
| 3265 | the ninth grade level. The purpose of the program is to provide |
| 3266 | self-paced, competency-based, individualized tutorial |
| 3267 | instruction. The commissioner shall administer this section in |
| 3268 | coordination with Florida College System institution community |
| 3269 | college boards of trustees, local school boards, and the |
| 3270 | Division of Library and Information Services of the Department |
| 3271 | of State. |
| 3272 | (4)(a) The commissioner shall submit a state adult |
| 3273 | literacy plan to the State Board of Education to serve as a |
| 3274 | reference for district school boards and Florida College System |
| 3275 | institutions community colleges boards of trustees to increase |
| 3276 | adult literacy in their service areas as prescribed in the |
| 3277 | agency functional plan of the Department of Education. The plan |
| 3278 | must include, at a minimum: |
| 3279 | 1. Policies and objectives for adult literacy programs, |
| 3280 | including evaluative criteria. |
| 3281 | 2. Strategies for coordinating adult literacy activities |
| 3282 | with programs and services provided by other state and local |
| 3283 | nonprofit agencies, as well as strategies for maximizing other |
| 3284 | funding, resources, and expertise. |
| 3285 | 3. Procedures for identifying, recruiting, and retaining |
| 3286 | adults who possess literacy skills below the ninth grade level. |
| 3287 | 4. Sources of relevant demographic information and methods |
| 3288 | of projecting the number of adults who possess literacy skills |
| 3289 | below the ninth grade level. |
| 3290 | 5. Acceptable methods of demonstrating compliance with the |
| 3291 | provisions of this section. |
| 3292 | 6. Guidelines for the development and implementation of |
| 3293 | local adult literacy plans. At a minimum, such guidelines must |
| 3294 | address: |
| 3295 | a. The recruitment and preparation of volunteer tutors. |
| 3296 | b. Interagency and intraagency cooperation and |
| 3297 | coordination, especially with public libraries and other |
| 3298 | sponsors of literacy programs. |
| 3299 | c. Desirable learning environments, including class size. |
| 3300 | d. Program evaluation standards. |
| 3301 | e. Methods for identifying, recruiting, and retaining |
| 3302 | adults in literacy programs. |
| 3303 | f. Adult literacy through family literacy and workforce |
| 3304 | literacy programs. |
| 3305 | (b) Every 3 years, the district school board or Florida |
| 3306 | College System institution community college board of trustees |
| 3307 | shall develop and maintain a local adult literacy plan. |
| 3308 | Section 70. Subsection (1) of section 1004.95, Florida |
| 3309 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 3310 | 1004.95 Adult literacy centers.- |
| 3311 | (1) The Commissioner of Education shall select Florida |
| 3312 | College System institutions community colleges and public school |
| 3313 | districts to establish and operate adult literacy centers to |
| 3314 | complement existing public and private instructional adult |
| 3315 | literacy programs. The centers shall identify, contact, counsel, |
| 3316 | and refer persons considered to be lacking basic or functional |
| 3317 | literacy skills or competencies related to prose, document, and |
| 3318 | quantitative literacy skills to the appropriate private and |
| 3319 | public agencies, including human service agencies. The centers |
| 3320 | may not duplicate or supplant the existing services provided by |
| 3321 | public and private agencies operating within the district. |
| 3322 | Section 71. Subsection (2), paragraph (a) of subsection |
| 3323 | (3), and subsections (4) and (6) of section 1004.97, Florida |
| 3324 | Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 3325 | 1004.97 Florida Literacy Corps.- |
| 3326 | (2) There is created a Florida Literacy Corps to be |
| 3327 | administered by the Department of Education pursuant to this |
| 3328 | section and rules of the State Board of Education. Participating |
| 3329 | students earn college credit for tutoring adults who do not |
| 3330 | possess basic or functional literacy skills pursuant to an |
| 3331 | agreement between the institution in which the student is |
| 3332 | enrolled and the district school board, Florida College System |
| 3333 | institution community college board of trustees, public library, |
| 3334 | or nonprofit organization offering literacy instruction to |
| 3335 | adults pursuant to s. 1004.94. The district school board, |
| 3336 | Florida College System institution community college board of |
| 3337 | trustees, public library, or nonprofit organization is solely |
| 3338 | responsible for providing literacy programs and instructing |
| 3339 | participating postsecondary students. |
| 3340 | (3) In order to be eligible to participate in the Florida |
| 3341 | Literacy Corps, a student must: |
| 3342 | (a) Be enrolled in an eligible state university or Florida |
| 3343 | College System institution community college at least half time |
| 3344 | and be in good standing, as defined by the institution. |
| 3345 | (4) In order to be eligible to participate in the Florida |
| 3346 | Literacy Corps, a state university or Florida College System |
| 3347 | institution community college must: |
| 3348 | (a) Establish one or more undergraduate or graduate |
| 3349 | courses, or both, in which participating students may earn a |
| 3350 | maximum of 3 credit hours per semester, and a maximum of 6 |
| 3351 | credit hours over two or more semesters, by tutoring adults who |
| 3352 | do not possess basic or functional literacy skills. The |
| 3353 | institution shall establish such courses in the common course |
| 3354 | designation and numbering system. The courses must require |
| 3355 | students to complete instruction for prospective tutors, tutor |
| 3356 | adults for at least 25 hours per semester for each hour of |
| 3357 | credit awarded, and satisfy any other requirements imposed by |
| 3358 | the institution. |
| 3359 | (b) Submit a proposal to the Department of Education for |
| 3360 | review and approval. The proposal must include, but is not |
| 3361 | limited to: |
| 3362 | 1. Identification of the school district, Florida College |
| 3363 | System institution community college, public library, or |
| 3364 | nonprofit organization with which participating students will be |
| 3365 | working. |
| 3366 | 2. Demonstration of the need for literacy tutors by the |
| 3367 | school district, Florida College System institution community |
| 3368 | college, public library, or nonprofit organization. |
| 3369 | 3. Demonstration of commitment by the public school, |
| 3370 | Florida College System institution community college, public |
| 3371 | library, or nonprofit organization to provide instruction for |
| 3372 | tutors. |
| 3373 | 4. Description of the literacy program. |
| 3374 | 5. Demonstration of student interest in program |
| 3375 | participation. |
| 3376 | 6. Designation of one or more faculty to conduct the |
| 3377 | Florida Literacy Corps course and identification of the |
| 3378 | qualifications of such faculty. |
| 3379 | (6) Each participating state university and Florida |
| 3380 | College System institution community college shall submit an |
| 3381 | annual report to the Commissioner of Education which includes, |
| 3382 | but is not limited to: |
| 3383 | (a) The number of hours of tutoring conducted by |
| 3384 | participating students. |
| 3385 | (b) The number of students enrolled in the courses. |
| 3386 | (c) The number of students who successfully complete the |
| 3387 | courses. |
| 3388 | (d) An evaluation of the tutors' effectiveness as judged |
| 3389 | by the participating school district, Florida College System |
| 3390 | institution community college, public library, or nonprofit |
| 3391 | organization. The department shall develop a common evaluation |
| 3392 | form for this purpose. |
| 3393 | (e) The number of full-time equivalent enrollments |
| 3394 | generated by the participating students. |
| 3395 | Section 72. Section 1004.98, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 3396 | to read: |
| 3397 | 1004.98 Workforce literacy programs.- |
| 3398 | (1) The workforce literacy program is established within |
| 3399 | the Florida College System institutions community colleges and |
| 3400 | school districts to ensure the existence of sufficient numbers |
| 3401 | of employees who possess the skills necessary to perform in |
| 3402 | entry-level occupations and to adapt to technological advances |
| 3403 | in the workplace. Workforce literacy programs are intended to |
| 3404 | support economic development by increasing adult literacy and |
| 3405 | producing an educated workforce. |
| 3406 | (2) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 3407 | college and school district may conduct courses and programs |
| 3408 | through which adults gain the communication and computation |
| 3409 | skills necessary to complete a career program, to gain or |
| 3410 | maintain entry-level employment, or to upgrade employment. |
| 3411 | Courses may not be conducted until the Florida College System |
| 3412 | institution community college or school district identifies |
| 3413 | current and prospective employees who do not possess the skills |
| 3414 | necessary to enter career programs or to obtain or maintain |
| 3415 | employment. |
| 3416 | (3) A Florida College System institution community college |
| 3417 | or school district may be eligible to fund a workforce literacy |
| 3418 | program pursuant to the provisions of s. 1004.94. |
| 3419 | Section 73. Subsection (2) of section 1004.99, Florida |
| 3420 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 3421 | 1004.99 Florida Ready to Work Certification Program.- |
| 3422 | (2) The Florida Ready to Work Certification Program may be |
| 3423 | conducted in public middle and high schools, Florida College |
| 3424 | System institutions community colleges, technical centers, one- |
| 3425 | stop career centers, vocational rehabilitation centers, and |
| 3426 | Department of Juvenile Justice educational facilities. The |
| 3427 | program may be made available to other entities that provide job |
| 3428 | training. The Department of Education shall establish |
| 3429 | institutional readiness criteria for program implementation. |
| 3430 | Section 74. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section |
| 3431 | 1005.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 3432 | 1005.21 Commission for Independent Education.- |
| 3433 | (2) The Commission for Independent Education shall consist |
| 3434 | of seven members who are residents of this state. The commission |
| 3435 | shall function in matters concerning independent postsecondary |
| 3436 | educational institutions in consumer protection, program |
| 3437 | improvement, and licensure for institutions under its purview. |
| 3438 | The Governor shall appoint the members of the commission who are |
| 3439 | subject to confirmation by the Senate. The membership of the |
| 3440 | commission shall consist of: |
| 3441 | (c) One member from a public school district or Florida |
| 3442 | College System institution community college who is an |
| 3443 | administrator of career education. |
| 3444 | Section 75. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section |
| 3445 | 1006.15, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 3446 | 1006.15 Student standards for participation in |
| 3447 | interscholastic and intrascholastic extracurricular student |
| 3448 | activities; regulation.- |
| 3449 | (3) |
| 3450 | (c) An individual home education student is eligible to |
| 3451 | participate at the public school to which the student would be |
| 3452 | assigned according to district school board attendance area |
| 3453 | policies or which the student could choose to attend pursuant to |
| 3454 | district or interdistrict controlled open enrollment provisions, |
| 3455 | or may develop an agreement to participate at a private school, |
| 3456 | in the interscholastic extracurricular activities of that |
| 3457 | school, provided the following conditions are met: |
| 3458 | 1. The home education student must meet the requirements |
| 3459 | of the home education program pursuant to s. 1002.41. |
| 3460 | 2. During the period of participation at a school, the |
| 3461 | home education student must demonstrate educational progress as |
| 3462 | required in paragraph (b) in all subjects taken in the home |
| 3463 | education program by a method of evaluation agreed upon by the |
| 3464 | parent and the school principal which may include: review of the |
| 3465 | student's work by a certified teacher chosen by the parent; |
| 3466 | grades earned through correspondence; grades earned in courses |
| 3467 | taken at a Florida College System institution community college, |
| 3468 | university, or trade school; standardized test scores above the |
| 3469 | 35th percentile; or any other method designated in s. 1002.41. |
| 3470 | 3. The home education student must meet the same residency |
| 3471 | requirements as other students in the school at which he or she |
| 3472 | participates. |
| 3473 | 4. The home education student must meet the same standards |
| 3474 | of acceptance, behavior, and performance as required of other |
| 3475 | students in extracurricular activities. |
| 3476 | 5. The student must register with the school his or her |
| 3477 | intent to participate in interscholastic extracurricular |
| 3478 | activities as a representative of the school before the |
| 3479 | beginning date of the season for the activity in which he or she |
| 3480 | wishes to participate. A home education student must be able to |
| 3481 | participate in curricular activities if that is a requirement |
| 3482 | for an extracurricular activity. |
| 3483 | 6. A student who transfers from a home education program |
| 3484 | to a public school before or during the first grading period of |
| 3485 | the school year is academically eligible to participate in |
| 3486 | interscholastic extracurricular activities during the first |
| 3487 | grading period provided the student has a successful evaluation |
| 3488 | from the previous school year, pursuant to subparagraph 2. |
| 3489 | 7. Any public school or private school student who has |
| 3490 | been unable to maintain academic eligibility for participation |
| 3491 | in interscholastic extracurricular activities is ineligible to |
| 3492 | participate in such activities as a home education student until |
| 3493 | the student has successfully completed one grading period in |
| 3494 | home education pursuant to subparagraph 2. to become eligible to |
| 3495 | participate as a home education student. |
| 3496 | Section 76. Subsections (1), (2), and (5) of section |
| 3497 | 1006.17, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 3498 | 1006.17 Sponsorship of athletic activities similar to |
| 3499 | those for which scholarships offered; rulemaking.- |
| 3500 | (1) If a district school board sponsors an athletic |
| 3501 | activity or sport that is similar to a sport for which a state |
| 3502 | university or Florida College System institution public |
| 3503 | community college offers an athletic scholarship, it must |
| 3504 | sponsor the athletic activity or sport for which a scholarship |
| 3505 | is offered. This section does not affect academic requirements |
| 3506 | for participation or prevent the school districts or Florida |
| 3507 | College System institutions community colleges from sponsoring |
| 3508 | activities in addition to those for which scholarships are |
| 3509 | provided. |
| 3510 | (2) If a Florida College System institution public |
| 3511 | community college sponsors an athletic activity or sport that is |
| 3512 | similar to a sport for which a state university offers an |
| 3513 | athletic scholarship, it must sponsor the athletic activity or |
| 3514 | sport for which a scholarship is offered. |
| 3515 | (5) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to |
| 3516 | administer this section, including rules that determine which |
| 3517 | athletic activities are similar to sports for which state |
| 3518 | universities and Florida College System institutions community |
| 3519 | colleges offer scholarships. |
| 3520 | Section 77. Subsection (1) of section 1006.50, Florida |
| 3521 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 3522 | 1006.50 Student handbooks.- |
| 3523 | (1) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 3524 | college and state university shall compile and update annually a |
| 3525 | student handbook that includes, but is not limited to, a |
| 3526 | comprehensive calendar that emphasizes important dates and |
| 3527 | deadlines, student rights and responsibilities, appeals |
| 3528 | processes available to students, and a roster of contact persons |
| 3529 | within the administrative staff available to respond to student |
| 3530 | inquiries. |
| 3531 | Section 78. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 1006.51, |
| 3532 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 3533 | 1006.51 Student ombudsman office.- |
| 3534 | (1) There is created at each Florida College System |
| 3535 | institution community college and state university a student |
| 3536 | ombudsman office, which is accountable to the president. |
| 3537 | (3) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 3538 | college and state university shall develop minimum standards for |
| 3539 | the role of ombudsman or student advocate. The standards shall |
| 3540 | address the issue of notification of students of opportunities |
| 3541 | for assistance or appeal. |
| 3542 | Section 79. Subsection (4) of section 1006.55, Florida |
| 3543 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 3544 | 1006.55 Law libraries of certain institutions of higher |
| 3545 | learning designated as state legal depositories.- |
| 3546 | (4) The libraries of all Florida College System |
| 3547 | institutions community colleges are designated as state |
| 3548 | depositories for the Florida Statutes and supplements published |
| 3549 | by or under the authority of the state; these depositories each |
| 3550 | may receive upon request one copy of each volume without charge, |
| 3551 | except for payment of shipping costs. |
| 3552 | Section 80. Subsections (1), (2), (4), and (5) of section |
| 3553 | 1006.60, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 3554 | 1006.60 Codes of conduct; disciplinary measures; authority |
| 3555 | to adopt rules or regulations.- |
| 3556 | (1) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 3557 | college may adopt, by rule, and each state university may adopt, |
| 3558 | by regulation, codes of conduct and appropriate penalties for |
| 3559 | violations of rules or regulations by students, to be |
| 3560 | administered by the institution. Such penalties, unless |
| 3561 | otherwise provided by law, may include: reprimand; restitution; |
| 3562 | fines; withholding of diplomas or transcripts pending compliance |
| 3563 | with rules or regulations, completion of any student judicial |
| 3564 | process or sanction, or payment of fines; restrictions on the |
| 3565 | use of or removal from campus facilities; community service; |
| 3566 | educational requirements; and the imposition of probation, |
| 3567 | suspension, dismissal, or expulsion. |
| 3568 | (2) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 3569 | college may adopt, by rule, and each state university may adopt, |
| 3570 | by regulation, a code of conduct and appropriate penalties for |
| 3571 | violations of rules or regulations by student organizations, to |
| 3572 | be administered by the institution. Such penalties, unless |
| 3573 | otherwise provided by law, may include: reprimand; restitution; |
| 3574 | suspension, cancellation, or revocation of the registration or |
| 3575 | official recognition of a student organization; and restrictions |
| 3576 | on the use of, or removal from, campus facilities. |
| 3577 | (4) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 3578 | college may establish and adopt, by rule, and each state |
| 3579 | university may establish and adopt, by regulation, codes of |
| 3580 | appropriate penalties for violations of rules or regulations |
| 3581 | governing student academic honesty. Such penalties, unless |
| 3582 | otherwise provided by law, may include: reprimand; reduction of |
| 3583 | grade; denial of academic credit; invalidation of university |
| 3584 | credit or of the degree based upon such credit; probation; |
| 3585 | suspension; dismissal; or expulsion. In addition to any other |
| 3586 | penalties that may be imposed, an individual may be denied |
| 3587 | admission or further registration, and the institution may |
| 3588 | invalidate academic credit for work done by a student and may |
| 3589 | invalidate or revoke the degree based upon such credit if it is |
| 3590 | determined that the student has made false, fraudulent, or |
| 3591 | incomplete statements in the application, residence affidavit, |
| 3592 | or accompanying documents or statements in connection with, or |
| 3593 | supplemental to, the application for admission to or graduation |
| 3594 | from the institution. |
| 3595 | (5) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 3596 | college shall adopt rules and each state university shall adopt |
| 3597 | regulations for the lawful discipline of any student who |
| 3598 | intentionally acts to impair, interfere with, or obstruct the |
| 3599 | orderly conduct, processes, and functions of the institution. |
| 3600 | Said rules or regulations may apply to acts conducted on or off |
| 3601 | campus when relevant to such orderly conduct, processes, and |
| 3602 | functions. |
| 3603 | Section 81. Section 1006.62, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 3604 | to read: |
| 3605 | 1006.62 Expulsion and discipline of students of Florida |
| 3606 | College System institutions community colleges and state |
| 3607 | universities.- |
| 3608 | (1) Each student in a Florida College System institution |
| 3609 | community college or state university is subject to federal and |
| 3610 | state law, respective county and municipal ordinances, and all |
| 3611 | rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, the Board |
| 3612 | of Governors regarding the State University System, or the board |
| 3613 | of trustees of the institution. |
| 3614 | (2) Violation of these published laws, ordinances, or |
| 3615 | rules and regulations may subject the violator to appropriate |
| 3616 | action by the institution's authorities. |
| 3617 | (3) Each president of a Florida College System institution |
| 3618 | community college or state university may, after notice to the |
| 3619 | student of the charges and after a hearing thereon, expel, |
| 3620 | suspend, or otherwise discipline any student who is found to |
| 3621 | have violated any law, ordinance, or rule or regulation of the |
| 3622 | State Board of Education, the Board of Governors regarding the |
| 3623 | State University System, or the board of trustees of the |
| 3624 | institution. A student may be entitled to waiver of expulsion: |
| 3625 | (a) If the student provides substantial assistance in the |
| 3626 | identification, arrest, or conviction of any of his or her |
| 3627 | accomplices, accessories, coconspirators, or principals or of |
| 3628 | any other person engaged in violations of chapter 893 within a |
| 3629 | state university or Florida College System institution community |
| 3630 | college; |
| 3631 | (b) If the student voluntarily discloses his or her |
| 3632 | violations of chapter 893 prior to his or her arrest; or |
| 3633 | (c) If the student commits himself or herself, or is |
| 3634 | referred by the court in lieu of sentence, to a state-licensed |
| 3635 | drug abuse program and successfully completes the program. |
| 3636 | Section 82. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (8) and |
| 3637 | subsection (10) of section 1006.63, Florida Statutes, are |
| 3638 | amended to read: |
| 3639 | 1006.63 Hazing prohibited.- |
| 3640 | (8) Public and nonpublic postsecondary educational |
| 3641 | institutions must provide a program for the enforcement of such |
| 3642 | rules and must adopt appropriate penalties for violations of |
| 3643 | such rules, to be administered by the person at the institution |
| 3644 | responsible for the sanctioning of such organizations. |
| 3645 | (a) Such penalties at Florida College System institutions |
| 3646 | community colleges and state universities may include the |
| 3647 | imposition of fines; the withholding of diplomas or transcripts |
| 3648 | pending compliance with the rules or pending payment of fines; |
| 3649 | and the imposition of probation, suspension, or dismissal. |
| 3650 | (b) In the case of an organization at a Florida College |
| 3651 | System institution community college or state university that |
| 3652 | authorizes hazing in blatant disregard of such rules, penalties |
| 3653 | may also include rescission of permission for that organization |
| 3654 | to operate on campus property or to otherwise operate under the |
| 3655 | sanction of the institution. |
| 3656 | (10) Upon approval of the antihazing policy of a Florida |
| 3657 | College System institution community college or state university |
| 3658 | and of the rules and penalties adopted pursuant thereto, the |
| 3659 | institution shall provide a copy of such policy, rules, and |
| 3660 | penalties to each student enrolled in that institution and shall |
| 3661 | require the inclusion of such policy, rules, and penalties in |
| 3662 | the bylaws of every organization operating under the sanction of |
| 3663 | the institution. |
| 3664 | Section 83. Subsection (1) of section 1006.65, Florida |
| 3665 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 3666 | 1006.65 Safety issues in courses offered by public |
| 3667 | postsecondary educational institutions.- |
| 3668 | (1) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to |
| 3669 | ensure that policies and procedures are in place to protect the |
| 3670 | health and safety of students, instructional personnel, and |
| 3671 | visitors who participate in courses offered by a Florida College |
| 3672 | System institution community college. |
| 3673 | Section 84. Section 1006.68, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 3674 | to read: |
| 3675 | 1006.68 HIV and AIDS policy.-Each Florida College System |
| 3676 | institution community college and state university shall develop |
| 3677 | a comprehensive policy that addresses the provision of |
| 3678 | instruction, information, and activities regarding human |
| 3679 | immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency |
| 3680 | syndrome. Such instruction, information, or activities shall |
| 3681 | emphasize the known modes of transmission of human |
| 3682 | immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency |
| 3683 | syndrome, signs and symptoms, associated risk factors, |
| 3684 | appropriate behavior and attitude change, and means used to |
| 3685 | control the spread of human immunodeficiency virus infection and |
| 3686 | acquired immune deficiency syndrome. |
| 3687 | Section 85. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1006.70, |
| 3688 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 3689 | 1006.70 Sponsorship of athletic activities similar to |
| 3690 | those for which scholarships offered; rulemaking.- |
| 3691 | (1) If a district school board sponsors an athletic |
| 3692 | activity or sport that is similar to a sport for which a Florida |
| 3693 | College System institution community college or state university |
| 3694 | offers an athletic scholarship, it must sponsor the athletic |
| 3695 | activity or sport for which a scholarship is offered. This |
| 3696 | section does not affect academic requirements for participation |
| 3697 | or prevent the districts or Florida College System institutions |
| 3698 | community colleges from sponsoring activities in addition to |
| 3699 | those for which scholarships are provided. |
| 3700 | (2) If a Florida College System institution community |
| 3701 | college sponsors an athletic activity or sport that is similar |
| 3702 | to a sport for which a state university offers an athletic |
| 3703 | scholarship, it must sponsor the athletic activity or sport for |
| 3704 | which a scholarship is offered. |
| 3705 | Section 86. Paragraphs (a), (c), (e), and (g) of |
| 3706 | subsection (1), paragraph (b) of subsection (2), and subsection |
| 3707 | (3) of section 1006.71, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 3708 | 1006.71 Gender equity in intercollegiate athletics.- |
| 3709 | (1) GENDER EQUITY PLAN.- |
| 3710 | (a) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 3711 | college and state university shall develop a gender equity plan |
| 3712 | pursuant to s. 1000.05. |
| 3713 | (c) The Commissioner of Education shall annually assess |
| 3714 | the progress of each Florida College System institution's |
| 3715 | community college's plan and advise the State Board of Education |
| 3716 | and the Legislature regarding compliance. |
| 3717 | (e) Each board of trustees of a Florida College System |
| 3718 | institution public community college or state university shall |
| 3719 | annually evaluate the presidents on the extent to which the |
| 3720 | gender equity goals have been achieved. |
| 3721 | (g)1. If a Florida College System institution community |
| 3722 | college is not in compliance with Title IX of the Education |
| 3723 | Amendments of 1972 and the Florida Educational Equity Act, the |
| 3724 | State Board of Education shall: |
| 3725 | a. Declare the Florida College System institution |
| 3726 | community college ineligible for competitive state grants. |
| 3727 | b. Withhold funds sufficient to obtain compliance. |
| 3728 |
|
| 3729 | The Florida College System institution community college shall |
| 3730 | remain ineligible and the funds shall not be paid until the |
| 3731 | Florida College System institution community college comes into |
| 3732 | compliance or the Commissioner of Education approves a plan for |
| 3733 | compliance. |
| 3734 | 2. If a state university is not in compliance with Title |
| 3735 | IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Florida |
| 3736 | Educational Equity Act, the Board of Governors shall: |
| 3737 | a. Declare the state university ineligible for competitive |
| 3738 | state grants. |
| 3739 | b. Withhold funds sufficient to obtain compliance. |
| 3740 |
|
| 3741 | The state university shall remain ineligible and the funds shall |
| 3742 | not be paid until the state university comes into compliance or |
| 3743 | the Board of Governors approves a plan for compliance. |
| 3744 | (2) FUNDING.- |
| 3745 | (b) The level of funding and percentage share of support |
| 3746 | for women's intercollegiate athletics for Florida College System |
| 3747 | institutions community colleges shall be determined by the State |
| 3748 | Board of Education. The level of funding and percentage share of |
| 3749 | support for women's intercollegiate athletics for state |
| 3750 | universities shall be determined by the Board of Governors. The |
| 3751 | level of funding and percentage share attained in the 1980-1981 |
| 3752 | fiscal year shall be the minimum level and percentage maintained |
| 3753 | by each institution, except as the State Board of Education or |
| 3754 | the Board of Governors otherwise directs its respective |
| 3755 | institutions for the purpose of assuring equity. Consideration |
| 3756 | shall be given by the State Board of Education or the Board of |
| 3757 | Governors to emerging athletic programs at institutions which |
| 3758 | may not have the resources to secure external funds to provide |
| 3759 | athletic opportunities for women. It is the intent that the |
| 3760 | effect of any redistribution of funds among institutions shall |
| 3761 | not negate the requirements as set forth in this section. |
| 3762 | (3) STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.-The State Board of Education |
| 3763 | shall assure equal opportunity for female athletes at Florida |
| 3764 | College System institutions community colleges and establish: |
| 3765 | (a) Guidelines for reporting of intercollegiate athletics |
| 3766 | data concerning financial, program, and facilities information |
| 3767 | for review by the State Board of Education annually. |
| 3768 | (b) Systematic audits for the evaluation of such data. |
| 3769 | (c) Criteria for determining and assuring equity. |
| 3770 | Section 87. Section 1006.72, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 3771 | to read: |
| 3772 | 1006.72 Licensing electronic library resources.- |
| 3773 | (1) FINDINGS.-The Legislature finds that the most cost- |
| 3774 | efficient and cost-effective means of licensing electronic |
| 3775 | library resources requires that Florida College System |
| 3776 | institutions colleges and state universities collaborate with |
| 3777 | school districts and public libraries in the identification and |
| 3778 | acquisition of such resources needed by more than one sector. |
| 3779 | (2) PROCESS TO IDENTIFY RESOURCES.-Library staff from |
| 3780 | Florida College System institutions colleges, state |
| 3781 | universities, school districts, and public libraries shall |
| 3782 | implement a process that annually identifies the electronic |
| 3783 | library resources for each of the core categories established in |
| 3784 | this section. To the extent possible, the Florida Center for |
| 3785 | Library Automation, the College Center for Library Automation, |
| 3786 | and the Division of Library and Information Services within the |
| 3787 | Department of State shall jointly coordinate this annual |
| 3788 | process. |
| 3789 | (3) STATEWIDE CORE RESOURCES.-For purposes of licensing |
| 3790 | electronic library resources of the Florida Electronic Library, |
| 3791 | library representatives from public libraries, school districts, |
| 3792 | Florida College System institutions colleges, and state |
| 3793 | universities shall identify the statewide core resources that |
| 3794 | will be available to all students, teachers, and citizens of the |
| 3795 | state. |
| 3796 | (4) POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION CORE RESOURCES.-For purposes |
| 3797 | of licensing electronic library resources required by both the |
| 3798 | Florida Center for Library Automation and the College Center for |
| 3799 | Library Automation from funds appropriated to the centers, |
| 3800 | Florida College System institution and state university library |
| 3801 | staff shall identify the postsecondary education core resources |
| 3802 | that will be available to all public postsecondary education |
| 3803 | students. |
| 3804 | (5) FOUR-YEAR DEGREE CORE RESOURCES.-For purposes of |
| 3805 | licensing electronic library resources beyond the postsecondary |
| 3806 | education core resources by the Florida Center for Library |
| 3807 | Automation from funds appropriated to the center, state |
| 3808 | university library staff, in consultation with Florida College |
| 3809 | System institution library staff, shall identify the 4-year |
| 3810 | degree core resources that will be available to all 4-year |
| 3811 | degree-seeking students in the State University System and the |
| 3812 | Florida College System. The Florida Center for Library |
| 3813 | Automation shall include in the negotiated pricing model any |
| 3814 | Florida College System institution interested in licensing a |
| 3815 | resource. |
| 3816 | (6) TWO-YEAR DEGREE CORE RESOURCES.-For purposes of |
| 3817 | licensing electronic library resources beyond the postsecondary |
| 3818 | education core resources by the College Center for Library |
| 3819 | Automation from funds appropriated to the center, Florida |
| 3820 | College System institution library staff shall identify the 2- |
| 3821 | year degree core resources that will be available to all Florida |
| 3822 | College System institution students. The College Center for |
| 3823 | Library Automation shall include in the negotiated pricing model |
| 3824 | any state university interested in licensing a resource. |
| 3825 | Section 88. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section |
| 3826 | 1007.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 3827 | 1007.21 Readiness for postsecondary education and the |
| 3828 | workplace.- |
| 3829 | (2)(a) Students entering the 9th grade and their parents |
| 3830 | shall have developed during the middle grades a 4- to 5-year |
| 3831 | academic and career plan based on postsecondary and career |
| 3832 | goals. Alternate career and academic destinations should be |
| 3833 | considered with bridges between destinations to enable students |
| 3834 | to shift academic and career priorities if they choose to change |
| 3835 | goals. The destinations shall accommodate the needs of students |
| 3836 | served in exceptional education programs to the extent |
| 3837 | appropriate for individual students. Exceptional education |
| 3838 | students may continue to follow the courses outlined in the |
| 3839 | district school board student progression plan. Students and |
| 3840 | their parents shall choose among destinations, which must |
| 3841 | include: |
| 3842 | 1. Four-year college or university, Florida College System |
| 3843 | institution community college plus university, or military |
| 3844 | academy degree. |
| 3845 | 2. Two-year postsecondary degree. |
| 3846 | 3. Postsecondary career certificate. |
| 3847 | 4. Immediate employment or entry-level military. |
| 3848 | 5. A combination of the above. |
| 3849 | Section 89. Subsection (1) of section 1007.22, Florida |
| 3850 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 3851 | 1007.22 Articulation; postsecondary institution |
| 3852 | coordination and collaboration.- |
| 3853 | (1) The university boards of trustees, Florida College |
| 3854 | System institution community college boards of trustees, and |
| 3855 | district school boards are encouraged to establish |
| 3856 | intrainstitutional and interinstitutional programs to maximize |
| 3857 | articulation. Programs may include upper-division-level courses |
| 3858 | offered at the Florida College System institution community |
| 3859 | college, distance learning, transfer agreements that facilitate |
| 3860 | the transfer of credits between public and nonpublic |
| 3861 | postsecondary institutions, and the concurrent enrollment of |
| 3862 | students at a Florida College System institution community |
| 3863 | college and a state university to enable students to take any |
| 3864 | level of baccalaureate degree coursework. |
| 3865 | Section 90. Paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of subsection (1) |
| 3866 | and subsections (2) and (3) of section 1007.23, Florida |
| 3867 | Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 3868 | 1007.23 Statewide articulation agreement.- |
| 3869 | (1) The State Board of Education and the Board of |
| 3870 | Governors shall enter into a statewide articulation agreement |
| 3871 | which the State Board of Education shall adopt by rule. The |
| 3872 | agreement must preserve Florida's "2+2" system of articulation, |
| 3873 | facilitate the seamless articulation of student credit across |
| 3874 | and among Florida's educational entities, and reinforce the |
| 3875 | provisions of this chapter by governing: |
| 3876 | (b) Admission of associate in arts degree graduates from |
| 3877 | Florida College System institutions community colleges and state |
| 3878 | universities; |
| 3879 | (c) Admission of applied technology diploma program |
| 3880 | graduates from Florida College System institutions community |
| 3881 | colleges or career centers; |
| 3882 | (d) Admission of associate in science degree and associate |
| 3883 | in applied science degree graduates from Florida College System |
| 3884 | institutions community colleges; |
| 3885 | (2)(a) The articulation agreement must specifically |
| 3886 | provide that every associate in arts graduate of a Florida |
| 3887 | College System institution shall have met all general education |
| 3888 | requirements and must be granted admission to the upper division |
| 3889 | of a: |
| 3890 | 1. State university, except for a limited access or |
| 3891 | teacher certification program or a major program requiring an |
| 3892 | audition. |
| 3893 | 2. Florida College System institution if it offers |
| 3894 | baccalaureate degree programs, except for a limited access or |
| 3895 | teacher certification program or a major program requiring an |
| 3896 | audition. |
| 3897 | (b) Florida College System institution associate in arts |
| 3898 | graduates shall receive priority for admission to the upper |
| 3899 | division of a Florida College System institution or to a state |
| 3900 | university over out-of-state students. Orientation programs, |
| 3901 | catalogs, and student handbooks provided to freshman enrollees |
| 3902 | and transfer students at Florida College System institutions |
| 3903 | colleges and state universities must include an explanation of |
| 3904 | this provision of the articulation agreement. |
| 3905 | (3) The articulation agreement must guarantee the |
| 3906 | statewide articulation of appropriate workforce development |
| 3907 | programs and courses between school districts and Florida |
| 3908 | College System institutions community colleges and specifically |
| 3909 | provide that every applied technology diploma graduate must be |
| 3910 | granted the same amount of credit upon admission to an associate |
| 3911 | in science degree or associate in applied science degree program |
| 3912 | unless it is a limited access program. Preference for admission |
| 3913 | must be given to graduates who are residents of Florida. |
| 3914 | Section 91. Subsection (1), paragraphs (b) and (c) of |
| 3915 | subsection (2), and subsections (3), (6), and (7) of section |
| 3916 | 1007.235, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 3917 | 1007.235 District interinstitutional articulation |
| 3918 | agreements.- |
| 3919 | (1) District school superintendents and Florida College |
| 3920 | System institution community college presidents shall jointly |
| 3921 | develop and implement a comprehensive articulated acceleration |
| 3922 | program for the students enrolled in their respective school |
| 3923 | districts and service areas. Within this general responsibility, |
| 3924 | each superintendent and president shall develop a comprehensive |
| 3925 | interinstitutional articulation agreement for the school |
| 3926 | district and Florida College System institution community |
| 3927 | college that serves the school district. The district school |
| 3928 | superintendent and president shall establish an articulation |
| 3929 | committee for the purpose of developing this agreement. Each |
| 3930 | state university president is encouraged to designate a |
| 3931 | university representative to participate in the development of |
| 3932 | the interinstitutional articulation agreements for each school |
| 3933 | district within the university service area. |
| 3934 | (2) The district interinstitutional articulation agreement |
| 3935 | for each school year must be completed before high school |
| 3936 | registration for the fall term of the following school year. The |
| 3937 | agreement must include, but is not limited to, the following |
| 3938 | components: |
| 3939 | (b)1. A delineation of courses and programs available to |
| 3940 | students eligible to participate in dual enrollment. This |
| 3941 | delineation must include a plan for the Florida College System |
| 3942 | institution community college to provide guidance services to |
| 3943 | participating students on the selection of courses in the dual |
| 3944 | enrollment program. The process of Florida College System |
| 3945 | institution community college guidance should make maximum use |
| 3946 | of the automated advisement system for Florida College System |
| 3947 | institutions community colleges. The plan must assure that each |
| 3948 | dual enrollment student is encouraged to identify a |
| 3949 | postsecondary education objective with which to guide the course |
| 3950 | selection. At a minimum, each student's plan should include a |
| 3951 | list of courses that will result in an Applied Technology |
| 3952 | Diploma, an Associate in Science degree, or an Associate in Arts |
| 3953 | degree. If the student identifies a baccalaureate degree as the |
| 3954 | objective, the plan must include courses that will meet the |
| 3955 | general education requirements and any prerequisite requirements |
| 3956 | for entrance into a selected baccalaureate degree program. |
| 3957 | 2. A delineation of the process by which students and |
| 3958 | their parents are informed about opportunities to participate in |
| 3959 | articulated acceleration programs. |
| 3960 | 3. A delineation of the process by which students and |
| 3961 | their parents exercise their option to participate in an |
| 3962 | articulated acceleration program. |
| 3963 | 4. A delineation of high school credits earned for |
| 3964 | completion of each dual enrollment course. |
| 3965 | 5. Provision for postsecondary courses that meet the |
| 3966 | criteria for inclusion in a district articulated acceleration |
| 3967 | program to be counted toward meeting the graduation requirements |
| 3968 | of s. 1003.43. |
| 3969 | 6. An identification of eligibility criteria for student |
| 3970 | participation in dual enrollment courses and programs. |
| 3971 | 7. A delineation of institutional responsibilities |
| 3972 | regarding student screening prior to enrollment and monitoring |
| 3973 | student performance subsequent to enrollment in dual enrollment |
| 3974 | courses and programs. |
| 3975 | 8. An identification of the criteria by which the quality |
| 3976 | of dual enrollment courses and programs are to be judged and a |
| 3977 | delineation of institutional responsibilities for the |
| 3978 | maintenance of instructional quality. |
| 3979 | 9. A delineation of institutional responsibilities for |
| 3980 | assuming the cost of dual enrollment courses and programs that |
| 3981 | includes such responsibilities for student instructional |
| 3982 | materials. |
| 3983 | 10. An identification of responsibility for providing |
| 3984 | student transportation if the dual enrollment instruction is |
| 3985 | conducted at a facility other than the high school campus. |
| 3986 | 11. A delineation of the process for converting college |
| 3987 | credit hours earned through dual enrollment and early admission |
| 3988 | programs to high school credit based on mastery of course |
| 3989 | outcomes as determined by the Department of Education in |
| 3990 | accordance with s. 1007.271(6). |
| 3991 | 12. An identification of the responsibility of the |
| 3992 | postsecondary educational institution for assigning letter |
| 3993 | grades for dual enrollment courses and the responsibility of |
| 3994 | school districts for posting dual enrollment course grades to |
| 3995 | the high school transcript as assigned by the postsecondary |
| 3996 | institution awarding the credit. |
| 3997 | (c) Mechanisms and strategies for reducing the incidence |
| 3998 | of postsecondary remediation in math, reading, and writing for |
| 3999 | first-time-enrolled recent high school graduates, based upon the |
| 4000 | findings in the postsecondary readiness-for-college report |
| 4001 | produced pursuant to s. 1008.37. Each articulation committee |
| 4002 | shall annually analyze and assess the effectiveness of the |
| 4003 | mechanisms toward meeting the goal of reducing postsecondary |
| 4004 | remediation needs. Results of the assessment shall be annually |
| 4005 | presented to participating district school boards and Florida |
| 4006 | College System institution community college boards of trustees |
| 4007 | and shall include, but not be limited to: |
| 4008 | 1. Mechanisms currently being initiated. |
| 4009 | 2. An analysis of problems and corrective actions. |
| 4010 | 3. Anticipated outcomes. |
| 4011 | 4. Strategies for the better preparation of students upon |
| 4012 | graduation from high school. |
| 4013 | 5. An analysis of costs associated with the implementation |
| 4014 | of postsecondary remedial education and secondary-level |
| 4015 | corrective actions. |
| 4016 | 6. The identification of strategies for reducing costs of |
| 4017 | the delivery of postsecondary remediation for recent high school |
| 4018 | graduates, including the consideration and assessment of |
| 4019 | alternative instructional methods and services such as those |
| 4020 | produced by private providers. |
| 4021 |
|
| 4022 | Wherever possible, public schools and Florida College System |
| 4023 | institutions community colleges are encouraged to share |
| 4024 | resources, form partnerships with private industries, and |
| 4025 | implement innovative strategies and mechanisms such as distance |
| 4026 | learning, summer student and faculty workshops, parental |
| 4027 | involvement activities, and the distribution of information over |
| 4028 | the Internet. |
| 4029 | (3) The district interinstitutional articulation agreement |
| 4030 | shall include a plan that outlines the mechanisms and strategies |
| 4031 | for improving the preparation of elementary, middle, and high |
| 4032 | school teachers. Effective collaboration among school districts, |
| 4033 | postsecondary institutions, and practicing educators is |
| 4034 | essential to improving teaching in Florida's elementary and |
| 4035 | secondary schools and consequently, the retention and success of |
| 4036 | students through high school graduation and into postsecondary |
| 4037 | education. Professional development programs shall be developed |
| 4038 | cooperatively and include curricular content which focuses upon |
| 4039 | local and state needs and responds to state, national, and |
| 4040 | district policy and program priorities. School districts and |
| 4041 | Florida College System institutions community colleges are |
| 4042 | encouraged to develop plans which utilize new technologies, |
| 4043 | address critical needs in their implementation, and include both |
| 4044 | preservice and inservice initiatives. |
| 4045 | (6) District school boards and Florida College System |
| 4046 | institutions community colleges may enter into additional |
| 4047 | interinstitutional articulation agreements with state |
| 4048 | universities for the purposes of this section. School districts |
| 4049 | may also enter into interinstitutional articulation agreements |
| 4050 | with eligible independent colleges and universities pursuant to |
| 4051 | s. 1011.62(1)(i). |
| 4052 | (7) State universities and Florida College System |
| 4053 | institutions community colleges may enter into |
| 4054 | interinstitutional articulation agreements with nonpublic |
| 4055 | secondary schools pursuant to s. 1007.271(2). |
| 4056 | Section 92. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) and subsection |
| 4057 | (5) of section 1007.24, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 4058 | 1007.24 Statewide course numbering system.- |
| 4059 | (2) The Commissioner of Education, in conjunction with the |
| 4060 | Chancellor of the State University System, shall appoint faculty |
| 4061 | committees representing faculties of participating institutions |
| 4062 | to recommend a single level for each course, including |
| 4063 | postsecondary career education courses, included in the |
| 4064 | statewide course numbering system. |
| 4065 | (c) A course designated as lower-division may be offered |
| 4066 | by any Florida College System institution community college. |
| 4067 | (5) The registration process at each state university and |
| 4068 | Florida College System institution community college shall |
| 4069 | include the courses at their designated levels and statewide |
| 4070 | course number. |
| 4071 | Section 93. Subsections (2), (5), (6), (8), (9), and (11) |
| 4072 | of section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 4073 | 1007.25 General education courses; common prerequisites; |
| 4074 | and other degree requirements.- |
| 4075 | (2) The department shall identify postsecondary career |
| 4076 | education programs offered by Florida College System |
| 4077 | institutions community colleges and district school boards. The |
| 4078 | department shall also identify career courses designated as |
| 4079 | college credit courses applicable toward a career education |
| 4080 | diploma or degree. Such courses must be identified within the |
| 4081 | statewide course numbering system. |
| 4082 | (5) The department shall identify common prerequisite |
| 4083 | courses and course substitutions for degree programs across all |
| 4084 | institutions. Common degree program prerequisites shall be |
| 4085 | offered and accepted by all state universities and Florida |
| 4086 | College System institutions community colleges, except in cases |
| 4087 | approved by the State Board of Education for Florida College |
| 4088 | System institutions community colleges and the Board of |
| 4089 | Governors for state universities. The department shall develop a |
| 4090 | centralized database containing the list of courses and course |
| 4091 | substitutions that meet the prerequisite requirements for each |
| 4092 | baccalaureate degree program. |
| 4093 | (6) The boards of trustees of the Florida College System |
| 4094 | institutions community colleges shall identify their core |
| 4095 | curricula, which shall include courses required by the State |
| 4096 | Board of Education. The boards of trustees of the state |
| 4097 | universities shall identify their core curricula, which shall |
| 4098 | include courses required by the Board of Governors. The |
| 4099 | universities and Florida College System institutions community |
| 4100 | colleges shall work with their school districts to assure that |
| 4101 | high school curricula coordinate with the core curricula and to |
| 4102 | prepare students for college-level work. Core curricula for |
| 4103 | associate in arts programs shall be adopted in rule by the State |
| 4104 | Board of Education and shall include 36 semester hours of |
| 4105 | general education courses in the subject areas of communication, |
| 4106 | mathematics, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences. |
| 4107 | (8) A baccalaureate degree program shall require no more |
| 4108 | than 120 semester hours of college credit, including 36 semester |
| 4109 | hours of general education coursework, unless prior approval has |
| 4110 | been granted by the Board of Governors for baccalaureate degree |
| 4111 | programs offered by state universities and by the State Board of |
| 4112 | Education for baccalaureate degree programs offered by Florida |
| 4113 | College System institutions community colleges. |
| 4114 | (9) A student who received an associate in arts degree for |
| 4115 | successfully completing 60 semester credit hours may continue to |
| 4116 | earn additional credits at a Florida College System institution |
| 4117 | community college. The university must provide credit toward the |
| 4118 | student's baccalaureate degree for an additional Florida College |
| 4119 | System institution community college course if, according to the |
| 4120 | statewide course numbering, the Florida College System |
| 4121 | institution community college course is a course listed in the |
| 4122 | university catalog as required for the degree or as prerequisite |
| 4123 | to a course required for the degree. Of the courses required for |
| 4124 | the degree, at least half of the credit hours required for the |
| 4125 | degree shall be achievable through courses designated as lower |
| 4126 | division, except in degree programs approved by the State Board |
| 4127 | of Education for programs offered by Florida College System |
| 4128 | institutions community colleges and by the Board of Governors |
| 4129 | for programs offered by state universities. |
| 4130 | (11) The Commissioner of Education shall appoint faculty |
| 4131 | committees representing both Florida College System institution |
| 4132 | community college and public school faculties to recommend to |
| 4133 | the commissioner for approval by the State Board of Education a |
| 4134 | standard program length and appropriate occupational completion |
| 4135 | points for each postsecondary career certificate program, |
| 4136 | diploma, and degree offered by a school district or a Florida |
| 4137 | College System institution community college. |
| 4138 | Section 94. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section |
| 4139 | 1007.2615, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 4140 | 1007.2615 American Sign Language; findings; foreign- |
| 4141 | language credits authorized; teacher licensing.- |
| 4142 | (3) DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION AND STATE BOARD OF |
| 4143 | EDUCATION; LICENSING OF AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE TEACHERS; PLAN |
| 4144 | FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION PROVIDERS.- |
| 4145 | (a) The Commissioner of Education shall appoint a seven- |
| 4146 | member task force that includes representatives from two state |
| 4147 | universities and one private college or university located |
| 4148 | within this state which currently offer a 4-year deaf education |
| 4149 | or sign language interpretation program as a part of their |
| 4150 | respective curricula, two representatives from the Florida |
| 4151 | American Sign Language Teachers' Association (FASLTA), and two |
| 4152 | representatives from Florida College System institutions |
| 4153 | community colleges located within this state which have |
| 4154 | established Interpreter Training Programs (ITPs). This task |
| 4155 | force shall develop and submit to the Commissioner of Education |
| 4156 | a report that contains the most up-to-date information about |
| 4157 | American Sign Language (ASL) and guidelines for developing and |
| 4158 | maintaining ASL courses as a part of the curriculum. This |
| 4159 | information must be made available to any administrator of a |
| 4160 | public or an independent school upon request of the |
| 4161 | administrator. |
| 4162 | Section 95. Section 1007.262, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 4163 | to read: |
| 4164 | 1007.262 Foreign language competence; equivalence |
| 4165 | determinations.-The Department of Education shall identify the |
| 4166 | competencies demonstrated by students upon the successful |
| 4167 | completion of 2 credits of sequential high school foreign |
| 4168 | language instruction. For the purpose of determining |
| 4169 | postsecondary equivalence, the department shall develop rules |
| 4170 | through which Florida College System institutions community |
| 4171 | colleges correlate such competencies to the competencies |
| 4172 | required of students in the colleges' respective courses. Based |
| 4173 | on this correlation, each Florida College System institution |
| 4174 | community college shall identify the minimum number of |
| 4175 | postsecondary credits that students must earn in order to |
| 4176 | demonstrate a level of competence in a foreign language at least |
| 4177 | equivalent to that of students who have completed 2 credits of |
| 4178 | such instruction in high school. The department may also specify |
| 4179 | alternative means by which students can demonstrate equivalent |
| 4180 | foreign language competence, including means by which a student |
| 4181 | whose native language is not English may demonstrate proficiency |
| 4182 | in the native language. A student who demonstrates proficiency |
| 4183 | in a native language other than English is exempt from a |
| 4184 | requirement of completing foreign language courses at the |
| 4185 | secondary or Florida College System community college level. |
| 4186 | Section 96. Section 1007.263, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 4187 | to read: |
| 4188 | 1007.263 Florida College System institutions Community |
| 4189 | colleges; admissions of students.-Each Florida College System |
| 4190 | institution community college board of trustees is authorized to |
| 4191 | adopt rules governing admissions of students subject to this |
| 4192 | section and rules of the State Board of Education. These rules |
| 4193 | shall include the following: |
| 4194 | (1) Admissions counseling shall be provided to all |
| 4195 | students entering college or career credit programs. Counseling |
| 4196 | shall utilize tests to measure achievement of college-level |
| 4197 | communication and computation competencies by all students |
| 4198 | entering college credit programs or tests to measure achievement |
| 4199 | of basic skills for career programs as prescribed in s. 1004.91. |
| 4200 | (2) Admission to associate degree programs is subject to |
| 4201 | minimum standards adopted by the State Board of Education and |
| 4202 | shall require: |
| 4203 | (a) A standard high school diploma, a high school |
| 4204 | equivalency diploma as prescribed in s. 1003.435, previously |
| 4205 | demonstrated competency in college credit postsecondary |
| 4206 | coursework, or, in the case of a student who is home educated, a |
| 4207 | signed affidavit submitted by the student's parent or legal |
| 4208 | guardian attesting that the student has completed a home |
| 4209 | education program pursuant to the requirements of s. 1002.41. |
| 4210 | Students who are enrolled in a dual enrollment or early |
| 4211 | admission program pursuant to ss. 1007.27 and 1007.271 and |
| 4212 | secondary students enrolled in college-level instruction |
| 4213 | creditable toward the associate degree, but not toward the high |
| 4214 | school diploma, shall be exempt from this requirement. |
| 4215 | (b) A demonstrated level of achievement of college-level |
| 4216 | communication and computation skills. |
| 4217 | (c) Any other requirements established by the board of |
| 4218 | trustees. |
| 4219 | (3) Admission to other programs within the Florida College |
| 4220 | System institution community college shall include education |
| 4221 | requirements as established by the board of trustees. |
| 4222 | (4) A student who has been awarded a special diploma as |
| 4223 | defined in s. 1003.438 or a certificate of completion as defined |
| 4224 | in s. 1003.43(10) is eligible to enroll in certificate career |
| 4225 | education programs. |
| 4226 | (5) A student with a documented disability may be eligible |
| 4227 | for reasonable substitutions, as prescribed in ss. 1007.264 and |
| 4228 | 1007.265. |
| 4229 |
|
| 4230 | Each board of trustees shall establish policies that notify |
| 4231 | students about, and place students into, adult basic education, |
| 4232 | adult secondary education, or other instructional programs that |
| 4233 | provide students with alternatives to traditional college- |
| 4234 | preparatory instruction, including private provider instruction. |
| 4235 | A student is prohibited from enrolling in additional college- |
| 4236 | level courses until the student scores above the cut-score on |
| 4237 | all sections of the common placement test. |
| 4238 | Section 97. Subsection (2) of section 1007.264, Florida |
| 4239 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 4240 | 1007.264 Persons with disabilities; admission to |
| 4241 | postsecondary educational institutions; substitute requirements; |
| 4242 | rules and regulations.- |
| 4243 | (2) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the |
| 4244 | Board of Governors, shall adopt rules to implement this section |
| 4245 | for Florida College System institutions community colleges and |
| 4246 | shall develop substitute admission requirements where |
| 4247 | appropriate. |
| 4248 | Section 98. Subsection (2) of section 1007.265, Florida |
| 4249 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 4250 | 1007.265 Persons with disabilities; graduation, study |
| 4251 | program admission, and upper-division entry; substitute |
| 4252 | requirements; rules and regulations.- |
| 4253 | (2) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the |
| 4254 | Board of Governors, shall adopt rules to implement this section |
| 4255 | for Florida College System institutions community colleges and |
| 4256 | shall develop substitute requirements where appropriate. |
| 4257 | Section 99. Subsections (1), (2), (3), (7), (8), and (9) |
| 4258 | of section 1007.27, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 4259 | 1007.27 Articulated acceleration mechanisms.- |
| 4260 | (1) It is the intent of the Legislature that a variety of |
| 4261 | articulated acceleration mechanisms be available for secondary |
| 4262 | and postsecondary students attending public educational |
| 4263 | institutions. It is intended that articulated acceleration serve |
| 4264 | to shorten the time necessary for a student to complete the |
| 4265 | requirements associated with the conference of a high school |
| 4266 | diploma and a postsecondary degree, broaden the scope of |
| 4267 | curricular options available to students, or increase the depth |
| 4268 | of study available for a particular subject. Articulated |
| 4269 | acceleration mechanisms shall include, but not be limited to, |
| 4270 | dual enrollment as provided for in s. 1007.271, early admission, |
| 4271 | advanced placement, credit by examination, the International |
| 4272 | Baccalaureate Program, and the Advanced International |
| 4273 | Certificate of Education Program. Credit earned through the |
| 4274 | Florida Virtual School shall provide additional opportunities |
| 4275 | for early graduation and acceleration. Students of Florida |
| 4276 | public secondary schools enrolled pursuant to this subsection |
| 4277 | shall be deemed authorized users of the state-funded electronic |
| 4278 | library resources that are licensed for Florida College System |
| 4279 | institutions colleges and state universities by the Florida |
| 4280 | Center for Library Automation and the College Center for Library |
| 4281 | Automation. Verification of eligibility shall be in accordance |
| 4282 | with rules established by the State Board of Education and |
| 4283 | regulations established by the Board of Governors and processes |
| 4284 | implemented by Florida College System institutions colleges and |
| 4285 | state universities. |
| 4286 | (2) The Department of Education shall identify the minimum |
| 4287 | scores, maximum credit, and course or courses for which credit |
| 4288 | is to be awarded for each College Level Examination Program |
| 4289 | (CLEP) general examination, CLEP subject examination, College |
| 4290 | Board Advanced Placement Program examination, and International |
| 4291 | Baccalaureate examination. In addition, the department shall |
| 4292 | identify such courses in the general education core curriculum |
| 4293 | of each state university and Florida College System institution |
| 4294 | community college. |
| 4295 | (3) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 4296 | college and state university must award credit for specific |
| 4297 | courses for which competency has been demonstrated by successful |
| 4298 | passage of one of the examinations in subsection (2) unless the |
| 4299 | award of credit duplicates credit already awarded. Florida |
| 4300 | College System institutions Community colleges and state |
| 4301 | universities may not exempt students from courses without the |
| 4302 | award of credit if competencies have been so demonstrated. |
| 4303 | (7) Credit by examination shall be the program through |
| 4304 | which secondary and postsecondary students generate |
| 4305 | postsecondary credit based on the receipt of a specified minimum |
| 4306 | score on nationally standardized general or subject-area |
| 4307 | examinations. For the purpose of statewide application, such |
| 4308 | examinations and the corresponding minimum scores required for |
| 4309 | an award of credit shall be delineated by the State Board of |
| 4310 | Education and the Board of Governors in the statewide |
| 4311 | articulation agreement required by s. 1007.23(1). The maximum |
| 4312 | credit generated by a student pursuant to this subsection shall |
| 4313 | be mitigated by any related postsecondary credit earned by the |
| 4314 | student prior to the administration of the examination. This |
| 4315 | subsection shall not preclude Florida College System |
| 4316 | institutions community colleges and universities from awarding |
| 4317 | credit by examination based on student performance on |
| 4318 | examinations developed within and recognized by the individual |
| 4319 | postsecondary institutions. |
| 4320 | (8) The International Baccalaureate Program shall be the |
| 4321 | curriculum in which eligible secondary students are enrolled in |
| 4322 | a program of studies offered through the International |
| 4323 | Baccalaureate Program administered by the International |
| 4324 | Baccalaureate Office. The State Board of Education and the Board |
| 4325 | of Governors shall specify in the statewide articulation |
| 4326 | agreement required by s. 1007.23(1) the cutoff scores and |
| 4327 | International Baccalaureate Examinations which will be used to |
| 4328 | grant postsecondary credit at Florida College System |
| 4329 | institutions community colleges and universities. Any changes to |
| 4330 | the articulation agreement, which have the effect of raising the |
| 4331 | required cutoff score or of changing the International |
| 4332 | Baccalaureate Examinations which will be used to grant |
| 4333 | postsecondary credit, shall only apply to students taking |
| 4334 | International Baccalaureate Examinations after such changes are |
| 4335 | adopted by the State Board of Education and the Board of |
| 4336 | Governors. Students shall be awarded a maximum of 30 semester |
| 4337 | credit hours pursuant to this subsection. The specific course |
| 4338 | for which a student may receive such credit shall be specified |
| 4339 | in the statewide articulation agreement required by s. |
| 4340 | 1007.23(1). Students enrolled pursuant to this subsection shall |
| 4341 | be exempt from the payment of any fees for administration of the |
| 4342 | examinations regardless of whether or not the student achieves a |
| 4343 | passing score on the examination. |
| 4344 | (9) The Advanced International Certificate of Education |
| 4345 | Program and the International General Certificate of Secondary |
| 4346 | Education (pre-AICE) Program shall be the curricula in which |
| 4347 | eligible secondary students are enrolled in programs of study |
| 4348 | offered through the Advanced International Certificate of |
| 4349 | Education Program or the International General Certificate of |
| 4350 | Secondary Education (pre-AICE) Program administered by the |
| 4351 | University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate. The State |
| 4352 | Board of Education and the Board of Governors shall specify in |
| 4353 | the statewide articulation agreement required by s. 1007.23(1) |
| 4354 | the cutoff scores and Advanced International Certificate of |
| 4355 | Education examinations which will be used to grant postsecondary |
| 4356 | credit at Florida College System institutions community colleges |
| 4357 | and universities. Any changes to the cutoff scores, which |
| 4358 | changes have the effect of raising the required cutoff score or |
| 4359 | of changing the Advanced International Certification of |
| 4360 | Education examinations which will be used to grant postsecondary |
| 4361 | credit, shall apply to students taking Advanced International |
| 4362 | Certificate of Education examinations after such changes are |
| 4363 | adopted by the State Board of Education and the Board of |
| 4364 | Governors. Students shall be awarded a maximum of 30 semester |
| 4365 | credit hours pursuant to this subsection. The specific course |
| 4366 | for which a student may receive such credit shall be determined |
| 4367 | by the Florida College System institution community college or |
| 4368 | university that accepts the student for admission. Students |
| 4369 | enrolled in either program of study pursuant to this subsection |
| 4370 | shall be exempt from the payment of any fees for administration |
| 4371 | of the examinations regardless of whether the student achieves a |
| 4372 | passing score on the examination. |
| 4373 | Section 100. Subsections (3), (4), (6), and (8), paragraph |
| 4374 | (b) of subsection (10), and subsections (14), (15), and (16) of |
| 4375 | section 1007.271, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 4376 | 1007.271 Dual enrollment programs.- |
| 4377 | (3) The Department of Education shall adopt guidelines |
| 4378 | designed to achieve comparability across school districts of |
| 4379 | both student qualifications and teacher qualifications for dual |
| 4380 | enrollment courses. Student qualifications must demonstrate |
| 4381 | readiness for college-level coursework if the student is to be |
| 4382 | enrolled in college courses. Student qualifications must |
| 4383 | demonstrate readiness for career-level coursework if the student |
| 4384 | is to be enrolled in career courses. In addition to the common |
| 4385 | placement examination, student qualifications for enrollment in |
| 4386 | college credit dual enrollment courses must include a 3.0 |
| 4387 | unweighted grade point average, and student qualifications for |
| 4388 | enrollment in career certificate dual enrollment courses must |
| 4389 | include a 2.0 unweighted grade point average. Exceptions to the |
| 4390 | required grade point averages may be granted if the educational |
| 4391 | entities agree and the terms of the agreement are contained |
| 4392 | within the dual enrollment interinstitutional articulation |
| 4393 | agreement. Florida College System institution Community college |
| 4394 | boards of trustees may establish additional admissions criteria, |
| 4395 | which shall be included in the district interinstitutional |
| 4396 | articulation agreement developed according to s. 1007.235, to |
| 4397 | ensure student readiness for postsecondary instruction. |
| 4398 | Additional requirements included in the agreement shall not |
| 4399 | arbitrarily prohibit students who have demonstrated the ability |
| 4400 | to master advanced courses from participating in dual enrollment |
| 4401 | courses. District school boards may not refuse to enter into an |
| 4402 | agreement with a local Florida College System institution |
| 4403 | community college if that Florida College System institution |
| 4404 | community college has the capacity to offer dual enrollment |
| 4405 | courses. |
| 4406 | (4) Career dual enrollment shall be provided as a |
| 4407 | curricular option for secondary students to pursue in order to |
| 4408 | earn a series of elective credits toward the high school |
| 4409 | diploma. Career dual enrollment shall be available for secondary |
| 4410 | students seeking a degree or certificate from a complete career- |
| 4411 | preparatory program, and shall not be used to enroll students in |
| 4412 | isolated career courses. It is the intent of the Legislature |
| 4413 | that career dual enrollment provide a comprehensive academic and |
| 4414 | career dual enrollment program within the career center or |
| 4415 | Florida College System institution community college. |
| 4416 | (6) The Commissioner of Education shall appoint faculty |
| 4417 | committees representing public school, Florida College System |
| 4418 | institution community college, and university faculties to |
| 4419 | identify postsecondary courses that meet the high school |
| 4420 | graduation requirements of s. 1003.43, and to establish the |
| 4421 | number of postsecondary semester credit hours of instruction and |
| 4422 | equivalent high school credits earned through dual enrollment |
| 4423 | pursuant to this section that are necessary to meet high school |
| 4424 | graduation requirements. Such equivalencies shall be determined |
| 4425 | solely on comparable course content and not on seat time |
| 4426 | traditionally allocated to such courses in high school. The |
| 4427 | Commissioner of Education shall recommend to the State Board of |
| 4428 | Education those postsecondary courses identified to meet high |
| 4429 | school graduation requirements, based on mastery of course |
| 4430 | outcomes, by their course numbers, and all high schools shall |
| 4431 | accept these postsecondary education courses toward meeting the |
| 4432 | requirements of s. 1003.43. |
| 4433 | (8) Career early admission is a form of career dual |
| 4434 | enrollment through which eligible secondary students enroll full |
| 4435 | time in a career center or a Florida College System institution |
| 4436 | community college in courses that are creditable toward the high |
| 4437 | school diploma and the certificate or associate degree. |
| 4438 | Participation in the career early admission program shall be |
| 4439 | limited to students who have completed a minimum of 6 semesters |
| 4440 | of full-time secondary enrollment, including studies undertaken |
| 4441 | in the ninth grade. Students enrolled pursuant to this section |
| 4442 | are exempt from the payment of registration, tuition, and |
| 4443 | laboratory fees. |
| 4444 | (10) |
| 4445 | (b) Each career center, Florida College System institution |
| 4446 | community college, and state university shall: |
| 4447 | 1. Delineate courses and programs for dually enrolled home |
| 4448 | education students. Courses and programs may be added, revised, |
| 4449 | or deleted at any time. |
| 4450 | 2. Identify eligibility criteria for home education |
| 4451 | student participation, not to exceed those required of other |
| 4452 | dually enrolled students. |
| 4453 | (14) Instructional materials assigned for use within dual |
| 4454 | enrollment courses shall be made available to dual enrollment |
| 4455 | students from Florida public high schools free of charge. This |
| 4456 | subsection shall not be construed to prohibit a Florida College |
| 4457 | System institution community college from providing |
| 4458 | instructional materials at no cost to a home education student |
| 4459 | or student from a private school. Students enrolled in |
| 4460 | postsecondary instruction not creditable toward a high school |
| 4461 | diploma shall not be considered dual enrollments and shall be |
| 4462 | required to assume the cost of instructional materials necessary |
| 4463 | for such instruction. |
| 4464 | (15) Instructional materials purchased by a district |
| 4465 | school board or Florida College System institution community |
| 4466 | college board of trustees on behalf of dual enrollment students |
| 4467 | shall be the property of the board against which the purchase is |
| 4468 | charged. |
| 4469 | (16) Beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2006- |
| 4470 | 2007 school year, school districts and Florida College System |
| 4471 | institutions community colleges must weigh dual enrollment |
| 4472 | courses the same as advanced placement, International |
| 4473 | Baccalaureate, and Advanced International Certificate of |
| 4474 | Education courses when grade point averages are calculated. |
| 4475 | Alternative grade calculation or weighting systems that |
| 4476 | discriminate against dual enrollment courses are prohibited. |
| 4477 | Section 101. Subsection (1) of section 1007.272, Florida |
| 4478 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 4479 | 1007.272 Joint dual enrollment and advanced placement |
| 4480 | instruction.- |
| 4481 | (1) Each school district, Florida College System |
| 4482 | institution community college, and state university may conduct |
| 4483 | advanced placement instruction within dual enrollment courses. |
| 4484 | Each joint dual enrollment and advanced placement course shall |
| 4485 | be incorporated within and subject to the provisions of the |
| 4486 | district interinstitutional articulation agreement pursuant to |
| 4487 | s. 1007.235. Such agreement shall certify that each joint dual |
| 4488 | enrollment and advanced placement course integrates, at a |
| 4489 | minimum, the course structure recommended by the College Board |
| 4490 | and the structure that corresponds to the common course number. |
| 4491 | Section 102. Section 1007.28, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 4492 | to read: |
| 4493 | 1007.28 Computer-assisted student advising system.-The |
| 4494 | Department of Education, in conjunction with the Board of |
| 4495 | Governors, shall establish and maintain a single, statewide |
| 4496 | computer-assisted student advising system, which must be an |
| 4497 | integral part of the process of advising, registering, and |
| 4498 | certifying students for graduation and must be accessible to all |
| 4499 | Florida students. The state universities and Florida College |
| 4500 | System institutions community colleges shall interface |
| 4501 | institutional systems with the computer-assisted advising system |
| 4502 | required by this section. The State Board of Education and the |
| 4503 | Board of Governors shall specify in the statewide articulation |
| 4504 | agreement required by s. 1007.23(1) the roles and |
| 4505 | responsibilities of the department, the state universities, and |
| 4506 | the Florida College System institutions community colleges in |
| 4507 | the design, implementation, promotion, development, and analysis |
| 4508 | of the system. The system shall consist of a degree audit and an |
| 4509 | articulation component that includes the following |
| 4510 | characteristics: |
| 4511 | (1) The system shall constitute an integral part of the |
| 4512 | process of advising students and assisting them in course |
| 4513 | selection. The system shall be accessible to students in the |
| 4514 | following ways: |
| 4515 | (a) A student must be able to access the system, at any |
| 4516 | time, to identify course options that will meet the requirements |
| 4517 | of a selected path toward a degree. |
| 4518 | (b) A status report from the system shall be generated and |
| 4519 | sent with each grade report to each student enrolled in public |
| 4520 | postsecondary educational institutions with a declared major. |
| 4521 | (2) The system shall be an integral part of the |
| 4522 | registration process at public postsecondary educational |
| 4523 | institutions. As part of the process, the system shall: |
| 4524 | (a) Provide reports that document each student's status |
| 4525 | toward completion of a degree. |
| 4526 | (b) Verify that a student has completed requirements for |
| 4527 | graduation. |
| 4528 | (3) The system must provide students information related |
| 4529 | to career descriptions and corresponding educational |
| 4530 | requirements, admissions requirements, and available sources of |
| 4531 | student financial assistance. Such advising must enable students |
| 4532 | to examine their interests and aptitudes for the purpose of |
| 4533 | curricular and career planning. |
| 4534 | (4) The system must provide management information to |
| 4535 | decisionmakers, including information relating student |
| 4536 | enrollment patterns and course demands to plans for |
| 4537 | corresponding course offerings and information useful in |
| 4538 | planning the student registration process. |
| 4539 | Section 103. Subsections (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) and |
| 4540 | paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) of subsection (6) of section |
| 4541 | 1007.33, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 4542 | 1007.33 Site-determined baccalaureate degree access.- |
| 4543 | (1)(a) The Legislature recognizes that public and private |
| 4544 | postsecondary educational institutions play an essential role in |
| 4545 | improving the quality of life and economic well-being of the |
| 4546 | state and its residents. The Legislature also recognizes that |
| 4547 | economic development needs and the educational needs of place- |
| 4548 | bound, nontraditional students have increased the demand for |
| 4549 | local access to baccalaureate degree programs. It is therefore |
| 4550 | the intent of the Legislature to further expand access to |
| 4551 | baccalaureate degree programs through the use of Florida College |
| 4552 | System institutions colleges. |
| 4553 | (b) For purposes of this section, the term "district" |
| 4554 | refers to the county or counties served by a Florida College |
| 4555 | System institution pursuant to s. 1000.21(3). |
| 4556 | (2) Any Florida College System institution that offers one |
| 4557 | or more baccalaureate degree programs must: |
| 4558 | (a) Maintain as its primary mission: |
| 4559 | 1. Responsibility for responding to community needs for |
| 4560 | postsecondary academic education and career degree education as |
| 4561 | prescribed in s. 1004.65(5). |
| 4562 | 2. The provision of associate degrees that provide access |
| 4563 | to a university. |
| 4564 | (b) Maintain an open-door admission policy for associate- |
| 4565 | level degree programs and workforce education programs. |
| 4566 | (c) Continue to provide outreach to underserved |
| 4567 | populations. |
| 4568 | (d) Continue to provide remedial education. |
| 4569 | (e) Comply with all provisions of the statewide |
| 4570 | articulation agreement which relate to 2-year and 4-year public |
| 4571 | degree-granting institutions as adopted by the State Board of |
| 4572 | Education pursuant to s. 1007.23. |
| 4573 | (f) Not award graduate credit. |
| 4574 | (g) Not participate in intercollegiate athletics beyond |
| 4575 | the 2-year level. |
| 4576 | (3) A Florida College System institution may not terminate |
| 4577 | its associate in arts or associate in science degree programs as |
| 4578 | a result of being authorized to offer one or more baccalaureate |
| 4579 | degree programs. The Legislature intends that the primary |
| 4580 | responsibility of a Florida College System institution, |
| 4581 | including a Florida College System institution that offers |
| 4582 | baccalaureate degree programs, continues to be the provision of |
| 4583 | associate degrees that provide access to a university. |
| 4584 | (4) A Florida College System institution may: |
| 4585 | (a) Offer specified baccalaureate degree programs through |
| 4586 | formal agreements between the Florida College System institution |
| 4587 | and other regionally accredited postsecondary educational |
| 4588 | institutions pursuant to s. 1007.22. |
| 4589 | (b) Offer baccalaureate degree programs that were |
| 4590 | authorized by law prior to July 1, 2009. |
| 4591 | (c) Beginning July 1, 2009, establish a first or |
| 4592 | subsequent baccalaureate degree program for purposes of meeting |
| 4593 | district, regional, or statewide workforce needs if approved by |
| 4594 | the State Board of Education under this section. |
| 4595 |
|
| 4596 | Beginning July 1, 2009, the Board of Trustees of the St. |
| 4597 | Petersburg College is authorized to establish one or more |
| 4598 | bachelor of applied science degree programs based on an analysis |
| 4599 | of workforce needs in Pinellas, Pasco, and Hernando Counties and |
| 4600 | other counties approved by the Department of Education. For each |
| 4601 | program selected, St. Petersburg College must offer a related |
| 4602 | associate in science or associate in applied science degree |
| 4603 | program, and the baccalaureate degree level program must be |
| 4604 | designed to articulate fully with at least one associate in |
| 4605 | science degree program. The college is encouraged to develop |
| 4606 | articulation agreements for enrollment of graduates of related |
| 4607 | associate in applied science degree programs. The Board of |
| 4608 | Trustees of the St. Petersburg College is authorized to |
| 4609 | establish additional baccalaureate degree programs if it |
| 4610 | determines a program is warranted and feasible based on each of |
| 4611 | the factors in paragraph (5)(d). Prior to developing or |
| 4612 | proposing a new baccalaureate degree program, St. Petersburg |
| 4613 | College shall engage in need, demand, and impact discussions |
| 4614 | with the state university in its service district and other |
| 4615 | local and regional, accredited postsecondary providers in its |
| 4616 | region. Documentation, data, and other information from inter- |
| 4617 | institutional discussions regarding program need, demand, and |
| 4618 | impact shall be provided to the college's board of trustees to |
| 4619 | inform the program approval process. Employment at St. |
| 4620 | Petersburg College is governed by the same laws that govern |
| 4621 | Florida College System institutions community colleges, except |
| 4622 | that upper-division faculty are eligible for continuing |
| 4623 | contracts upon the completion of the fifth year of teaching. |
| 4624 | Employee records for all personnel shall be maintained as |
| 4625 | required by s. 1012.81. |
| 4626 | (5) The approval process for baccalaureate degree programs |
| 4627 | shall require: |
| 4628 | (a) Each Florida College System institution to submit a |
| 4629 | notice of its intent to propose a baccalaureate degree program |
| 4630 | to the Division of Florida Colleges at least 100 days before the |
| 4631 | submission of its proposal under paragraph (d). The notice must |
| 4632 | include a brief description of the program, the workforce demand |
| 4633 | and unmet need for graduates of the program, the geographic |
| 4634 | region to be served, and an estimated timeframe for |
| 4635 | implementation. Notices of intent may be submitted by a Florida |
| 4636 | College System institution at any time throughout the year. |
| 4637 | (b) The Division of Florida Colleges to forward the notice |
| 4638 | of intent within 10 business days after receiving such notice to |
| 4639 | the Chancellor of the State University System, the President of |
| 4640 | the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, and the |
| 4641 | Executive Director of the Council for Independent Education. |
| 4642 | State universities shall have 60 days following receipt of the |
| 4643 | notice by the Chancellor of the State University System to |
| 4644 | submit an alternative proposal to offer the baccalaureate degree |
| 4645 | program. If a proposal from a state university is not received |
| 4646 | within the 60-day period, the State Board of Education shall |
| 4647 | provide regionally accredited private colleges and universities |
| 4648 | 30 days to submit an alternative proposal. Alternative proposals |
| 4649 | shall be submitted to the Division of Florida Colleges and must |
| 4650 | be considered by the State Board of Education in making its |
| 4651 | decision to approve or deny a Florida College System |
| 4652 | institution's college's proposal. |
| 4653 | (c) An alternative proposal submitted by a state |
| 4654 | university or private college or university to adequately |
| 4655 | address: |
| 4656 | 1. The extent to which the workforce demand and unmet need |
| 4657 | described in the notice of intent will be met. |
| 4658 | 2. The extent to which students will be able to complete |
| 4659 | the degree in the geographic region proposed to be served by the |
| 4660 | Florida College System institution. |
| 4661 | 3. The level of financial commitment of the college or |
| 4662 | university to the development, implementation, and maintenance |
| 4663 | of the specified degree program, including timelines. |
| 4664 | 4. The extent to which faculty at both the Florida College |
| 4665 | System institution and the college or university will |
| 4666 | collaborate in the development and offering of the curriculum. |
| 4667 | 5. The ability of the Florida College System institution |
| 4668 | and the college or university to develop and approve the |
| 4669 | curriculum for the specified degree program within 6 months |
| 4670 | after an agreement between the Florida College System |
| 4671 | institution and the college or university is signed. |
| 4672 | 6. The extent to which the student may incur additional |
| 4673 | costs above what the student would expect to incur if the |
| 4674 | program were offered by the Florida College System institution. |
| 4675 | (d) Each proposal submitted by a Florida College System |
| 4676 | institution to, at a minimum, include: |
| 4677 | 1. A description of the planning process and timeline for |
| 4678 | implementation. |
| 4679 | 2. An analysis of workforce demand and unmet need for |
| 4680 | graduates of the program on a district, regional, or statewide |
| 4681 | basis, as appropriate. |
| 4682 | 3. Identification of the facilities, equipment, and |
| 4683 | library and academic resources that will be used to deliver the |
| 4684 | program. |
| 4685 | 4. The program cost analysis of creating a new |
| 4686 | baccalaureate degree when compared to alternative proposals and |
| 4687 | other program delivery options. |
| 4688 | 5. The program's admission requirements, academic content, |
| 4689 | curriculum, faculty credentials, student-to-teacher ratios, and |
| 4690 | accreditation plan. |
| 4691 | 6. The program's enrollment projections and funding |
| 4692 | requirements. |
| 4693 | 7. A plan of action if the program is terminated. |
| 4694 | (e) The Division of Florida Colleges to review the |
| 4695 | proposal, notify the Florida College System institution of any |
| 4696 | deficiencies in writing within 30 days following receipt of the |
| 4697 | proposal, and provide the Florida College System institution |
| 4698 | with an opportunity to correct the deficiencies. Within 45 days |
| 4699 | following receipt of a completed proposal by the Division of |
| 4700 | Florida Colleges, the Commissioner of Education shall recommend |
| 4701 | approval or disapproval of the proposal to the State Board of |
| 4702 | Education. The State Board of Education shall consider such |
| 4703 | recommendation, the proposal, and any alternative proposals at |
| 4704 | its next meeting. If the State Board of Education disapproves |
| 4705 | the Florida College System institution's college's proposal, it |
| 4706 | shall provide the Florida College System institution with |
| 4707 | written reasons for that determination. |
| 4708 | (f) The Florida College System institution to obtain from |
| 4709 | the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of |
| 4710 | Colleges and Schools accreditation as a baccalaureate-degree- |
| 4711 | granting institution if approved by the State Board of Education |
| 4712 | to offer its first baccalaureate degree program. |
| 4713 | (g) The Florida College System institution to notify the |
| 4714 | Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges |
| 4715 | and Schools of subsequent degree programs that are approved by |
| 4716 | the State Board of Education and to comply with the |
| 4717 | association's required substantive change protocols for |
| 4718 | accreditation purposes. |
| 4719 | (6)(a) Beginning July 1, 2010, and each subsequent July 1, |
| 4720 | the Division of Florida Colleges may accept and review |
| 4721 | applications from a Florida College System institution to obtain |
| 4722 | an exemption from the State Board of Education's approval for |
| 4723 | subsequent degrees as required in subsection (5), if the Florida |
| 4724 | College System institution is accredited by the Commission on |
| 4725 | Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as |
| 4726 | a baccalaureate-degree-granting institution and has been |
| 4727 | offering baccalaureate degree programs for 3 or more years. The |
| 4728 | division shall develop criteria for determining eligibility for |
| 4729 | an exemption based upon demonstrated compliance with the |
| 4730 | requirements for baccalaureate degrees, primary mission, and |
| 4731 | fiscal, including, but not limited to: |
| 4732 | 1. Obtaining and maintaining appropriate SACS |
| 4733 | accreditation; |
| 4734 | 2. The maintenance of qualified faculty and institutional |
| 4735 | resources; |
| 4736 | 3. The maintenance of enrollment projections in previously |
| 4737 | approved programs; |
| 4738 | 4. The appropriate management of fiscal resources; |
| 4739 | 5. Compliance with the primary mission and responsibility |
| 4740 | requirements in subsections (2) and (3); |
| 4741 | 6. The timely submission of the institution's annual |
| 4742 | performance accountability report; and |
| 4743 | 7. Other indicators of success such as program completers, |
| 4744 | placements, and surveys of students and employers. |
| 4745 | (b) If the Florida College System institution has |
| 4746 | demonstrated satisfactory progress in fulfilling the eligibility |
| 4747 | criteria in this subsection, the Division of Florida Colleges |
| 4748 | may recommend to the State Board of Education that the |
| 4749 | institution be exempt from the requirement in subsection (5) for |
| 4750 | approval of future baccalaureate degree programs. The State |
| 4751 | Board of Education shall review the division's recommendation |
| 4752 | and determine if an exemption is warranted. If the State Board |
| 4753 | of Education approves the application, the Florida College |
| 4754 | System institution is exempt from subsequent program approval |
| 4755 | under subsection (5) and such authority is delegated to the |
| 4756 | Florida College System institution board of trustees. If the |
| 4757 | State Board of Education disapproves of the Florida College |
| 4758 | System institution's college's request for an exemption, the |
| 4759 | college shall continue to be subject to the State Board of |
| 4760 | Education's approval of subsequent baccalaureate degree |
| 4761 | programs. |
| 4762 | (c) Prior to developing or proposing a new baccalaureate |
| 4763 | degree program, all Florida College System institutions |
| 4764 | colleges, regardless of an exemption from subsection (5), shall: |
| 4765 | 1. Engage in need, demand, and impact discussions with the |
| 4766 | state university in their service district and other local and |
| 4767 | regional, accredited postsecondary providers in their region. |
| 4768 | 2. Send documentation, data, and other information from |
| 4769 | the inter-institutional discussions regarding program need, |
| 4770 | demand, and impact required in subparagraph 1. to the college's |
| 4771 | board of trustees, the Division of Florida Colleges, and the |
| 4772 | Chancellor of the State University System. |
| 4773 | 3. Base board of trustees approval of the new program upon |
| 4774 | the documentation, data, and other information required in this |
| 4775 | paragraph and the factors in subsection (5)(d). |
| 4776 |
|
| 4777 | The Division of Florida Colleges shall use the documentation, |
| 4778 | data, and other information required in this subsection, |
| 4779 | including information from the Chancellor of the State |
| 4780 | University System, in its compliance review. |
| 4781 | (d) The board of trustees of a Florida College System |
| 4782 | institution that is exempt from subsection (5) must submit newly |
| 4783 | approved programs to the Division of Florida Colleges and SACS |
| 4784 | within 30 days after approval. |
| 4785 | Section 104. Subsection (1) of section 1007.34, Florida |
| 4786 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 4787 | 1007.34 College reach-out program.- |
| 4788 | (1) There is established a college reach-out program to |
| 4789 | increase the number of low-income educationally disadvantaged |
| 4790 | students in grades 6-12 who, upon high school graduation, are |
| 4791 | admitted to and successfully complete postsecondary education. |
| 4792 | Participants should be students who otherwise would be unlikely |
| 4793 | to seek admission to a Florida College System institution |
| 4794 | community college, state university, or independent |
| 4795 | postsecondary institution without special support and |
| 4796 | recruitment efforts. The State Board of Education shall adopt |
| 4797 | rules that provide for the following: |
| 4798 | (a) Definition of "low-income educationally disadvantaged |
| 4799 | student." |
| 4800 | (b) Specific criteria and guidelines for selection of |
| 4801 | college reach-out participants. |
| 4802 | Section 105. Paragraphs (f) and (j) of subsection (6) of |
| 4803 | section 1007.35, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 4804 | 1007.35 Florida Partnership for Minority and |
| 4805 | Underrepresented Student Achievement.- |
| 4806 | (6) The partnership shall: |
| 4807 | (f) Consider ways to incorporate Florida College System |
| 4808 | institutions community colleges in the mission of preparing all |
| 4809 | students for postsecondary success. |
| 4810 | (j) Provide information to students, parents, teachers, |
| 4811 | counselors, administrators, districts, Florida College System |
| 4812 | institutions community colleges, and state universities |
| 4813 | regarding PSAT/NMSQT or PLAN administration, including, but not |
| 4814 | limited to: |
| 4815 | 1. Test administration dates and times. |
| 4816 | 2. That participation in the PSAT/NMSQT or PLAN is open to |
| 4817 | all grade 10 students. |
| 4818 | 3. The value of such tests in providing diagnostic |
| 4819 | feedback on student skills. |
| 4820 | 4. The value of student scores in predicting the |
| 4821 | probability of success on AP or other advanced course |
| 4822 | examinations. |
| 4823 | Section 106. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 1008.30, |
| 4824 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 4825 | 1008.30 Common placement testing for public postsecondary |
| 4826 | education.- |
| 4827 | (3) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules that |
| 4828 | require high schools to evaluate before the beginning of grade |
| 4829 | 12 the college readiness of each student who indicates an |
| 4830 | interest in postsecondary education and scores at Level 2 or |
| 4831 | Level 3 on the reading portion of the grade 10 FCAT or Level 2, |
| 4832 | Level 3, or Level 4 on the mathematics assessments under s. |
| 4833 | 1008.22(3)(c). High schools shall perform this evaluation using |
| 4834 | results from the corresponding component of the common placement |
| 4835 | test prescribed in this section, or an equivalent test |
| 4836 | identified by the State Board of Education. The Department of |
| 4837 | Education shall purchase or develop the assessments necessary to |
| 4838 | perform the evaluations required by this subsection and shall |
| 4839 | work with the school districts to administer the assessments. |
| 4840 | The State Board of Education shall establish by rule the minimum |
| 4841 | test scores a student must achieve to demonstrate readiness. |
| 4842 | Students who demonstrate readiness by achieving the minimum test |
| 4843 | scores established by the state board and enroll in a Florida |
| 4844 | College System institution community college within 2 years of |
| 4845 | achieving such scores shall not be required to enroll in |
| 4846 | remediation courses as a condition of acceptance to any Florida |
| 4847 | College System institution community college. The high school |
| 4848 | shall use the results of the test to advise the students of any |
| 4849 | identified deficiencies and to the maximum extent practicable |
| 4850 | provide 12th grade students access to appropriate remedial |
| 4851 | instruction prior to high school graduation. The remedial |
| 4852 | instruction provided under this subsection shall be a |
| 4853 | collaborative effort between secondary and postsecondary |
| 4854 | educational institutions. To the extent courses are available, |
| 4855 | the Florida Virtual School may be used to provide the remedial |
| 4856 | instruction required by this subsection. |
| 4857 | (4)(a) Public postsecondary educational institution |
| 4858 | students who have been identified as requiring additional |
| 4859 | preparation pursuant to subsection (1) shall enroll in college- |
| 4860 | preparatory or other adult education pursuant to s. 1004.93 in |
| 4861 | Florida College System institutions community colleges to |
| 4862 | develop needed college-entry skills. These students shall be |
| 4863 | permitted to take courses within their degree program |
| 4864 | concurrently in other curriculum areas for which they are |
| 4865 | qualified while enrolled in college-preparatory instruction |
| 4866 | courses. A student enrolled in a college-preparatory course may |
| 4867 | concurrently enroll only in college credit courses that do not |
| 4868 | require the skills addressed in the college-preparatory course. |
| 4869 | The State Board of Education, in conjunction with the Board of |
| 4870 | Governors, shall specify the college credit courses that are |
| 4871 | acceptable for students enrolled in each college-preparatory |
| 4872 | skill area. A student who wishes to earn an associate in arts or |
| 4873 | a baccalaureate degree, but who is required to complete a |
| 4874 | college-preparatory course, must successfully complete the |
| 4875 | required college-preparatory studies by the time the student has |
| 4876 | accumulated 12 hours of lower-division college credit degree |
| 4877 | coursework; however, a student may continue enrollment in |
| 4878 | degree-earning coursework provided the student maintains |
| 4879 | enrollment in college-preparatory coursework for each subsequent |
| 4880 | semester until college-preparatory coursework requirements are |
| 4881 | completed, and the student demonstrates satisfactory performance |
| 4882 | in degree-earning coursework. A passing score on a standardized, |
| 4883 | institutionally developed test must be achieved before a student |
| 4884 | is considered to have met basic computation and communication |
| 4885 | skills requirements; however, no student shall be required to |
| 4886 | retake any test or subtest that was previously passed by said |
| 4887 | student. Credit awarded for college-preparatory instruction may |
| 4888 | not be counted toward fulfilling the number of credits required |
| 4889 | for a degree. |
| 4890 | (b) A university board of trustees may contract with a |
| 4891 | Florida College System institution community college board of |
| 4892 | trustees for the Florida College System institution community |
| 4893 | college to provide such instruction on the state university |
| 4894 | campus. Any state university in which the percentage of incoming |
| 4895 | students requiring college-preparatory instruction equals or |
| 4896 | exceeds the average percentage of such students for the Florida |
| 4897 | community College System may offer college-preparatory |
| 4898 | instruction without contracting with a Florida College System |
| 4899 | institution community college; however, any state university |
| 4900 | offering college-preparatory instruction as of January 1, 1996, |
| 4901 | may continue to provide such services. |
| 4902 | Section 107. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section |
| 4903 | 1008.31, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 4904 | 1008.31 Florida's K-20 education performance |
| 4905 | accountability system; legislative intent; mission, goals, and |
| 4906 | systemwide measures; data quality improvements.- |
| 4907 | (1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.-It is the intent of the |
| 4908 | Legislature that: |
| 4909 | (e)1. The State Board of Education establish performance |
| 4910 | measures and set performance standards for individual public |
| 4911 | schools and Florida College System institutions community |
| 4912 | colleges, with measures and standards based primarily on student |
| 4913 | achievement. |
| 4914 | 2. The Board of Governors of the State University System |
| 4915 | establish performance measures and set performance standards for |
| 4916 | individual state universities, including actual completion |
| 4917 | rates. |
| 4918 | Section 108. Section 1008.32, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 4919 | to read: |
| 4920 | 1008.32 State Board of Education oversight enforcement |
| 4921 | authority.-The State Board of Education shall oversee the |
| 4922 | performance of district school boards and Florida College System |
| 4923 | institution community college boards of trustees in enforcement |
| 4924 | of all laws and rules. District school boards and Florida |
| 4925 | College System institution community college boards of trustees |
| 4926 | shall be primarily responsible for compliance with law and state |
| 4927 | board rule. |
| 4928 | (1) In order to ensure compliance with law or state board |
| 4929 | rule, the State Board of Education shall have the authority to |
| 4930 | request and receive information, data, and reports from school |
| 4931 | districts and Florida College System institutions community |
| 4932 | colleges. District school superintendents and Florida College |
| 4933 | System institution community college presidents are responsible |
| 4934 | for the accuracy of the information and data reported to the |
| 4935 | state board. |
| 4936 | (2) The Commissioner of Education may investigate |
| 4937 | allegations of noncompliance with law or state board rule and |
| 4938 | determine probable cause. The commissioner shall report |
| 4939 | determinations of probable cause to the State Board of Education |
| 4940 | which shall require the district school board or Florida College |
| 4941 | System institution community college board of trustees to |
| 4942 | document compliance with law or state board rule. |
| 4943 | (3) If the district school board or Florida College System |
| 4944 | institution community college board of trustees cannot |
| 4945 | satisfactorily document compliance, the State Board of Education |
| 4946 | may order compliance within a specified timeframe. |
| 4947 | (4) If the State Board of Education determines that a |
| 4948 | district school board or Florida College System institution |
| 4949 | community college board of trustees is unwilling or unable to |
| 4950 | comply with law or state board rule within the specified time, |
| 4951 | the state board shall have the authority to initiate any of the |
| 4952 | following actions: |
| 4953 | (a) Report to the Legislature that the school district or |
| 4954 | Florida College System institution community college has been |
| 4955 | unwilling or unable to comply with law or state board rule and |
| 4956 | recommend action to be taken by the Legislature. |
| 4957 | (b) Reduce the discretionary lottery appropriation until |
| 4958 | the school district or Florida College System institution |
| 4959 | community college complies with the law or state board rule. |
| 4960 | (c) Withhold the transfer of state funds, discretionary |
| 4961 | grant funds, or any other funds specified as eligible for this |
| 4962 | purpose by the Legislature until the school district or Florida |
| 4963 | College System institution community college complies with the |
| 4964 | law or state board rule. |
| 4965 | (d) Declare the school district or Florida College System |
| 4966 | institution community college ineligible for competitive grants. |
| 4967 | (e) Require monthly or periodic reporting on the situation |
| 4968 | related to noncompliance until it is remedied. |
| 4969 | (5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to create a |
| 4970 | private cause of action or create any rights for individuals or |
| 4971 | entities in addition to those provided elsewhere in law or rule. |
| 4972 | Section 109. Paragraphs (g) and (h) of subsection (7) of |
| 4973 | section 1008.345, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 4974 | 1008.345 Implementation of state system of school |
| 4975 | improvement and education accountability.- |
| 4976 | (7) As a part of the system of educational accountability, |
| 4977 | the Department of Education shall: |
| 4978 | (g) Maintain for the information of the State Board of |
| 4979 | Education, the Board of Governors, and the Legislature a file of |
| 4980 | data to reflect achievement of college-level communication and |
| 4981 | mathematics competencies by students in state universities and |
| 4982 | Florida College System institutions community colleges. |
| 4983 | (h) Develop or contract for, and submit to the State Board |
| 4984 | of Education and the Board of Governors for approval, tests |
| 4985 | which measure and diagnose student achievement of college-level |
| 4986 | communication and mathematics skills. Any tests and related |
| 4987 | documents developed are exempt from the provisions of s. |
| 4988 | 119.07(1). The commissioner shall maintain statewide |
| 4989 | responsibility for the administration of such tests and may |
| 4990 | assign administrative responsibilities for the tests to any |
| 4991 | state university or Florida College System institution community |
| 4992 | college. The state board, upon recommendation of the |
| 4993 | commissioner, may enter into contracts for such services |
| 4994 | beginning in one fiscal year and continuing into the next year |
| 4995 | which are paid from the appropriation for either or both fiscal |
| 4996 | years. |
| 4997 | Section 110. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and paragraph |
| 4998 | (a) of subsection (2) of section 1008.385, Florida Statutes, are |
| 4999 | amended to read: |
| 5000 | 1008.385 Educational planning and information systems.- |
| 5001 | (1) EDUCATIONAL PLANNING.- |
| 5002 | (b) Each district school board shall maintain a continuing |
| 5003 | system of planning and budgeting designed to aid in identifying |
| 5004 | and meeting the educational needs of students and the public. |
| 5005 | Provision shall be made for coordination between district school |
| 5006 | boards and Florida College System institution community college |
| 5007 | boards of trustees concerning the planning for career education |
| 5008 | and adult educational programs. The major emphasis of the system |
| 5009 | shall be upon locally determined goals and objectives, the state |
| 5010 | plan for education, and the Sunshine State Standards developed |
| 5011 | by the Department of Education and adopted by the State Board of |
| 5012 | Education. The district planning and budgeting system must |
| 5013 | include consideration of student achievement data obtained |
| 5014 | pursuant to ss. 1008.22 and 1008.34. The system shall be |
| 5015 | structured to meet the specific management needs of the district |
| 5016 | and to align the budget adopted by the district school board |
| 5017 | with the plan the board has also adopted. Each district school |
| 5018 | board shall utilize its system of planning and budgeting to |
| 5019 | emphasize a system of school-based management in which |
| 5020 | individual school centers become the principal planning units |
| 5021 | and to integrate planning and budgeting at the school level. |
| 5022 | (2) COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS.-The |
| 5023 | Commissioner of Education shall develop and implement an |
| 5024 | integrated information system for educational management. The |
| 5025 | system must be designed to collect, via electronic transfer, all |
| 5026 | student and school performance data required to ascertain the |
| 5027 | degree to which schools and school districts are meeting state |
| 5028 | performance standards, and must be capable of producing data for |
| 5029 | a comprehensive annual report on school and district |
| 5030 | performance. In addition, the system shall support, as feasible, |
| 5031 | the management decisions to be made in each division of the |
| 5032 | department and at the individual school and district levels. |
| 5033 | Similar data elements among divisions and levels shall be |
| 5034 | compatible. The system shall be based on an overall conceptual |
| 5035 | design; the information needed for such decisions, including |
| 5036 | fiscal, student, program, personnel, facility, community, |
| 5037 | evaluation, and other relevant data; and the relationship |
| 5038 | between cost and effectiveness. The system shall be managed and |
| 5039 | administered by the commissioner and shall include a district |
| 5040 | subsystem component to be administered at the district level, |
| 5041 | with input from the reports-and-forms control management |
| 5042 | committees. Each district school system with a unique management |
| 5043 | information system shall assure that compatibility exists |
| 5044 | between its unique system and the district component of the |
| 5045 | state system so that all data required as input to the state |
| 5046 | system is made available via electronic transfer and in the |
| 5047 | appropriate input format. |
| 5048 | (a) The specific responsibilities of the commissioner |
| 5049 | shall include: |
| 5050 | 1. Consulting with school district representatives in the |
| 5051 | development of the system design model and implementation plans |
| 5052 | for the management information system for public school |
| 5053 | education management; |
| 5054 | 2. Providing operational definitions for the proposed |
| 5055 | system; |
| 5056 | 3. Determining the information and specific data elements |
| 5057 | required for the management decisions made at each educational |
| 5058 | level, recognizing that the primary unit for information input |
| 5059 | is the individual school and recognizing that time and effort of |
| 5060 | instructional personnel expended in collection and compilation |
| 5061 | of data should be minimized; |
| 5062 | 4. Developing standardized terminology and procedures to |
| 5063 | be followed at all levels of the system; |
| 5064 | 5. Developing a standard transmittal format to be used for |
| 5065 | collection of data from the various levels of the system; |
| 5066 | 6. Developing appropriate computer programs to assure |
| 5067 | integration of the various information components dealing with |
| 5068 | students, personnel, facilities, fiscal, program, community, and |
| 5069 | evaluation data; |
| 5070 | 7. Developing the necessary programs to provide |
| 5071 | statistical analysis of the integrated data provided in |
| 5072 | subparagraph 6. in such a way that required reports may be |
| 5073 | disseminated, comparisons may be made, and relationships may be |
| 5074 | determined in order to provide the necessary information for |
| 5075 | making management decisions at all levels; |
| 5076 | 8. Developing output report formats which will provide |
| 5077 | district school systems with information for making management |
| 5078 | decisions at the various educational levels; |
| 5079 | 9. Developing a phased plan for distributing computer |
| 5080 | services equitably among all public schools and school districts |
| 5081 | in the state as rapidly as possible. The plan shall describe |
| 5082 | alternatives available to the state in providing such computing |
| 5083 | services and shall contain estimates of the cost of each |
| 5084 | alternative, together with a recommendation for action. In |
| 5085 | developing the plan, the feasibility of shared use of computing |
| 5086 | hardware and software by school districts, Florida College |
| 5087 | System institutions community colleges, and universities shall |
| 5088 | be examined. Laws or administrative rules regulating procurement |
| 5089 | of data processing equipment, communication services, or data |
| 5090 | processing services by state agencies shall not be construed to |
| 5091 | apply to local agencies which share computing facilities with |
| 5092 | state agencies; |
| 5093 | 10. Assisting the district school systems in establishing |
| 5094 | their subsystem components and assuring compatibility with |
| 5095 | current district systems; |
| 5096 | 11. Establishing procedures for continuous evaluation of |
| 5097 | system efficiency and effectiveness; |
| 5098 | 12. Initiating a reports-management and forms-management |
| 5099 | system to ascertain that duplication in collection of data does |
| 5100 | not exist and that forms and reports for reporting under state |
| 5101 | and federal requirements and other forms and reports are |
| 5102 | prepared in a logical and uncomplicated format, resulting in a |
| 5103 | reduction in the number and complexity of required reports, |
| 5104 | particularly at the school level; and |
| 5105 | 13. Initiating such other actions as are necessary to |
| 5106 | carry out the intent of the Legislature that a management |
| 5107 | information system for public school management needs be |
| 5108 | implemented. Such other actions shall be based on criteria |
| 5109 | including, but not limited to: |
| 5110 | a. The purpose of the reporting requirement; |
| 5111 | b. The origination of the reporting requirement; |
| 5112 | c. The date of origin of the reporting requirement; and |
| 5113 | d. The date of repeal of the reporting requirement. |
| 5114 | Section 111. Section 1008.405, Florida Statutes, is |
| 5115 | amended to read: |
| 5116 | 1008.405 Adult student information.-Each school district |
| 5117 | and Florida College System institution community college shall |
| 5118 | maintain sufficient information for each student enrolled in |
| 5119 | workforce education to allow local and state administrators to |
| 5120 | locate such student upon the termination of instruction and to |
| 5121 | determine the appropriateness of student placement in specific |
| 5122 | instructional programs. The State Board of Education shall |
| 5123 | adopt, by rule, specific information that must be maintained and |
| 5124 | acceptable means of maintaining that information. |
| 5125 | Section 112. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1008.41, |
| 5126 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 5127 | 1008.41 Workforce education; management information |
| 5128 | system.- |
| 5129 | (1) The Commissioner of Education shall coordinate uniform |
| 5130 | program structures, common definitions, and uniform management |
| 5131 | information systems for workforce education for all divisions |
| 5132 | within the department. In performing these functions, the |
| 5133 | commissioner shall designate deadlines after which data elements |
| 5134 | may not be changed for the coming fiscal or school year. School |
| 5135 | districts and Florida College System institutions community |
| 5136 | colleges shall be notified of data element changes at least 90 |
| 5137 | days prior to the start of the subsequent fiscal or school year. |
| 5138 | Such systems must provide for: |
| 5139 | (a) Individual student reporting. |
| 5140 | (b) Compliance with state and federal confidentiality |
| 5141 | requirements, except that the department shall have access to |
| 5142 | the unemployment insurance wage reports to collect and report |
| 5143 | placement information about former students. Such placement |
| 5144 | reports must not disclose the individual identities of former |
| 5145 | students. |
| 5146 | (c) Maximum use of automated technology and records in |
| 5147 | existing databases and data systems. To the extent feasible, the |
| 5148 | Florida Information Resource Network may be employed for this |
| 5149 | purpose. |
| 5150 | (d) Annual reports of student enrollment, completion, and |
| 5151 | placement by program. |
| 5152 | (2) The State Board of Education shall identify, by rule, |
| 5153 | the components to be included in the workforce education |
| 5154 | management information system. All such components shall be |
| 5155 | comparable between school districts and Florida College System |
| 5156 | institutions community colleges. |
| 5157 | Section 113. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section |
| 5158 | 1008.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 5159 | 1008.42 Public information on career education programs.- |
| 5160 | (2) The dissemination shall be conducted in accordance |
| 5161 | with the following procedures: |
| 5162 | (b)1. Each district school board shall publish, at a |
| 5163 | minimum, the most recently available placement rate for each |
| 5164 | career certificate program conducted by that school district at |
| 5165 | the secondary school level and at the career degree level. The |
| 5166 | placement rates for the preceding 3 years shall be published if |
| 5167 | available, shall be included in each publication that informs |
| 5168 | the public of the availability of the program, and shall be made |
| 5169 | available to each school guidance counselor. If a program does |
| 5170 | not have a placement rate, a publication that lists or describes |
| 5171 | that program must state that the rate is unavailable. |
| 5172 | 2. Each Florida College System institution community |
| 5173 | college shall publish, at a minimum, the most recent placement |
| 5174 | rate for each career certificate program and for each career |
| 5175 | degree program in its annual catalog. The placement rates for |
| 5176 | the preceding 3 years shall be published, if available, and |
| 5177 | shall be included in any publication that informs the public of |
| 5178 | the availability of the program. If a program does not have a |
| 5179 | placement rate, the publication that lists or describes that |
| 5180 | program must state that the rate is unavailable. |
| 5181 | 3. If a school district or a Florida College System |
| 5182 | institution community college has calculated for a program a |
| 5183 | placement rate that differs from the rate reported by the |
| 5184 | department, and if each record of a placement was obtained |
| 5185 | through a process that was capable of being audited, |
| 5186 | procedurally sound, and consistent statewide, the district or |
| 5187 | the Florida College System institution community college may use |
| 5188 | the locally calculated placement rate in the report required by |
| 5189 | this section. However, that rate may not be combined with the |
| 5190 | rate maintained in the computer files of the Department of |
| 5191 | Education's Florida Education and Training Placement Information |
| 5192 | Program. |
| 5193 | 4. An independent career, trade, or business school may |
| 5194 | not publish a placement rate unless the placement rate was |
| 5195 | determined as provided by this section. |
| 5196 | Section 114. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1) and |
| 5197 | subsections (2) and (3) of section 1008.43, Florida Statutes, |
| 5198 | are amended to read: |
| 5199 | 1008.43 Career program reporting requirements.- |
| 5200 | (1) |
| 5201 | (b) To measure and report program enrollment and |
| 5202 | completion rates, the Department of Education shall use data in |
| 5203 | the automated student databases generated by the public schools |
| 5204 | and Florida College System institutions community colleges. To |
| 5205 | measure and report placement rates and amount of earnings at the |
| 5206 | time of placement, the department shall use data in the reports |
| 5207 | produced by the Florida Education and Training Placement |
| 5208 | Information Program as required in s. 1008.39. If any placement |
| 5209 | information is not available from the Florida Education and |
| 5210 | Training Placement Information Program, the school district or |
| 5211 | the Florida College System institution community college may |
| 5212 | provide placement information collected by the school district |
| 5213 | or the Florida College System institution community college. |
| 5214 | However, this supplemental information must be verifiable by the |
| 5215 | department and must not be commingled with the database |
| 5216 | maintained by the Florida Education and Training Placement |
| 5217 | Information Program. The State Board of Education shall specify |
| 5218 | by rule the statistically valid, verifiable, uniform procedures |
| 5219 | by which school districts and Florida College System |
| 5220 | institutions community colleges may collect and report placement |
| 5221 | information to supplement the reports from the Florida Education |
| 5222 | and Training Placement Information Program. |
| 5223 | (c) The State Board of Education shall adopt standards for |
| 5224 | the department, district school boards, and Florida College |
| 5225 | System institution community college district boards of trustees |
| 5226 | to use in program planning, program review, and program |
| 5227 | evaluation. The standards must include, at a minimum, the |
| 5228 | completion rates, placement rates, and earnings from employment |
| 5229 | of former students of career education programs. |
| 5230 | (2) The State Board of Education shall adopt procedures |
| 5231 | for reviewing the career education programs administered by the |
| 5232 | district school boards and the Florida College System |
| 5233 | institution community college district boards of trustees when |
| 5234 | program performance falls below the standards required by this |
| 5235 | section. |
| 5236 | (3) Annually, the department shall compile the reports |
| 5237 | submitted in compliance with the rules adopted under this |
| 5238 | section and shall produce a statewide report that addresses the |
| 5239 | extent to which school districts and Florida College System |
| 5240 | institutions community colleges are meeting the standards |
| 5241 | established under paragraph (1)(c). |
| 5242 | Section 115. Section 1008.45, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 5243 | to read: |
| 5244 | 1008.45 Florida College System institution Community |
| 5245 | college accountability process.- |
| 5246 | (1) It is the intent of the Legislature that a management |
| 5247 | and accountability process be implemented which provides for the |
| 5248 | systematic, ongoing improvement and assessment of the |
| 5249 | improvement of the quality and efficiency of the Florida College |
| 5250 | System institutions community colleges. Accordingly, the State |
| 5251 | Board of Education and the Florida College System institution |
| 5252 | community college boards of trustees shall develop and implement |
| 5253 | an accountability plan to improve and evaluate the instructional |
| 5254 | and administrative efficiency and effectiveness of the Florida |
| 5255 | Community College System. This plan shall be designed in |
| 5256 | consultation with staff of the Governor and the Legislature and |
| 5257 | must address the following issues: |
| 5258 | (a) Graduation rates of A.A. and A.S. degree-seeking |
| 5259 | students compared to first-time-enrolled students seeking the |
| 5260 | associate degree. |
| 5261 | (b) Minority student enrollment and retention rates. |
| 5262 | (c) Student performance, including student performance in |
| 5263 | college-level academic skills, mean grade point averages for |
| 5264 | Florida College System institution community college A.A. |
| 5265 | transfer students, and Florida College System institution |
| 5266 | community college student performance on state licensure |
| 5267 | examinations. |
| 5268 | (d) Job placement rates of Florida College System |
| 5269 | institution community college career students. |
| 5270 | (e) Student progression by admission status and program. |
| 5271 | (f) Career accountability standards identified in s. |
| 5272 | 1008.42. |
| 5273 | (g) Institutional assessment efforts related to the |
| 5274 | requirements of s. III in the Criteria for Accreditation of the |
| 5275 | Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges |
| 5276 | and Schools. |
| 5277 | (h) Other measures approved by the State Board of |
| 5278 | Education. |
| 5279 | (2) The State Board of Education shall submit an annual |
| 5280 | report, to coincide with the submission of the agency strategic |
| 5281 | plan required by law, providing the results of initiatives taken |
| 5282 | during the prior year and the initiatives and related objective |
| 5283 | performance measures proposed for the next year. |
| 5284 | (3) The State Board of Education shall address within the |
| 5285 | annual evaluation of the performance of the executive director, |
| 5286 | and the Florida College System institution community college |
| 5287 | boards of trustees shall address within the annual evaluation of |
| 5288 | the presidents, the achievement of the performance goals |
| 5289 | established by the accountability process. |
| 5290 | Section 116. Section 1009.21, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 5291 | to read: |
| 5292 | 1009.21 Determination of resident status for tuition |
| 5293 | purposes.-Students shall be classified as residents or |
| 5294 | nonresidents for the purpose of assessing tuition in |
| 5295 | postsecondary educational programs offered by charter technical |
| 5296 | career centers or career centers operated by school districts, |
| 5297 | in Florida College System institutions community colleges, and |
| 5298 | in state universities. |
| 5299 | (1) As used in this section, the term: |
| 5300 | (a) "Dependent child" means any person, whether or not |
| 5301 | living with his or her parent, who is eligible to be claimed by |
| 5302 | his or her parent as a dependent under the federal income tax |
| 5303 | code. |
| 5304 | (b) "Initial enrollment" means the first day of class at |
| 5305 | an institution of higher education. |
| 5306 | (c) "Institution of higher education" means any charter |
| 5307 | technical career center as defined in s. 1002.34, career center |
| 5308 | operated by a school district as defined in s. 1001.44, Florida |
| 5309 | College System institution community college as defined in s. |
| 5310 | 1000.21(3), or state university as defined in s. 1000.21(6). |
| 5311 | (d) "Legal resident" or "resident" means a person who has |
| 5312 | maintained his or her residence in this state for the preceding |
| 5313 | year, has purchased a home which is occupied by him or her as |
| 5314 | his or her residence, or has established a domicile in this |
| 5315 | state pursuant to s. 222.17. |
| 5316 | (e) "Nonresident for tuition purposes" means a person who |
| 5317 | does not qualify for the in-state tuition rate. |
| 5318 | (f) "Parent" means the natural or adoptive parent or legal |
| 5319 | guardian of a dependent child. |
| 5320 | (g) "Resident for tuition purposes" means a person who |
| 5321 | qualifies as provided in this section for the in-state tuition |
| 5322 | rate. |
| 5323 | (2)(a) To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes: |
| 5324 | 1. A person or, if that person is a dependent child, his |
| 5325 | or her parent or parents must have established legal residence |
| 5326 | in this state and must have maintained legal residence in this |
| 5327 | state for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to |
| 5328 | his or her initial enrollment in an institution of higher |
| 5329 | education. |
| 5330 | 2. Every applicant for admission to an institution of |
| 5331 | higher education shall be required to make a statement as to his |
| 5332 | or her length of residence in the state and, further, shall |
| 5333 | establish that his or her presence or, if the applicant is a |
| 5334 | dependent child, the presence of his or her parent or parents in |
| 5335 | the state currently is, and during the requisite 12-month |
| 5336 | qualifying period was, for the purpose of maintaining a bona |
| 5337 | fide domicile, rather than for the purpose of maintaining a mere |
| 5338 | temporary residence or abode incident to enrollment in an |
| 5339 | institution of higher education. |
| 5340 | (b) However, with respect to a dependent child living with |
| 5341 | an adult relative other than the child's parent, such child may |
| 5342 | qualify as a resident for tuition purposes if the adult relative |
| 5343 | is a legal resident who has maintained legal residence in this |
| 5344 | state for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to |
| 5345 | the child's initial enrollment in an institution of higher |
| 5346 | education, provided the child has resided continuously with such |
| 5347 | relative for the 5 years immediately prior to the child's |
| 5348 | initial enrollment in an institution of higher education, during |
| 5349 | which time the adult relative has exercised day-to-day care, |
| 5350 | supervision, and control of the child. |
| 5351 | (c) The legal residence of a dependent child whose parents |
| 5352 | are divorced, separated, or otherwise living apart will be |
| 5353 | deemed to be this state if either parent is a legal resident of |
| 5354 | this state, regardless of which parent is entitled to claim, and |
| 5355 | does in fact claim, the minor as a dependent pursuant to federal |
| 5356 | individual income tax provisions. |
| 5357 | (3)(a) An individual shall not be classified as a resident |
| 5358 | for tuition purposes and, thus, shall not be eligible to receive |
| 5359 | the in-state tuition rate until he or she has provided such |
| 5360 | evidence related to legal residence and its duration or, if that |
| 5361 | individual is a dependent child, evidence of his or her parent's |
| 5362 | legal residence and its duration, as may be required by law and |
| 5363 | by officials of the institution of higher education from which |
| 5364 | he or she seeks the in-state tuition rate. |
| 5365 | (b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, evidence |
| 5366 | of legal residence and its duration shall include clear and |
| 5367 | convincing documentation that residency in this state was for a |
| 5368 | minimum of 12 consecutive months prior to a student's initial |
| 5369 | enrollment in an institution of higher education. |
| 5370 | (c) Each institution of higher education shall |
| 5371 | affirmatively determine that an applicant who has been granted |
| 5372 | admission to that institution as a Florida resident meets the |
| 5373 | residency requirements of this section at the time of initial |
| 5374 | enrollment. The residency determination must be documented by |
| 5375 | the submission of written or electronic verification that |
| 5376 | includes two or more of the documents identified in this |
| 5377 | paragraph. No single piece of evidence shall be conclusive. |
| 5378 | 1. The documents must include at least one of the |
| 5379 | following: |
| 5380 | a. A Florida voter's registration card. |
| 5381 | b. A Florida driver's license. |
| 5382 | c. A State of Florida identification card. |
| 5383 | d. A Florida vehicle registration. |
| 5384 | e. Proof of a permanent home in Florida which is occupied |
| 5385 | as a primary residence by the individual or by the individual's |
| 5386 | parent if the individual is a dependent child. |
| 5387 | f. Proof of a homestead exemption in Florida. |
| 5388 | g. Transcripts from a Florida high school for multiple |
| 5389 | years if the Florida high school diploma or GED was earned |
| 5390 | within the last 12 months. |
| 5391 | h. Proof of permanent full-time employment in Florida for |
| 5392 | at least 30 hours per week for a 12-month period. |
| 5393 | 2. The documents may include one or more of the following: |
| 5394 | a. A declaration of domicile in Florida. |
| 5395 | b. A Florida professional or occupational license. |
| 5396 | c. Florida incorporation. |
| 5397 | d. A document evidencing family ties in Florida. |
| 5398 | e. Proof of membership in a Florida-based charitable or |
| 5399 | professional organization. |
| 5400 | f. Any other documentation that supports the student's |
| 5401 | request for resident status, including, but not limited to, |
| 5402 | utility bills and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments; a |
| 5403 | lease agreement and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments; |
| 5404 | or an official state, federal, or court document evidencing |
| 5405 | legal ties to Florida. |
| 5406 | (4) With respect to a dependent child, the legal residence |
| 5407 | of the dependent child's parent or parents is prima facie |
| 5408 | evidence of the dependent child's legal residence, which |
| 5409 | evidence may be reinforced or rebutted, relative to the age and |
| 5410 | general circumstances of the dependent child, by the other |
| 5411 | evidence of legal residence required of or presented by the |
| 5412 | dependent child. However, the legal residence of a dependent |
| 5413 | child's parent or parents who are domiciled outside this state |
| 5414 | is not prima facie evidence of the dependent child's legal |
| 5415 | residence if that dependent child has lived in this state for 5 |
| 5416 | consecutive years prior to enrolling or reregistering at the |
| 5417 | institution of higher education at which resident status for |
| 5418 | tuition purposes is sought. |
| 5419 | (5) In making a domiciliary determination related to the |
| 5420 | classification of a person as a resident or nonresident for |
| 5421 | tuition purposes, the domicile of a married person, irrespective |
| 5422 | of sex, shall be determined, as in the case of an unmarried |
| 5423 | person, by reference to all relevant evidence of domiciliary |
| 5424 | intent. For the purposes of this section: |
| 5425 | (a) A person shall not be precluded from establishing or |
| 5426 | maintaining legal residence in this state and subsequently |
| 5427 | qualifying or continuing to qualify as a resident for tuition |
| 5428 | purposes solely by reason of marriage to a person domiciled |
| 5429 | outside this state, even when that person's spouse continues to |
| 5430 | be domiciled outside of this state, provided such person |
| 5431 | maintains his or her legal residence in this state. |
| 5432 | (b) A person shall not be deemed to have established or |
| 5433 | maintained a legal residence in this state and subsequently to |
| 5434 | have qualified or continued to qualify as a resident for tuition |
| 5435 | purposes solely by reason of marriage to a person domiciled in |
| 5436 | this state. |
| 5437 | (c) In determining the domicile of a married person, |
| 5438 | irrespective of sex, the fact of the marriage and the place of |
| 5439 | domicile of such person's spouse shall be deemed relevant |
| 5440 | evidence to be considered in ascertaining domiciliary intent. |
| 5441 | (6)(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a |
| 5442 | person who is classified as a nonresident for tuition purposes |
| 5443 | may become eligible for reclassification as a resident for |
| 5444 | tuition purposes if that person or, if that person is a |
| 5445 | dependent child, his or her parent presents clear and convincing |
| 5446 | documentation that supports permanent legal residency in this |
| 5447 | state for at least 12 consecutive months rather than temporary |
| 5448 | residency for the purpose of pursuing an education, such as |
| 5449 | documentation of full-time permanent employment for the prior 12 |
| 5450 | months or the purchase of a home in this state and residence |
| 5451 | therein for the prior 12 months while not enrolled in an |
| 5452 | institution of higher education. |
| 5453 | (b) If a person who is a dependent child and his or her |
| 5454 | parent move to this state while such child is a high school |
| 5455 | student and the child graduates from a high school in this |
| 5456 | state, the child may become eligible for reclassification as a |
| 5457 | resident for tuition purposes when the parent submits evidence |
| 5458 | that the parent qualifies for permanent residency. |
| 5459 | (c) If a person who is a dependent child and his or her |
| 5460 | parent move to this state after such child graduates from high |
| 5461 | school, the child may become eligible for reclassification as a |
| 5462 | resident for tuition purposes after the parent submits evidence |
| 5463 | that he or she has established legal residence in the state and |
| 5464 | has maintained legal residence in the state for at least 12 |
| 5465 | consecutive months. |
| 5466 | (d) A person who is classified as a nonresident for |
| 5467 | tuition purposes and who marries a legal resident of the state |
| 5468 | or marries a person who becomes a legal resident of the state |
| 5469 | may, upon becoming a legal resident of the state, become |
| 5470 | eligible for reclassification as a resident for tuition purposes |
| 5471 | upon submitting evidence of his or her own legal residency in |
| 5472 | the state, evidence of his or her marriage to a person who is a |
| 5473 | legal resident of the state, and evidence of the spouse's legal |
| 5474 | residence in the state for at least 12 consecutive months |
| 5475 | immediately preceding the application for reclassification. |
| 5476 | (7) A person shall not lose his or her resident status for |
| 5477 | tuition purposes solely by reason of serving, or, if such person |
| 5478 | is a dependent child, by reason of his or her parent's or |
| 5479 | parents' serving, in the Armed Forces outside this state. |
| 5480 | (8) A person who has been properly classified as a |
| 5481 | resident for tuition purposes but who, while enrolled in an |
| 5482 | institution of higher education in this state, loses his or her |
| 5483 | resident tuition status because the person or, if he or she is a |
| 5484 | dependent child, the person's parent or parents establish |
| 5485 | domicile or legal residence elsewhere shall continue to enjoy |
| 5486 | the in-state tuition rate for a statutory grace period, which |
| 5487 | period shall be measured from the date on which the |
| 5488 | circumstances arose that culminated in the loss of resident |
| 5489 | tuition status and shall continue for 12 months. However, if the |
| 5490 | 12-month grace period ends during a semester or academic term |
| 5491 | for which such former resident is enrolled, such grace period |
| 5492 | shall be extended to the end of that semester or academic term. |
| 5493 | (9) Any person who ceases to be enrolled at or who |
| 5494 | graduates from an institution of higher education while |
| 5495 | classified as a resident for tuition purposes and who |
| 5496 | subsequently abandons his or her domicile in this state shall be |
| 5497 | permitted to reenroll at an institution of higher education in |
| 5498 | this state as a resident for tuition purposes without the |
| 5499 | necessity of meeting the 12-month durational requirement of this |
| 5500 | section if that person has reestablished his or her domicile in |
| 5501 | this state within 12 months of such abandonment and continuously |
| 5502 | maintains the reestablished domicile during the period of |
| 5503 | enrollment. The benefit of this subsection shall not be accorded |
| 5504 | more than once to any one person. |
| 5505 | (10) The following persons shall be classified as |
| 5506 | residents for tuition purposes: |
| 5507 | (a) Active duty members of the Armed Services of the |
| 5508 | United States residing or stationed in this state, their |
| 5509 | spouses, and dependent children, and active drilling members of |
| 5510 | the Florida National Guard. |
| 5511 | (b) Active duty members of the Armed Services of the |
| 5512 | United States and their spouses and dependents attending a |
| 5513 | Florida College System institution public community college or |
| 5514 | state university within 50 miles of the military establishment |
| 5515 | where they are stationed, if such military establishment is |
| 5516 | within a county contiguous to Florida. |
| 5517 | (c) United States citizens living on the Isthmus of |
| 5518 | Panama, who have completed 12 consecutive months of college work |
| 5519 | at the Florida State University Panama Canal Branch, and their |
| 5520 | spouses and dependent children. |
| 5521 | (d) Full-time instructional and administrative personnel |
| 5522 | employed by state public schools and institutions of higher |
| 5523 | education and their spouses and dependent children. |
| 5524 | (e) Students from Latin America and the Caribbean who |
| 5525 | receive scholarships from the federal or state government. Any |
| 5526 | student classified pursuant to this paragraph shall attend, on a |
| 5527 | full-time basis, a Florida institution of higher education. |
| 5528 | (f) Southern Regional Education Board's Academic Common |
| 5529 | Market graduate students attending Florida's state universities. |
| 5530 | (g) Full-time employees of state agencies or political |
| 5531 | subdivisions of the state when the student fees are paid by the |
| 5532 | state agency or political subdivision for the purpose of job- |
| 5533 | related law enforcement or corrections training. |
| 5534 | (h) McKnight Doctoral Fellows and Finalists who are United |
| 5535 | States citizens. |
| 5536 | (i) United States citizens living outside the United |
| 5537 | States who are teaching at a Department of Defense Dependent |
| 5538 | School or in an American International School and who enroll in |
| 5539 | a graduate level education program which leads to a Florida |
| 5540 | teaching certificate. |
| 5541 | (j) Active duty members of the Canadian military residing |
| 5542 | or stationed in this state under the North American Air Defense |
| 5543 | (NORAD) agreement, and their spouses and dependent children, |
| 5544 | attending a Florida College System institution community college |
| 5545 | or state university within 50 miles of the military |
| 5546 | establishment where they are stationed. |
| 5547 | (k) Active duty members of a foreign nation's military who |
| 5548 | are serving as liaison officers and are residing or stationed in |
| 5549 | this state, and their spouses and dependent children, attending |
| 5550 | a Florida College System institution community college or state |
| 5551 | university within 50 miles of the military establishment where |
| 5552 | the foreign liaison officer is stationed. |
| 5553 | (11) Once a student has been classified as a resident for |
| 5554 | tuition purposes, an institution of higher education to which |
| 5555 | the student transfers is not required to reevaluate the |
| 5556 | classification unless inconsistent information suggests that an |
| 5557 | erroneous classification was made or the student's situation has |
| 5558 | changed. However, the student must have attended the institution |
| 5559 | making the initial classification within the prior 12 months, |
| 5560 | and the residency classification must be noted on the student's |
| 5561 | transcript. The Higher Education Coordinating Council shall |
| 5562 | consider issues related to residency determinations and make |
| 5563 | recommendations relating to efficiency and effectiveness of |
| 5564 | current law. |
| 5565 | (12) Each institution of higher education shall establish |
| 5566 | a residency appeal committee comprised of at least three members |
| 5567 | to consider student appeals of residency determinations, in |
| 5568 | accordance with the institution's official appeal process. The |
| 5569 | residency appeal committee must render to the student the final |
| 5570 | residency determination in writing. The institution must advise |
| 5571 | the student of the reasons for the determination. |
| 5572 | (13) The State Board of Education and the Board of |
| 5573 | Governors shall adopt rules to implement this section. |
| 5574 | Section 117. Subsection (1), paragraphs (a), (b), (e), |
| 5575 | (f), and (g) of subsection (3), subsections (4) and (5), |
| 5576 | paragraph (a) of subsection (6), and subsections (7), (8), (9), |
| 5577 | (10), (11), and (12) of section 1009.22, Florida Statutes, are |
| 5578 | amended to read: |
| 5579 | 1009.22 Workforce education postsecondary student fees.- |
| 5580 | (1) This section applies to students enrolled in workforce |
| 5581 | education programs who are reported for funding, except that |
| 5582 | college credit fees for the Florida College System institutions |
| 5583 | community colleges are governed by s. 1009.23. |
| 5584 | (3)(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, fees for |
| 5585 | students who are nonresidents for tuition purposes must offset |
| 5586 | the full cost of instruction. Fee-nonexempt students enrolled in |
| 5587 | vocational-preparatory instruction shall be charged fees equal |
| 5588 | to the fees charged for certificate career education |
| 5589 | instruction. Each Florida College System institution community |
| 5590 | college that conducts college-preparatory and vocational- |
| 5591 | preparatory instruction in the same class section may charge a |
| 5592 | single fee for both types of instruction. |
| 5593 | (b) Fees for continuing workforce education shall be |
| 5594 | locally determined by the district school board or Florida |
| 5595 | College System institution community college board. Expenditures |
| 5596 | for the continuing workforce education program provided by the |
| 5597 | Florida College System institution community college or school |
| 5598 | district must be fully supported by fees. Enrollments in |
| 5599 | continuing workforce education courses may not be counted for |
| 5600 | purposes of funding full-time equivalent enrollment. |
| 5601 | (e) Each district school board and each Florida College |
| 5602 | System institution community college board of trustees may adopt |
| 5603 | tuition and out-of-state fees that may vary no more than 5 |
| 5604 | percent below and 5 percent above the combined total of the |
| 5605 | standard tuition and out-of-state fees established in paragraph |
| 5606 | (c). |
| 5607 | (f) The maximum increase in resident tuition for any |
| 5608 | school district or Florida College System institution community |
| 5609 | college during the 2007-2008 fiscal year shall be 5 percent over |
| 5610 | the tuition charged during the 2006-2007 fiscal year. |
| 5611 | (g) The State Board of Education may adopt, by rule, the |
| 5612 | definitions and procedures that district school boards and |
| 5613 | Florida College System institution community college boards of |
| 5614 | trustees shall use in the calculation of cost borne by students. |
| 5615 | (4) A district school board or Florida College System |
| 5616 | institution community college board that has a service area that |
| 5617 | borders another state may implement a plan for a differential |
| 5618 | out-of-state fee. |
| 5619 | (5) Each district school board and Florida College System |
| 5620 | institution community college board of trustees may establish a |
| 5621 | separate fee for financial aid purposes in an additional amount |
| 5622 | of up to 10 percent of the student fees collected for workforce |
| 5623 | education programs. All fees collected shall be deposited into a |
| 5624 | separate workforce education student financial aid fee trust |
| 5625 | fund of the school district or Florida College System |
| 5626 | institution community college to support students enrolled in |
| 5627 | workforce education programs. Any undisbursed balance remaining |
| 5628 | in the trust fund and interest income accruing to investments |
| 5629 | from the trust fund shall increase the total funds available for |
| 5630 | distribution to workforce education students. Awards shall be |
| 5631 | based on student financial need and distributed in accordance |
| 5632 | with a nationally recognized system of need analysis approved by |
| 5633 | the State Board of Education. Fees collected pursuant to this |
| 5634 | subsection shall be allocated in an expeditious manner. |
| 5635 | (6)(a) Each district school board and Florida College |
| 5636 | System institution community college board of trustees may |
| 5637 | establish a separate fee for capital improvements, technology |
| 5638 | enhancements, or equipping buildings which may not exceed 5 |
| 5639 | percent of tuition for resident students or 5 percent of tuition |
| 5640 | and out-of-state fees for nonresident students. Funds collected |
| 5641 | by Florida College System institutions community colleges |
| 5642 | through the fee may be bonded only for the purpose of financing |
| 5643 | or refinancing new construction and equipment, renovation, or |
| 5644 | remodeling of educational facilities. The fee shall be collected |
| 5645 | as a component part of the tuition and fees, paid into a |
| 5646 | separate account, and expended only to construct and equip, |
| 5647 | maintain, improve, or enhance the certificate career education |
| 5648 | or adult education facilities of the school district or Florida |
| 5649 | College System institution community college. Projects funded |
| 5650 | through the use of the capital improvement fee must meet the |
| 5651 | survey and construction requirements of chapter 1013. Pursuant |
| 5652 | to s. 216.0158, each district school board and Florida College |
| 5653 | System institution community college board of trustees shall |
| 5654 | identify each project, including maintenance projects, proposed |
| 5655 | to be funded in whole or in part by such fee. Capital |
| 5656 | improvement fee revenues may be pledged by a board of trustees |
| 5657 | as a dedicated revenue source to the repayment of debt, |
| 5658 | including lease-purchase agreements, with an overall term of not |
| 5659 | more than 7 years, including renewals, extensions, and |
| 5660 | refundings, and revenue bonds with a term not exceeding 20 years |
| 5661 | and not exceeding the useful life of the asset being financed, |
| 5662 | only for the new construction and equipment, renovation, or |
| 5663 | remodeling of educational facilities. Bonds authorized pursuant |
| 5664 | to this paragraph shall be requested by the Florida College |
| 5665 | System institution community college board of trustees and shall |
| 5666 | be issued by the Division of Bond Finance in compliance with s. |
| 5667 | 11(d), Art. VII of the State Constitution and the State Bond |
| 5668 | Act. The Division of Bond Finance may pledge fees collected by |
| 5669 | one or more Florida College System institutions community |
| 5670 | colleges to secure such bonds. Any project included in the |
| 5671 | approved educational plant survey pursuant to chapter 1013 is |
| 5672 | approved pursuant to s. 11(f), Art. VII of the State |
| 5673 | Constitution. Bonds issued pursuant to the State Bond Act may be |
| 5674 | validated in the manner provided by chapter 75. The complaint |
| 5675 | for such validation shall be filed in the circuit court of the |
| 5676 | county where the seat of state government is situated, the |
| 5677 | notice required to be published by s. 75.06 shall be published |
| 5678 | only in the county where the complaint is filed, and the |
| 5679 | complaint and order of the circuit court shall be served only on |
| 5680 | the state attorney of the circuit in which the action is |
| 5681 | pending. A maximum of 15 cents per credit hour may be allocated |
| 5682 | from the capital improvement fee for child care centers |
| 5683 | conducted by the district school board or Florida College System |
| 5684 | institution community college board of trustees. The use of |
| 5685 | capital improvement fees for such purpose shall be subordinate |
| 5686 | to the payment of any bonds secured by the fees. |
| 5687 | (7) Each district school board and Florida College System |
| 5688 | institution community college board of trustees is authorized to |
| 5689 | establish a separate fee for technology, not to exceed 5 percent |
| 5690 | of tuition per credit hour or credit-hour equivalent for |
| 5691 | resident students and not to exceed 5 percent of tuition and the |
| 5692 | out-of-state fee per credit hour or credit-hour equivalent for |
| 5693 | nonresident students. Revenues generated from the technology fee |
| 5694 | shall be used to enhance instructional technology resources for |
| 5695 | students and faculty and shall not be included in any award |
| 5696 | under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. Fifty |
| 5697 | percent of technology fee revenues may be pledged by a Florida |
| 5698 | College System institution community college board of trustees |
| 5699 | as a dedicated revenue source for the repayment of debt, |
| 5700 | including lease-purchase agreements, not to exceed the useful |
| 5701 | life of the asset being financed. Revenues generated from the |
| 5702 | technology fee may not be bonded. |
| 5703 | (8) Each district school board and Florida College System |
| 5704 | institution community college board of trustees is authorized to |
| 5705 | establish specific fees for workforce development instruction |
| 5706 | not reported for state funding purposes or for workforce |
| 5707 | development instruction not reported as state funded full-time |
| 5708 | equivalent students. District school boards and Florida College |
| 5709 | System institution community college boards of trustees are not |
| 5710 | required to charge any other fee specified in this section for |
| 5711 | this type of instruction. |
| 5712 | (9) Florida College System institution Community college |
| 5713 | boards of trustees and district school boards are not authorized |
| 5714 | to charge students enrolled in workforce development programs |
| 5715 | any fee that is not specifically authorized by statute. In |
| 5716 | addition to tuition, out-of-state, financial aid, capital |
| 5717 | improvement, and technology fees, as authorized in this section, |
| 5718 | Florida College System institution community college boards of |
| 5719 | trustees and district school boards are authorized to establish |
| 5720 | fee schedules for the following user fees and fines: laboratory |
| 5721 | fees; parking fees and fines; library fees and fines; fees and |
| 5722 | fines relating to facilities and equipment use or damage; access |
| 5723 | or identification card fees; duplicating, photocopying, binding, |
| 5724 | or microfilming fees; standardized testing fees; diploma |
| 5725 | replacement fees; transcript fees; application fees; graduation |
| 5726 | fees; and late fees related to registration and payment. Such |
| 5727 | user fees and fines shall not exceed the cost of the services |
| 5728 | provided and shall only be charged to persons receiving the |
| 5729 | service. Parking fee revenues may be pledged by a Florida |
| 5730 | College System institution community college board of trustees |
| 5731 | as a dedicated revenue source for the repayment of debt, |
| 5732 | including lease-purchase agreements, with an overall term of not |
| 5733 | more than 7 years, including renewals, extensions, and |
| 5734 | refundings, and revenue bonds with a term not exceeding 20 years |
| 5735 | and not exceeding the useful life of the asset being financed. |
| 5736 | Florida College System institutions Community colleges shall use |
| 5737 | the services of the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board |
| 5738 | of Administration to issue any revenue bonds authorized by this |
| 5739 | subsection. Any such bonds issued by the Division of Bond |
| 5740 | Finance shall be in compliance with the provisions of the State |
| 5741 | Bond Act. Bonds issued pursuant to the State Bond Act may be |
| 5742 | validated in the manner established in chapter 75. The complaint |
| 5743 | for such validation shall be filed in the circuit court of the |
| 5744 | county where the seat of state government is situated, the |
| 5745 | notice required to be published by s. 75.06 shall be published |
| 5746 | only in the county where the complaint is filed, and the |
| 5747 | complaint and order of the circuit court shall be served only on |
| 5748 | the state attorney of the circuit in which the action is |
| 5749 | pending. |
| 5750 | (10) Each school district and Florida College System |
| 5751 | institution community college may assess a service charge for |
| 5752 | the payment of tuition and fees in installments. Such service |
| 5753 | charge must be approved by the district school board or Florida |
| 5754 | College System institution community college board of trustees. |
| 5755 | (11) Any school district or Florida College System |
| 5756 | institution community college that reports students who have not |
| 5757 | paid fees in an approved manner in calculations of full-time |
| 5758 | equivalent enrollments for state funding purposes shall be |
| 5759 | penalized at a rate equal to 2 times the value of such |
| 5760 | enrollments. Such penalty shall be charged against the following |
| 5761 | year's allocation from workforce education funds or the Florida |
| 5762 | Community College System Program Fund and shall revert to the |
| 5763 | General Revenue Fund. The State Board of Education shall |
| 5764 | specify, as necessary in rule, approved methods of student fee |
| 5765 | payment. Such methods must include, but need not be limited to, |
| 5766 | student fee payment; payment through federal, state, or |
| 5767 | institutional financial aid; and employer fee payments. |
| 5768 | (12) Each school district and Florida College System |
| 5769 | institution community college shall report only those students |
| 5770 | who have actually enrolled in instruction provided or supervised |
| 5771 | by instructional personnel under contract with the district or |
| 5772 | Florida College System institution community college in |
| 5773 | calculations of actual full-time enrollments for state funding |
| 5774 | purposes. A student who has been exempted from taking a course |
| 5775 | or who has been granted academic or technical credit through |
| 5776 | means other than actual coursework completed at the granting |
| 5777 | institution may not be calculated for enrollment in the course |
| 5778 | from which the student has been exempted or for which the |
| 5779 | student has been granted credit. School districts and Florida |
| 5780 | College System institutions community colleges that report |
| 5781 | enrollments in violation of this subsection shall be penalized |
| 5782 | at a rate equal to 2 times the value of such enrollments. Such |
| 5783 | penalty shall be charged against the following year's allocation |
| 5784 | from workforce education funds and shall revert to the General |
| 5785 | Revenue Fund. |
| 5786 | Section 118. Section 1009.23, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 5787 | to read: |
| 5788 | 1009.23 Florida College System institution Community |
| 5789 | college student fees.- |
| 5790 | (1) Unless otherwise provided, this section applies only |
| 5791 | to fees charged for college credit instruction leading to an |
| 5792 | associate in arts degree, an associate in applied science |
| 5793 | degree, an associate in science degree, or a baccalaureate |
| 5794 | degree authorized pursuant to s. 1007.33, for noncollege credit |
| 5795 | college-preparatory courses defined in s. 1004.02, and for |
| 5796 | educator preparation institute programs defined in s. 1004.85. |
| 5797 | (2)(a) All students shall be charged fees except students |
| 5798 | who are exempt from fees or students whose fees are waived. |
| 5799 | (b) Tuition and out-of-state fees for upper-division |
| 5800 | courses must reflect the fact that the Florida College System |
| 5801 | institution community college has a less expensive cost |
| 5802 | structure than that of a state university. Therefore, the board |
| 5803 | of trustees shall establish tuition and out-of-state fees for |
| 5804 | upper-division courses in baccalaureate degree programs approved |
| 5805 | pursuant to s. 1007.33 consistent with law and proviso language |
| 5806 | in the General Appropriations Act. However, the board of |
| 5807 | trustees may not vary tuition and out-of-state fees as provided |
| 5808 | in subsection (4). |
| 5809 | (3)(a) Effective January 1, 2008, for advanced and |
| 5810 | professional, postsecondary vocational, college preparatory, and |
| 5811 | educator preparation institute programs, the following tuition |
| 5812 | and fee rates shall apply: |
| 5813 | 1. The standard tuition shall be $51.35 per credit hour |
| 5814 | for students who are residents for tuition purposes. |
| 5815 | 2. The standard tuition shall be $51.35 per credit hour |
| 5816 | and the out-of-state fee shall be $154.14 per credit hour for |
| 5817 | students who are nonresidents for tuition purposes. |
| 5818 | (b) Effective January 1, 2008, for baccalaureate degree |
| 5819 | programs, the following tuition and fee rates shall apply: |
| 5820 | 1. The tuition shall be $65.47 per credit hour for |
| 5821 | students who are residents for tuition purposes. |
| 5822 | 2. The sum of the tuition and the out-of-state fee per |
| 5823 | credit hour for students who are nonresidents for tuition |
| 5824 | purposes shall be no more than 85 percent of the sum of the |
| 5825 | tuition and the out-of-state fee at the state university nearest |
| 5826 | the Florida College System institution community college. |
| 5827 | (c) Beginning with the 2008-2009 fiscal year and each year |
| 5828 | thereafter, the tuition and the out-of-state fee shall increase |
| 5829 | at the beginning of each fall semester at a rate equal to |
| 5830 | inflation, unless otherwise provided in the General |
| 5831 | Appropriations Act. The Office of Economic and Demographic |
| 5832 | Research shall report the rate of inflation to the President of |
| 5833 | the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the |
| 5834 | Governor, and the State Board of Education each year prior to |
| 5835 | March 1. For purposes of this paragraph, the rate of inflation |
| 5836 | shall be defined as the rate of the 12-month percentage change |
| 5837 | in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, U.S. City |
| 5838 | Average, All Items, or successor reports as reported by the |
| 5839 | United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, |
| 5840 | or its successor for December of the previous year. In the event |
| 5841 | the percentage change is negative, the tuition and the out-of- |
| 5842 | state fee per credit hour shall remain at the same levels as the |
| 5843 | prior fiscal year. |
| 5844 | (4) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 5845 | college board of trustees shall establish tuition and out-of- |
| 5846 | state fees, which may vary no more than 10 percent below and 15 |
| 5847 | percent above the combined total of the standard tuition and |
| 5848 | fees established in subsection (3). |
| 5849 | (5) Except as otherwise provided in law, the sum of |
| 5850 | nonresident student tuition and out-of-state fees must be |
| 5851 | sufficient to defray the full cost of each program. |
| 5852 | (6) A Florida College System institution community college |
| 5853 | board of trustees that has a service area that borders another |
| 5854 | state may implement a plan for a differential out-of-state fee. |
| 5855 | (7) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 5856 | college board of trustees may establish a separate activity and |
| 5857 | service fee not to exceed 10 percent of the tuition fee, |
| 5858 | according to rules of the State Board of Education. The student |
| 5859 | activity and service fee shall be collected as a component part |
| 5860 | of the tuition and fees. The student activity and service fees |
| 5861 | shall be paid into a student activity and service fund at the |
| 5862 | Florida College System institution community college and shall |
| 5863 | be expended for lawful purposes to benefit the student body in |
| 5864 | general. These purposes include, but are not limited to, student |
| 5865 | publications and grants to duly recognized student |
| 5866 | organizations, the membership of which is open to all students |
| 5867 | at the Florida College System institution community college |
| 5868 | without regard to race, sex, or religion. No Florida College |
| 5869 | System institution community college shall be required to lower |
| 5870 | any activity and service fee approved by the board of trustees |
| 5871 | of the Florida College System institution community college and |
| 5872 | in effect prior to October 26, 2007, in order to comply with the |
| 5873 | provisions of this subsection. |
| 5874 | (8)(a) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 5875 | college board of trustees is authorized to establish a separate |
| 5876 | fee for financial aid purposes in an additional amount up to, |
| 5877 | but not to exceed, 5 percent of the total student tuition or |
| 5878 | out-of-state fees collected. Each Florida College System |
| 5879 | institution community college board of trustees may collect up |
| 5880 | to an additional 2 percent if the amount generated by the total |
| 5881 | financial aid fee is less than $500,000. If the amount generated |
| 5882 | is less than $500,000, a Florida College System institution |
| 5883 | community college that charges tuition and out-of-state fees at |
| 5884 | least equal to the average fees established by rule may transfer |
| 5885 | from the general current fund to the scholarship fund an amount |
| 5886 | equal to the difference between $500,000 and the amount |
| 5887 | generated by the total financial aid fee assessment. No other |
| 5888 | transfer from the general current fund to the loan, endowment, |
| 5889 | or scholarship fund, by whatever name known, is authorized. |
| 5890 | (b) All funds collected under this program shall be placed |
| 5891 | in the loan and endowment fund or scholarship fund of the |
| 5892 | college, by whatever name known. Such funds shall be disbursed |
| 5893 | to students as quickly as possible. An amount not greater than |
| 5894 | 40 percent of the fees collected in a fiscal year may be carried |
| 5895 | forward unexpended to the following fiscal year. However, funds |
| 5896 | collected prior to July 1, 1989, and placed in an endowment fund |
| 5897 | may not be considered part of the balance of funds carried |
| 5898 | forward unexpended to the following fiscal year. |
| 5899 | (c) Up to 25 percent or $600,000, whichever is greater, of |
| 5900 | the financial aid fees collected may be used to assist students |
| 5901 | who demonstrate academic merit; who participate in athletics, |
| 5902 | public service, cultural arts, and other extracurricular |
| 5903 | programs as determined by the institution; or who are identified |
| 5904 | as members of a targeted gender or ethnic minority population. |
| 5905 | The financial aid fee revenues allocated for athletic |
| 5906 | scholarships and fee exemptions provided pursuant to s. |
| 5907 | 1009.25(3) for athletes shall be distributed equitably as |
| 5908 | required by s. 1000.05(3)(d). A minimum of 75 percent of the |
| 5909 | balance of these funds for new awards shall be used to provide |
| 5910 | financial aid based on absolute need, and the remainder of the |
| 5911 | funds shall be used for academic merit purposes and other |
| 5912 | purposes approved by the boards of trustees. Such other purposes |
| 5913 | shall include the payment of child care fees for students with |
| 5914 | financial need. The State Board of Education shall develop |
| 5915 | criteria for making financial aid awards. Each college shall |
| 5916 | report annually to the Department of Education on the revenue |
| 5917 | collected pursuant to this paragraph, the amount carried |
| 5918 | forward, the criteria used to make awards, the amount and number |
| 5919 | of awards for each criterion, and a delineation of the |
| 5920 | distribution of such awards. The report shall include an |
| 5921 | assessment by category of the financial need of every student |
| 5922 | who receives an award, regardless of the purpose for which the |
| 5923 | award is received. Awards which are based on financial need |
| 5924 | shall be distributed in accordance with a nationally recognized |
| 5925 | system of need analysis approved by the State Board of |
| 5926 | Education. An award for academic merit shall require a minimum |
| 5927 | overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or the |
| 5928 | equivalent for both initial receipt of the award and renewal of |
| 5929 | the award. |
| 5930 | (d) These funds may not be used for direct or indirect |
| 5931 | administrative purposes or salaries. |
| 5932 | (9) Any Florida College System institution community |
| 5933 | college that reports students who have not paid fees in an |
| 5934 | approved manner in calculations of full-time equivalent |
| 5935 | enrollments for state funding purposes shall be penalized at a |
| 5936 | rate equal to two times the value of such enrollments. Such |
| 5937 | penalty shall be charged against the following year's allocation |
| 5938 | from the Florida Community College System Program Fund and shall |
| 5939 | revert to the General Revenue Fund. |
| 5940 | (10) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 5941 | college board of trustees is authorized to establish a separate |
| 5942 | fee for technology, which may not exceed 5 percent of tuition |
| 5943 | per credit hour or credit-hour equivalent for resident students |
| 5944 | and may not exceed 5 percent of tuition and the out-of-state fee |
| 5945 | per credit hour or credit-hour equivalent for nonresident |
| 5946 | students. Revenues generated from the technology fee shall be |
| 5947 | used to enhance instructional technology resources for students |
| 5948 | and faculty. The technology fee may apply to both college credit |
| 5949 | and college-preparatory instruction and shall not be included in |
| 5950 | any award under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. |
| 5951 | Fifty percent of technology fee revenues may be pledged by a |
| 5952 | Florida College System institution community college board of |
| 5953 | trustees as a dedicated revenue source for the repayment of |
| 5954 | debt, including lease-purchase agreements, not to exceed the |
| 5955 | useful life of the asset being financed. Revenues generated from |
| 5956 | the technology fee may not be bonded. |
| 5957 | (11)(a) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 5958 | college board of trustees may establish a separate fee for |
| 5959 | capital improvements, technology enhancements, or equipping |
| 5960 | student buildings which may not exceed 10 percent of tuition for |
| 5961 | resident students or 10 percent of the sum of tuition and out- |
| 5962 | of-state fees for nonresident students. The fee for resident |
| 5963 | students shall be limited to an increase of $2 per credit hour |
| 5964 | over the prior year. Funds collected by Florida College System |
| 5965 | institutions community colleges through the fee may be bonded |
| 5966 | only as provided in this subsection for the purpose of financing |
| 5967 | or refinancing new construction and equipment, renovation, or |
| 5968 | remodeling of educational facilities. The fee shall be collected |
| 5969 | as a component part of the tuition and fees, paid into a |
| 5970 | separate account, and expended only to construct and equip, |
| 5971 | maintain, improve, or enhance the educational facilities of the |
| 5972 | Florida College System institution community college. Projects |
| 5973 | funded through the use of the capital improvement fee shall meet |
| 5974 | the survey and construction requirements of chapter 1013. |
| 5975 | Pursuant to s. 216.0158, each Florida College System institution |
| 5976 | community college shall identify each project, including |
| 5977 | maintenance projects, proposed to be funded in whole or in part |
| 5978 | by such fee. |
| 5979 | (b) Capital improvement fee revenues may be pledged by a |
| 5980 | board of trustees as a dedicated revenue source to the repayment |
| 5981 | of debt, including lease-purchase agreements, with an overall |
| 5982 | term of not more than 7 years, including renewals, extensions, |
| 5983 | and refundings, and revenue bonds with a term not exceeding 20 |
| 5984 | annual maturities and not exceeding the useful life of the asset |
| 5985 | being financed, only for financing or refinancing of the new |
| 5986 | construction and equipment, renovation, or remodeling of |
| 5987 | educational facilities. Bonds authorized pursuant to this |
| 5988 | subsection shall be requested by the Florida College System |
| 5989 | institution community college board of trustees and shall be |
| 5990 | issued by the Division of Bond Finance in compliance with s. |
| 5991 | 11(d), Art. VII of the State Constitution and the State Bond |
| 5992 | Act. The Division of Bond Finance may pledge fees collected by |
| 5993 | one or more Florida College System institutions community |
| 5994 | colleges to secure such bonds. Any project included in the |
| 5995 | approved educational plant survey pursuant to chapter 1013 is |
| 5996 | approved pursuant to s. 11(f), Art. VII of the State |
| 5997 | Constitution. |
| 5998 | (c) Bonds issued pursuant to this subsection may be |
| 5999 | validated in the manner provided by chapter 75. Only the initial |
| 6000 | series of bonds is required to be validated. The complaint for |
| 6001 | such validation shall be filed in the circuit court of the |
| 6002 | county where the seat of state government is situated, the |
| 6003 | notice required to be published by s. 75.06 shall be published |
| 6004 | only in the county where the complaint is filed, and the |
| 6005 | complaint and order of the circuit court shall be served only on |
| 6006 | the state attorney of the circuit in which the action is |
| 6007 | pending. |
| 6008 | (d) A maximum of 15 percent may be allocated from the |
| 6009 | capital improvement fee for child care centers conducted by the |
| 6010 | Florida College System institution community college. The use of |
| 6011 | capital improvement fees for such purpose shall be subordinate |
| 6012 | to the payment of any bonds secured by the fees. |
| 6013 | (e) The state does hereby covenant with the holders of the |
| 6014 | bonds issued under this subsection that it will not take any |
| 6015 | action that will materially and adversely affect the rights of |
| 6016 | such holders so long as the bonds authorized by this subsection |
| 6017 | are outstanding. |
| 6018 | (12)(a) In addition to tuition, out-of-state, financial |
| 6019 | aid, capital improvement, student activity and service, and |
| 6020 | technology fees authorized in this section, each Florida College |
| 6021 | System institution community college board of trustees is |
| 6022 | authorized to establish fee schedules for the following user |
| 6023 | fees and fines: laboratory fees, which do not apply to a |
| 6024 | distance learning course; parking fees and fines; library fees |
| 6025 | and fines; fees and fines relating to facilities and equipment |
| 6026 | use or damage; access or identification card fees; duplicating, |
| 6027 | photocopying, binding, or microfilming fees; standardized |
| 6028 | testing fees; diploma replacement fees; transcript fees; |
| 6029 | application fees; graduation fees; and late fees related to |
| 6030 | registration and payment. Such user fees and fines shall not |
| 6031 | exceed the cost of the services provided and shall only be |
| 6032 | charged to persons receiving the service. A Florida College |
| 6033 | System institution community college may not charge any fee |
| 6034 | except as authorized by law. Parking fee revenues may be pledged |
| 6035 | by a Florida College System institution community college board |
| 6036 | of trustees as a dedicated revenue source for the repayment of |
| 6037 | debt, including lease-purchase agreements, with an overall term |
| 6038 | of not more than 7 years, including renewals, extensions, and |
| 6039 | refundings, and revenue bonds with a term not exceeding 20 years |
| 6040 | and not exceeding the useful life of the asset being financed. |
| 6041 | Florida College System institutions Community colleges shall use |
| 6042 | the services of the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board |
| 6043 | of Administration to issue any revenue bonds authorized by this |
| 6044 | subsection. Any such bonds issued by the Division of Bond |
| 6045 | Finance shall be in compliance with the provisions of the State |
| 6046 | Bond Act. Bonds issued pursuant to the State Bond Act may be |
| 6047 | validated in the manner established in chapter 75. The complaint |
| 6048 | for such validation shall be filed in the circuit court of the |
| 6049 | county where the seat of state government is situated, the |
| 6050 | notice required to be published by s. 75.06 shall be published |
| 6051 | only in the county where the complaint is filed, and the |
| 6052 | complaint and order of the circuit court shall be served only on |
| 6053 | the state attorney of the circuit in which the action is |
| 6054 | pending. |
| 6055 | (b) The State Board of Education may adopt rules pursuant |
| 6056 | to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer this subsection. |
| 6057 | (13) The State Board of Education shall specify, as |
| 6058 | necessary, by rule, approved methods of student fee payment. |
| 6059 | Such methods shall include, but not be limited to, student fee |
| 6060 | payment; payment through federal, state, or institutional |
| 6061 | financial aid; and employer fee payments. |
| 6062 | (14) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 6063 | college board of trustees shall report only those students who |
| 6064 | have actually enrolled in instruction provided or supervised by |
| 6065 | instructional personnel under contract with the Florida College |
| 6066 | System institution community college in calculations of actual |
| 6067 | full-time equivalent enrollments for state funding purposes. No |
| 6068 | student who has been exempted from taking a course or who has |
| 6069 | been granted academic or career credit through means other than |
| 6070 | actual coursework completed at the granting institution shall be |
| 6071 | calculated for enrollment in the course from which he or she has |
| 6072 | been exempted or granted credit. Florida College System |
| 6073 | institutions Community colleges that report enrollments in |
| 6074 | violation of this subsection shall be penalized at a rate equal |
| 6075 | to two times the value of such enrollments. Such penalty shall |
| 6076 | be charged against the following year's allocation from the |
| 6077 | Florida Community College System Program Fund and shall revert |
| 6078 | to the General Revenue Fund. |
| 6079 | (15) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 6080 | college may assess a service charge for the payment of tuition |
| 6081 | and fees in installments and a convenience fee for the |
| 6082 | processing of automated or online credit card payments. However, |
| 6083 | the amount of the convenience fee may not exceed the total cost |
| 6084 | charged by the credit card company to the Florida College System |
| 6085 | institution community college. Such service charge or |
| 6086 | convenience fee must be approved by the Florida College System |
| 6087 | institution community college board of trustees. |
| 6088 | (16)(a) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 6089 | college may assess a student who enrolls in a course listed in |
| 6090 | the Florida Higher Education Distance Learning Catalog, |
| 6091 | established pursuant to s. 1004.09, a per-credit-hour distance |
| 6092 | learning course user fee. For purposes of assessing this fee, a |
| 6093 | distance learning course is a course in which at least 80 |
| 6094 | percent of the direct instruction of the course is delivered |
| 6095 | using some form of technology when the student and instructor |
| 6096 | are separated by time or space, or both. |
| 6097 | (b) The amount of the distance learning course user fee |
| 6098 | may not exceed the additional costs of the services provided |
| 6099 | which are attributable to the development and delivery of the |
| 6100 | distance learning course. If a Florida College System |
| 6101 | institution community college assesses the distance learning |
| 6102 | course user fee, the institution may not assess any other fees |
| 6103 | to cover the additional costs. By September 1 of each year, each |
| 6104 | board of trustees shall report to the Division of Florida |
| 6105 | Colleges the total amount of revenue generated by the distance |
| 6106 | learning course user fee for the prior fiscal year and how the |
| 6107 | revenue was expended. |
| 6108 | (c) The link for the catalog must be prominently displayed |
| 6109 | within the advising and distance learning sections of the |
| 6110 | institution's website, using a graphic and description provided |
| 6111 | by the Florida Distance Learning Consortium, to inform students |
| 6112 | of the catalog. |
| 6113 | (17) The State Board of Education shall adopt a rule |
| 6114 | specifying the definitions and procedures to be used in the |
| 6115 | calculation of the percentage of cost paid by students. The rule |
| 6116 | must provide for the calculation of the full cost of educational |
| 6117 | programs based on the allocation of all funds provided through |
| 6118 | the general current fund to programs of instruction, and other |
| 6119 | activities as provided in the annual expenditure analysis. The |
| 6120 | rule shall be developed in consultation with the Legislature. |
| 6121 | Section 119. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 1009.25, |
| 6122 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 6123 | 1009.25 Fee exemptions.- |
| 6124 | (2) The following students are exempt from the payment of |
| 6125 | tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that |
| 6126 | provides postsecondary career programs, Florida College System |
| 6127 | institution community college, or state university: |
| 6128 | (a) A student enrolled in a dual enrollment or early |
| 6129 | admission program pursuant to s. 1007.27 or s. 1007.271. |
| 6130 | (b) A student enrolled in an approved apprenticeship |
| 6131 | program, as defined in s. 446.021. |
| 6132 | (c) A student who is or was at the time he or she reached |
| 6133 | 18 years of age in the custody of the Department of Children and |
| 6134 | Family Services or who, after spending at least 6 months in the |
| 6135 | custody of the department after reaching 16 years of age, was |
| 6136 | placed in a guardianship by the court. Such exemption includes |
| 6137 | fees associated with enrollment in career-preparatory |
| 6138 | instruction. The exemption remains valid until the student |
| 6139 | reaches 28 years of age. |
| 6140 | (d) A student who is or was at the time he or she reached |
| 6141 | 18 years of age in the custody of a relative under s. 39.5085 or |
| 6142 | who was adopted from the Department of Children and Family |
| 6143 | Services after May 5, 1997. Such exemption includes fees |
| 6144 | associated with enrollment in career-preparatory instruction. |
| 6145 | The exemption remains valid until the student reaches 28 years |
| 6146 | of age. |
| 6147 | (e) A student enrolled in an employment and training |
| 6148 | program under the welfare transition program. The regional |
| 6149 | workforce board shall pay the state university, Florida College |
| 6150 | System institution community college, or school district for |
| 6151 | costs incurred for welfare transition program participants. |
| 6152 | (f) A student who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate |
| 6153 | nighttime residence or whose primary nighttime residence is a |
| 6154 | public or private shelter designed to provide temporary |
| 6155 | residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or a |
| 6156 | public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, |
| 6157 | a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. |
| 6158 | (g) A student who is a proprietor, owner, or worker of a |
| 6159 | company whose business has been at least 50 percent negatively |
| 6160 | financially impacted by the buyout of property around Lake |
| 6161 | Apopka by the State of Florida. Such student may receive a fee |
| 6162 | exemption only if the student has not received compensation |
| 6163 | because of the buyout, the student is designated a Florida |
| 6164 | resident for tuition purposes, pursuant to s. 1009.21, and the |
| 6165 | student has applied for and been denied financial aid, pursuant |
| 6166 | to s. 1009.40, which would have provided, at a minimum, payment |
| 6167 | of all student fees. The student is responsible for providing |
| 6168 | evidence to the postsecondary education institution verifying |
| 6169 | that the conditions of this paragraph have been met, including |
| 6170 | supporting documentation provided by the Department of Revenue. |
| 6171 | The student must be currently enrolled in, or begin coursework |
| 6172 | within, a program area by fall semester 2000. The exemption is |
| 6173 | valid for a period of 4 years after the date that the |
| 6174 | postsecondary education institution confirms that the conditions |
| 6175 | of this paragraph have been met. |
| 6176 | (3) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 6177 | college is authorized to grant student fee exemptions from all |
| 6178 | fees adopted by the State Board of Education and the Florida |
| 6179 | College System institution community college board of trustees |
| 6180 | for up to 40 full-time equivalent students at each institution. |
| 6181 | Section 120. Subsections (1), (7), (8), and (10) of |
| 6182 | section 1009.26, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 6183 | 1009.26 Fee waivers.- |
| 6184 | (1) School districts and Florida College System |
| 6185 | institutions community colleges may waive fees for any fee- |
| 6186 | nonexempt student. The total value of fee waivers granted by the |
| 6187 | school district or Florida College System institution community |
| 6188 | college may not exceed the amount established annually in the |
| 6189 | General Appropriations Act. Any student whose fees are waived in |
| 6190 | excess of the authorized amount may not be reported for state |
| 6191 | funding purposes. Any school district or Florida College System |
| 6192 | institution community college that waives fees and requests |
| 6193 | state funding for a student in violation of the provisions of |
| 6194 | this section shall be penalized at a rate equal to 2 times the |
| 6195 | value of the full-time student enrollment reported. |
| 6196 | (7) The spouse of a deceased state employee is entitled, |
| 6197 | when eligible for the payment of student fees by the state as |
| 6198 | employer pursuant to s. 440.16, in lieu of such payment, to a |
| 6199 | full waiver of student fees for up to 80 semester hours in any |
| 6200 | Florida College System institution community college. |
| 6201 | (8) A state university or Florida College System |
| 6202 | institution community college shall waive undergraduate tuition |
| 6203 | for each recipient of a Purple Heart or another combat |
| 6204 | decoration superior in precedence who: |
| 6205 | (a) Is enrolled as a full-time, part-time, or summer- |
| 6206 | school student in an undergraduate program that terminates in a |
| 6207 | degree or certificate; |
| 6208 | (b) Is currently, and was at the time of the military |
| 6209 | action that resulted in the awarding of the Purple Heart or |
| 6210 | other combat decoration superior in precedence, a resident of |
| 6211 | this state; and |
| 6212 | (c) Submits to the state university or the Florida College |
| 6213 | System institution community college the DD-214 form issued at |
| 6214 | the time of separation from service as documentation that the |
| 6215 | student has received a Purple Heart or another combat decoration |
| 6216 | superior in precedence. |
| 6217 |
|
| 6218 | Such a waiver for a Purple Heart recipient or recipient of |
| 6219 | another combat decoration superior in precedence shall be |
| 6220 | applicable for 110 percent of the number of required credit |
| 6221 | hours of the degree or certificate program for which the student |
| 6222 | is enrolled. |
| 6223 | (10) A state university or Florida College System |
| 6224 | institution community college may waive tuition and fees for a |
| 6225 | classroom teacher, as defined in s. 1012.01(2)(a), who is |
| 6226 | employed full-time by a school district and who meets the |
| 6227 | academic requirements established by the Florida College System |
| 6228 | institution community college or state university for up to 6 |
| 6229 | credit hours per term on a space-available basis in |
| 6230 | undergraduate courses approved by the Department of Education. |
| 6231 | Such courses shall be limited to undergraduate courses related |
| 6232 | to special education, mathematics, or science. The waiver may |
| 6233 | not be used for courses scheduled during the school district's |
| 6234 | regular school day. The State Board of Education shall adopt a |
| 6235 | rule that prescribes the process for the approval of courses by |
| 6236 | the department. |
| 6237 | Section 121. Subsections (1), (2), (3), and (4) of section |
| 6238 | 1009.265, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 6239 | 1009.265 State employee fee waivers.- |
| 6240 | (1) As a benefit to the employer and employees of the |
| 6241 | state, subject to approval by an employee's agency head or the |
| 6242 | equivalent, each state university and Florida College System |
| 6243 | institution community college shall waive tuition and fees for |
| 6244 | state employees to enroll for up to 6 credit hours of courses |
| 6245 | per term on a space-available basis. |
| 6246 | (2) The Chief Financial Officer, in cooperation with the |
| 6247 | Florida College System institutions community colleges and state |
| 6248 | universities, shall identify and implement ways to ease the |
| 6249 | administrative burden to Florida College System institutions |
| 6250 | community colleges and state universities, including, but not |
| 6251 | limited to, providing easier access to verify state employment. |
| 6252 | (3) From funds appropriated by the Legislature for |
| 6253 | administrative costs to implement this section, Florida College |
| 6254 | System institutions community colleges and state universities |
| 6255 | shall be reimbursed on a pro rata basis according to the cost |
| 6256 | assessment data developed by the Department of Education. |
| 6257 | (4) The Auditor General shall include a review of the cost |
| 6258 | assessment data in conjunction with his or her audit |
| 6259 | responsibilities for Florida College System institutions |
| 6260 | community colleges, state universities, and the Department of |
| 6261 | Education. |
| 6262 | Section 122. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 1009.27, |
| 6263 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 6264 | 1009.27 Deferral of fees.- |
| 6265 | (1) School districts, Florida College System institutions |
| 6266 | community colleges, and state universities may defer tuition and |
| 6267 | fees for students receiving financial aid from a federal or |
| 6268 | state assistance program when the aid is delayed in being |
| 6269 | transmitted to the student through circumstances beyond the |
| 6270 | control of the student. The failure to make timely application |
| 6271 | for the aid is an insufficient reason to receive a deferral of |
| 6272 | fees. |
| 6273 | (3) Each school district, Florida College System |
| 6274 | institution community college, and state university is |
| 6275 | responsible for collecting all deferred fees. If a school |
| 6276 | district, Florida College System institution community college, |
| 6277 | or state university has not collected a deferred fee, the |
| 6278 | student may not earn state funding for any course for which the |
| 6279 | student subsequently registers until the fee has been paid. |
| 6280 | Section 123. Section 1009.28, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 6281 | to read: |
| 6282 | 1009.28 Fees for repeated enrollment in college- |
| 6283 | preparatory classes.-A student enrolled in the same college- |
| 6284 | preparatory class more than twice shall pay 100 percent of the |
| 6285 | full cost of instruction to support continuous enrollment of |
| 6286 | that student in the same class, and the student shall not be |
| 6287 | included in calculations of full-time equivalent enrollments for |
| 6288 | state funding purposes; however, students who withdraw or fail a |
| 6289 | class due to extenuating circumstances may be granted an |
| 6290 | exception only once for each class, provided approval is granted |
| 6291 | according to policy established by the board of trustees. Each |
| 6292 | Florida College System institution community college may review |
| 6293 | and reduce fees paid by students due to continued enrollment in |
| 6294 | a college-preparatory class on an individual basis contingent |
| 6295 | upon the student's financial hardship, pursuant to definitions |
| 6296 | and fee levels established by the State Board of Education. |
| 6297 | Section 124. Section 1009.285, Florida Statutes, is |
| 6298 | amended to read: |
| 6299 | 1009.285 Fees for repeated enrollment in college-credit |
| 6300 | courses.-A student enrolled in the same undergraduate college- |
| 6301 | credit course more than twice shall pay tuition at 100 percent |
| 6302 | of the full cost of instruction and shall not be included in |
| 6303 | calculations of full-time equivalent enrollments for state |
| 6304 | funding purposes. However, students who withdraw or fail a class |
| 6305 | due to extenuating circumstances may be granted an exception |
| 6306 | only once for each class, provided that approval is granted |
| 6307 | according to policy established by the Florida College System |
| 6308 | institution community college board of trustees or the |
| 6309 | university board of trustees. Each Florida College System |
| 6310 | institution community college and state university may review |
| 6311 | and reduce fees paid by students due to continued enrollment in |
| 6312 | a college-credit class on an individual basis contingent upon |
| 6313 | the student's financial hardship. For purposes of this section, |
| 6314 | first-time enrollment in a class shall mean enrollment in a |
| 6315 | class beginning fall semester 1997, and calculations of the full |
| 6316 | cost of instruction shall be based on the systemwide average of |
| 6317 | the prior year's cost of undergraduate programs for the Florida |
| 6318 | College System institutions community colleges and the state |
| 6319 | universities. Boards of trustees may make exceptions to this |
| 6320 | section for individualized study, elective coursework, courses |
| 6321 | that are repeated as a requirement of a major, and courses that |
| 6322 | are intended as continuing over multiple semesters, excluding |
| 6323 | the repeat of coursework more than two times to increase grade |
| 6324 | point average or meet minimum course grade requirements. |
| 6325 | Section 125. Subsections (5), (6), and (7) of section |
| 6326 | 1009.286, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 6327 | 1009.286 Additional student payment for hours exceeding |
| 6328 | baccalaureate degree program completion requirements at state |
| 6329 | universities.- |
| 6330 | (5) Each state university and Florida College System |
| 6331 | institution community college shall implement a process for |
| 6332 | notifying students regarding the provisions of this section. |
| 6333 | Notice must be provided by a state university or a Florida |
| 6334 | College System institution community college upon a student's |
| 6335 | initial enrollment in the institution. Such notice must be |
| 6336 | provided a second time by a state university when a student has |
| 6337 | earned the credit hours required to complete the baccalaureate |
| 6338 | degree program in which the student is enrolled. The notice must |
| 6339 | include a recommendation that each student who intends to earn |
| 6340 | credit hours at the institution in excess of the credit hours |
| 6341 | required for the baccalaureate degree program in which the |
| 6342 | student is enrolled meet with his or her academic advisor. |
| 6343 | (6) For purposes of this section, the term "state |
| 6344 | university" includes the institutions identified in s. |
| 6345 | 1000.21(6) and the term "Florida College System institution |
| 6346 | community college" includes the institutions identified in s. |
| 6347 | 1000.21(3). |
| 6348 | (7) The provisions of this section become effective for |
| 6349 | students who enter a Florida College System institution |
| 6350 | community college or a state university for the first time in |
| 6351 | the 2009-2010 academic year and thereafter. |
| 6352 | Section 126. Subsection (1) of section 1009.29, Florida |
| 6353 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 6354 | 1009.29 Increased fees for funding financial aid program.- |
| 6355 | (1) Student tuition and registration fees at each state |
| 6356 | university and Florida College System institution community |
| 6357 | college shall include up to $4.68 per quarter, or $7.02 per |
| 6358 | semester, per full-time student, or the per-student credit hour |
| 6359 | equivalents of such amounts. The fees provided for by this |
| 6360 | section shall be adjusted from time to time, as necessary, to |
| 6361 | comply with the debt service coverage requirements of the |
| 6362 | student loan revenue bonds issued pursuant to s. 1009.79. If the |
| 6363 | Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of Administration |
| 6364 | and the Commissioner of Education determine that such fees are |
| 6365 | no longer required as security for revenue bonds issued pursuant |
| 6366 | to ss. 1009.78-1009.88, moneys previously collected pursuant to |
| 6367 | this section which are held in escrow, after administrative |
| 6368 | expenses have been met and up to $150,000 has been used to |
| 6369 | establish a financial aid data processing system for the state |
| 6370 | universities incorporating the necessary features to meet the |
| 6371 | needs of all 11 universities for application through |
| 6372 | disbursement processing, shall be reallocated to the generating |
| 6373 | institutions to be used for student financial aid programs, |
| 6374 | including, but not limited to, scholarships and grants for |
| 6375 | educational purposes. Upon such determination, such fees shall |
| 6376 | no longer be assessed and collected. |
| 6377 | Section 127. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section |
| 6378 | 1009.40, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 6379 | 1009.40 General requirements for student eligibility for |
| 6380 | state financial aid awards and tuition assistance grants.- |
| 6381 | (1)(a) The general requirements for eligibility of |
| 6382 | students for state financial aid awards and tuition assistance |
| 6383 | grants consist of the following: |
| 6384 | 1. Achievement of the academic requirements of and |
| 6385 | acceptance at a state university or Florida College System |
| 6386 | institution community college; a nursing diploma school approved |
| 6387 | by the Florida Board of Nursing; a Florida college, or |
| 6388 | university, or community college which is accredited by an |
| 6389 | accrediting agency recognized by the State Board of Education; |
| 6390 | any Florida institution the credits of which are acceptable for |
| 6391 | transfer to state universities; any career center; or any |
| 6392 | private career institution accredited by an accrediting agency |
| 6393 | recognized by the State Board of Education. |
| 6394 | 2. Residency in this state for no less than 1 year |
| 6395 | preceding the award of aid or a tuition assistance grant for a |
| 6396 | program established pursuant to s. 1009.50, s. 1009.505, s. |
| 6397 | 1009.51, s. 1009.52, s. 1009.53, s. 1009.54, s. 1009.56, s. |
| 6398 | 1009.57, s. 1009.60, s. 1009.62, s. 1009.68, s. 1009.72, s. |
| 6399 | 1009.73, s. 1009.77, s. 1009.89, or s. 1009.891. Residency in |
| 6400 | this state must be for purposes other than to obtain an |
| 6401 | education. Resident status for purposes of receiving state |
| 6402 | financial aid awards shall be determined in the same manner as |
| 6403 | resident status for tuition purposes pursuant to s. 1009.21. |
| 6404 | 3. Submission of certification attesting to the accuracy, |
| 6405 | completeness, and correctness of information provided to |
| 6406 | demonstrate a student's eligibility to receive state financial |
| 6407 | aid awards or tuition assistance grants. Falsification of such |
| 6408 | information shall result in the denial of any pending |
| 6409 | application and revocation of any award or grant currently held |
| 6410 | to the extent that no further payments shall be made. |
| 6411 | Additionally, students who knowingly make false statements in |
| 6412 | order to receive state financial aid awards or tuition |
| 6413 | assistance grants commit a misdemeanor of the second degree |
| 6414 | subject to the provisions of s. 837.06 and shall be required to |
| 6415 | return all state financial aid awards or tuition assistance |
| 6416 | grants wrongfully obtained. |
| 6417 | Section 128. Subsection (2) of section 1009.42, Florida |
| 6418 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 6419 | 1009.42 Financial aid appeal process.- |
| 6420 | (2) The president of each state university and each |
| 6421 | Florida College System institution community college shall |
| 6422 | establish a procedure for appeal, by students, of grievances |
| 6423 | related to the award or administration of financial aid at the |
| 6424 | institution. |
| 6425 | Section 129. Section 1009.44, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 6426 | to read: |
| 6427 | 1009.44 Need-based financial aid; no preference to |
| 6428 | students receiving other aid.-From the funds collected by state |
| 6429 | universities and Florida College System institutions community |
| 6430 | colleges as a financial aid fee and from other funds |
| 6431 | appropriated by the Legislature for financial aid from the |
| 6432 | Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, institutions shall expend |
| 6433 | those moneys designated as need-based financial aid with no |
| 6434 | preference given to students who also qualify for merit-based or |
| 6435 | other financial aid awards. |
| 6436 | Section 130. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) and paragraph |
| 6437 | (b) of subsection (4) of section 1009.50, Florida Statutes, are |
| 6438 | amended to read: |
| 6439 | 1009.50 Florida Public Student Assistance Grant Program; |
| 6440 | eligibility for grants.- |
| 6441 | (2)(a) State student assistance grants through the program |
| 6442 | may be made only to degree-seeking students who enroll in at |
| 6443 | least 6 semester hours, or the equivalent per term, and who meet |
| 6444 | the general requirements for student eligibility as provided in |
| 6445 | s. 1009.40, except as otherwise provided in this section. The |
| 6446 | grants shall be awarded annually for the amount of demonstrated |
| 6447 | unmet need for the cost of education and may not exceed an |
| 6448 | amount equal to the average prior academic year cost of tuition |
| 6449 | fees and other registration fees for 30 credit hours at state |
| 6450 | universities or such other amount as specified in the General |
| 6451 | Appropriations Act, to any recipient. A demonstrated unmet need |
| 6452 | of less than $200 shall render the applicant ineligible for a |
| 6453 | state student assistance grant. Recipients of the grants must |
| 6454 | have been accepted at a state university or Florida College |
| 6455 | System institution community college authorized by Florida law. |
| 6456 | A student is eligible for the award for 110 percent of the |
| 6457 | number of credit hours required to complete the program in which |
| 6458 | enrolled, except as otherwise provided in s. 1009.40(3). |
| 6459 | (4) |
| 6460 | (b) Payment of Florida public student assistance grants |
| 6461 | shall be transmitted to the president of the state university or |
| 6462 | Florida College System institution community college, or to his |
| 6463 | or her representative, in advance of the registration period. |
| 6464 | Institutions shall notify students of the amount of their |
| 6465 | awards. |
| 6466 | Section 131. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (2), |
| 6467 | paragraph (a) of subsection (3), and paragraphs (a) and (b) of |
| 6468 | subsection (4) of section 1009.505, Florida Statutes, are |
| 6469 | amended to read: |
| 6470 | 1009.505 Florida Public Postsecondary Career Education |
| 6471 | Student Assistance Grant Program.- |
| 6472 | (2) For purposes of this section, the term: |
| 6473 | (b) "Half-time" means the equivalent in clock hours at a |
| 6474 | public postsecondary career certificate program of 6 semester |
| 6475 | credit hours at a Florida College System institution community |
| 6476 | college. |
| 6477 | (c) "Public postsecondary career certificate program" |
| 6478 | means a postsecondary program that consists of 450 or more clock |
| 6479 | hours, is offered by a Florida College System institution |
| 6480 | community college authorized by Florida law or by a career |
| 6481 | center operated by a district school board under s. 1001.44, and |
| 6482 | terminates in a career certificate. |
| 6483 | (3)(a) Student assistance grants through the program may |
| 6484 | be made only to certificate-seeking students enrolled at least |
| 6485 | half-time in a public postsecondary career certificate program |
| 6486 | who meet the general requirements for student eligibility as |
| 6487 | provided in s. 1009.40, except as otherwise provided in this |
| 6488 | section. The grants shall be awarded annually to any recipient |
| 6489 | for the amount of demonstrated unmet need for the cost of |
| 6490 | education and may not exceed the average annual cost of tuition |
| 6491 | and registration fees or such other amount as specified in the |
| 6492 | General Appropriations Act. A demonstrated unmet need of less |
| 6493 | than $200 shall render the applicant ineligible for a grant |
| 6494 | under this section. Recipients of the grants must have been |
| 6495 | accepted at a Florida College System institution community |
| 6496 | college authorized by Florida law or a career center operated by |
| 6497 | a district school board under s. 1001.44. A student is eligible |
| 6498 | for the award for 110 percent of the number of clock hours |
| 6499 | required to complete the program in which enrolled. |
| 6500 | (4)(a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Public |
| 6501 | Postsecondary Career Education Student Assistance Grant Program |
| 6502 | shall be distributed to eligible Florida College System |
| 6503 | institutions community colleges and district school boards in |
| 6504 | accordance with a formula approved by the department. |
| 6505 | (b) Payment of Florida public postsecondary career |
| 6506 | education student assistance grants shall be transmitted to the |
| 6507 | president of the Florida College System institution community |
| 6508 | college or to the district school superintendent, or to the |
| 6509 | designee thereof, in advance of the registration period. |
| 6510 | Institutions shall notify students of the amount of their |
| 6511 | awards. |
| 6512 | Section 132. Subsection (1) of section 1009.533, Florida |
| 6513 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 6514 | 1009.533 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program; |
| 6515 | eligible postsecondary education institutions.-A student is |
| 6516 | eligible for an award or the renewal of an award from the |
| 6517 | Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program if the student meets |
| 6518 | the requirements for the program as described in this act and is |
| 6519 | enrolled in a postsecondary education institution that meets the |
| 6520 | description in any one of the following subsections: |
| 6521 | (1) A Florida public university, Florida College System |
| 6522 | institution community college, or career center. |
| 6523 | Section 133. Subsection (2) of section 1009.535, Florida |
| 6524 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 6525 | 1009.535 Florida Medallion Scholars award.- |
| 6526 | (2) A Florida Medallion Scholar is eligible for an award |
| 6527 | equal to the amount required to pay 75 percent of tuition and |
| 6528 | fees if the student is enrolled in a state university or a |
| 6529 | baccalaureate degree program authorized pursuant to s. 1007.33. |
| 6530 | A Florida Medallion Scholar is eligible for an award equal to |
| 6531 | the amount required to pay 100 percent of tuition and fees for |
| 6532 | college credit courses leading to an associate degree if the |
| 6533 | student is enrolled in a Florida College System institution |
| 6534 | community college. A student who is enrolled in a nonpublic |
| 6535 | postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award |
| 6536 | equal to the amount that would be required to pay 75 percent of |
| 6537 | the tuition and fees of a public postsecondary education |
| 6538 | institution at the comparable level. |
| 6539 | Section 134. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) and paragraph |
| 6540 | (c) of subsection (3) of section 1009.55, Florida Statutes, are |
| 6541 | amended to read: |
| 6542 | 1009.55 Rosewood Family Scholarship Program.- |
| 6543 | (2) The Rosewood Family Scholarship Program shall be |
| 6544 | administered by the Department of Education. The State Board of |
| 6545 | Education shall adopt rules for administering this program which |
| 6546 | shall at a minimum provide for the following: |
| 6547 | (d) Payment of an award shall be transmitted in advance of |
| 6548 | the registration period each semester on behalf of the student |
| 6549 | to the president of the university or Florida College System |
| 6550 | institution community college, or his or her representative, or |
| 6551 | to the director of the career center which the recipient is |
| 6552 | attending. |
| 6553 | (3) Beginning with the 1994-1995 academic year, the |
| 6554 | department is authorized to make awards for undergraduate study |
| 6555 | to students who: |
| 6556 | (c) Enroll as certificate-seeking or degree-seeking |
| 6557 | students at a state university, Florida College System |
| 6558 | institution community college, or career center authorized by |
| 6559 | law. |
| 6560 | Section 135. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section |
| 6561 | 1009.56, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 6562 | 1009.56 Seminole and Miccosukee Indian Scholarships.- |
| 6563 | (2) The department shall award scholarships to students |
| 6564 | who: |
| 6565 | (b) Are enrolled at a state university or Florida College |
| 6566 | System institution community college authorized by Florida law; |
| 6567 | a nursing diploma school approved by the Board of Nursing; any |
| 6568 | Florida college, or university, or community college which is |
| 6569 | accredited by an accrediting association whose standards are |
| 6570 | comparable to the minimum standards required to operate an |
| 6571 | institution at that level in Florida, as determined by rules of |
| 6572 | the Commission for Independent Education; or any Florida |
| 6573 | institution the credits of which are acceptable for transfer to |
| 6574 | state universities; |
| 6575 | Section 136. Section 1009.60, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 6576 | to read: |
| 6577 | 1009.60 Minority teacher education scholars program.-There |
| 6578 | is created the minority teacher education scholars program, |
| 6579 | which is a collaborative performance-based scholarship program |
| 6580 | for African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American, and |
| 6581 | Native American students. The participants in the program |
| 6582 | include Florida's Florida College System institutions community |
| 6583 | colleges and its public and private universities that have |
| 6584 | teacher education programs. |
| 6585 | (1) The minority teacher education scholars program shall |
| 6586 | provide an annual scholarship in an amount that shall be |
| 6587 | prorated based on available appropriations and may not exceed |
| 6588 | $4,000 for each approved minority teacher education scholar who |
| 6589 | is enrolled in one of Florida's public or private universities |
| 6590 | in the junior year and is admitted into a teacher education |
| 6591 | program. |
| 6592 | (2) To assist each participating education institution in |
| 6593 | the recruitment and retention of minority teacher scholars, the |
| 6594 | administrators of the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc., |
| 6595 | shall implement a systemwide training program. The training |
| 6596 | program must include an annual conference or series of |
| 6597 | conferences for students who are in the program or who are |
| 6598 | identified by a high school or a Florida College System |
| 6599 | institution community college as likely candidates for the |
| 6600 | program. The training program must also include research about |
| 6601 | and dissemination concerning successful activities or programs |
| 6602 | that recruit minority students for teacher education and retain |
| 6603 | them through graduation, certification, and employment. Staff |
| 6604 | employed by the corporation may work with each participating |
| 6605 | education institution to assure that local faculty and |
| 6606 | administrators receive the benefit of all available research and |
| 6607 | resources to increase retention of their minority teacher |
| 6608 | education scholars. |
| 6609 | (3) The total amount appropriated annually for new |
| 6610 | scholarships in the program must be divided by $4,000 and by the |
| 6611 | number of participating colleges and universities. Each |
| 6612 | participating institution has access to the same number of |
| 6613 | scholarships and may award all of them to eligible minority |
| 6614 | students. If a college or university does not award all of its |
| 6615 | scholarships by the date set by the program administration at |
| 6616 | the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc., the remaining |
| 6617 | scholarships must be transferred to another institution that has |
| 6618 | eligible students. If the total amount appropriated for new |
| 6619 | scholarships is insufficient to award $4,000 to each eligible |
| 6620 | student, the amount of the scholarship shall be prorated based |
| 6621 | on available appropriations. |
| 6622 | (4) A student may receive a scholarship from the program |
| 6623 | for 3 consecutive years if the student remains enrolled full- |
| 6624 | time in the program and makes satisfactory progress toward a |
| 6625 | baccalaureate degree with a major in education. |
| 6626 | (5) If a minority teacher education scholar graduates and |
| 6627 | is employed as a teacher by a Florida district school board, the |
| 6628 | scholar is not required to repay the scholarship amount so long |
| 6629 | as the scholar teaches in a Florida public school. A scholar may |
| 6630 | repay the entire scholarship amount by remaining employed as a |
| 6631 | Florida public school teacher for 1 year for each year he or she |
| 6632 | received the scholarship. |
| 6633 | (6) If a minority teacher education scholar does not |
| 6634 | graduate within 3 years, or if the scholar graduates but does |
| 6635 | not teach in a Florida public school, the scholar must repay the |
| 6636 | total amount awarded, plus annual interest of 8 percent. |
| 6637 | (a) Interest begins accruing the first day of the 13th |
| 6638 | month after the month in which the recipient completes an |
| 6639 | approved teacher education program or after the month in which |
| 6640 | enrollment as a full-time student is terminated. Interest does |
| 6641 | not accrue during any period of deferment or eligible teaching |
| 6642 | service. |
| 6643 | (b) The repayment period begins the first day of the 13th |
| 6644 | month after the month in which the recipient completes an |
| 6645 | approved teacher education program or after the month in which |
| 6646 | enrollment as a full-time student is terminated. |
| 6647 | (c) The terms and conditions of the scholarship repayment |
| 6648 | must be contained in a promissory note and a repayment schedule. |
| 6649 | The loan must be paid within 10 years after the date of |
| 6650 | graduation or termination of full-time enrollment, including any |
| 6651 | periods of deferment. A shorter repayment period may be granted. |
| 6652 | The minimum monthly repayment is $50 or the unpaid balance, |
| 6653 | unless otherwise approved, except that the monthly payment may |
| 6654 | not be less than the accruing interest. The recipient may prepay |
| 6655 | any part of the scholarship without penalty. |
| 6656 | (d) The holder of the promissory note may grant a |
| 6657 | deferment of repayment for a recipient who is a full-time |
| 6658 | student, who is unable to secure a teaching position that would |
| 6659 | qualify as repayment, who becomes disabled, or who experiences |
| 6660 | other hardships. Such a deferment may be granted for a total of |
| 6661 | 24 months. |
| 6662 | (e) If a student defaults on the scholarship, the entire |
| 6663 | unpaid balance, including interest accrued, becomes due and |
| 6664 | payable at the option of the holder of the promissory note, or |
| 6665 | when the recipient is no longer able to pay or no longer intends |
| 6666 | to pay. The recipient is responsible for paying all reasonable |
| 6667 | attorney's fees and other costs and charges necessary for |
| 6668 | administration of the collection process. |
| 6669 | Section 137. Subsection (3) of section 1009.605, Florida |
| 6670 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 6671 | 1009.605 Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc.- |
| 6672 | (3) A board of directors shall administer the corporation. |
| 6673 | The Governor shall appoint to the board at least 15 but not more |
| 6674 | than 25 members, who shall serve terms of 3 years, except that 4 |
| 6675 | of the initial members shall serve 1-year terms and 4 shall |
| 6676 | serve 2-year terms. At least 4 members must be employed by |
| 6677 | Florida College System institutions public community colleges |
| 6678 | and at least 11 members must be employed by public or private |
| 6679 | postsecondary institutions that operate colleges of education. |
| 6680 | At least one member must be a financial aid officer employed by |
| 6681 | a postsecondary education institution operating in Florida. |
| 6682 | Administrative costs for support of the Board of Directors and |
| 6683 | the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers may not exceed 5 percent |
| 6684 | of funds allocated for the program. The board shall: |
| 6685 | (a) Hold meetings to implement this section. |
| 6686 | (b) Select a chairperson annually. |
| 6687 | (c) Make rules for its own government. |
| 6688 | (d) Appoint an executive director to serve at its |
| 6689 | pleasure. The executive director shall be the chief |
| 6690 | administrative officer and agent of the board. |
| 6691 | (e) Maintain a record of its proceedings. |
| 6692 | (f) Delegate to the chairperson the responsibility for |
| 6693 | signing final orders. |
| 6694 | (g) Carry out the training program as required for the |
| 6695 | minority teacher education scholars program. No more than 5 |
| 6696 | percent of the funds appropriated for the minority teacher |
| 6697 | education scholars program may be expended for administration, |
| 6698 | including administration of the required training program. |
| 6699 | Section 138. Subsection (3) of section 1009.65, Florida |
| 6700 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 6701 | 1009.65 Medical Education Reimbursement and Loan Repayment |
| 6702 | Program.- |
| 6703 | (3) The Department of Health may adopt any rules necessary |
| 6704 | for the administration of the Medical Education Reimbursement |
| 6705 | and Loan Repayment Program. The department may also solicit |
| 6706 | technical advice regarding conduct of the program from the |
| 6707 | Department of Education and Florida universities and Florida |
| 6708 | College System institutions community colleges. The Department |
| 6709 | of Health shall submit a budget request for an amount sufficient |
| 6710 | to fund medical education reimbursement, loan repayments, and |
| 6711 | program administration. |
| 6712 | Section 139. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (4) of |
| 6713 | section 1009.67, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 6714 | 1009.67 Nursing scholarship program.- |
| 6715 | (4) Credit for repayment of a scholarship shall be as |
| 6716 | follows: |
| 6717 | (a) For each full year of scholarship assistance, the |
| 6718 | recipient agrees to work for 12 months in a faculty position in |
| 6719 | a college of nursing or Florida College System institution |
| 6720 | community college nursing program in this state or at a health |
| 6721 | care facility in a medically underserved area as approved by the |
| 6722 | Department of Health. Scholarship recipients who attend school |
| 6723 | on a part-time basis shall have their employment service |
| 6724 | obligation prorated in proportion to the amount of scholarship |
| 6725 | payments received. |
| 6726 | (b) Eligible health care facilities include nursing homes |
| 6727 | and hospitals in this state, state-operated medical or health |
| 6728 | care facilities, public schools, county health departments, |
| 6729 | federally sponsored community health centers, colleges of |
| 6730 | nursing in universities in this state, and Florida College |
| 6731 | System institution community college nursing programs in this |
| 6732 | state, family practice teaching hospitals as defined in s. |
| 6733 | 395.805, or specialty children's hospitals as described in s. |
| 6734 | 409.9119. The recipient shall be encouraged to complete the |
| 6735 | service obligation at a single employment site. If continuous |
| 6736 | employment at the same site is not feasible, the recipient may |
| 6737 | apply to the department for a transfer to another approved |
| 6738 | health care facility. |
| 6739 | Section 140. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section |
| 6740 | 1009.70, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 6741 | 1009.70 Florida Education Fund.- |
| 6742 | (4) The Florida Education Fund shall be administered by a |
| 6743 | board of directors, which is hereby established. |
| 6744 | (a) The board of directors shall consist of 12 members, to |
| 6745 | be appointed as follows: |
| 6746 | 1. Two laypersons appointed by the Governor; |
| 6747 | 2. Two laypersons appointed by the President of the |
| 6748 | Senate; |
| 6749 | 3. Two laypersons appointed by the Speaker of the House of |
| 6750 | Representatives; and |
| 6751 | 4. Two representatives of state universities, two |
| 6752 | representatives of Florida College System institutions public |
| 6753 | community colleges, and two representatives of independent |
| 6754 | colleges or universities appointed by the State Board of |
| 6755 | Education. |
| 6756 |
|
| 6757 | The board of directors may appoint to the board an additional |
| 6758 | five members from the private sector for the purpose of |
| 6759 | assisting in the procurement of private contributions. Such |
| 6760 | members shall serve as voting members of the board. |
| 6761 | Section 141. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section |
| 6762 | 1009.72, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 6763 | 1009.72 Jose Marti Scholarship Challenge Grant Program.- |
| 6764 | (5)(a) In order to be eligible to receive a scholarship |
| 6765 | pursuant to this section, an applicant shall: |
| 6766 | 1. Be a Hispanic-American, or a person of Spanish culture |
| 6767 | with origins in Mexico, South America, Central America, or the |
| 6768 | Caribbean, regardless of race. |
| 6769 | 2. Be a citizen of the United States and meet the general |
| 6770 | requirements for student eligibility as provided in s. 1009.40, |
| 6771 | except as otherwise provided in this section. |
| 6772 | 3. Be accepted at a state university, or Florida College |
| 6773 | System institution, community college or any Florida college or |
| 6774 | university that is accredited by an association whose standards |
| 6775 | are comparable to the minimum standards required to operate a |
| 6776 | postsecondary education institution at that level in Florida. |
| 6777 | 4. Enroll as a full-time undergraduate or graduate |
| 6778 | student. |
| 6779 | 5. Earn a 3.0 unweighted grade point average on a 4.0 |
| 6780 | scale, or the equivalent for high school subjects creditable |
| 6781 | toward a diploma. If an applicant applies as a graduate student, |
| 6782 | he or she shall have earned a 3.0 cumulative grade point average |
| 6783 | for undergraduate college-level courses. |
| 6784 | Section 142. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and paragraph |
| 6785 | (a) of subsection (8) of section 1009.77, Florida Statutes, are |
| 6786 | amended to read: |
| 6787 | 1009.77 Florida Work Experience Program.- |
| 6788 | (1) There is established the Florida Work Experience |
| 6789 | Program to be administered by the Department of Education. The |
| 6790 | purpose of the program is to introduce eligible students to work |
| 6791 | experience that will complement and reinforce their educational |
| 6792 | program and career goals and provide a self-help student aid |
| 6793 | program that reduces student loan indebtedness. Additionally, |
| 6794 | the program's opportunities for employment at a student's school |
| 6795 | will serve as a retention tool because students employed on |
| 6796 | campus are more likely to complete their postsecondary |
| 6797 | education. The program shall be available to: |
| 6798 | (a) Any student attending a state university or Florida |
| 6799 | College System institution community college authorized by |
| 6800 | Florida law; |
| 6801 | (8) A student is eligible to participate in the Florida |
| 6802 | Work Experience Program if the student: |
| 6803 | (a) Is enrolled: |
| 6804 | 1. At an eligible college or university as no less than a |
| 6805 | half-time undergraduate student in good standing; |
| 6806 | 2. In an eligible postsecondary career certificate program |
| 6807 | as no less than a half-time student in good standing. Eligible |
| 6808 | programs must be approved by the Department of Education and |
| 6809 | must consist of no less than 450 clock hours of instruction. |
| 6810 | Such programs must be offered by a career center operated by a |
| 6811 | district school board under s. 1001.44 or by a Florida College |
| 6812 | System institution community college; or |
| 6813 | 3. At an educator preparation institute established under |
| 6814 | s. 1004.85 as no less than a half-time student in good standing. |
| 6815 |
|
| 6816 | However, a student may be employed during the break between two |
| 6817 | consecutive terms or employed, although not enrolled, during a |
| 6818 | term if the student was enrolled at least half time during the |
| 6819 | preceding term and preregisters as no less than a half-time |
| 6820 | student for the subsequent academic term. A student who attends |
| 6821 | an institution that does not provide preregistration shall |
| 6822 | provide documentation of intent to enroll as no less than a |
| 6823 | half-time student for the subsequent academic term. |
| 6824 | Section 143. Subsection (3) of section 1009.89, Florida |
| 6825 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 6826 | 1009.89 The William L. Boyd, IV, Florida resident access |
| 6827 | grants.- |
| 6828 | (3) The department shall issue through the program a |
| 6829 | William L. Boyd, IV, Florida resident access grant to any full- |
| 6830 | time degree-seeking undergraduate student registered at an |
| 6831 | independent nonprofit college or university which is located in |
| 6832 | and chartered by the state; which is accredited by the |
| 6833 | Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges |
| 6834 | and Schools; which grants baccalaureate degrees; which is not a |
| 6835 | state university or Florida College System institution state |
| 6836 | community college; and which has a secular purpose, so long as |
| 6837 | the receipt of state aid by students at the institution would |
| 6838 | not have the primary effect of advancing or impeding religion or |
| 6839 | result in an excessive entanglement between the state and any |
| 6840 | religious sect. Any independent college or university that was |
| 6841 | eligible to receive tuition vouchers on January 1, 1989, and |
| 6842 | which continues to meet the criteria under which its eligibility |
| 6843 | was established, shall remain eligible to receive William L. |
| 6844 | Boyd, IV, Florida resident access grant payments. |
| 6845 | Section 144. Subsection (3) of section 1009.891, Florida |
| 6846 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 6847 | 1009.891 The Access to Better Learning and Education Grant |
| 6848 | Program.- |
| 6849 | (3) The department shall issue an access grant to any |
| 6850 | full-time student seeking a baccalaureate degree who is |
| 6851 | registered at a for-profit college or university that is located |
| 6852 | in and chartered by the state and that is accredited by the |
| 6853 | Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges |
| 6854 | and Schools or who is registered at a nonprofit college or |
| 6855 | university that is chartered out of the state, that has been |
| 6856 | located in the state for 10 years or more, and that is |
| 6857 | accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern |
| 6858 | Association of Colleges and Schools, the Middle States |
| 6859 | Association of Colleges and Schools, the North Central |
| 6860 | Association of Colleges and Schools, or the New England |
| 6861 | Association of Colleges and Schools; that grants baccalaureate |
| 6862 | degrees; that is not a state university or Florida College |
| 6863 | System institution state community college; and that has a |
| 6864 | secular purpose, if the receipt of state aid by students at the |
| 6865 | institution would not have the primary effect of advancing or |
| 6866 | impeding religion or result in an excessive entanglement between |
| 6867 | the state and any religious sect. Institutions eligible for the |
| 6868 | Access to Better Learning and Education Grant Program in the |
| 6869 | initial year of funding shall include only those for-profit |
| 6870 | colleges or universities identified in this subsection. |
| 6871 | Nonprofit colleges or universities identified in this subsection |
| 6872 | shall be eligible for financial support in the second year of |
| 6873 | funding. |
| 6874 | Section 145. Paragraph (h) of subsection (3) of section |
| 6875 | 1009.97, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 6876 | 1009.97 General provisions.- |
| 6877 | (3) DEFINITIONS.-As used in ss. 1009.97-1009.984, the |
| 6878 | term: |
| 6879 | (h) "State postsecondary institution" means any Florida |
| 6880 | College System institution public community college or state |
| 6881 | university. |
| 6882 | Section 146. Paragraph (e) of subsection (4) of section |
| 6883 | 1009.971, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 6884 | 1009.971 Florida Prepaid College Board.- |
| 6885 | (4) FLORIDA PREPAID COLLEGE BOARD; POWERS AND DUTIES.-The |
| 6886 | board shall have the powers and duties necessary or proper to |
| 6887 | carry out the provisions of ss. 1009.97-1009.984, including, but |
| 6888 | not limited to, the power and duty to: |
| 6889 | (e) Establish agreements or other transactions with |
| 6890 | federal, state, and local agencies, including state universities |
| 6891 | and Florida College System institutions community colleges. |
| 6892 | Section 147. Subsection (2), paragraph (e) of subsection |
| 6893 | (5), and subsection (6) of section 1009.98, Florida Statutes, |
| 6894 | are amended to read: |
| 6895 | 1009.98 Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Program.- |
| 6896 | (2) PREPAID COLLEGE PLANS.-At a minimum, the board shall |
| 6897 | make advance payment contracts available for two independent |
| 6898 | plans to be known as the Florida College System institution |
| 6899 | community college plan and the university plan. The board may |
| 6900 | also make advance payment contracts available for a dormitory |
| 6901 | residence plan. The board may restrict the number of |
| 6902 | participants in the Florida College System institution community |
| 6903 | college plan, university plan, and dormitory residence plan, |
| 6904 | respectively. However, any person denied participation solely on |
| 6905 | the basis of such restriction shall be granted priority for |
| 6906 | participation during the succeeding year. |
| 6907 | (a)1. Through the Florida College System institution |
| 6908 | community college plan, the advance payment contract may provide |
| 6909 | prepaid registration fees for a specified number of |
| 6910 | undergraduate semester credit hours not to exceed the average |
| 6911 | number of hours required for the conference of an associate |
| 6912 | degree. Qualified beneficiaries shall bear the cost of any |
| 6913 | laboratory fees associated with enrollment in specific courses. |
| 6914 | Each qualified beneficiary shall be classified as a resident for |
| 6915 | tuition purposes, pursuant to s. 1009.21, regardless of his or |
| 6916 | her actual legal residence. |
| 6917 | 2. Effective July 1, 1998, the board may provide advance |
| 6918 | payment contracts for additional fees delineated in s. 1009.23, |
| 6919 | not to exceed the average number of hours required for the |
| 6920 | conference of an associate degree, in conjunction with advance |
| 6921 | payment contracts for registration fees. Florida College System |
| 6922 | institution Community college plan contracts purchased prior to |
| 6923 | July 1, 1998, shall be limited to the payment of registration |
| 6924 | fees as defined in s. 1009.97. |
| 6925 | 3. Effective July 1, 2009, the board may offer an advance |
| 6926 | payment contract for the Florida College System institution |
| 6927 | community college plan covering prepaid registration fees and |
| 6928 | the fees authorized in s. 1009.23. Such a contract may be |
| 6929 | offered in specific increments for use toward an associate |
| 6930 | degree. The total number of hours purchased for a qualified |
| 6931 | beneficiary may not exceed the average number of hours required |
| 6932 | for the conference of an associate degree. |
| 6933 | (b)1. Through the university plan, the advance payment |
| 6934 | contract may provide prepaid registration fees for a specified |
| 6935 | number of undergraduate semester credit hours not to exceed the |
| 6936 | average number of hours required for the conference of a |
| 6937 | baccalaureate degree. Qualified beneficiaries shall bear the |
| 6938 | cost of any laboratory fees associated with enrollment in |
| 6939 | specific courses. Each qualified beneficiary shall be classified |
| 6940 | as a resident for tuition purposes pursuant to s. 1009.21, |
| 6941 | regardless of his or her actual legal residence. |
| 6942 | 2. Effective July 1, 1998, the board may provide advance |
| 6943 | payment contracts for additional fees delineated in s. |
| 6944 | 1009.24(9)-(12), for a specified number of undergraduate |
| 6945 | semester credit hours not to exceed the average number of hours |
| 6946 | required for the conference of a baccalaureate degree, in |
| 6947 | conjunction with advance payment contracts for registration |
| 6948 | fees. Such contracts shall provide prepaid coverage for the sum |
| 6949 | of such fees, to a maximum of 45 percent of the cost of |
| 6950 | registration fees. University plan contracts purchased prior to |
| 6951 | July 1, 1998, shall be limited to the payment of registration |
| 6952 | fees as defined in s. 1009.97. |
| 6953 | 3. Effective July 1, 2007, the board may provide advance |
| 6954 | payment contracts for the tuition differential authorized in s. |
| 6955 | 1009.24(16) for a specified number of undergraduate semester |
| 6956 | credit hours, which may not exceed the average number of hours |
| 6957 | required for the conference of a baccalaureate degree, in |
| 6958 | conjunction with advance payment contracts for registration |
| 6959 | fees. |
| 6960 | 4. Effective July 1, 2009, the board may offer an advance |
| 6961 | payment contract for the university plan covering prepaid |
| 6962 | registration fees, the fees authorized in s. 1009.24(9)-(12), |
| 6963 | and the tuition differential authorized in s. 1009.24(16). Such |
| 6964 | a contract may be offered in specific increments for use toward |
| 6965 | a baccalaureate degree. The total number of hours purchased for |
| 6966 | a qualified beneficiary may not exceed the average number of |
| 6967 | hours required for the conference of a baccalaureate degree. |
| 6968 | (c) The cost of participation in contracts authorized |
| 6969 | under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) shall be based primarily on |
| 6970 | the current and projected fees included in the plan within the |
| 6971 | Florida College System or the State University System, |
| 6972 | respectively, the number of credit hours or semesters included |
| 6973 | in the plan, and the number of years expected to elapse between |
| 6974 | the purchase of the plan on behalf of a qualified beneficiary |
| 6975 | and the exercise of the benefits provided in the plan by such |
| 6976 | beneficiary. |
| 6977 | (d) Through the dormitory residence plan, the advance |
| 6978 | payment contract may provide prepaid housing fees for a maximum |
| 6979 | of 10 semesters of full-time undergraduate enrollment in a state |
| 6980 | university. Dormitory residence plans shall be purchased in |
| 6981 | increments of 2 semesters. The cost of participation in the |
| 6982 | dormitory residence plan shall be based primarily on the average |
| 6983 | current and projected housing fees within the State University |
| 6984 | System and the number of years expected to elapse between the |
| 6985 | purchase of the plan on behalf of a qualified beneficiary and |
| 6986 | the exercise of the benefits provided in the plan by such |
| 6987 | beneficiary. Qualified beneficiaries shall have the highest |
| 6988 | priority in the assignment of housing within university |
| 6989 | residence halls. Qualified beneficiaries shall bear the cost of |
| 6990 | any additional elective charges such as laundry service or long- |
| 6991 | distance telephone service. Each state university may specify |
| 6992 | the residence halls or other university-held residences eligible |
| 6993 | for inclusion in the plan. In addition, any state university may |
| 6994 | request immediate termination of a dormitory residence contract |
| 6995 | based on a violation or multiple violations of rules of the |
| 6996 | residence hall or other university-held residences. In the event |
| 6997 | that sufficient housing is not available for all qualified |
| 6998 | beneficiaries, the board shall refund the purchaser or qualified |
| 6999 | beneficiary an amount equal to the fees charged for dormitory |
| 7000 | residence during that semester. If a qualified beneficiary fails |
| 7001 | to be admitted to a state university or chooses to attend a |
| 7002 | Florida College System institution community college that |
| 7003 | operates one or more dormitories or residency opportunities, or |
| 7004 | has one or more dormitories or residency opportunities operated |
| 7005 | by the Florida College System institution community college |
| 7006 | direct-support organization, the qualified beneficiary may |
| 7007 | transfer or cause to have transferred to the Florida College |
| 7008 | System institution community college, or Florida College System |
| 7009 | institution community college direct-support organization, the |
| 7010 | fees associated with dormitory residence. Dormitory fees |
| 7011 | transferred to the Florida College System institution community |
| 7012 | college or Florida College System institution community college |
| 7013 | direct-support organization may not exceed the maximum fees |
| 7014 | charged for state university dormitory residence for the |
| 7015 | purposes of this section, or the fees charged for Florida |
| 7016 | College System institution community college or Florida College |
| 7017 | System institution community college direct-support organization |
| 7018 | dormitories or residency opportunities, whichever is less. |
| 7019 | (5) REFUNDS.- |
| 7020 | (e) A refund may not be authorized through an advance |
| 7021 | payment contract for any school year partially attended but not |
| 7022 | completed. For purposes of this section, a school year partially |
| 7023 | attended but not completed shall mean any one semester whereby |
| 7024 | the student is still enrolled at the conclusion of the official |
| 7025 | drop-add period but withdraws before the end of such semester. |
| 7026 | If a beneficiary does not complete a Florida College System |
| 7027 | institution community college plan or university plan for |
| 7028 | reasons other than specified in paragraph (c), the purchaser |
| 7029 | shall receive a refund of the amount paid into the fund for the |
| 7030 | remaining unattended years of the advance payment contract |
| 7031 | pursuant to rules promulgated by the board. |
| 7032 | (6) CONFIDENTIALITY OF ACCOUNT INFORMATION.-Information |
| 7033 | that identifies the purchasers or beneficiaries of any plan |
| 7034 | promulgated under this section and their advance payment account |
| 7035 | activities is exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1). |
| 7036 | However, the board may authorize the program's records |
| 7037 | administrator to release such information to a Florida College |
| 7038 | System institution community college, college, or university in |
| 7039 | which a beneficiary may enroll or is enrolled. Florida College |
| 7040 | System institutions Community colleges, colleges, and |
| 7041 | universities shall maintain such information as exempt from the |
| 7042 | provisions of s. 119.07(1). |
| 7043 | Section 148. Subsection (6) of section 1009.981, Florida |
| 7044 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 7045 | 1009.981 Florida College Savings Program.- |
| 7046 | (6) CONFIDENTIALITY OF ACCOUNT INFORMATION.-Information |
| 7047 | that identifies the benefactors or the designated beneficiary of |
| 7048 | any account initiated under this section is confidential and |
| 7049 | exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State |
| 7050 | Constitution. However, the board may authorize the release of |
| 7051 | such information to a Florida College System institution |
| 7052 | community college, college, or university in which a designated |
| 7053 | beneficiary may enroll or is enrolled. Florida College System |
| 7054 | institutions Community colleges, colleges, and universities |
| 7055 | shall maintain the confidentiality of such information. |
| 7056 | Section 149. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and |
| 7057 | subsection (4) of section 1010.01, Florida Statutes, are amended |
| 7058 | to read: |
| 7059 | 1010.01 Uniform records and accounts.- |
| 7060 | (1)(a) The financial records and accounts of each school |
| 7061 | district, Florida College System institution community college, |
| 7062 | and other institution or agency under the supervision of the |
| 7063 | State Board of Education shall be prepared and maintained as |
| 7064 | prescribed by law and rules of the State Board of Education. |
| 7065 | (4) Required financial accounts and reports shall include |
| 7066 | provisions that are unique to each of the following: K-12 school |
| 7067 | districts, Florida College System institutions community |
| 7068 | colleges, and state universities, and shall provide for the data |
| 7069 | to be reported to the National Center of Educational Statistics |
| 7070 | and other governmental and professional educational data |
| 7071 | information services as appropriate. |
| 7072 | Section 150. Subsection (1) of section 1010.02, Florida |
| 7073 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 7074 | 1010.02 Financial accounting and expenditures.- |
| 7075 | (1) All funds accruing to a school district or a Florida |
| 7076 | College System institution community college must be received, |
| 7077 | accounted for, and expended in accordance with law and rules of |
| 7078 | the State Board of Education. |
| 7079 | Section 151. Section 1010.03, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 7080 | to read: |
| 7081 | 1010.03 Delinquent accounts.-District school boards, |
| 7082 | Florida College System institution community college boards of |
| 7083 | trustees, and university boards of trustees: |
| 7084 | (1) Shall exert every effort to collect all delinquent |
| 7085 | accounts. |
| 7086 | (2) May charge off or settle such accounts as may prove |
| 7087 | uncollectible. |
| 7088 | (3) May employ the services of a collection agency when |
| 7089 | deemed advisable in collecting delinquent accounts. |
| 7090 | (4) May adopt rules, as necessary, to implement the |
| 7091 | provisions of this section, including setoff procedures, payroll |
| 7092 | deductions, and restrictions on release of transcripts, awarding |
| 7093 | of diplomas, and access to other resources and services of the |
| 7094 | school district, Florida College System institution community |
| 7095 | college, or university. |
| 7096 | Section 152. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1), subsections |
| 7097 | (2) and (3), and paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section |
| 7098 | 1010.04, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 7099 | 1010.04 Purchasing.- |
| 7100 | (1)(a) Purchases and leases by school districts and |
| 7101 | Florida College System institutions community colleges shall |
| 7102 | comply with the requirements of law and rules of the State Board |
| 7103 | of Education. |
| 7104 | (2) Each district school board, Florida College System |
| 7105 | institution community college board of trustees, and each |
| 7106 | university board of trustees shall adopt rules to be followed in |
| 7107 | making purchases. |
| 7108 | (3) In districts in which the county purchasing agent is |
| 7109 | authorized by law to make purchases for the benefit of other |
| 7110 | governmental agencies within the county, the district school |
| 7111 | board and Florida College System institution community college |
| 7112 | board of trustees shall have the option to purchase from the |
| 7113 | current county contracts at the unit price stated therein if |
| 7114 | such purchase is to the economic advantage of the district |
| 7115 | school board or the Florida College System institution community |
| 7116 | college board of trustees; subject to confirmation of the items |
| 7117 | of purchase to the standards and specifications prescribed by |
| 7118 | the school district or Florida College System institution |
| 7119 | community college. |
| 7120 | (4)(a) The State Board of Education may, by rule, provide |
| 7121 | for alternative procedures for school districts and Florida |
| 7122 | College System institutions community colleges for bidding or |
| 7123 | purchasing in cases in which the character of the item requested |
| 7124 | renders competitive bidding impractical. |
| 7125 | Section 153. Section 1010.06, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 7126 | to read: |
| 7127 | 1010.06 Indirect cost limitation.-State funds appropriated |
| 7128 | by the Legislature to the Division of Public Schools within the |
| 7129 | Department of Education may not be used to pay indirect costs to |
| 7130 | a university, Florida College System institution community |
| 7131 | college, school district, or any other entity. |
| 7132 | Section 154. Subsection (1) and paragraph (a) of |
| 7133 | subsection (2) of section 1010.07, Florida Statutes, are amended |
| 7134 | to read: |
| 7135 | 1010.07 Bonds or insurance required.- |
| 7136 | (1) Each district school board, Florida College System |
| 7137 | institution community college board of trustees, and university |
| 7138 | board of trustees shall ensure that each official and employee |
| 7139 | responsible for handling, expending, or authorizing the |
| 7140 | expenditure of funds shall be appropriately bonded or insured to |
| 7141 | protect the board and the funds involved. |
| 7142 | (2)(a) Contractors paid from school district or Florida |
| 7143 | College System institution community college funds shall give |
| 7144 | bond for the faithful performance of their contracts in such |
| 7145 | amount and for such purposes as prescribed by s. 255.05 or by |
| 7146 | rules of the State Board of Education relating to the type of |
| 7147 | contract involved. It shall be the duty of the district school |
| 7148 | board or Florida College System institution community college |
| 7149 | board of trustees to require from construction contractors a |
| 7150 | bond adequate to protect the board and the board's funds |
| 7151 | involved. |
| 7152 | Section 155. Section 1010.08, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 7153 | to read: |
| 7154 | 1010.08 Promotion and public relations; funding.-Each |
| 7155 | district school board and Florida College System institution |
| 7156 | community college board of trustees may budget and use a portion |
| 7157 | of the funds accruing to it from auxiliary enterprises and |
| 7158 | undesignated gifts for promotion and public relations as |
| 7159 | prescribed by rules of the State Board of Education. Such funds |
| 7160 | may be used to provide hospitality to business guests in the |
| 7161 | district or elsewhere. However, such hospitality expenses may |
| 7162 | not exceed the amount authorized for such contingency funds as |
| 7163 | prescribed by rules of the State Board of Education. |
| 7164 | Section 156. Subsection (1) of section 1010.09, Florida |
| 7165 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 7166 | 1010.09 Direct-support organizations.- |
| 7167 | (1) School district and Florida College System institution |
| 7168 | community college direct-support organizations shall be |
| 7169 | organized and conducted under the provisions of ss. 1001.453 and |
| 7170 | 1004.70 and rules of the State Board of Education, as |
| 7171 | applicable. |
| 7172 | Section 157. Section 1010.11, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 7173 | to read: |
| 7174 | 1010.11 Electronic transfer of funds.-Pursuant to the |
| 7175 | provisions of s. 215.85, each district school board, Florida |
| 7176 | College System institution community college board of trustees, |
| 7177 | and university board of trustees shall adopt written policies |
| 7178 | prescribing the accounting and control procedures under which |
| 7179 | any funds under their control are allowed to be moved by |
| 7180 | electronic transaction for any purpose including direct deposit, |
| 7181 | wire transfer, withdrawal, investment, or payment. Electronic |
| 7182 | transactions shall comply with the provisions of chapter 668. |
| 7183 | Section 158. Section 1010.22, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 7184 | to read: |
| 7185 | 1010.22 Cost accounting and reporting for workforce |
| 7186 | education.- |
| 7187 | (1) Each school district and each Florida College System |
| 7188 | institution community college shall account for expenditures of |
| 7189 | all state, local, federal, and other funds in the manner |
| 7190 | prescribed by the State Board of Education. |
| 7191 | (2) Each school district and each Florida College System |
| 7192 | institution community college shall report expenditures for |
| 7193 | workforce education in accordance with requirements prescribed |
| 7194 | by the State Board of Education. |
| 7195 | (3) The Department of Education, in cooperation with |
| 7196 | school districts and Florida College System institutions |
| 7197 | community colleges, shall develop and maintain a database of |
| 7198 | valid comparable information on workforce education which will |
| 7199 | meet both state and local needs. |
| 7200 | Section 159. Section 1010.23, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 7201 | to read: |
| 7202 | 1010.23 Cost accounting and reporting for Florida College |
| 7203 | System institutions community colleges.-Florida College System |
| 7204 | institutions Community colleges shall provide an annual report |
| 7205 | on the cost of operations as provided in s. 1011.84. |
| 7206 | Section 160. Section 1010.30, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 7207 | to read: |
| 7208 | 1010.30 Audits required.-School districts, Florida College |
| 7209 | System institutions community colleges, and other institutions |
| 7210 | and agencies under the supervision of the State Board of |
| 7211 | Education and state universities under the supervision of the |
| 7212 | Board of Governors are subject to the audit provisions under ss. |
| 7213 | 11.45 and 218.39. |
| 7214 | Section 161. Section 1010.33, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 7215 | to read: |
| 7216 | 1010.33 Financial and performance audits.-Each district |
| 7217 | school board and Florida College System institution community |
| 7218 | college board of trustees, and university board of trustees is |
| 7219 | authorized to have an audit of their accounts and records by an |
| 7220 | independent certified public accountant retained by them and |
| 7221 | paid from their public funds. These audits are in addition to |
| 7222 | those required by ss. 11.45 and 218.39. |
| 7223 | Section 162. Section 1010.34, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 7224 | to read: |
| 7225 | 1010.34 Audits of direct-support organizations.-Audits of |
| 7226 | school district, Florida College System institution community |
| 7227 | college, and state university direct-support organizations are |
| 7228 | subject to the audit provisions of ss. 1001.453(4), 1004.28(5), |
| 7229 | and 1004.70(6), as applicable. |
| 7230 | Section 163. Section 1010.58, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 7231 | to read: |
| 7232 | 1010.58 Procedure for determining number of instruction |
| 7233 | units for Florida College System institutions community |
| 7234 | colleges.-The number of instruction units for Florida College |
| 7235 | System institutions community colleges shall be determined from |
| 7236 | the full-time equivalent students in the Florida College System |
| 7237 | institution community college, provided that full-time |
| 7238 | equivalent students may not be counted more than once in |
| 7239 | determining instruction units. Instruction units for Florida |
| 7240 | College System institutions community colleges shall be computed |
| 7241 | as follows: |
| 7242 | (1) One unit for each 12 full-time equivalent students at |
| 7243 | a Florida College System institution community college for the |
| 7244 | first 420 students and one unit for each 15 full-time equivalent |
| 7245 | students for all over 420 students, in other than career |
| 7246 | education programs as defined by rules of the State Board of |
| 7247 | Education, and one unit for each 10 full-time equivalent |
| 7248 | students in career education programs and compensatory education |
| 7249 | programs as defined by rules of the State Board of Education. |
| 7250 | Full-time equivalent students enrolled in a Florida College |
| 7251 | System institution community college shall be defined by rules |
| 7252 | of the State Board of Education. |
| 7253 | (2) For each 8 instruction units in a Florida College |
| 7254 | System institution community college, 1 instruction unit or |
| 7255 | proportionate fraction of a unit shall be allowed for |
| 7256 | administrative and special instructional services, and for each |
| 7257 | 20 instruction units, 1 instruction unit or proportionate |
| 7258 | fraction of a unit shall be allowed for student personnel |
| 7259 | services. |
| 7260 | Section 164. Subsection (1), paragraph (a) of subsection |
| 7261 | (2), and paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section 1011.01, |
| 7262 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 7263 | 1011.01 Budget system established.- |
| 7264 | (1) The State Board of Education shall prepare and submit |
| 7265 | a coordinated K-20 education annual legislative budget request |
| 7266 | to the Governor and the Legislature on or before the date |
| 7267 | provided by the Governor and the Legislature. The board's |
| 7268 | legislative budget request must clearly define the needs of |
| 7269 | school districts, Florida College System institutions community |
| 7270 | colleges, universities, other institutions, organizations, |
| 7271 | programs, and activities under the supervision of the board and |
| 7272 | that are assigned by law or the General Appropriations Act to |
| 7273 | the Department of Education. |
| 7274 | (2)(a) There shall be established in each school district |
| 7275 | and Florida College System institution community college a |
| 7276 | budget system as prescribed by law and rules of the State Board |
| 7277 | of Education. |
| 7278 | (3)(a) Each district school board and each Florida College |
| 7279 | System institution community college board of trustees shall |
| 7280 | prepare, adopt, and submit to the Commissioner of Education for |
| 7281 | review an annual operating budget. Operating budgets shall be |
| 7282 | prepared and submitted in accordance with the provisions of law, |
| 7283 | rules of the State Board of Education, the General |
| 7284 | Appropriations Act, and for district school boards in accordance |
| 7285 | with the provisions of ss. 200.065 and 1011.64. |
| 7286 | Section 165. Section 1011.011, Florida Statutes, is |
| 7287 | amended to read: |
| 7288 | 1011.011 Legislative capital outlay budget request.-The |
| 7289 | State Board of Education shall submit an integrated, |
| 7290 | comprehensive budget request for educational facilities |
| 7291 | construction and fixed capital outlay needs for school |
| 7292 | districts, Florida College System institutions community |
| 7293 | colleges, and, in conjunction with the Board of Governors, |
| 7294 | universities pursuant to this section and s. 1013.46 and |
| 7295 | applicable provisions of chapter 216. |
| 7296 | Section 166. Subsection (1) of section 1011.012, Florida |
| 7297 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 7298 | 1011.012 Annual capital outlay budget.- |
| 7299 | (1) Each district school board, Florida College System |
| 7300 | institution community college board of trustees, and university |
| 7301 | board of trustees shall, each year, adopt a capital outlay |
| 7302 | budget for the ensuing year in order that the capital outlay |
| 7303 | needs of the board for the entire year may be well understood by |
| 7304 | the public. This capital outlay budget shall be a part of the |
| 7305 | annual budget and shall be based upon and in harmony with the |
| 7306 | educational plant and ancillary facilities plan. This budget |
| 7307 | shall designate the proposed capital outlay expenditures by |
| 7308 | project for the year from all fund sources. The board may not |
| 7309 | expend any funds on any project not included in the budget, as |
| 7310 | amended. |
| 7311 | Section 167. Section 1011.30, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 7312 | to read: |
| 7313 | 1011.30 Budgets for Florida College System institutions |
| 7314 | community colleges.-Each Florida College System institution |
| 7315 | community college president shall recommend to the Florida |
| 7316 | College System institution community college board of trustees a |
| 7317 | budget of income and expenditures at such time and in such form |
| 7318 | as the State Board of Education may prescribe. Upon approval of |
| 7319 | a budget by the Florida College System institution community |
| 7320 | college board of trustees, such budget shall be transmitted to |
| 7321 | the Department of Education for review and approval. Rules of |
| 7322 | the State Board of Education shall prescribe procedures for |
| 7323 | effecting budget amendments subsequent to the final approval of |
| 7324 | a budget for a given year. |
| 7325 | Section 168. Section 1011.31, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 7326 | to read: |
| 7327 | 1011.31 Current loans to Florida College System |
| 7328 | institution community college boards of trustees.- |
| 7329 | (1) At any time the current funds on hand are insufficient |
| 7330 | to pay obligations created by a Florida College System |
| 7331 | institution community college board of trustees in accordance |
| 7332 | with the approved budget of the Florida College System |
| 7333 | institution community college, the Florida College System |
| 7334 | institution community college board of trustees may request |
| 7335 | approval by the Commissioner of Education of a proposal to |
| 7336 | negotiate a current loan, with provisions for the repayment of |
| 7337 | such loan during the fiscal year in which the loan is made, in |
| 7338 | order to meet these obligations. |
| 7339 | (2) The Commissioner of Education shall approve such |
| 7340 | proposal when, in his or her opinion, the proposal is reasonable |
| 7341 | and just, the expenditure is necessary, and revenues sufficient |
| 7342 | to meet the requirements of the loan can reasonably be |
| 7343 | anticipated. |
| 7344 | Section 169. Section 1011.32, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 7345 | to read: |
| 7346 | 1011.32 Florida College System Institution Community |
| 7347 | College Facility Enhancement Challenge Grant Program.- |
| 7348 | (1) The Legislature recognizes that the Florida College |
| 7349 | System institutions community colleges do not have sufficient |
| 7350 | physical facilities to meet the current demands of their |
| 7351 | instructional and community programs. It further recognizes |
| 7352 | that, to strengthen and enhance Florida College System |
| 7353 | institutions community colleges, it is necessary to provide |
| 7354 | facilities in addition to those currently available from |
| 7355 | existing revenue sources. It further recognizes that there are |
| 7356 | sources of private support that, if matched with state support, |
| 7357 | can assist in constructing much needed facilities and strengthen |
| 7358 | the commitment of citizens and organizations in promoting |
| 7359 | excellence at each Florida College System institution community |
| 7360 | college. Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to |
| 7361 | establish a program to provide the opportunity for each Florida |
| 7362 | College System institution community college through its direct- |
| 7363 | support organization to receive and match challenge grants for |
| 7364 | instructional and community-related capital facilities within |
| 7365 | the Florida College System institution community college. |
| 7366 | (2) There is established the Florida College System |
| 7367 | Institution Community College Facility Enhancement Challenge |
| 7368 | Grant Program for the purpose of assisting the Florida College |
| 7369 | System institutions community colleges in building high priority |
| 7370 | instructional and community-related capital facilities |
| 7371 | consistent with s. 1004.65, including common areas connecting |
| 7372 | such facilities. The direct-support organizations that serve the |
| 7373 | Florida College System institutions community colleges shall |
| 7374 | solicit gifts from private sources to provide matching funds for |
| 7375 | capital facilities. For the purposes of this section, private |
| 7376 | sources of funds shall not include any federal or state |
| 7377 | government funds that a Florida College System institution |
| 7378 | community college may receive. |
| 7379 | (3) The Florida College System Institution Community |
| 7380 | College Capital Facilities Matching Program shall provide funds |
| 7381 | to match private contributions for the development of high |
| 7382 | priority instructional and community-related capital facilities, |
| 7383 | including common areas connecting such facilities, within the |
| 7384 | Florida College System institutions community colleges. |
| 7385 | (4) Within the direct-support organization of each Florida |
| 7386 | College System institution community college there must be |
| 7387 | established a separate capital facilities matching account for |
| 7388 | the purpose of providing matching funds from the direct-support |
| 7389 | organization's unrestricted donations or other private |
| 7390 | contributions for the development of high priority instructional |
| 7391 | and community-related capital facilities, including common areas |
| 7392 | connecting such facilities. The Legislature shall appropriate |
| 7393 | funds for distribution to a Florida College System institution |
| 7394 | community college after matching funds are certified by the |
| 7395 | direct-support organization and Florida College System |
| 7396 | institution community college. The Public Education Capital |
| 7397 | Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund shall not be used as the |
| 7398 | source of the state match for private contributions. |
| 7399 | (5) A project may not be initiated unless all private |
| 7400 | funds for planning, construction, and equipping the facility |
| 7401 | have been received and deposited in the direct-support |
| 7402 | organization's matching account for this purpose. However, this |
| 7403 | requirement does not preclude the Florida College System |
| 7404 | institution community college or direct-support organization |
| 7405 | from expending available funds from private sources to develop a |
| 7406 | prospectus, including preliminary architectural schematics or |
| 7407 | models, for use in its efforts to raise private funds for a |
| 7408 | facility and for site preparation, planning, and construction. |
| 7409 | The Legislature may appropriate the state's matching funds in |
| 7410 | one or more fiscal years for the planning, construction, and |
| 7411 | equipping of an eligible facility. Each Florida College System |
| 7412 | institution community college shall notify all donors of private |
| 7413 | funds of a substantial delay in the availability of state |
| 7414 | matching funds for this program. |
| 7415 | (6) To be eligible to participate in the Florida College |
| 7416 | System Institution Community College Facility Enhancement |
| 7417 | Challenge Grant Program, a Florida College System institution |
| 7418 | community college, through its direct-support organization, |
| 7419 | shall raise a contribution equal to one-half of the total cost |
| 7420 | of a facilities construction project from private sources which |
| 7421 | shall be matched by a state appropriation equal to the amount |
| 7422 | raised for a facilities construction project, subject to the |
| 7423 | General Appropriations Act. |
| 7424 | (7) If the state's share of the required match is |
| 7425 | insufficient to meet the requirements of subsection (6), the |
| 7426 | Florida College System institution community college shall |
| 7427 | renegotiate the terms of the contribution with the donors. If |
| 7428 | the project is terminated, each private donation, plus accrued |
| 7429 | interest, reverts to the direct-support organization for |
| 7430 | remittance to the donor. |
| 7431 | (8) By October 15 of each year, the State Board of |
| 7432 | Education shall transmit to the Governor and the Legislature a |
| 7433 | list of projects that meet all eligibility requirements to |
| 7434 | participate in the Florida College System Institution Community |
| 7435 | College Facility Enhancement Challenge Grant Program and a |
| 7436 | budget request that includes the recommended schedule necessary |
| 7437 | to complete each project. |
| 7438 | (9) In order for a project to be eligible under this |
| 7439 | program, it must be survey recommended under the provisions of |
| 7440 | s. 1013.31 and included in the Florida College System |
| 7441 | institution's community college's 5-year capital improvement |
| 7442 | plan, and it must receive approval from the State Board of |
| 7443 | Education or the Legislature. |
| 7444 | (10) A Florida College System institution community |
| 7445 | college project may not be removed from the approved 3-year PECO |
| 7446 | priority list because of its successful participation in this |
| 7447 | program until approved by the Legislature and provided for in |
| 7448 | the General Appropriations Act. When such a project is completed |
| 7449 | and removed from the list, all other projects shall move up on |
| 7450 | the 3-year PECO priority list. |
| 7451 | (11) Any private matching funds for a project which are |
| 7452 | unexpended after the project is completed shall revert to the |
| 7453 | Florida College System institution's community college's direct- |
| 7454 | support organization capital facilities matching account. The |
| 7455 | balance of any unexpended state matching funds shall be returned |
| 7456 | to the fund from which those funds were appropriated. |
| 7457 | (12) The surveys, architectural plans, facility, and |
| 7458 | equipment shall be the property of the participating Florida |
| 7459 | College System institution community college. A facility |
| 7460 | constructed under this section may be named in honor of a donor |
| 7461 | at the option of the Florida College System institution |
| 7462 | community college district board of trustees. A facility may not |
| 7463 | be named after a living person without prior approval by the |
| 7464 | State Board of Education. |
| 7465 | Section 170. Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section |
| 7466 | 1011.51, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 7467 | 1011.51 Independent postsecondary endowment grants.- |
| 7468 | (3) The matching endowment grants made available under |
| 7469 | this section shall be made available to any independent |
| 7470 | nonprofit college or university which: |
| 7471 | (d) Is not a state university or Florida College System |
| 7472 | institution community college. |
| 7473 | Section 171. Paragraphs (i) and (j) of subsection (1) of |
| 7474 | section 1011.62, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 7475 | 1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.-If the annual |
| 7476 | allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each |
| 7477 | district for operation of schools is not determined in the |
| 7478 | annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing |
| 7479 | the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as |
| 7480 | follows: |
| 7481 | (1) COMPUTATION OF THE BASIC AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED FOR |
| 7482 | OPERATION.-The following procedure shall be followed in |
| 7483 | determining the annual allocation to each district for |
| 7484 | operation: |
| 7485 | (i) Calculation of full-time equivalent membership with |
| 7486 | respect to dual enrollment instruction.-Students enrolled in |
| 7487 | dual enrollment instruction pursuant to s. 1007.271 may be |
| 7488 | included in calculations of full-time equivalent student |
| 7489 | memberships for basic programs for grades 9 through 12 by a |
| 7490 | district school board. Instructional time for dual enrollment |
| 7491 | may vary from 900 hours; however, the school district may only |
| 7492 | report the student for a maximum of 1.0 full-time equivalent |
| 7493 | student membership, as provided in s. 1011.61(4). Dual |
| 7494 | enrollment full-time equivalent student membership shall be |
| 7495 | calculated in an amount equal to the hours of instruction that |
| 7496 | would be necessary to earn the full-time equivalent student |
| 7497 | membership for an equivalent course if it were taught in the |
| 7498 | school district. Students in dual enrollment courses may also be |
| 7499 | calculated as the proportional shares of full-time equivalent |
| 7500 | enrollments they generate for a Florida College System |
| 7501 | institution community college or university conducting the dual |
| 7502 | enrollment instruction. Early admission students shall be |
| 7503 | considered dual enrollments for funding purposes. Students may |
| 7504 | be enrolled in dual enrollment instruction provided by an |
| 7505 | eligible independent college or university and may be included |
| 7506 | in calculations of full-time equivalent student memberships for |
| 7507 | basic programs for grades 9 through 12 by a district school |
| 7508 | board. However, those provisions of law which exempt dual |
| 7509 | enrolled and early admission students from payment of |
| 7510 | instructional materials and tuition and fees, including |
| 7511 | laboratory fees, shall not apply to students who select the |
| 7512 | option of enrolling in an eligible independent institution. An |
| 7513 | independent college or university which is located and chartered |
| 7514 | in Florida, is not for profit, is accredited by the Commission |
| 7515 | on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools |
| 7516 | or the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, |
| 7517 | and confers degrees as defined in s. 1005.02 shall be eligible |
| 7518 | for inclusion in the dual enrollment or early admission program. |
| 7519 | Students enrolled in dual enrollment instruction shall be exempt |
| 7520 | from the payment of tuition and fees, including laboratory fees. |
| 7521 | No student enrolled in college credit mathematics or English |
| 7522 | dual enrollment instruction shall be funded as a dual enrollment |
| 7523 | unless the student has successfully completed the relevant |
| 7524 | section of the entry-level examination required pursuant to s. |
| 7525 | 1008.30. |
| 7526 | (j) Coenrollment.-If a high school student wishes to earn |
| 7527 | high school credits from a Florida College System institution |
| 7528 | community college and enrolls in one or more adult secondary |
| 7529 | education courses at the Florida College System institution |
| 7530 | community college, the Florida College System institution |
| 7531 | community college shall be reimbursed for the costs incurred |
| 7532 | because of the high school student's coenrollment as provided in |
| 7533 | the General Appropriations Act. |
| 7534 | Section 172. Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section |
| 7535 | 1011.68, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 7536 | 1011.68 Funds for student transportation.-The annual |
| 7537 | allocation to each district for transportation to public school |
| 7538 | programs, including charter schools as provided in s. |
| 7539 | 1002.33(17)(b), of students in membership in kindergarten |
| 7540 | through grade 12 and in migrant and exceptional student programs |
| 7541 | below kindergarten shall be determined as follows: |
| 7542 | (1) Subject to the rules of the State Board of Education, |
| 7543 | each district shall determine the membership of students who are |
| 7544 | transported: |
| 7545 | (d) By reason of being career, dual enrollment, or |
| 7546 | students with disabilities transported from one school center to |
| 7547 | another to participate in an instructional program or service; |
| 7548 | or students with disabilities, transported from one designation |
| 7549 | to another in the state, provided one designation is a school |
| 7550 | center and provided the student's individual educational plan |
| 7551 | (IEP) identifies the need for the instructional program or |
| 7552 | service and transportation to be provided by the school |
| 7553 | district. A "school center" is defined as a public school |
| 7554 | center, Florida College System institution community college, |
| 7555 | state university, or other facility rented, leased, or owned and |
| 7556 | operated by the school district or another public agency. A |
| 7557 | "dual enrollment student" is defined as a public school student |
| 7558 | in membership in both a public secondary school program and a |
| 7559 | Florida College System institution community college or a state |
| 7560 | university program under a written agreement to partially |
| 7561 | fulfill ss. 1003.435 and 1007.23 and earning full-time |
| 7562 | equivalent membership under s. 1011.62(1)(i). |
| 7563 | Section 173. Subsection (3) of section 1011.75, Florida |
| 7564 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 7565 | 1011.75 Gifted education exemplary program grants.- |
| 7566 | (3) Pursuant to policies and rules to be adopted by the |
| 7567 | State Board of Education, each district school board, two or |
| 7568 | more district school boards in cooperation, or a public school |
| 7569 | principal through the district school board may submit to the |
| 7570 | commissioner a proposed program designed to effectuate an |
| 7571 | exemplary program for education for the gifted in a school, |
| 7572 | district, or group of districts. Consideration for funding shall |
| 7573 | be given to proposed programs of district school boards that are |
| 7574 | developed with the cooperation of a Florida College System |
| 7575 | institution community college or public or private college or |
| 7576 | university for the purpose of providing advanced accelerated |
| 7577 | instruction for public school students pursuant to s. 1003.435. |
| 7578 | In order to be approved, a program proposal must include: |
| 7579 | (a) Clearly stated goals and objectives expressed, to the |
| 7580 | maximum extent possible, in measurable terms. |
| 7581 | (b) Information concerning the number of students, |
| 7582 | teachers, and other personnel to be involved in the program. |
| 7583 | (c) The estimated cost of the program and the number of |
| 7584 | years for which it is to be funded. |
| 7585 | (d) Provisions for evaluation of the program and for its |
| 7586 | integration into the general curriculum and financial program of |
| 7587 | the school district or districts at the end of the funded |
| 7588 | period. |
| 7589 | (e) Such other information and provisions as the |
| 7590 | commissioner requires. |
| 7591 | Section 174. Subsection (2), paragraph (a) of subsection |
| 7592 | (5), and subsections (6), (7), (8), (9), and (10) of section |
| 7593 | 1011.80, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 7594 | 1011.80 Funds for operation of workforce education |
| 7595 | programs.- |
| 7596 | (2) Any workforce education program may be conducted by a |
| 7597 | Florida College System institution community college or a school |
| 7598 | district, except that college credit in an associate in applied |
| 7599 | science or an associate in science degree may be awarded only by |
| 7600 | a Florida College System institution community college. However, |
| 7601 | if an associate in applied science or an associate in science |
| 7602 | degree program contains within it an occupational completion |
| 7603 | point that confers a certificate or an applied technology |
| 7604 | diploma, that portion of the program may be conducted by a |
| 7605 | school district career center. Any instruction designed to |
| 7606 | articulate to a degree program is subject to guidelines and |
| 7607 | standards adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to s. |
| 7608 | 1007.25. |
| 7609 | (5) State funding and student fees for workforce education |
| 7610 | instruction shall be established as follows: |
| 7611 | (a) Expenditures for the continuing workforce education |
| 7612 | programs provided by the Florida College System institutions |
| 7613 | community colleges or school districts must be fully supported |
| 7614 | by fees. Enrollments in continuing workforce education courses |
| 7615 | shall not be counted for purposes of funding full-time |
| 7616 | equivalent enrollment. |
| 7617 | (6)(a) A school district or a Florida College System |
| 7618 | institution community college that provides workforce education |
| 7619 | programs shall receive funds in accordance with distributions |
| 7620 | for base and performance funding established by the Legislature |
| 7621 | in the General Appropriations Act. If the General Appropriations |
| 7622 | Act does not provide for the distribution of funds, the |
| 7623 | following methodology shall apply: |
| 7624 | 1. Base funding shall be allocated based on weighted |
| 7625 | enrollment and shall not exceed 90 percent of the allocation. |
| 7626 | The Department of Education shall develop a funding process for |
| 7627 | school district workforce education programs that is comparable |
| 7628 | with Florida College System institution community college |
| 7629 | workforce programs. |
| 7630 | 2. Performance funding shall be at least 10 percent of the |
| 7631 | allocation, based on the previous fiscal year's achievement of |
| 7632 | output and outcomes in accordance with formulas adopted pursuant |
| 7633 | to subsection (10). Performance funding must incorporate |
| 7634 | payments for at least three levels of placements that reflect |
| 7635 | wages and workforce demand. Payments for completions must not |
| 7636 | exceed 60 percent of the payments for placement. School |
| 7637 | districts and Florida College System institutions community |
| 7638 | colleges shall be awarded funds pursuant to this paragraph based |
| 7639 | on performance output data and performance outcome data |
| 7640 | available in that year. |
| 7641 | (b) A program is established to assist school districts |
| 7642 | and Florida College System institutions community colleges in |
| 7643 | responding to the needs of new and expanding businesses and |
| 7644 | thereby strengthening the state's workforce and economy. The |
| 7645 | program may be funded in the General Appropriations Act. A |
| 7646 | school district or Florida College System institution community |
| 7647 | college may expend funds under the program without regard to |
| 7648 | performance criteria set forth in subparagraph (a)2. The |
| 7649 | district or Florida College System institution community college |
| 7650 | shall use the program to provide customized training for |
| 7651 | businesses which satisfies the requirements of s. 288.047. |
| 7652 | Business firms whose employees receive the customized training |
| 7653 | must provide 50 percent of the cost of the training. Balances |
| 7654 | remaining in the program at the end of the fiscal year shall not |
| 7655 | revert to the general fund, but shall be carried over for 1 |
| 7656 | additional year and used for the purpose of serving incumbent |
| 7657 | worker training needs of area businesses with fewer than 100 |
| 7658 | employees. Priority shall be given to businesses that must |
| 7659 | increase or upgrade their use of technology to remain |
| 7660 | competitive. |
| 7661 | (7) A school district or Florida College System |
| 7662 | institution community college that receives workforce education |
| 7663 | funds must use the money to benefit the workforce education |
| 7664 | programs it provides. The money may be used for equipment |
| 7665 | upgrades, program expansions, or any other use that would result |
| 7666 | in workforce education program improvement. The district school |
| 7667 | board or Florida College System institution community college |
| 7668 | board of trustees may not withhold any portion of the |
| 7669 | performance funding for indirect costs. |
| 7670 | (8) The State Board of Education and Workforce Florida, |
| 7671 | Inc., shall provide the Legislature with recommended formulas, |
| 7672 | criteria, timeframes, and mechanisms for distributing |
| 7673 | performance funds. The commissioner shall consolidate the |
| 7674 | recommendations and develop a consensus proposal for funding. |
| 7675 | The Legislature shall adopt a formula and distribute the |
| 7676 | performance funds to the State Board of Education for Florida |
| 7677 | College System institutions community colleges and school |
| 7678 | districts through the General Appropriations Act. These |
| 7679 | recommendations shall be based on formulas that would discourage |
| 7680 | low-performing or low-demand programs and encourage through |
| 7681 | performance-funding awards: |
| 7682 | (a) Programs that prepare people to enter high-wage |
| 7683 | occupations identified by the Workforce Estimating Conference |
| 7684 | created by s. 216.136 and other programs as approved by |
| 7685 | Workforce Florida, Inc. At a minimum, performance incentives |
| 7686 | shall be calculated for adults who reach completion points or |
| 7687 | complete programs that lead to specified high-wage employment |
| 7688 | and to their placement in that employment. |
| 7689 | (b) Programs that successfully prepare adults who are |
| 7690 | eligible for public assistance, economically disadvantaged, |
| 7691 | disabled, not proficient in English, or dislocated workers for |
| 7692 | high-wage occupations. At a minimum, performance incentives |
| 7693 | shall be calculated at an enhanced value for the completion of |
| 7694 | adults identified in this paragraph and job placement of such |
| 7695 | adults upon completion. In addition, adjustments may be made in |
| 7696 | payments for job placements for areas of high unemployment. |
| 7697 | (c) Programs that are specifically designed to be |
| 7698 | consistent with the workforce needs of private enterprise and |
| 7699 | regional economic development strategies, as defined in |
| 7700 | guidelines set by Workforce Florida, Inc. Workforce Florida, |
| 7701 | Inc., shall develop guidelines to identify such needs and |
| 7702 | strategies based on localized research of private employers and |
| 7703 | economic development practitioners. |
| 7704 | (d) Programs identified by Workforce Florida, Inc., as |
| 7705 | increasing the effectiveness and cost efficiency of education. |
| 7706 | (9) School districts shall report full-time equivalent |
| 7707 | students by discipline category for the programs specified in |
| 7708 | subsection (1). There shall be an annual cost analysis for the |
| 7709 | school district workforce education programs that reports cost |
| 7710 | by discipline category consistent with the reporting for full- |
| 7711 | time equivalent students. The annual financial reports submitted |
| 7712 | by the school districts must accurately report on the student |
| 7713 | fee revenues by fee type according to the programs specified in |
| 7714 | subsection (1). The Department of Education shall develop a plan |
| 7715 | for comparable reporting of program, student, facility, |
| 7716 | personnel, and financial data between the Florida College System |
| 7717 | institutions community colleges and the school district |
| 7718 | workforce education programs. |
| 7719 | (10) A high school student dually enrolled under s. |
| 7720 | 1007.271 in a workforce education program operated by a Florida |
| 7721 | College System institution community college or school district |
| 7722 | career center generates the amount calculated for workforce |
| 7723 | education funding, including any payment of performance funding, |
| 7724 | and the proportional share of full-time equivalent enrollment |
| 7725 | generated through the Florida Education Finance Program for the |
| 7726 | student's enrollment in a high school. If a high school student |
| 7727 | is dually enrolled in a Florida College System institution |
| 7728 | community college program, including a program conducted at a |
| 7729 | high school, the Florida College System institution community |
| 7730 | college earns the funds generated for workforce education |
| 7731 | funding, and the school district earns the proportional share of |
| 7732 | full-time equivalent funding from the Florida Education Finance |
| 7733 | Program. If a student is dually enrolled in a career center |
| 7734 | operated by the same district as the district in which the |
| 7735 | student attends high school, that district earns the funds |
| 7736 | generated for workforce education funding and also earns the |
| 7737 | proportional share of full-time equivalent funding from the |
| 7738 | Florida Education Finance Program. If a student is dually |
| 7739 | enrolled in a workforce education program provided by a career |
| 7740 | center operated by a different school district, the funds must |
| 7741 | be divided between the two school districts proportionally from |
| 7742 | the two funding sources. A student may not be reported for |
| 7743 | funding in a dual enrollment workforce education program unless |
| 7744 | the student has completed the basic skills assessment pursuant |
| 7745 | to s. 1004.91. |
| 7746 | Section 175. Section 1011.801, Florida Statutes, is |
| 7747 | amended to read: |
| 7748 | 1011.801 Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive |
| 7749 | Grant Program.-The Legislature recognizes that the need for |
| 7750 | school districts and Florida College System institutions |
| 7751 | community colleges to be able to respond to emerging local or |
| 7752 | statewide economic development needs is critical to the |
| 7753 | workforce development system. The Workforce Development |
| 7754 | Capitalization Incentive Grant Program is created to provide |
| 7755 | grants to school districts and Florida College System |
| 7756 | institutions community colleges on a competitive basis to fund |
| 7757 | some or all of the costs associated with the creation or |
| 7758 | expansion of workforce development programs that serve specific |
| 7759 | employment workforce needs. |
| 7760 | (1) Funds awarded for a workforce development |
| 7761 | capitalization incentive grant may be used for instructional |
| 7762 | equipment, laboratory equipment, supplies, personnel, student |
| 7763 | services, or other expenses associated with the creation or |
| 7764 | expansion of a workforce development program. Expansion of a |
| 7765 | program may include either the expansion of enrollments in a |
| 7766 | program or expansion into new areas of specialization within a |
| 7767 | program. No grant funds may be used for recurring instructional |
| 7768 | costs or for institutions' indirect costs. |
| 7769 | (2) The State Board of Education shall accept applications |
| 7770 | from school districts or Florida College System institutions |
| 7771 | community colleges for workforce development capitalization |
| 7772 | incentive grants. Applications from school districts or Florida |
| 7773 | College System institutions community colleges shall contain |
| 7774 | projected enrollments and projected costs for the new or |
| 7775 | expanded workforce development program. The State Board of |
| 7776 | Education, in consultation with the Workforce Florida, Inc., |
| 7777 | shall review and rank each application for a grant according to |
| 7778 | subsection (3) and shall submit to the Legislature a list in |
| 7779 | priority order of applications recommended for a grant award. |
| 7780 | (3) The State Board of Education shall give highest |
| 7781 | priority to programs that train people to enter high-skill, |
| 7782 | high-wage occupations identified by the Workforce Estimating |
| 7783 | Conference and other programs approved by Workforce Florida, |
| 7784 | Inc.; programs that train people to enter occupations under the |
| 7785 | welfare transition program; or programs that train for the |
| 7786 | workforce adults who are eligible for public assistance, |
| 7787 | economically disadvantaged, disabled, not proficient in English, |
| 7788 | or dislocated workers. The State Board of Education shall |
| 7789 | consider the statewide geographic dispersion of grant funds in |
| 7790 | ranking the applications and shall give priority to applications |
| 7791 | from education agencies that are making maximum use of their |
| 7792 | workforce development funding by offering high-performing, high- |
| 7793 | demand programs. |
| 7794 | Section 176. Section 1011.81, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 7795 | to read: |
| 7796 | 1011.81 Florida College System Community College Program |
| 7797 | Fund.- |
| 7798 | (1) There is established a Florida College System |
| 7799 | Community College Program Fund. This fund shall comprise all |
| 7800 | appropriations made by the Legislature for the support of the |
| 7801 | current operating program and shall be apportioned and |
| 7802 | distributed to the Florida College System institution community |
| 7803 | college districts of the state on the basis of procedures |
| 7804 | established by law and rules of the State Board of Education. |
| 7805 | The annual apportionment for each Florida College System |
| 7806 | institution community college district shall be distributed |
| 7807 | monthly in payments as nearly equal as possible. |
| 7808 | (2) None of the funds made available in the Florida |
| 7809 | College System Community College Program Fund, or funds made |
| 7810 | available to Florida College System institutions community |
| 7811 | colleges outside the Florida College System Community College |
| 7812 | Program Fund, may be used to implement, organize, direct, |
| 7813 | coordinate, or administer, or to support the implementation, |
| 7814 | organization, direction, coordination, or administration of, |
| 7815 | activities related to, or involving, travel to a terrorist |
| 7816 | state. For purposes of this section, "terrorist state" is |
| 7817 | defined as any state, country, or nation designated by the |
| 7818 | United States Department of State as a state sponsor of |
| 7819 | terrorism. |
| 7820 | Section 177. Section 1011.82, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 7821 | to read: |
| 7822 | 1011.82 Requirements for participation in Florida College |
| 7823 | System Community College Program Fund.-Each Florida College |
| 7824 | System institution community college district which participates |
| 7825 | in the state appropriations for the Florida College System |
| 7826 | Community College Program Fund shall provide evidence of its |
| 7827 | effort to maintain an adequate Florida College System |
| 7828 | institution community college program which shall: |
| 7829 | (1) Meet the minimum standards prescribed by the State |
| 7830 | Board of Education in accordance with s. 1001.02(6). |
| 7831 | (2) Effectively fulfill the mission of the Florida College |
| 7832 | System institutions community colleges in accordance with s. |
| 7833 | 1004.65. |
| 7834 | Section 178. Section 1011.83, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 7835 | to read: |
| 7836 | 1011.83 Financial support of Florida College System |
| 7837 | institutions community colleges.- |
| 7838 | (1) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 7839 | college that has been approved by the Department of Education |
| 7840 | and meets the requirements of law and rules of the State Board |
| 7841 | of Education shall participate in the Florida College System |
| 7842 | Community College Program Fund. However, funds to support |
| 7843 | workforce education programs conducted by Florida College System |
| 7844 | institutions community colleges shall be provided pursuant to s. |
| 7845 | 1011.80. |
| 7846 | (2) A student in a baccalaureate degree program approved |
| 7847 | pursuant to s. 1007.33 who is not classified as a resident for |
| 7848 | tuition purposes pursuant to s. 1009.21 may not be included in |
| 7849 | calculations of full-time equivalent enrollments for state |
| 7850 | funding purposes. |
| 7851 | Section 179. Section 1011.84, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 7852 | to read: |
| 7853 | 1011.84 Procedure for determining state financial support |
| 7854 | and annual apportionment of state funds to each Florida College |
| 7855 | System institution community college district.-The procedure for |
| 7856 | determining state financial support and the annual apportionment |
| 7857 | to each Florida College System institution community college |
| 7858 | district authorized to operate a Florida College System |
| 7859 | institution community college under the provisions of s. 1001.61 |
| 7860 | shall be as follows: |
| 7861 | (1) DETERMINING THE AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE FLORIDA |
| 7862 | COLLEGE SYSTEM COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROGRAM FUND FOR THE CURRENT |
| 7863 | OPERATING PROGRAM.- |
| 7864 | (a) The Department of Education shall determine annually |
| 7865 | from an analysis of operating costs, prepared in the manner |
| 7866 | prescribed by rules of the State Board of Education, the costs |
| 7867 | per full-time equivalent student served in courses and fields of |
| 7868 | study offered in Florida College System institutions community |
| 7869 | colleges. This information and current college operating budgets |
| 7870 | shall be submitted to the Executive Office of the Governor with |
| 7871 | the legislative budget request prior to each regular session of |
| 7872 | the Legislature. |
| 7873 | (b) The allocation of funds for Florida College System |
| 7874 | institutions community colleges shall be based on advanced and |
| 7875 | professional disciplines, college-preparatory programs, and |
| 7876 | other programs for adults funded pursuant to s. 1011.80. |
| 7877 | (c) The category of lifelong learning is for students |
| 7878 | enrolled pursuant to s. 1004.93. A student shall also be |
| 7879 | reported as a lifelong learning student for his or her |
| 7880 | enrollment in any course that he or she has previously taken, |
| 7881 | unless it is a credit course in which the student earned a grade |
| 7882 | of D or F. |
| 7883 | (d) If an adult student has been determined to be a |
| 7884 | disabled student eligible for an approved educational program |
| 7885 | for disabled adults provided pursuant to s. 1004.93 and rules of |
| 7886 | the State Board of Education and is enrolled in a class with |
| 7887 | curriculum frameworks developed for the program, state funding |
| 7888 | for that student shall be provided at a level double that of a |
| 7889 | student enrolled in a special adult general education program |
| 7890 | provided by a Florida College System institution community |
| 7891 | college. |
| 7892 | (e) All state inmate education provided by Florida College |
| 7893 | System institutions community colleges shall be reported by |
| 7894 | program, FTE expenditure, and revenue source. These enrollments, |
| 7895 | expenditures, and revenues shall be reported and projected |
| 7896 | separately. Instruction of state inmates shall not be included |
| 7897 | in the full-time equivalent student enrollment for funding |
| 7898 | through the Florida College System Community College Program |
| 7899 | Fund. |
| 7900 | (f) When a public educational institution has been fully |
| 7901 | funded by an external agency for direct instructional costs of |
| 7902 | any course or program, the FTE generated shall not be reported |
| 7903 | for state funding. |
| 7904 | (g) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to |
| 7905 | implement s. 9(d)(8)f., Art. XII of the State Constitution. |
| 7906 | These rules shall provide for the use of the funds available |
| 7907 | under s. 9(d)(8)f., Art. XII by an individual Florida College |
| 7908 | System institution community college for operating expense in |
| 7909 | any fiscal year during which the State Board of Education has |
| 7910 | determined that all major capital outlay needs have been met. |
| 7911 | Highest priority for the use of these funds for purposes other |
| 7912 | than financing approved capital outlay projects shall be for the |
| 7913 | proper maintenance and repair of existing facilities for |
| 7914 | projects approved by the State Board of Education. However, in |
| 7915 | any fiscal year in which funds from this source are authorized |
| 7916 | for operating expense other than approved maintenance and repair |
| 7917 | projects, the allocation of Florida College System institution |
| 7918 | community college program funds shall be reduced by an amount |
| 7919 | equal to the sum used for such operating expense for that |
| 7920 | Florida College System institution community college that year, |
| 7921 | and that amount shall not be released or allocated among the |
| 7922 | other Florida College System institutions community colleges |
| 7923 | that year. |
| 7924 | (2) DETERMINING THE AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED FOR CAPITAL |
| 7925 | OUTLAY AND DEBT SERVICE.-The amount included for capital outlay |
| 7926 | and debt service shall be as determined and provided in s. 18, |
| 7927 | Art. XII of the State Constitution of 1885, as adopted by s. |
| 7928 | 9(d), Art. XII of the 1968 revised State Constitution and State |
| 7929 | Board of Education rules. |
| 7930 | (3) DETERMINING THE APPORTIONMENT FROM STATE FUNDS.- |
| 7931 | (a) By December 15 of each year, the Department of |
| 7932 | Education shall estimate the annual enrollment of each Florida |
| 7933 | College System institution community college for the current |
| 7934 | fiscal year and for the 3 subsequent fiscal years. These |
| 7935 | estimates shall be based upon prior years' enrollments, upon the |
| 7936 | initial fall term enrollments for the current fiscal year for |
| 7937 | each college, and upon each college's estimated current |
| 7938 | enrollment and demographic changes in the respective Florida |
| 7939 | College System institution community college districts. Upper- |
| 7940 | division enrollment shall be estimated separately from lower- |
| 7941 | division enrollment. |
| 7942 | (b) The apportionment to each Florida College System |
| 7943 | institution community college from the Florida College System |
| 7944 | Community College Program Fund shall be determined annually in |
| 7945 | the General Appropriations Act. In determining each college's |
| 7946 | apportionment, the Legislature shall consider the following |
| 7947 | components: |
| 7948 | 1. Base budget, which includes the state appropriation to |
| 7949 | the Florida College System Community College Program Fund in the |
| 7950 | current year plus the related student tuition and out-of-state |
| 7951 | fees assigned in the current General Appropriations Act. |
| 7952 | 2. The cost-to-continue allocation, which consists of |
| 7953 | incremental changes to the base budget, including salaries, |
| 7954 | price levels, and other related costs allocated through a |
| 7955 | funding model approved by the Legislature which may recognize |
| 7956 | differing economic factors arising from the individual |
| 7957 | educational approaches of the various Florida College System |
| 7958 | institutions community colleges, including, but not limited to: |
| 7959 | a. Direct Instructional Funding, including class size, |
| 7960 | faculty productivity factors, average faculty salary, ratio of |
| 7961 | full-time to part-time faculty, costs of programs, and |
| 7962 | enrollment factors. |
| 7963 | b. Academic Support, including small colleges factor, |
| 7964 | multicampus factor, and enrollment factor. |
| 7965 | c. Student Services Support, including headcount of |
| 7966 | students as well as FTE count and enrollment factors. |
| 7967 | d. Library Support, including volume and other |
| 7968 | materials/audiovisual requirements. |
| 7969 | e. Special Projects. |
| 7970 | f. Operations and Maintenance of Plant, including square |
| 7971 | footage and utilization factors. |
| 7972 | g. District Cost Differential. |
| 7973 | 3. Students enrolled in a recreation and leisure program |
| 7974 | and students enrolled in a lifelong learning program who may not |
| 7975 | be counted as full-time equivalent enrollments for purposes of |
| 7976 | enrollment workload adjustments. |
| 7977 | 4. Operating costs of new facilities adjustments, which |
| 7978 | shall be provided, from funds available, for each new facility |
| 7979 | that is owned by the college and is recommended in accordance |
| 7980 | with s. 1013.31. |
| 7981 | 5. New and improved program enhancements, which shall be |
| 7982 | determined by the Legislature. |
| 7983 |
|
| 7984 | Student fees in the base budget plus student fee revenues |
| 7985 | generated by increases in fee rates shall be deducted from the |
| 7986 | sum of the components determined in subparagraphs 1.-5. The |
| 7987 | amount remaining shall be the net annual state apportionment to |
| 7988 | each college. |
| 7989 | (c) No Florida College System institution community |
| 7990 | college shall commit funds for the employment of personnel or |
| 7991 | resources in excess of those required to continue the same level |
| 7992 | of support for either the previously approved enrollment or the |
| 7993 | revised enrollment, whichever is lower. |
| 7994 | (d) The apportionment to each Florida College System |
| 7995 | institution community college district for capital outlay and |
| 7996 | debt service shall be the amount determined in accordance with |
| 7997 | subsection (2). This amount, less any amount determined as |
| 7998 | necessary for administrative expense by the State Board of |
| 7999 | Education and any amount necessary for debt service on bonds |
| 8000 | issued by the State Board of Education, shall be transmitted to |
| 8001 | the Florida College System institution community college board |
| 8002 | of trustees to be expended in a manner prescribed by rules of |
| 8003 | the State Board of Education. |
| 8004 | (e) If at any time the unencumbered balance in the general |
| 8005 | fund of the Florida College System institution community college |
| 8006 | board of trustees approved operating budget goes below 5 |
| 8007 | percent, the president shall provide written notification to the |
| 8008 | State Board of Education. |
| 8009 | (f) Expenditures for apprenticeship programs shall be |
| 8010 | reported separately. |
| 8011 | (g) Expenditures for upper-division enrollment in a |
| 8012 | Florida College System institution community college that grants |
| 8013 | baccalaureate degrees shall be reported separately from |
| 8014 | expenditures for lower-division enrollment, in accordance with |
| 8015 | law and State Board of Education rule. |
| 8016 | (4) EXPENDITURE OF ALLOCATED FUNDS.-Any funds allocated |
| 8017 | herein to any Florida College System institution community |
| 8018 | college shall be expended only for the purpose of supporting |
| 8019 | that Florida College System institution community college. |
| 8020 | (5) REPORT OF REMEDIAL EDUCATION.-Each Florida College |
| 8021 | System institution community college board of trustees shall |
| 8022 | report the volume and cost of remedial education activities as a |
| 8023 | separate item in its annual cost accounting system. |
| 8024 | Section 180. Section 1011.85, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 8025 | to read: |
| 8026 | 1011.85 Dr. Philip Benjamin Matching Grant Program for |
| 8027 | Florida College System Institutions Community Colleges.- |
| 8028 | (1) There is created the Dr. Philip Benjamin Matching |
| 8029 | Grant Program for Florida College System Institutions Community |
| 8030 | Colleges as a single matching gifts program that encompasses the |
| 8031 | goals originally set out in the Academic Improvement Program, |
| 8032 | the Scholarship Matching Program, and the Health Care Education |
| 8033 | Quality Enhancement Challenge Grant. The program shall be |
| 8034 | administered according to rules of the State Board of Education |
| 8035 | and used to encourage private support in enhancing Florida |
| 8036 | College System institutions community colleges by providing the |
| 8037 | Florida community College System with the opportunity to receive |
| 8038 | and match challenge grants. Funds received prior to the |
| 8039 | effective date of this act for each of the three programs shall |
| 8040 | be retained in the separate account for which it was designated. |
| 8041 | (2) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 8042 | college board of trustees receiving state appropriations under |
| 8043 | this program shall approve each gift to ensure alignment with |
| 8044 | the unique mission of the Florida College System institution |
| 8045 | community college. The board of trustees must link all requests |
| 8046 | for a state match to the goals and mission statement. The |
| 8047 | Florida College System Institution Community College Foundation |
| 8048 | Board receiving state appropriations under this program shall |
| 8049 | approve each gift to ensure alignment with its goals and mission |
| 8050 | statement. |
| 8051 | (3) Upon approval by the Florida College System |
| 8052 | institution community college board of trustees and the State |
| 8053 | Board of Education, the ordering of donations for priority |
| 8054 | listing of unmatched gifts should be determined by the |
| 8055 | submitting Florida College System institution community college. |
| 8056 | (4) Each year, eligible contributions received by a |
| 8057 | Florida College System institution's community college's |
| 8058 | foundation or the State Board of Education by February 1 shall |
| 8059 | be eligible for state matching funds. |
| 8060 | (a) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 8061 | college board of trustees and, when applicable, the Florida |
| 8062 | College System Institution Community College Foundation Board, |
| 8063 | receiving state appropriations under this program shall also |
| 8064 | certify in an annual report to the State Board of Education the |
| 8065 | receipt of eligible cash contributions that were previously |
| 8066 | unmatched by the state. The State Board of Education shall adopt |
| 8067 | rules providing all Florida College System institutions |
| 8068 | community colleges with an opportunity to apply for excess funds |
| 8069 | before the awarding of such funds. |
| 8070 | (b) Florida College System institutions Community colleges |
| 8071 | must submit to the State Board of Education an annual |
| 8072 | expenditure report tracking the use of all matching funds. |
| 8073 | (c) The audit of each foundation receiving state funds |
| 8074 | from this program must include a certification of accuracy in |
| 8075 | the amount reported for matching funds. |
| 8076 | (5) The matching ratio for donations that are specifically |
| 8077 | designated to support scholarships, including scholarships for |
| 8078 | first-generation-in-college students, student loans, or need- |
| 8079 | based grants shall be $1 of state funds to $1 of local private |
| 8080 | funds. |
| 8081 | (6) Otherwise, funds shall be proportionately allocated to |
| 8082 | the Florida College System institutions community colleges on |
| 8083 | the basis of matching each $6 of local or private funds with $4 |
| 8084 | of state funds. To be eligible, a minimum of $4,500 must be |
| 8085 | raised from private sources. |
| 8086 | (7) The Florida College System institution community |
| 8087 | college board of trustees, in conjunction with the donor, shall |
| 8088 | make the determination of whether scholarships established |
| 8089 | pursuant to this program are endowed. |
| 8090 | (8)(a) Funds sufficient to provide the match shall be |
| 8091 | transferred from the state appropriations to the local Florida |
| 8092 | College System institution community college foundation or the |
| 8093 | statewide Florida College System institution community college |
| 8094 | foundation upon notification that a proportionate amount has |
| 8095 | been received and deposited by a Florida College System |
| 8096 | institution community college in its own trust fund. |
| 8097 | (b) If state funds appropriated for the program are |
| 8098 | insufficient to match contributions, the amount allocated shall |
| 8099 | be reduced in proportion to its share of the total eligible |
| 8100 | contributions. However, in making proportional reductions, every |
| 8101 | Florida College System institution community college shall |
| 8102 | receive a minimum of $75,000 in state matching funds if its |
| 8103 | eligible contributions would have generated an amount at least |
| 8104 | equal to $75,000. All unmet contributions shall be eligible for |
| 8105 | state matching funds in subsequent fiscal years. |
| 8106 | (9) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 8107 | college entity shall establish its own matching grant program |
| 8108 | fund as a depository for the private contributions and matching |
| 8109 | state funds provided under this section. Florida College System |
| 8110 | institution Community college foundations are responsible for |
| 8111 | the maintenance, investment, and administration of their |
| 8112 | matching grant program funds. |
| 8113 | (10) The State Board of Education may receive submissions |
| 8114 | of requests for matching funds and documentation relating to |
| 8115 | those requests, may approve requests for matching funds, and may |
| 8116 | allocate such funds to the Florida College System institutions |
| 8117 | community colleges. |
| 8118 | (11) The board of trustees of the Florida College System |
| 8119 | institution community college and the State Board of Education |
| 8120 | are responsible for determining the uses for the proceeds of |
| 8121 | their respective trust funds. Such use of the proceeds shall |
| 8122 | include, but not be limited to, expenditure of the funds for: |
| 8123 | (a) Scientific and technical equipment. |
| 8124 | (b) Scholarships, loans, or need-based grants. |
| 8125 | (c) Other activities that will benefit future students as |
| 8126 | well as students currently enrolled at the Florida College |
| 8127 | System institution community college, will improve the quality |
| 8128 | of education at the Florida College System institution community |
| 8129 | college, or will enhance economic development in the community. |
| 8130 | (12) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 8131 | college shall notify all donors of private funds of a |
| 8132 | substantial delay in the availability of state matching funds |
| 8133 | for this program. |
| 8134 | Section 181. Subsection (1) of section 1011.86, Florida |
| 8135 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 8136 | 1011.86 Educational leadership enhancement grants.- |
| 8137 | (1) State universities and Florida College System |
| 8138 | institutions community colleges may submit proposals for |
| 8139 | educational leadership enhancement grants to the Commissioner of |
| 8140 | Education. Proposals shall be funded competitively. |
| 8141 | Section 182. Subsection (1) and paragraph (b) of |
| 8142 | subsection (6) of section 1012.01, Florida Statutes, are amended |
| 8143 | to read: |
| 8144 | 1012.01 Definitions.-As used in this chapter, the |
| 8145 | following terms have the following meanings: |
| 8146 | (1) SCHOOL OFFICERS.-The officers of the state system of |
| 8147 | public K-12 and Florida College System institution community |
| 8148 | college education shall be the Commissioner of Education and the |
| 8149 | members of the State Board of Education; for each district |
| 8150 | school system, the officers shall be the district school |
| 8151 | superintendent and members of the district school board; and for |
| 8152 | each Florida College System institution community college, the |
| 8153 | officers shall be the Florida College System institution |
| 8154 | community college president and members of the Florida College |
| 8155 | System institution community college board of trustees. |
| 8156 | (6) EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT EMPLOYEES.-"Educational support |
| 8157 | employees" means K-12 employees whose job functions are neither |
| 8158 | administrative nor instructional, yet whose work supports the |
| 8159 | educational process. |
| 8160 | (b) Technicians are individuals whose occupations require |
| 8161 | a combination of knowledge and manual skill which can be |
| 8162 | obtained through about 2 years of post-high school education, |
| 8163 | such as is offered in many career centers and Florida College |
| 8164 | System institutions community colleges, or through equivalent |
| 8165 | on-the-job training. |
| 8166 | Section 183. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section |
| 8167 | 1012.35, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 8168 | 1012.35 Substitute teachers.- |
| 8169 | (1) Each district school board shall adopt rules |
| 8170 | prescribing the compensation of, and the procedure for |
| 8171 | employment of, substitute teachers. |
| 8172 | (c) The required training programs for substitute teachers |
| 8173 | may be provided by Florida College System institutions community |
| 8174 | colleges, colleges of education, district school boards, |
| 8175 | educational consortia, or commercial vendors. |
| 8176 | Section 184. Paragraph (e) of subsection (3) and paragraph |
| 8177 | (e) of subsection (6) of section 1012.56, Florida Statutes, are |
| 8178 | amended to read: |
| 8179 | 1012.56 Educator certification requirements.- |
| 8180 | (3) MASTERY OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.-Acceptable means of |
| 8181 | demonstrating mastery of general knowledge are: |
| 8182 | (e) Documentation of two semesters of successful teaching |
| 8183 | in a Florida College System institution community college, state |
| 8184 | university, or private college or university that awards an |
| 8185 | associate or higher degree and is an accredited institution or |
| 8186 | an institution of higher education identified by the Department |
| 8187 | of Education as having a quality program. |
| 8188 | (6) MASTERY OF PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION AND EDUCATION |
| 8189 | COMPETENCE.-Acceptable means of demonstrating mastery of |
| 8190 | professional preparation and education competence are: |
| 8191 | (e) Documentation of two semesters of successful teaching |
| 8192 | in a Florida College System institution community college, state |
| 8193 | university, or private college or university that awards an |
| 8194 | associate or higher degree and is an accredited institution or |
| 8195 | an institution of higher education identified by the Department |
| 8196 | of Education as having a quality program; |
| 8197 | Section 185. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section |
| 8198 | 1012.80, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 8199 | 1012.80 Participation by employees in disruptive |
| 8200 | activities at public postsecondary educational institutions; |
| 8201 | penalties.- |
| 8202 | (1)(a) Any person who accepts the privilege extended by |
| 8203 | the laws of this state of employment at any Florida College |
| 8204 | System institution community college shall, by working at such |
| 8205 | institution, be deemed to have given his or her consent to the |
| 8206 | policies of that institution, the policies of the State Board of |
| 8207 | Education, and the laws of this state. Such policies shall |
| 8208 | include prohibition against disruptive activities at Florida |
| 8209 | College System institutions community colleges. |
| 8210 | Section 186. Section 1012.81, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 8211 | to read: |
| 8212 | 1012.81 Personnel records.-Rules of the State Board of |
| 8213 | Education shall prescribe the content and custody of limited- |
| 8214 | access records which a Florida College System institution |
| 8215 | community college may maintain on its employees. Such records |
| 8216 | shall be limited to information reflecting evaluations of |
| 8217 | employee performance and shall be open to inspection only by the |
| 8218 | employee and by officials of the college who are responsible for |
| 8219 | supervision of the employee. Such limited-access employee |
| 8220 | records are confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. |
| 8221 | 119.07(1). Except as required for use by the president in the |
| 8222 | discharge of his or her official responsibilities, the custodian |
| 8223 | of limited-access employee records may release information from |
| 8224 | such records only upon authorization in writing from the |
| 8225 | employee or the president or upon order of a court of competent |
| 8226 | jurisdiction. |
| 8227 | Section 187. Section 1012.82, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 8228 | to read: |
| 8229 | 1012.82 Teaching faculty; minimum teaching hours per |
| 8230 | week.-Each full-time member of the teaching faculty at any |
| 8231 | Florida College System institution community college who is paid |
| 8232 | wholly from funds appropriated from the Florida College System |
| 8233 | community college Program Fund or from funds appropriated for |
| 8234 | Florida College System institution community college |
| 8235 | baccalaureate degree programs shall teach a minimum of 15 |
| 8236 | classroom contact hours per week at such institution. However, |
| 8237 | the required classroom contact hours per week may be reduced |
| 8238 | upon approval of the president of the institution in direct |
| 8239 | proportion to specific duties and responsibilities assigned the |
| 8240 | faculty member by his or her departmental chair or other |
| 8241 | appropriate college administrator. Such specific duties may |
| 8242 | include specific research duties, specific duties associated |
| 8243 | with developing television, video tape, or other specifically |
| 8244 | assigned innovative teaching techniques or devices, or assigned |
| 8245 | responsibility for off-campus student internship or work-study |
| 8246 | programs. A "classroom contact hour" consists of a regularly |
| 8247 | scheduled classroom activity of not less than 50 minutes in a |
| 8248 | course of instruction which has been approved by the Florida |
| 8249 | College System institution community college board of trustees. |
| 8250 | Any full-time faculty member who is paid partly from Florida |
| 8251 | College System institution community college program funds and |
| 8252 | partly from other funds or appropriations shall teach a minimum |
| 8253 | number of classroom contact hours per week in such proportion to |
| 8254 | 15 classroom contact hours as his or her salary paid from |
| 8255 | Florida College System institution community college program |
| 8256 | funds bears to his or her total salary. Any full-time faculty |
| 8257 | member who is paid partly from funds appropriated for Florida |
| 8258 | College System institution community college baccalaureate |
| 8259 | degree programs and partly from other funds or appropriations |
| 8260 | shall teach a minimum number of classroom contact hours per week |
| 8261 | in such proportion to 15 classroom contact hours as his or her |
| 8262 | salary paid from funds appropriated for Florida College System |
| 8263 | institution community college baccalaureate degree programs |
| 8264 | bears to his or her total salary. |
| 8265 | Section 188. Section 1012.83, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 8266 | to read: |
| 8267 | 1012.83 Contracts with administrative and instructional |
| 8268 | staff.- |
| 8269 | (1) Each person employed in an administrative or |
| 8270 | instructional capacity in a Florida College System institution |
| 8271 | community college shall be entitled to a contract as provided by |
| 8272 | rules of the State Board of Education. |
| 8273 | (2) A Florida College System institution community college |
| 8274 | board of trustees may not enter into an employment contract that |
| 8275 | requires the Florida College System institution community |
| 8276 | college to pay an employee an amount from appropriated state |
| 8277 | funds in excess of 1 year of the employee's annual salary for |
| 8278 | termination, buyout, or any other type of contract settlement. |
| 8279 | This subsection does not prohibit the payment of leave and |
| 8280 | benefits accrued by the employee in accordance with the Florida |
| 8281 | College System institution's community college's leave and |
| 8282 | benefits policies before the contract terminates. |
| 8283 | Section 189. Subsection (1) of section 1012.84, Florida |
| 8284 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 8285 | 1012.84 Exemption from county civil service commissions.- |
| 8286 | (1) Any Florida College System institution community |
| 8287 | college located in a county which has either a budget commission |
| 8288 | or a civil service commission is exempt from the regulation, |
| 8289 | supervision, and control of any such commission. |
| 8290 | Section 190. Section 1012.85, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 8291 | to read: |
| 8292 | 1012.85 Payment of costs of civil actions against |
| 8293 | officers, employees, or agents of Florida College System |
| 8294 | institution community college board of trustees.- |
| 8295 | (1) Whenever any civil action has been brought against any |
| 8296 | officer of the Florida College System institution community |
| 8297 | college board of trustees, including a board member, or any |
| 8298 | person employed by or agent of the Florida College System |
| 8299 | institution community college board of trustees, of any Florida |
| 8300 | College System institution community college for any act or |
| 8301 | omission arising out of and in the course of the performance of |
| 8302 | his or her duties and responsibilities, the Florida College |
| 8303 | System institution community college board of trustees may |
| 8304 | defray all costs of defending such action, including reasonable |
| 8305 | attorney's fees and expenses together with costs of appeal, if |
| 8306 | any, and may save harmless and protect such person from any |
| 8307 | financial loss resulting therefrom; and the Florida College |
| 8308 | System institution community college board of trustees may be |
| 8309 | self-insured, to enter into risk management programs, or to |
| 8310 | purchase insurance for whatever coverage it may choose, or to |
| 8311 | have any combination thereof, to cover all such losses and |
| 8312 | expenses. However, any attorney's fees paid from public funds |
| 8313 | for any officer, employee, or agent who is found to be |
| 8314 | personally liable by virtue of acting outside the scope of his |
| 8315 | or her employment or acting in bad faith, with malicious |
| 8316 | purpose, or in a manner exhibiting wanton and willful disregard |
| 8317 | of human rights, safety, or property may be recovered by the |
| 8318 | state, county, municipality, or political subdivision in a civil |
| 8319 | action against such officer, employee, or agent. |
| 8320 | (2) Failure by a Florida College System institution |
| 8321 | community college board of trustees to perform any act |
| 8322 | authorized by this section shall not constitute a cause of |
| 8323 | action against a Florida College System institution community |
| 8324 | college or its trustees, officers, employees, or agents. |
| 8325 | Section 191. Section 1012.855, Florida Statutes, is |
| 8326 | amended to read: |
| 8327 | 1012.855 Employment of Florida College System institution |
| 8328 | community college personnel; discrimination in granting salary |
| 8329 | prohibited.- |
| 8330 | (1)(a) Employment of all personnel in each Florida College |
| 8331 | System institution community college shall be upon |
| 8332 | recommendation of the president, subject to rejection for cause |
| 8333 | by the Florida College System institution community college |
| 8334 | board of trustees; to the rules of the State Board of Education |
| 8335 | relative to certification, tenure, leaves of absence of all |
| 8336 | types, including sabbaticals, remuneration, and such other |
| 8337 | conditions of employment as the State Board of Education deems |
| 8338 | necessary and proper; and to policies of the Florida College |
| 8339 | System institution community college board of trustees not |
| 8340 | inconsistent with law. |
| 8341 | (b) Any internal auditor employed by a Florida College |
| 8342 | System institution community college shall be hired by the |
| 8343 | Florida College System institution community college board of |
| 8344 | trustees and shall report directly to the board. |
| 8345 | (2) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 8346 | college board of trustees shall undertake a program to eradicate |
| 8347 | any discrimination on the basis of gender, race, or physical |
| 8348 | handicap in the granting of salaries to employees. |
| 8349 | Section 192. Subsections (1), (2), (3), (5), and (6) of |
| 8350 | section 1012.86, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 8351 | 1012.86 Florida College System institution Community |
| 8352 | college employment equity accountability program.- |
| 8353 | (1) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 8354 | college shall include in its annual equity update a plan for |
| 8355 | increasing the representation of women and minorities in senior- |
| 8356 | level administrative positions and in full-time faculty |
| 8357 | positions, and for increasing the representation of women and |
| 8358 | minorities who have attained continuing-contract status. |
| 8359 | Positions shall be defined in the personnel data element |
| 8360 | directory of the Department of Education. The plan must include |
| 8361 | specific measurable goals and objectives, specific strategies |
| 8362 | and timelines for accomplishing these goals and objectives, and |
| 8363 | comparable national standards as provided by the Department of |
| 8364 | Education. The goals and objectives shall be based on meeting or |
| 8365 | exceeding comparable national standards and shall be reviewed |
| 8366 | and recommended by the State Board of Education as appropriate. |
| 8367 | Such plans shall be maintained until appropriate representation |
| 8368 | has been achieved and maintained for at least 3 consecutive |
| 8369 | reporting years. |
| 8370 | (2)(a) On or before May 1 of each year, each Florida |
| 8371 | College System institution community college president shall |
| 8372 | submit an annual employment accountability plan to the |
| 8373 | Commissioner of Education and the State Board of Education. The |
| 8374 | accountability plan must show faculty and administrator |
| 8375 | employment data according to requirements specified on the |
| 8376 | federal Equal Employment Opportunity (EE0-6) report. |
| 8377 | (b) The plan must show the following information for those |
| 8378 | positions including, but not limited to: |
| 8379 | 1. Job classification title. |
| 8380 | 2. Gender. |
| 8381 | 3. Ethnicity. |
| 8382 | 4. Appointment status. |
| 8383 | 5. Salary information. At each Florida College System |
| 8384 | institution community college, salary information shall also |
| 8385 | include the salary ranges in which new hires were employed |
| 8386 | compared to the salary ranges for employees with comparable |
| 8387 | experience and qualifications. |
| 8388 | 6. Other comparative information including, but not |
| 8389 | limited to, composite information regarding the total number of |
| 8390 | positions within the particular job title classification for the |
| 8391 | Florida College System institution community college by race, |
| 8392 | gender, and salary range compared to the number of new hires. |
| 8393 | 7. A statement certifying diversity and balance in the |
| 8394 | gender and ethnic composition of the selection committee for |
| 8395 | each vacancy, including a brief description of guidelines used |
| 8396 | for ensuring balanced and diverse membership on selection and |
| 8397 | review committees. |
| 8398 | (c) The annual employment accountability plan shall also |
| 8399 | include an analysis and an assessment of the Florida College |
| 8400 | System institution's community college's attainment of annual |
| 8401 | goals and of long-range goals for increasing the number of women |
| 8402 | and minorities in faculty and senior-level administrative |
| 8403 | positions, and a corrective action plan for addressing |
| 8404 | underrepresentation. |
| 8405 | (d) Each Florida College System institution's community |
| 8406 | college's employment accountability plan must also include: |
| 8407 | 1. The requirements for receiving a continuing contract. |
| 8408 | 2. A brief description of the process used to grant |
| 8409 | continuing-contract status. |
| 8410 | 3. A brief description of the process used to annually |
| 8411 | apprise each eligible faculty member of progress toward |
| 8412 | attainment of continuing-contract status. |
| 8413 | (3) Florida College System institution Community college |
| 8414 | presidents and the heads of each major administrative division |
| 8415 | shall be evaluated annually on the progress made toward meeting |
| 8416 | the goals and objectives of the Florida College System |
| 8417 | institution's community college's employment accountability |
| 8418 | plan. |
| 8419 | (a) The Florida College System institution community |
| 8420 | college presidents, or the presidents' designees, shall annually |
| 8421 | evaluate each department chairperson, dean, provost, and vice |
| 8422 | president in achieving the annual and long-term goals and |
| 8423 | objectives. A summary of the results of such evaluations shall |
| 8424 | be reported annually by the Florida College System institution |
| 8425 | community college president to the Florida College System |
| 8426 | institution community college board of trustees. Annual budget |
| 8427 | allocations by the Florida College System institution community |
| 8428 | college board of trustees for positions and funding must take |
| 8429 | into consideration these evaluations. |
| 8430 | (b) Florida College System institution Community college |
| 8431 | boards of trustees shall annually evaluate the performance of |
| 8432 | the Florida College System institution community college |
| 8433 | presidents in achieving the annual and long-term goals and |
| 8434 | objectives. A summary of the results of such evaluations shall |
| 8435 | be reported to the Commissioner of Education and the State Board |
| 8436 | of Education as part of the Florida College System institution's |
| 8437 | community college's annual employment accountability plan, and |
| 8438 | to the Legislature as part of the annual equity progress report |
| 8439 | submitted by the State Board of Education. |
| 8440 | (5) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 8441 | college shall develop a budgetary incentive plan to support and |
| 8442 | ensure attainment of the goals developed pursuant to this |
| 8443 | section. The plan shall specify, at a minimum, how resources |
| 8444 | shall be allocated to support the achievement of goals and the |
| 8445 | implementation of strategies in a timely manner. After prior |
| 8446 | review and approval by the Florida College System institution |
| 8447 | community college president and the Florida College System |
| 8448 | institution community college board of trustees, the plan shall |
| 8449 | be submitted as part of the annual employment accountability |
| 8450 | plan submitted by each Florida College System institution |
| 8451 | community college to the State Board of Education. |
| 8452 | (6) Subject to available funding, the Legislature shall |
| 8453 | provide an annual appropriation to the State Board of Education |
| 8454 | to be allocated to Florida College System institution community |
| 8455 | college presidents, faculty, and administrative personnel to |
| 8456 | further enhance equity initiatives and related priorities that |
| 8457 | support the mission of colleges and departments in recognition |
| 8458 | of the attainment of the equity goals and objectives. |
| 8459 | Section 193. Section 1012.865, Florida Statutes, is |
| 8460 | amended to read: |
| 8461 | 1012.865 Sick leave.-Each Florida College System |
| 8462 | institution community college board of trustees shall adopt |
| 8463 | rules whereby any full-time employee who is unable to perform |
| 8464 | his or her duties at the Florida College System institution |
| 8465 | community college on account of personal sickness, accident |
| 8466 | disability, or extended personal illness, or because of illness |
| 8467 | or death of the employee's father, mother, brother, sister, |
| 8468 | husband, wife, child, or other close relative or member of the |
| 8469 | employee's own household, and who consequently has to be absent |
| 8470 | from work shall be granted leave of absence for sickness by the |
| 8471 | president or by the president's designated representative. The |
| 8472 | following provisions shall govern sick leave: |
| 8473 | (1) DEFINITIONS.-As used in this section, unless the |
| 8474 | context otherwise requires, the term: |
| 8475 | (a) "Educational support employee" means any person |
| 8476 | employed by a Florida College System institution community |
| 8477 | college as an education or administrative paraprofessional; a |
| 8478 | member of the operations, maintenance, or comparable department; |
| 8479 | or a secretary, clerical, or comparable level support employee. |
| 8480 | (b) "Instructional staff" shall be used synonymously with |
| 8481 | the word "teacher" or "faculty" and includes faculty members, |
| 8482 | librarians, counselors, and other comparable members engaged in |
| 8483 | an instructional capacity in the Florida College System |
| 8484 | institution community college. |
| 8485 | (2) EXTENT OF LEAVE WITH COMPENSATION.- |
| 8486 | (a) Each full-time employee shall earn 1 day of sick leave |
| 8487 | with compensation for each calendar month or major fraction of a |
| 8488 | calendar month of service, not to exceed 12 days for each fiscal |
| 8489 | year. Such leave shall be taken only when necessary because of |
| 8490 | sickness as herein prescribed. Such sick leave shall be |
| 8491 | cumulative from year to year. Accumulated sick leave may be |
| 8492 | transferred from another Florida College System institution |
| 8493 | community college, the Florida Department of Education, a state |
| 8494 | university, a Florida district school board, or a state agency, |
| 8495 | provided that at least one-half of the sick leave accumulated at |
| 8496 | any time must have been established in the college in which such |
| 8497 | employee is currently employed. |
| 8498 | (b) A Florida College System institution community college |
| 8499 | board of trustees may establish rules and prescribe procedures |
| 8500 | whereby a full-time employee may, at the beginning date of |
| 8501 | employment in any year, be credited with 12 days of sick leave |
| 8502 | with compensation in excess of the number of days the employee |
| 8503 | has earned. Upon termination of employment, the employee's final |
| 8504 | compensation shall be adjusted in an amount necessary to ensure |
| 8505 | that sick leave with compensation does not exceed the days of |
| 8506 | earned sick leave as provided herein. |
| 8507 | (c) A Florida College System institution community college |
| 8508 | board of trustees may establish rules and prescribe standards to |
| 8509 | permit a full-time employee to be absent no more than 4 days for |
| 8510 | personal reasons. However, such absences for personal reasons |
| 8511 | shall be charged only to accrued sick leave, and leave for |
| 8512 | personal reasons shall be noncumulative. |
| 8513 | (d) A Florida College System institution community college |
| 8514 | board of trustees may establish rules to provide terminal pay |
| 8515 | for accumulated sick leave to full-time instructional staff and |
| 8516 | educational support employees or to the employee's beneficiary |
| 8517 | if service is terminated by death. However, such terminal pay |
| 8518 | may not exceed an amount determined as follows: |
| 8519 | 1. During the first 3 years of service, the daily rate of |
| 8520 | pay multiplied by 35 percent times the number of days of |
| 8521 | accumulated sick leave. |
| 8522 | 2. During the next 3 years of service, the daily rate of |
| 8523 | pay multiplied by 40 percent times the number of days of |
| 8524 | accumulated sick leave. |
| 8525 | 3. During the next 3 years of service, the daily rate of |
| 8526 | pay multiplied by 45 percent times the number of days of |
| 8527 | accumulated sick leave. |
| 8528 | 4. During the 10th year of service, the daily rate of pay |
| 8529 | multiplied by 50 percent times the number of days of accumulated |
| 8530 | sick leave. |
| 8531 | 5. During the next 20 years of service, the daily rate of |
| 8532 | pay multiplied by 50 percent plus up to an additional 2.5 |
| 8533 | percent per year for each year of service beyond 10 years, times |
| 8534 | the number of days of accumulated sick leave. |
| 8535 |
|
| 8536 | If an employee receives terminal pay benefits based on unused |
| 8537 | sick leave credit, all unused sick leave credit shall become |
| 8538 | invalid; however, if an employee terminates his or her |
| 8539 | employment without receiving terminal pay benefits and is |
| 8540 | reemployed, his or her sick leave credit shall be reinstated. |
| 8541 | (e) A Florida College System institution community college |
| 8542 | board of trustees may, by rule, provide for terminal pay for |
| 8543 | accumulated unused sick leave to be paid to any full-time |
| 8544 | employee of a Florida College System institution community |
| 8545 | college other than instructional staff or educational support |
| 8546 | employees. If termination of employment is by death of the |
| 8547 | employee, any terminal pay to which the employee may have been |
| 8548 | entitled shall be made to the employee's beneficiary. |
| 8549 | 1. For unused sick leave accumulated before July 1, 2001, |
| 8550 | terminal pay shall be made pursuant to rules or policies of the |
| 8551 | board of trustees which were in effect on June 30, 2001. |
| 8552 | 2. For unused sick leave accumulated on or after July 1, |
| 8553 | 2001, terminal payment may not exceed an amount equal to one- |
| 8554 | fourth of the employee's unused sick leave or 60 days of the |
| 8555 | employee's pay, whichever amount is less. |
| 8556 | 3. If the employee had an accumulated sick leave balance |
| 8557 | of 60 days or more on June 30, 2001, sick leave earned after |
| 8558 | that date may not be accumulated for terminal pay purposes until |
| 8559 | the accumulated leave balance as of June 30, 2001, is less than |
| 8560 | 60 days. |
| 8561 | (3) CLAIM MUST BE FILED.-Any full-time employee who finds |
| 8562 | it necessary to be absent from his or her duties because of |
| 8563 | illness as defined in this section shall notify the Florida |
| 8564 | College System institution community college president or a |
| 8565 | college official designated by the president, if possible before |
| 8566 | the opening of college on the day on which the employee must be |
| 8567 | absent or during the day, except when he or she is absent for |
| 8568 | emergency reasons recognized by the Florida College System |
| 8569 | institution community college board of trustees as valid. Any |
| 8570 | employee shall, before claiming and receiving compensation for |
| 8571 | the time absent from his or her duties while absent because of |
| 8572 | sick leave as prescribed in this section, make and file a |
| 8573 | written certificate which shall set forth the day or days |
| 8574 | absent, that such absence was necessary, and that he or she is |
| 8575 | entitled or not entitled to receive pay for such absence in |
| 8576 | accordance with the provisions of this section. The Florida |
| 8577 | College System institution community college board of trustees |
| 8578 | may adopt rules under which the president may require a |
| 8579 | certificate of illness from a licensed physician or from the |
| 8580 | county health officer. |
| 8581 | (4) COMPENSATION.-Any full-time employee who has unused |
| 8582 | sick leave credit shall receive full-time compensation for the |
| 8583 | time justifiably absent on sick leave; however, no compensation |
| 8584 | may be allowed beyond that provided in subsection (6). |
| 8585 | (5) EXPENDITURE AUTHORIZED.-Florida College System |
| 8586 | institution Community college boards of trustees may expend |
| 8587 | public funds for payment to employees on account of sickness. |
| 8588 | The expending and excluding of such funds shall be in compliance |
| 8589 | with rules adopted by the Department of Management Services |
| 8590 | pursuant to chapter 650. |
| 8591 | (6) SICK LEAVE POOL.-Notwithstanding any other provision |
| 8592 | of this section, a Florida College System institution community |
| 8593 | college board of trustees may, by rule, based upon the |
| 8594 | maintenance of reliable and accurate records by the Florida |
| 8595 | College System institution community college showing the amount |
| 8596 | of sick leave which has been accumulated and is unused by |
| 8597 | employees in accordance with this section, establish a plan |
| 8598 | allowing participating full-time employees of the Florida |
| 8599 | College System institution community college to pool sick leave |
| 8600 | accrued and allowing any sick leave thus pooled to be disbursed |
| 8601 | to any participating employee who is in need of sick leave in |
| 8602 | excess of that amount he or she has personally accrued. Such |
| 8603 | rules shall include, but not be limited to, the following |
| 8604 | provisions: |
| 8605 | (a) Participation in the sick leave pool shall at all |
| 8606 | times be voluntary on the part of employees. |
| 8607 | (b) Any full-time employee shall be eligible for |
| 8608 | participation in the sick leave pool after 1 year of employment |
| 8609 | with the Florida College System institution community college, |
| 8610 | provided such employee has accrued a minimum amount of unused |
| 8611 | sick leave, which minimum shall be established by rule. |
| 8612 | (c) Any sick leave pooled pursuant to this section shall |
| 8613 | be removed from the personally accumulated sick leave balance of |
| 8614 | the employee donating such leave. |
| 8615 | (d) Participating employees shall make equal contributions |
| 8616 | to the sick leave pool. There shall be established a maximum |
| 8617 | amount of sick leave which may be contributed to the pool by an |
| 8618 | employee. After the initial contribution which an employee makes |
| 8619 | upon electing to participate, no further contributions shall be |
| 8620 | required except as may be necessary to replenish the pool. Any |
| 8621 | such further contribution shall be equally required of all |
| 8622 | employees participating in the pool. |
| 8623 | (e) Any sick leave time drawn from the pool by a |
| 8624 | participating employee must be used for that employee's personal |
| 8625 | illness, accident, or injury. |
| 8626 | (f) A participating employee will not be eligible to use |
| 8627 | sick leave from the pool until all of his or her sick leave has |
| 8628 | been depleted. There shall be established a maximum number of |
| 8629 | days for which an employee may draw sick leave from the sick |
| 8630 | leave pool. |
| 8631 | (g) A participating employee who uses sick leave from the |
| 8632 | pool will not be required to recontribute such sick leave to the |
| 8633 | pool, except as otherwise provided herein. |
| 8634 | (h) A participating employee who chooses to no longer |
| 8635 | participate in the sick leave pool will not be eligible to |
| 8636 | withdraw any sick leave already contributed to the pool. |
| 8637 | (i) Alleged abuse of the use of the sick leave pool shall |
| 8638 | be investigated, and, on a finding of wrongdoing, the employee |
| 8639 | shall repay all of the sick leave credits drawn from the sick |
| 8640 | leave pool and shall be subject to such other disciplinary |
| 8641 | action as is determined by the board to be appropriate. Rules |
| 8642 | adopted for the administration of this program shall provide for |
| 8643 | the investigation of the use of sick leave utilized by the |
| 8644 | participating employee in the sick leave pool. |
| 8645 | Section 194. Section 1012.87, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 8646 | to read: |
| 8647 | 1012.87 Retirement annuities.-Each Florida College System |
| 8648 | institution community college board of trustees may purchase |
| 8649 | annuities for its Florida College System institution community |
| 8650 | college personnel who have 25 or more years of creditable |
| 8651 | service and who have reached age 55 and have applied for |
| 8652 | retirement under the Florida Retirement System. No such annuity |
| 8653 | may provide for more than the total difference in retirement |
| 8654 | income between the retirement benefit based on average monthly |
| 8655 | compensation and creditable service as of the member's early |
| 8656 | retirement date and the early retirement benefit. Florida |
| 8657 | College System institution Community college boards of trustees |
| 8658 | may also purchase annuities for members of the Florida |
| 8659 | Retirement System who have out-of-state teaching service in |
| 8660 | another state or country which is documented as valid by the |
| 8661 | appropriate educational entity. Such annuities may be based on |
| 8662 | no more than 5 years of out-of-state teaching service and may |
| 8663 | equal, but not exceed, the benefits that would be payable under |
| 8664 | the Florida Retirement System if credit for out-of-state |
| 8665 | teaching was authorized under that system. Each Florida College |
| 8666 | System institution community college board of trustees may |
| 8667 | invest funds, purchase annuities, or provide local supplemental |
| 8668 | retirement programs for purposes of providing retirement |
| 8669 | annuities for Florida College System institution community |
| 8670 | college personnel. All such retirement annuities shall comply |
| 8671 | with s. 14, Art. X of the State Constitution. |
| 8672 | Section 195. Section 1012.875, Florida Statutes, is |
| 8673 | amended to read: |
| 8674 | 1012.875 State Community College System Optional |
| 8675 | Retirement Program.-Each Florida College System institution |
| 8676 | community college may implement an optional retirement program, |
| 8677 | if such program is established therefor pursuant to s. |
| 8678 | 1001.64(20), under which annuity or other contracts providing |
| 8679 | retirement and death benefits may be purchased by, and on behalf |
| 8680 | of, eligible employees who participate in the program, in |
| 8681 | accordance with s. 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. Except |
| 8682 | as otherwise provided herein, this retirement program, which |
| 8683 | shall be known as the State Community College System Optional |
| 8684 | Retirement Program, may be implemented and administered only by |
| 8685 | an individual Florida College System institution community |
| 8686 | college or by a consortium of Florida College System |
| 8687 | institutions community colleges. |
| 8688 | (1) As used in this section, the term: |
| 8689 | (a) "Activation" means the date upon which an optional |
| 8690 | retirement program is first made available by the program |
| 8691 | administrator to eligible employees. |
| 8692 | (b) "College" means Florida College System institutions |
| 8693 | community colleges as defined in s. 1000.21. |
| 8694 | (c) "Department" means the Department of Management |
| 8695 | Services. |
| 8696 | (d) "Program administrator" means the individual college |
| 8697 | or consortium of colleges responsible for implementing and |
| 8698 | administering an optional retirement program. |
| 8699 | (e) "Program participant" means an eligible employee who |
| 8700 | has elected to participate in an available optional retirement |
| 8701 | program as authorized by this section. |
| 8702 | (2) Participation in the optional retirement program |
| 8703 | provided by this section is limited to employees who satisfy the |
| 8704 | criteria set forth in s. 121.051(2)(c). |
| 8705 | (3)(a) With respect to any employee who is eligible to |
| 8706 | participate in the optional retirement program by reason of |
| 8707 | qualifying employment commencing before the program's |
| 8708 | activation: |
| 8709 | 1. The employee may elect to participate in the optional |
| 8710 | retirement program in lieu of participation in the Florida |
| 8711 | Retirement System. To become a program participant, the employee |
| 8712 | must file with the personnel officer of the college, within 90 |
| 8713 | days after the program's activation, a written election on a |
| 8714 | form provided by the Florida Retirement System and a completed |
| 8715 | application for an individual contract or certificate. |
| 8716 | 2. An employee's participation in the optional retirement |
| 8717 | program commences on the first day of the next full calendar |
| 8718 | month following the filing of the election and completed |
| 8719 | application with the program administrator and receipt of such |
| 8720 | election by the department. An employee's membership in the |
| 8721 | Florida Retirement System terminates on this same date. |
| 8722 | 3. Any such employee who fails to make an election to |
| 8723 | participate in the optional retirement program within 60 days |
| 8724 | after its activation has elected to retain membership in the |
| 8725 | Florida Retirement System. |
| 8726 | (b) With respect to any employee who becomes eligible to |
| 8727 | participate in an optional retirement program by reason of |
| 8728 | qualifying employment commencing on or after the program's |
| 8729 | activation: |
| 8730 | 1. The employee may elect to participate in the optional |
| 8731 | retirement program in lieu of participation in the Florida |
| 8732 | Retirement System. To become a program participant, the employee |
| 8733 | must file with the personnel officer of the college, within 90 |
| 8734 | days after commencing qualifying employment as provided in s. |
| 8735 | 121.051(2)(c)4., a written election on a form provided by the |
| 8736 | Florida Retirement System and a completed application for an |
| 8737 | individual contract or certificate. |
| 8738 | 2. An employee's participation in the optional retirement |
| 8739 | program commences retroactive to the first day of qualifying |
| 8740 | employment following the filing of the election and completed |
| 8741 | application with the program administrator and receipt of such |
| 8742 | election by the department. An employee's membership in the |
| 8743 | Florida Retirement System terminates on this same date. |
| 8744 | 3. Any such employee who fails to make an election to |
| 8745 | participate in the optional retirement program within 90 days |
| 8746 | after commencing qualifying employment has elected to retain |
| 8747 | membership in the Florida Retirement System. |
| 8748 | (c) Any employee who, on or after an optional retirement |
| 8749 | program's activation, becomes eligible to participate in the |
| 8750 | program by reason of a change in status due to the subsequent |
| 8751 | designation of the employee's position as one of those |
| 8752 | referenced in subsection (2), or due to the employee's |
| 8753 | appointment, promotion, transfer, or reclassification to a |
| 8754 | position referenced in subsection (2), must be notified by the |
| 8755 | college of the employee's eligibility to participate in the |
| 8756 | optional retirement program in lieu of participation in the |
| 8757 | Florida Retirement System. These eligible employees are subject |
| 8758 | to the provisions of paragraph (b) and may elect to participate |
| 8759 | in the optional retirement program in the same manner as those |
| 8760 | employees described in paragraph (b), except that the 90-day |
| 8761 | election period commences upon the date notice of eligibility is |
| 8762 | received by the employee and participation in the program begins |
| 8763 | the first day of the first full calendar month that the change |
| 8764 | in status becomes effective. |
| 8765 | (d) Program participants must be fully and immediately |
| 8766 | vested in the optional retirement program upon issuance of an |
| 8767 | optional retirement program contract. |
| 8768 | (e) The election by an eligible employee to participate in |
| 8769 | the optional retirement program is irrevocable for so long as |
| 8770 | the employee continues to meet the eligibility requirements set |
| 8771 | forth in this section and in s. 121.051(2)(c), except as |
| 8772 | provided in paragraph (i) or as provided in s. 121.051(2)(c)3. |
| 8773 | (f) If a program participant becomes ineligible to |
| 8774 | continue participating in the optional retirement program |
| 8775 | pursuant to the criteria referenced in subsection (2), the |
| 8776 | employee becomes a member of the Florida Retirement System if |
| 8777 | eligible. The college must notify the department of an |
| 8778 | employee's change in eligibility status within 30 days after the |
| 8779 | event that makes the employee ineligible to continue |
| 8780 | participation in the optional retirement program. |
| 8781 | (g) An eligible employee who is a member of the Florida |
| 8782 | Retirement System at the time of election to participate in the |
| 8783 | optional retirement program retains all retirement service |
| 8784 | credit earned under the Florida Retirement System at the rate |
| 8785 | earned. Additional service credit in the Florida Retirement |
| 8786 | System may not be earned while the employee participates in the |
| 8787 | optional retirement program, nor is the employee eligible for |
| 8788 | disability retirement under the Florida Retirement System. An |
| 8789 | eligible employee may transfer from the Florida Retirement |
| 8790 | System to his or her accounts under the State Community College |
| 8791 | Optional Retirement Program a sum representing the present value |
| 8792 | of his or her service credit accrued under the defined benefit |
| 8793 | program of the Florida Retirement System for the period between |
| 8794 | his or her first eligible transfer date from the defined benefit |
| 8795 | plan to the optional retirement program and the actual date of |
| 8796 | such transfer as provided in s. 121.051(2)(c)7. Upon such |
| 8797 | transfer, all such service credit previously earned under the |
| 8798 | defined benefit program of the Florida Retirement System during |
| 8799 | this period shall be nullified for purposes of entitlement to a |
| 8800 | future benefit under the defined benefit program of the Florida |
| 8801 | Retirement System. |
| 8802 | (h) A program participant may not simultaneously |
| 8803 | participate in any other state-administered retirement system, |
| 8804 | plan, or class. |
| 8805 | (i) Except as provided in s. 121.052(6)(d), a program |
| 8806 | participant who is or who becomes dually employed in two or more |
| 8807 | positions covered by the Florida Retirement System, one of which |
| 8808 | is eligible for an optional retirement program pursuant to this |
| 8809 | section and one of which is not, is subject to the dual |
| 8810 | employment provisions of chapter 121. |
| 8811 | (4)(a) Each college must contribute on behalf of each |
| 8812 | program participant an amount equal to 10.43 percent of the |
| 8813 | participant's gross monthly compensation. The college shall |
| 8814 | deduct an amount approved by the district board of trustees of |
| 8815 | the college to provide for the administration of the optional |
| 8816 | retirement program. Payment of this contribution must be made |
| 8817 | either directly by the college or through the program |
| 8818 | administrator to the designated company contracting for payment |
| 8819 | of benefits to the program participant. |
| 8820 | (b) Each college must contribute on behalf of each program |
| 8821 | participant an amount equal to the unfunded actuarial accrued |
| 8822 | liability portion of the employer contribution which would be |
| 8823 | required if the program participant were a member of the Regular |
| 8824 | Class of the Florida Retirement System. Payment of this |
| 8825 | contribution must be made directly by the college to the |
| 8826 | department for deposit in the Florida Retirement System Trust |
| 8827 | Fund. |
| 8828 | (c) Each program participant who has been issued an |
| 8829 | optional retirement program contract may contribute by way of |
| 8830 | salary reduction or deduction a percentage of the program |
| 8831 | participant's gross compensation, but this percentage may not |
| 8832 | exceed the corresponding percentage contributed by the Florida |
| 8833 | College System institution community college to the optional |
| 8834 | retirement program. Payment of this contribution may be made |
| 8835 | either directly by the college or through the program |
| 8836 | administrator to the designated company contracting for payment |
| 8837 | of benefits to the program participant. |
| 8838 | (d) Contributions to an optional retirement program by a |
| 8839 | college or a program participant are in addition to, and have no |
| 8840 | effect upon, contributions required now or in future by the |
| 8841 | federal Social Security Act. |
| 8842 | (e) The college may accept for deposit into participant |
| 8843 | account or accounts contributions in the form of rollovers or |
| 8844 | direct trustee-to-trustee transfers by or on behalf of |
| 8845 | participants who are reasonably determined by the college to be |
| 8846 | eligible for rollover or transfer to the optional retirement |
| 8847 | program pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, if such |
| 8848 | contributions are made in accordance with the applicable |
| 8849 | requirements of the college. Accounting for such contributions |
| 8850 | shall be in accordance with any applicable requirements of the |
| 8851 | Internal Revenue Code and the college. |
| 8852 | (5)(a) The benefits to be provided to program participants |
| 8853 | must be provided through contracts, including individual |
| 8854 | contracts or individual certificates issued for group annuity or |
| 8855 | other contracts, which may be fixed, variable, or both, in |
| 8856 | accordance with s. 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. Each |
| 8857 | individual contract or certificate must state the type of |
| 8858 | contract on its face page, and must include at least a statement |
| 8859 | of ownership, the contract benefits, distribution options, |
| 8860 | limitations, expense charges, and surrender charges, if any. |
| 8861 | (b) Benefits are payable under the optional retirement |
| 8862 | program to program participants or their beneficiaries, and the |
| 8863 | benefits must be paid only by the designated company in |
| 8864 | accordance with the terms of the contracts applicable to the |
| 8865 | program participant. Benefits shall accrue in individual |
| 8866 | accounts that are participant-directed, portable, and funded by |
| 8867 | employer contributions and the earnings thereon. Benefits funded |
| 8868 | by employer contributions are payable in accordance with the |
| 8869 | following terms and conditions: |
| 8870 | 1. Benefits shall be payable only to a participant, to his |
| 8871 | or her beneficiaries, or to his or her estate, as designated by |
| 8872 | the participant. |
| 8873 | 2. Benefits shall be paid by the provider company or |
| 8874 | companies in accordance with the law, the provisions of the |
| 8875 | contract, and any applicable employer rule or policy. |
| 8876 | 3. In the event of a participant's death, moneys |
| 8877 | accumulated by, or on behalf of, the participant, less |
| 8878 | withholding taxes remitted to the Internal Revenue Service, if |
| 8879 | any, shall be distributed to the participant's designated |
| 8880 | beneficiary or beneficiaries, or to the participant's estate, as |
| 8881 | if the participant retired on the date of death as provided in |
| 8882 | paragraph (d). No other death benefits shall be available for |
| 8883 | survivors of participants under the optional retirement program |
| 8884 | except for such benefits, or coverage for such benefits, as are |
| 8885 | separately afforded by the employer at the employer's |
| 8886 | discretion. |
| 8887 | (c) Upon receipt by the provider company of a properly |
| 8888 | executed application for distribution of benefits, the total |
| 8889 | accumulated benefits shall be payable to the participant as: |
| 8890 | 1. A lump-sum distribution to the participant; |
| 8891 | 2. A lump-sum direct rollover distribution whereby all |
| 8892 | accrued benefits, plus interest and investment earnings, are |
| 8893 | paid from the participant's account directly to an eligible |
| 8894 | retirement plan as defined in s. 402(c)(8)(B) of the Internal |
| 8895 | Revenue Code, on behalf of the participant; |
| 8896 | 3. Periodic distributions; |
| 8897 | 4. A partial lump-sum payment whereby a portion of the |
| 8898 | accrued benefit is paid to the participant and the remaining |
| 8899 | amount is transferred to an eligible retirement plan, as defined |
| 8900 | in s. 402(c)(8)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, on behalf of |
| 8901 | the participant; or |
| 8902 | 5. Such other distribution options as are provided for in |
| 8903 | the participant's optional retirement program contract. |
| 8904 | (d) Survivor benefits shall be payable as: |
| 8905 | 1. A lump-sum distribution payable to the beneficiaries or |
| 8906 | to the deceased participant's estate; |
| 8907 | 2. An eligible rollover distribution on behalf of the |
| 8908 | surviving spouse or beneficiary of a deceased participant |
| 8909 | whereby all accrued benefits, plus interest and investment |
| 8910 | earnings, are paid from the deceased participant's account |
| 8911 | directly to an eligible retirement plan, as described in s. |
| 8912 | 402(c)(8)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, on behalf of the |
| 8913 | surviving spouse; |
| 8914 | 3. Such other distribution options as are provided for in |
| 8915 | the participant's optional retirement program contract; or |
| 8916 | 4. A partial lump-sum payment whereby a portion of the |
| 8917 | accrued benefits are paid to the deceased participant's |
| 8918 | surviving spouse or other designated beneficiaries, less |
| 8919 | withholding taxes remitted to the Internal Revenue Service, if |
| 8920 | any, and the remaining amount is transferred directly to an |
| 8921 | eligible retirement plan, as described in s. 402(c)(8)(B) of the |
| 8922 | Internal Revenue Code, on behalf of the surviving spouse. The |
| 8923 | proportions must be specified by the participant or the |
| 8924 | surviving beneficiary. |
| 8925 |
|
| 8926 | Nothing in this paragraph abrogates other applicable provisions |
| 8927 | of state or federal law providing payment of death benefits. |
| 8928 | (e) The benefits payable to any person under the optional |
| 8929 | retirement program, and any contribution accumulated under the |
| 8930 | program, are not subject to assignment, execution, attachment, |
| 8931 | or to any legal process whatsoever. |
| 8932 | (6)(a) The optional retirement program authorized by this |
| 8933 | section must be implemented and administered by the program |
| 8934 | administrator under s. 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. The |
| 8935 | program administrator has the express authority to contract with |
| 8936 | a third party to fulfill any of the program administrator's |
| 8937 | duties. |
| 8938 | (b) The program administrator shall solicit competitive |
| 8939 | bids or issue a request for proposal and select no more than |
| 8940 | four companies from which optional retirement program contracts |
| 8941 | may be purchased under the optional retirement program. In |
| 8942 | making these selections, the program administrator shall |
| 8943 | consider the following factors: |
| 8944 | 1. The financial soundness of the company. |
| 8945 | 2. The extent of the company's experience in providing |
| 8946 | annuity or other contracts to fund retirement programs. |
| 8947 | 3. The nature and extent of the rights and benefits |
| 8948 | provided to program participants in relation to the premiums |
| 8949 | paid. |
| 8950 | 4. The suitability of the rights and benefits provided to |
| 8951 | the needs of eligible employees and the interests of the college |
| 8952 | in the recruitment and retention of employees. |
| 8953 |
|
| 8954 | In lieu of soliciting competitive bids or issuing a request for |
| 8955 | proposals, the program administrator may authorize the purchase |
| 8956 | of annuity contracts under the optional retirement program from |
| 8957 | those companies currently selected by the department to offer |
| 8958 | such contracts through the State University System Optional |
| 8959 | Retirement Program, as set forth in s. 121.35. |
| 8960 | (c) Optional retirement program annuity contracts must be |
| 8961 | approved in form and content by the program administrator in |
| 8962 | order to qualify. The program administrator may use the same |
| 8963 | annuity contracts currently used within the State University |
| 8964 | System Optional Retirement Program, as set forth in s. 121.35. |
| 8965 | (d) The provision of each annuity contract applicable to a |
| 8966 | program participant must be contained in a written program |
| 8967 | description that includes a report of pertinent financial and |
| 8968 | actuarial information on the solvency and actuarial soundness of |
| 8969 | the program and the benefits applicable to the program |
| 8970 | participant. The company must furnish the description annually |
| 8971 | to the program administrator, and to each program participant |
| 8972 | upon commencement of participation in the program and annually |
| 8973 | thereafter. |
| 8974 | (e) The program administrator must ensure that each |
| 8975 | program participant is provided annually with an accounting of |
| 8976 | the total contributions and the annual contributions made by and |
| 8977 | on the behalf of the program participant. |
| 8978 | Section 196. Section 1012.88, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 8979 | to read: |
| 8980 | 1012.88 Florida College System institution Community |
| 8981 | college police.- |
| 8982 | (1) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 8983 | college is permitted and empowered to employ police officers for |
| 8984 | the Florida College System institution community college, who |
| 8985 | must be designated Florida College System institution community |
| 8986 | college police. |
| 8987 | (2) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 8988 | college police officer is a law enforcement officer of the state |
| 8989 | and a conservator of the peace who has the authority to arrest, |
| 8990 | in accordance with the laws of this state, any person for a |
| 8991 | violation of state law or applicable county or municipal |
| 8992 | ordinance if that violation occurs on or in any property or |
| 8993 | facilities of the Florida College System institution community |
| 8994 | college by which he or she is employed or any property or |
| 8995 | facilities of a direct-support organization of such Florida |
| 8996 | College System institution community college. A Florida College |
| 8997 | System institution community college police officer may also |
| 8998 | arrest a person off campus for a violation committed on campus |
| 8999 | after a hot pursuit of that person that began on any such |
| 9000 | property or facilities. A Florida College System institution |
| 9001 | community college police officer may bear arms in the |
| 9002 | performance of his or her duties and carry out a search pursuant |
| 9003 | to a search warrant on the campus where he or she is employed. |
| 9004 | Florida College System institution Community college police, |
| 9005 | upon request of the sheriff or local police authority, may serve |
| 9006 | subpoenas or other legal process and may make arrests of persons |
| 9007 | against whom arrest warrants have been issued or against whom |
| 9008 | charges have been made for violations of federal or state laws |
| 9009 | or county or municipal ordinances. |
| 9010 | (3) Florida College System institution Community college |
| 9011 | police shall promptly deliver all persons arrested and charged |
| 9012 | with felonies to the sheriff of the county within which the |
| 9013 | Florida College System institution community college is located |
| 9014 | and all persons arrested and charged with misdemeanors to the |
| 9015 | applicable authority as provided by law, but otherwise to the |
| 9016 | sheriff of the county in which the Florida College System |
| 9017 | institution community college is located. |
| 9018 | (4) Florida College System institution Community college |
| 9019 | police must meet the minimum standards established by the Police |
| 9020 | Standards and Training Commission of the Department of Law |
| 9021 | Enforcement and chapter 943 for law enforcement officers. Each |
| 9022 | Florida College System institution community college police |
| 9023 | officer must, before entering into the performance of his or her |
| 9024 | duties, take the oath of office established by the Florida |
| 9025 | College System institution community college. Each Florida |
| 9026 | College System institution community college that employs police |
| 9027 | officers may obtain and approve a bond on each police officer, |
| 9028 | conditioned upon the officer's faithful performance of his or |
| 9029 | her duties, which bond must be payable to the Governor. The |
| 9030 | Florida College System institution community college may |
| 9031 | determine the amount of the bond. In determining the amount of |
| 9032 | the bond, the Florida College System institution community |
| 9033 | college may consider the amount of money or property likely to |
| 9034 | be in the custody of the officer at any one time. The Florida |
| 9035 | College System institution community college shall provide a |
| 9036 | uniform set of identifying credentials to each Florida College |
| 9037 | System institution community college police officer it employs. |
| 9038 | (5) In performance of any of the powers, duties, and |
| 9039 | functions authorized by law, Florida College System institution |
| 9040 | community college police have the same rights, protections, and |
| 9041 | immunities afforded other law enforcement officers. |
| 9042 | (6) The Florida College System institution community |
| 9043 | college, with the approval of the Department of Law Enforcement, |
| 9044 | shall adopt rules, including, without limitation, rules for the |
| 9045 | appointment, employment, and removal of Florida College System |
| 9046 | institution community college police in accordance with the |
| 9047 | state Career Service System and shall establish in writing a |
| 9048 | policy manual, that includes, without limitation, procedures for |
| 9049 | managing routine law enforcement situations and emergency law |
| 9050 | enforcement situations. The Florida College System institution |
| 9051 | community college shall furnish a copy of the policy manual to |
| 9052 | each of the police officers it employs. |
| 9053 | Section 197. Section 1012.885, Florida Statutes, is |
| 9054 | amended to read: |
| 9055 | 1012.885 Remuneration of Florida College System |
| 9056 | institution community college presidents; limitations.- |
| 9057 | (1) DEFINITIONS.-As used in this section, the term: |
| 9058 | (a) "Appropriated state funds" means funds appropriated |
| 9059 | from the General Revenue Fund or funds appropriated from state |
| 9060 | trust funds. |
| 9061 | (b) "Cash-equivalent compensation" means any benefit that |
| 9062 | may be assigned an equivalent cash value. |
| 9063 | (c) "Remuneration" means salary, bonuses, and cash- |
| 9064 | equivalent compensation paid to a Florida College System |
| 9065 | institution community college president by his or her employer |
| 9066 | for work performed, excluding health insurance benefits and |
| 9067 | retirement benefits. |
| 9068 | (2) LIMITATION ON COMPENSATION.-Notwithstanding any other |
| 9069 | law, resolution, or rule to the contrary, a Florida College |
| 9070 | System institution community college president may not receive |
| 9071 | more than $225,000 in remuneration annually from appropriated |
| 9072 | state funds. Only compensation, as defined in s. 121.021(22), |
| 9073 | provided to a Florida College System institution community |
| 9074 | college president may be used in calculating benefits under |
| 9075 | chapter 121. |
| 9076 | (3) EXCEPTIONS.-This section does not prohibit any party |
| 9077 | from providing cash or cash-equivalent compensation from funds |
| 9078 | that are not appropriated state funds to a Florida College |
| 9079 | System institution community college president in excess of the |
| 9080 | limit in subsection (2). If a party is unable or unwilling to |
| 9081 | fulfill an obligation to provide cash or cash-equivalent |
| 9082 | compensation to a Florida College System institution community |
| 9083 | college president as permitted under this subsection, |
| 9084 | appropriated state funds may not be used to fulfill such |
| 9085 | obligation. |
| 9086 | Section 198. Subsections (4) and (5) of section 1012.98, |
| 9087 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 9088 | 1012.98 School Community Professional Development Act.- |
| 9089 | (4) The Department of Education, school districts, |
| 9090 | schools, Florida College System institutions community colleges, |
| 9091 | and state universities share the responsibilities described in |
| 9092 | this section. These responsibilities include the following: |
| 9093 | (a) The department shall disseminate to the school |
| 9094 | community research-based professional development methods and |
| 9095 | programs that have demonstrated success in meeting identified |
| 9096 | student needs. The Commissioner of Education shall use data on |
| 9097 | student achievement to identify student needs. The methods of |
| 9098 | dissemination must include a web-based statewide performance |
| 9099 | support system, including a database of exemplary professional |
| 9100 | development activities, a listing of available professional |
| 9101 | development resources, training programs, and available |
| 9102 | assistance. |
| 9103 | (b) Each school district shall develop a professional |
| 9104 | development system as specified in subsection (3). The system |
| 9105 | shall be developed in consultation with teachers, teacher- |
| 9106 | educators of Florida College System institutions community |
| 9107 | colleges and state universities, business and community |
| 9108 | representatives, and local education foundations, consortia, and |
| 9109 | professional organizations. The professional development system |
| 9110 | must: |
| 9111 | 1. Be approved by the department. All substantial |
| 9112 | revisions to the system shall be submitted to the department for |
| 9113 | review for continued approval. |
| 9114 | 2. Be based on analyses of student achievement data and |
| 9115 | instructional strategies and methods that support rigorous, |
| 9116 | relevant, and challenging curricula for all students. Schools |
| 9117 | and districts, in developing and refining the professional |
| 9118 | development system, shall also review and monitor school |
| 9119 | discipline data; school environment surveys; assessments of |
| 9120 | parental satisfaction; performance appraisal data of teachers, |
| 9121 | managers, and administrative personnel; and other performance |
| 9122 | indicators to identify school and student needs that can be met |
| 9123 | by improved professional performance. |
| 9124 | 3. Provide inservice activities coupled with followup |
| 9125 | support appropriate to accomplish district-level and school- |
| 9126 | level improvement goals and standards. The inservice activities |
| 9127 | for instructional personnel shall focus on analysis of student |
| 9128 | achievement data, ongoing formal and informal assessments of |
| 9129 | student achievement, identification and use of enhanced and |
| 9130 | differentiated instructional strategies that emphasize rigor, |
| 9131 | relevance, and reading in the content areas, enhancement of |
| 9132 | subject content expertise, integrated use of classroom |
| 9133 | technology that enhances teaching and learning, classroom |
| 9134 | management, parent involvement, and school safety. |
| 9135 | 4. Include a master plan for inservice activities, |
| 9136 | pursuant to rules of the State Board of Education, for all |
| 9137 | district employees from all fund sources. The master plan shall |
| 9138 | be updated annually by September 1, must be based on input from |
| 9139 | teachers and district and school instructional leaders, and must |
| 9140 | use the latest available student achievement data and research |
| 9141 | to enhance rigor and relevance in the classroom. Each district |
| 9142 | inservice plan must be aligned to and support the school-based |
| 9143 | inservice plans and school improvement plans pursuant to s. |
| 9144 | 1001.42(18). District plans must be approved by the district |
| 9145 | school board annually in order to ensure compliance with |
| 9146 | subsection (1) and to allow for dissemination of research-based |
| 9147 | best practices to other districts. District school boards must |
| 9148 | submit verification of their approval to the Commissioner of |
| 9149 | Education no later than October 1, annually. |
| 9150 | 5. Require each school principal to establish and maintain |
| 9151 | an individual professional development plan for each |
| 9152 | instructional employee assigned to the school as a seamless |
| 9153 | component to the school improvement plans developed pursuant to |
| 9154 | s. 1001.42(18). The individual professional development plan |
| 9155 | must: |
| 9156 | a. Be related to specific performance data for the |
| 9157 | students to whom the teacher is assigned. |
| 9158 | b. Define the inservice objectives and specific measurable |
| 9159 | improvements expected in student performance as a result of the |
| 9160 | inservice activity. |
| 9161 | c. Include an evaluation component that determines the |
| 9162 | effectiveness of the professional development plan. |
| 9163 | 6. Include inservice activities for school administrative |
| 9164 | personnel that address updated skills necessary for |
| 9165 | instructional leadership and effective school management |
| 9166 | pursuant to s. 1012.986. |
| 9167 | 7. Provide for systematic consultation with regional and |
| 9168 | state personnel designated to provide technical assistance and |
| 9169 | evaluation of local professional development programs. |
| 9170 | 8. Provide for delivery of professional development by |
| 9171 | distance learning and other technology-based delivery systems to |
| 9172 | reach more educators at lower costs. |
| 9173 | 9. Provide for the continuous evaluation of the quality |
| 9174 | and effectiveness of professional development programs in order |
| 9175 | to eliminate ineffective programs and strategies and to expand |
| 9176 | effective ones. Evaluations must consider the impact of such |
| 9177 | activities on the performance of participating educators and |
| 9178 | their students' achievement and behavior. |
| 9179 | (5) Each district school board shall provide funding for |
| 9180 | the professional development system as required by s. 1011.62 |
| 9181 | and the General Appropriations Act, and shall direct |
| 9182 | expenditures from other funding sources to continuously |
| 9183 | strengthen the system in order to increase student achievement |
| 9184 | and support instructional staff in enhancing rigor and relevance |
| 9185 | in the classroom. A school district may coordinate its |
| 9186 | professional development program with that of another district, |
| 9187 | with an educational consortium, or with a Florida College System |
| 9188 | institution community college or university, especially in |
| 9189 | preparing and educating personnel. Each district school board |
| 9190 | shall make available inservice activities to instructional |
| 9191 | personnel of nonpublic schools in the district and the state |
| 9192 | certified teachers who are not employed by the district school |
| 9193 | board on a fee basis not to exceed the cost of the activity per |
| 9194 | all participants. |
| 9195 | Section 199. Subsections (3) and (16) of section 1013.01, |
| 9196 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 9197 | 1013.01 Definitions.-The following terms shall be defined |
| 9198 | as follows for the purpose of this chapter: |
| 9199 | (3) "Board," unless otherwise specified, means a district |
| 9200 | school board, a Florida College System institution community |
| 9201 | college board of trustees, a university board of trustees, and |
| 9202 | the Board of Trustees for the Florida School for the Deaf and |
| 9203 | the Blind. The term "board" does not include the State Board of |
| 9204 | Education or the Board of Governors. |
| 9205 | (16) "Public education capital outlay (PECO) funded |
| 9206 | projects" means site acquisition, renovation, remodeling, |
| 9207 | construction projects, and site improvements necessary to |
| 9208 | accommodate buildings, equipment, other structures, and special |
| 9209 | educational use areas that are built, installed, or established |
| 9210 | to serve primarily the educational instructional program of the |
| 9211 | district school board, Florida College System institution |
| 9212 | community college board of trustees, or university board of |
| 9213 | trustees. |
| 9214 | Section 200. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section |
| 9215 | 1013.02, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 9216 | 1013.02 Purpose; rules and regulations.- |
| 9217 | (2)(a) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules |
| 9218 | pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the |
| 9219 | provisions of this chapter for school districts and Florida |
| 9220 | College System institutions community colleges. |
| 9221 | Section 201. Section 1013.03, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 9222 | to read: |
| 9223 | 1013.03 Functions of the department and the Board of |
| 9224 | Governors.-The functions of the Department of Education as it |
| 9225 | pertains to educational facilities of school districts and |
| 9226 | Florida College System institutions community colleges and of |
| 9227 | the Board of Governors as it pertains to educational facilities |
| 9228 | of state universities shall include, but not be limited to, the |
| 9229 | following: |
| 9230 | (1) Establish recommended minimum and maximum square |
| 9231 | footage standards for different functions and areas and |
| 9232 | procedures for determining the gross square footage for each |
| 9233 | educational facility to be funded in whole or in part by the |
| 9234 | state, including public broadcasting stations but excluding |
| 9235 | postsecondary special purpose laboratory space. The gross square |
| 9236 | footage determination standards may be exceeded when the core |
| 9237 | facility space of an educational facility is constructed or |
| 9238 | renovated to accommodate the future addition of classrooms to |
| 9239 | meet projected increases in student enrollment. The department |
| 9240 | and the Board of Governors shall encourage multiple use of |
| 9241 | facilities and spaces in educational plants. |
| 9242 | (2) Establish, for the purpose of determining need, |
| 9243 | equitably uniform utilization standards for all types of like |
| 9244 | space, regardless of the level of education. These standards |
| 9245 | shall also establish, for postsecondary education classrooms, a |
| 9246 | minimum room utilization rate of 40 hours per week and a minimum |
| 9247 | station utilization rate of 60 percent. These rates shall be |
| 9248 | subject to increase based on national norms for utilization of |
| 9249 | postsecondary education classrooms. |
| 9250 | (3) Require boards to submit other educational plant |
| 9251 | inventories data and statistical data or information relevant to |
| 9252 | construction, capital improvements, and related costs. |
| 9253 | (4) Require each board and other appropriate agencies to |
| 9254 | submit complete and accurate financial data as to the amounts of |
| 9255 | funds from all sources that are available and spent for |
| 9256 | construction and capital improvements. The commissioner shall |
| 9257 | prescribe the format and the date for the submission of this |
| 9258 | data and any other educational facilities data. If any district |
| 9259 | does not submit the required educational facilities fiscal data |
| 9260 | by the prescribed date, the Commissioner of Education shall |
| 9261 | notify the district school board of this fact and, if |
| 9262 | appropriate action is not taken to immediately submit the |
| 9263 | required report, the district school board shall be directed to |
| 9264 | proceed pursuant to s. 1001.42(13)(b). If any Florida College |
| 9265 | System institution community college or university does not |
| 9266 | submit the required educational facilities fiscal data by the |
| 9267 | prescribed date, the same policy prescribed in this subsection |
| 9268 | for school districts shall be implemented. |
| 9269 | (5) Administer, under the supervision of the Commissioner |
| 9270 | of Education, the Public Education Capital Outlay and Debt |
| 9271 | Service Trust Fund and the School District and Community College |
| 9272 | District Capital Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund. |
| 9273 | (6) Develop, review, update, revise, and recommend a |
| 9274 | mandatory portion of the Florida Building Code for educational |
| 9275 | facilities construction and capital improvement by Florida |
| 9276 | College System institution community college boards and district |
| 9277 | school boards. |
| 9278 | (7) Provide training, technical assistance, and building |
| 9279 | code interpretation for requirements of the mandatory Florida |
| 9280 | Building Code for the educational facilities construction and |
| 9281 | capital improvement programs of the Florida College System |
| 9282 | institution community college boards and district school boards |
| 9283 | and, upon request, approve phase III construction documents for |
| 9284 | remodeling, renovation, or new construction of educational |
| 9285 | plants or ancillary facilities, except that university boards of |
| 9286 | trustees shall approve specifications and construction documents |
| 9287 | for their respective institutions pursuant to guidelines of the |
| 9288 | Board of Governors. The Department of Management Services may, |
| 9289 | upon request, provide similar services for the Florida School |
| 9290 | for the Deaf and the Blind and shall use the Florida Building |
| 9291 | Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code. |
| 9292 | (8) Provide minimum criteria, procedures, and training to |
| 9293 | boards to conduct educational plant surveys and document the |
| 9294 | determination of future needs. |
| 9295 | (9) Make available to boards technical assistance, |
| 9296 | awareness training, and research and technical publications |
| 9297 | relating to lifesafety, casualty, sanitation, environmental, |
| 9298 | maintenance, and custodial issues; and, as needed, technical |
| 9299 | assistance for survey, planning, design, construction, |
| 9300 | operation, and evaluation of educational and ancillary |
| 9301 | facilities and plants, facilities administrative procedures |
| 9302 | review, and training for new administrators. |
| 9303 | (10)(a) Review and validate surveys proposed or amended by |
| 9304 | the boards and recommend to the Commissioner of Education, or |
| 9305 | the Chancellor of the State University System, as appropriate, |
| 9306 | for approval, surveys that meet the requirements of this |
| 9307 | chapter. |
| 9308 | 1. The term "validate" as applied to surveys by school |
| 9309 | districts means to review inventory data as submitted to the |
| 9310 | department by district school boards; provide for review and |
| 9311 | inspection, where required, of student stations and aggregate |
| 9312 | square feet of inventory changed from satisfactory to |
| 9313 | unsatisfactory or changed from unsatisfactory to satisfactory; |
| 9314 | compare new school inventory to allocation limits provided by |
| 9315 | this chapter; review cost projections for conformity with cost |
| 9316 | limits set by s. 1013.64(6); compare total capital outlay full- |
| 9317 | time equivalent enrollment projections in the survey with the |
| 9318 | department's projections; review facilities lists to verify that |
| 9319 | student station and auxiliary facility space allocations do not |
| 9320 | exceed the limits provided by this chapter and related rules; |
| 9321 | review and confirm the application of uniform facility |
| 9322 | utilization factors, where provided by this chapter or related |
| 9323 | rules; utilize the documentation of programs offered per site, |
| 9324 | as submitted by the board, to analyze facility needs; confirm |
| 9325 | that need projections for career and adult educational programs |
| 9326 | comply with needs documented by the Department of Education; and |
| 9327 | confirm the assignment of full-time student stations to all |
| 9328 | space except auxiliary facilities, which, for purposes of |
| 9329 | exemption from student station assignment, include the |
| 9330 | following: |
| 9331 | a. Cafeterias. |
| 9332 | b. Multipurpose dining areas. |
| 9333 | c. Media centers. |
| 9334 | d. Auditoriums. |
| 9335 | e. Administration. |
| 9336 | f. Elementary, middle, and high school resource rooms, up |
| 9337 | to the number of such rooms recommended for the applicable |
| 9338 | occupant and space design capacity of the educational plant in |
| 9339 | the State Requirements for Educational Facilities, beyond which |
| 9340 | student stations must be assigned. |
| 9341 | g. Elementary school skills labs, up to the number of such |
| 9342 | rooms recommended for the applicable occupant and space design |
| 9343 | capacity of the educational plant in the State Requirements for |
| 9344 | Educational Facilities, beyond which student stations must be |
| 9345 | assigned. |
| 9346 | h. Elementary school art and music rooms. |
| 9347 | 2. The term "validate" as applied to surveys by Florida |
| 9348 | College System institutions community colleges and universities |
| 9349 | means to review and document the approval of each new site and |
| 9350 | official designation, where applicable; review the inventory |
| 9351 | database as submitted by each board to the department, including |
| 9352 | noncareer, and total capital outlay full-time equivalent |
| 9353 | enrollment projections per site and per college; provide for the |
| 9354 | review and inspection, where required, of student stations and |
| 9355 | aggregate square feet of space changed from satisfactory to |
| 9356 | unsatisfactory; utilize and review the documentation of programs |
| 9357 | offered per site submitted by the boards as accurate for |
| 9358 | analysis of space requirements and needs; confirm that needs |
| 9359 | projected for career and adult educational programs comply with |
| 9360 | needs documented by the Department of Education; compare new |
| 9361 | facility inventory to allocations limits as provided in this |
| 9362 | chapter; review cost projections for conformity with state |
| 9363 | averages or limits designated by this chapter; compare student |
| 9364 | enrollment projections in the survey to the department's |
| 9365 | projections; review facilities lists to verify that area |
| 9366 | allocations and space factors for generating space needs do not |
| 9367 | exceed the limits as provided by this chapter and related rules; |
| 9368 | confirm the application of facility utilization factors as |
| 9369 | provided by this chapter and related rules; and review, as |
| 9370 | submitted, documentation of how survey recommendations will |
| 9371 | implement the detail of current campus master plans and |
| 9372 | integrate with local comprehensive plans and development |
| 9373 | regulations. |
| 9374 | (b) Recommend priority of projects to be funded. |
| 9375 | (11) Prepare the commissioner's comprehensive fixed |
| 9376 | capital outlay legislative budget request and provide annually |
| 9377 | an estimate of the funds available for developing required 3- |
| 9378 | year priority lists. This amount shall be based upon the average |
| 9379 | percentage for the 5 prior years of funds appropriated by the |
| 9380 | Legislature for fixed capital outlay to each level of public |
| 9381 | education: public schools, Florida College System institutions |
| 9382 | community colleges, and universities. |
| 9383 | (12) Perform any other functions that may be involved in |
| 9384 | educational facilities construction and capital improvement |
| 9385 | which shall ensure that the intent of the Legislature is |
| 9386 | implemented. |
| 9387 | Section 202. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section |
| 9388 | 1013.12, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 9389 | 1013.12 Casualty, safety, sanitation, and firesafety |
| 9390 | standards and inspection of property.- |
| 9391 | (5) INSPECTIONS OF PUBLIC POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION |
| 9392 | FACILITIES.- |
| 9393 | (a) Firesafety inspections of Florida College System |
| 9394 | institution community college facilities shall comply with State |
| 9395 | Board of Education rules. |
| 9396 | Section 203. Subsection (2) of section 1013.13, Florida |
| 9397 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 9398 | 1013.13 Coordination of school safety information; |
| 9399 | construction design documents.- |
| 9400 | (2) Each Florida College System institution community |
| 9401 | college president must provide to the law enforcement agency and |
| 9402 | fire department that has jurisdiction over the Florida College |
| 9403 | System institution community college a copy of the floor plans |
| 9404 | and other relevant documents for each educational facility as |
| 9405 | defined in s. 1013.01. After the initial submission of the floor |
| 9406 | plans and other relevant documents, the Florida College System |
| 9407 | institution community college president shall submit, by October |
| 9408 | 1 of each year, revised floor plans and other relevant documents |
| 9409 | for each educational facility that was modified during the |
| 9410 | preceding year. |
| 9411 | Section 204. Section 1013.19, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 9412 | to read: |
| 9413 | 1013.19 Purchase, conveyance, or encumbrance of property |
| 9414 | interests above surface of land; joint-occupancy structures.-For |
| 9415 | the purpose of implementing jointly financed construction |
| 9416 | project agreements, or for the construction of combined |
| 9417 | occupancy structures, any board may purchase, own, convey, sell, |
| 9418 | lease, or encumber airspace or any other interests in property |
| 9419 | above the surface of the land, provided the lease of airspace |
| 9420 | for nonpublic use is for such reasonable rent, length of term, |
| 9421 | and conditions as the board in its discretion may determine. All |
| 9422 | proceeds from such sale or lease shall be used by the board or |
| 9423 | boards receiving the proceeds solely for fixed capital outlay |
| 9424 | purposes. These purposes may include the renovation or |
| 9425 | remodeling of existing facilities owned by the board or the |
| 9426 | construction of new facilities; however, for a Florida College |
| 9427 | System institution community college board or university board, |
| 9428 | such new facility must be authorized by the Legislature. It is |
| 9429 | declared that the use of such rental by the board for public |
| 9430 | purposes in accordance with its statutory authority is a public |
| 9431 | use. Airspace or any other interest in property held by the |
| 9432 | Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund or the |
| 9433 | State Board of Education may not be divested or conveyed without |
| 9434 | approval of the respective board. Any building, including any |
| 9435 | building or facility component that is common to both nonpublic |
| 9436 | and educational portions thereof, constructed in airspace that |
| 9437 | is sold or leased for nonpublic use pursuant to this section is |
| 9438 | subject to all applicable state, county, and municipal |
| 9439 | regulations pertaining to land use, zoning, construction of |
| 9440 | buildings, fire protection, health, and safety to the same |
| 9441 | extent and in the same manner as such regulations would be |
| 9442 | applicable to the construction of a building for nonpublic use |
| 9443 | on the appurtenant land beneath the subject airspace. Any |
| 9444 | educational facility constructed or leased as a part of a joint- |
| 9445 | occupancy facility is subject to all rules and requirements of |
| 9446 | the respective boards or departments having jurisdiction over |
| 9447 | educational facilities. Any contract executed by a university |
| 9448 | board of trustees pursuant to this section is subject to the |
| 9449 | provisions of s. 1010.62. |
| 9450 | Section 205. Subsection (1), paragraph (c) of subsection |
| 9451 | (2), subsection (3), and paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of |
| 9452 | subsection (4) of section 1013.23, Florida Statutes, are amended |
| 9453 | to read: |
| 9454 | 1013.23 Energy efficiency contracting.- |
| 9455 | (1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.-The Legislature finds that |
| 9456 | investment in energy conservation measures in educational |
| 9457 | facilities can reduce the amount of energy consumed and produce |
| 9458 | immediate and long-term savings. It is the policy of this state |
| 9459 | to encourage school districts, Florida College System |
| 9460 | institutions community colleges, and state universities to |
| 9461 | invest in energy conservation measures that reduce energy |
| 9462 | consumption, produce a cost savings, and improve the quality of |
| 9463 | indoor air in facilities, and, when economically feasible, to |
| 9464 | build, operate, maintain, or renovate educational facilities in |
| 9465 | such a manner so as to minimize energy consumption and maximize |
| 9466 | energy savings. It is further the policy of this state to |
| 9467 | encourage school districts, Florida College System institutions |
| 9468 | community colleges, and state universities to reinvest any |
| 9469 | energy savings resulting from energy conservation measures into |
| 9470 | additional energy conservation efforts. |
| 9471 | (2) DEFINITIONS.-For purposes of this section, the term: |
| 9472 | (c) "Energy performance-based contract" means a contract |
| 9473 | for the evaluation, recommendation, and implementation of energy |
| 9474 | conservation measures which includes, at a minimum: |
| 9475 | 1. The design and installation of equipment to implement |
| 9476 | one or more of such measures, and, if applicable, operation and |
| 9477 | maintenance of such measures. |
| 9478 | 2. The amount of any actual annual savings. This amount |
| 9479 | must meet or exceed total annual contract payments made by the |
| 9480 | district school board, Florida College System institution |
| 9481 | community college board of trustees, or state university board |
| 9482 | of trustees for such contract. |
| 9483 | 3. Financing charges to be incurred by the district school |
| 9484 | board, Florida College System institution community college |
| 9485 | board of trustees, or state university board of trustees over |
| 9486 | the life of the contract. |
| 9487 | (3) ENERGY PERFORMANCE-BASED CONTRACT PROCEDURES.- |
| 9488 | (a) A district school board, Florida College System |
| 9489 | institution community college board of trustees, or state |
| 9490 | university board of trustees may enter into an energy |
| 9491 | performance-based contract with an energy performance contractor |
| 9492 | to significantly reduce energy or operating costs of an |
| 9493 | educational facility through one or more energy conservation |
| 9494 | measures. |
| 9495 | (b) The energy performance contractor shall be selected in |
| 9496 | compliance with s. 287.055; except that in a case where a |
| 9497 | district school board, Florida College System institution |
| 9498 | community college board of trustees, or state university board |
| 9499 | of trustees determines that fewer than three firms are qualified |
| 9500 | to perform the required services, the requirement for agency |
| 9501 | selection of three firms, as provided in s. 287.055(4)(b), shall |
| 9502 | not apply and the bid requirements of s. 287.057 shall not |
| 9503 | apply. |
| 9504 | (c) Before entering into a contract pursuant to this |
| 9505 | section, the district school board, Florida College System |
| 9506 | institution community college board of trustees, or state |
| 9507 | university board of trustees shall provide published notice of |
| 9508 | the meeting in which it proposes to award the contract, the |
| 9509 | names of the parties to the proposed contract, and the |
| 9510 | contract's purpose. |
| 9511 | (d) Prior to the design and installation of the energy |
| 9512 | conservation measure, the district school board, Florida College |
| 9513 | System institution community college board of trustees, or state |
| 9514 | university board of trustees must obtain from the energy |
| 9515 | performance contractor a report that discloses all costs |
| 9516 | associated with the energy conservation measure and provides an |
| 9517 | estimate of the amount of the energy cost savings. The report |
| 9518 | must be reviewed by either the Department of Education or the |
| 9519 | Department of Management Services or signed and sealed by a |
| 9520 | registered professional engineer. |
| 9521 | (e) A district school board, Florida College System |
| 9522 | institution community college board of trustees, or state |
| 9523 | university board of trustees may enter into an energy |
| 9524 | performance-based contract with an energy performance contractor |
| 9525 | if, after review of the report required by paragraph (d), it |
| 9526 | finds that the amount it would spend on the energy conservation |
| 9527 | measures recommended in the report will not exceed the amount to |
| 9528 | be saved in energy and operation costs over 20 years from the |
| 9529 | date of installation, based on life-cycle costing calculations, |
| 9530 | if the recommendations in the report were followed and if the |
| 9531 | energy performance contractor provides a written guarantee that |
| 9532 | the energy or operating cost savings will meet or exceed the |
| 9533 | costs of the system. The contract may provide for payments over |
| 9534 | a period of time not to exceed 20 years. |
| 9535 | (f) A district school board, Florida College System |
| 9536 | institution community college board of trustees, or state |
| 9537 | university board of trustees may enter into an installment |
| 9538 | payment contract for the purchase and installation of energy |
| 9539 | conservation measures. The contract shall provide for payments |
| 9540 | of not less than one-twentieth of the price to be paid within 2 |
| 9541 | years from the date of the complete installation and acceptance |
| 9542 | by the district school board, Florida College System institution |
| 9543 | community college board of trustees, or state university board |
| 9544 | of trustees, and the remaining costs to be paid at least |
| 9545 | quarterly, not to exceed a 20-year term based on life-cycle |
| 9546 | costing calculations. |
| 9547 | (g) Energy performance-based contracts may extend beyond |
| 9548 | the fiscal year in which they become effective; however, the |
| 9549 | term of any contract shall expire at the end of each fiscal year |
| 9550 | and may be automatically renewed annually up to 20 years, |
| 9551 | subject to a district school board, Florida College System |
| 9552 | institution community college board of trustees, or state |
| 9553 | university board of trustees making sufficient annual |
| 9554 | appropriations based upon continued realized energy cost |
| 9555 | savings. Such contracts shall stipulate that the agreement does |
| 9556 | not constitute a debt, liability, or obligation of the state or |
| 9557 | a district school board, Florida College System institution |
| 9558 | community college board of trustees, or state university board |
| 9559 | of trustees, or a pledge of the faith and credit of the state or |
| 9560 | a district school board, Florida College System institution |
| 9561 | community college board of trustees, or state university board |
| 9562 | of trustees. |
| 9563 | (4) CONTRACT PROVISIONS.- |
| 9564 | (b) The contract shall provide that all payments, except |
| 9565 | obligations on termination of the contract before its |
| 9566 | expiration, are to be made over time, but not to exceed 20 years |
| 9567 | from the date of complete installation and acceptance by the |
| 9568 | district school board, Florida College System institution |
| 9569 | community college board of trustees, or state university board |
| 9570 | of trustees, and that the annual savings are guaranteed to the |
| 9571 | extent necessary to make annual payments to satisfy the |
| 9572 | contract. |
| 9573 | (c) The contract must require that the energy performance |
| 9574 | contractor to whom the contract is awarded provide a 100-percent |
| 9575 | public construction bond to the district school board, Florida |
| 9576 | College System institution community college board of trustees, |
| 9577 | or state university board of trustees for its faithful |
| 9578 | performance, as required by s. 255.05. |
| 9579 | (d) The contract shall require the energy performance |
| 9580 | contractor to provide to the district school board, Florida |
| 9581 | College System institution community college board of trustees, |
| 9582 | or state university board of trustees an annual reconciliation |
| 9583 | of the guaranteed energy cost savings. The energy performance |
| 9584 | contractor shall be liable for any annual savings shortfall |
| 9585 | which may occur. In the event that such reconciliation reveals |
| 9586 | an excess in annual energy cost savings, such excess savings |
| 9587 | shall not be used to cover potential energy cost savings |
| 9588 | shortages in subsequent contract years. |
| 9589 | Section 206. Section 1013.231, Florida Statutes, is |
| 9590 | amended to read: |
| 9591 | 1013.231 Florida College System institution Florida |
| 9592 | college and university energy consumption; 10-percent reduction |
| 9593 | goal.- |
| 9594 | (1) Each Florida College System institution Florida |
| 9595 | college and state university shall strive to reduce its |
| 9596 | campuswide energy consumption by 10 percent. While savings may |
| 9597 | be accrued by any means, the goal shall be to implement energy |
| 9598 | use policies or procedures or both and any equipment retrofits |
| 9599 | that are necessary to carry out this reduction. The reduction |
| 9600 | may be obtained by either reducing the cost of the energy |
| 9601 | consumed or by reducing total energy usage, or a combination of |
| 9602 | both. |
| 9603 | (2) Energy consumption expenditures incurred during the |
| 9604 | 2007-2008 fiscal year shall be used to establish the benchmark |
| 9605 | for the 10-percent goal. If a Florida College System institution |
| 9606 | Florida college or state university can document that it has |
| 9607 | implemented energy use policies or procedures in the 2008-2009 |
| 9608 | fiscal year or the 2009-2010 fiscal year that resulted in |
| 9609 | reduction in energy usage or costs, those reductions may be |
| 9610 | counted towards the 10-percent goal. |
| 9611 | (3) Each Florida College System institution Florida |
| 9612 | college and state university shall submit a report to the |
| 9613 | Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the |
| 9614 | President of the Senate by January 1, 2011, describing how they |
| 9615 | have met or plan to meet the 10-percent energy consumption |
| 9616 | reduction goal. |
| 9617 | Section 207. Section 1013.25, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 9618 | to read: |
| 9619 | 1013.25 When university or Florida College System |
| 9620 | institution community college board of trustees may exercise |
| 9621 | power of eminent domain.-Whenever it becomes necessary for the |
| 9622 | welfare and convenience of any of its institutions or divisions |
| 9623 | to acquire private property for the use of such institutions, |
| 9624 | and this cannot be acquired by agreement satisfactory to a |
| 9625 | university or Florida College System institution community |
| 9626 | college board of trustees and the parties interested in, or the |
| 9627 | owners of, the private property, the board of trustees may |
| 9628 | exercise the power of eminent domain after receiving approval |
| 9629 | therefor from the Administration Commission and may then proceed |
| 9630 | to condemn the property in the manner provided by chapter 73 or |
| 9631 | chapter 74. |
| 9632 | Section 208. Section 1013.27, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 9633 | to read: |
| 9634 | 1013.27 Purchase of land by municipality.-Any municipality |
| 9635 | wherein a Florida College System institution community college |
| 9636 | as defined by s. 1004.65 is situated may purchase land with |
| 9637 | municipal funds and to donate and convey the land or any other |
| 9638 | land to the Florida College System institution community college |
| 9639 | board of trustees. |
| 9640 | Section 209. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and paragraph |
| 9641 | (a) of subsection (2) of section 1013.28, Florida Statutes, are |
| 9642 | amended to read: |
| 9643 | 1013.28 Disposal of property.- |
| 9644 | (1) REAL PROPERTY.- |
| 9645 | (a) Subject to rules of the State Board of Education, a |
| 9646 | district school board, the Board of Trustees for the Florida |
| 9647 | School for the Deaf and the Blind, or a Florida College System |
| 9648 | institution community college board of trustees may dispose of |
| 9649 | any land or real property to which the board holds title which |
| 9650 | is, by resolution of the board, determined to be unnecessary for |
| 9651 | educational purposes as recommended in an educational plant |
| 9652 | survey. A district school board, the Board of Trustees for the |
| 9653 | Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, or a Florida College |
| 9654 | System institution community college board of trustees shall |
| 9655 | take diligent measures to dispose of educational property only |
| 9656 | in the best interests of the public. However, appraisals may be |
| 9657 | obtained by the district school board, the Board of Trustees for |
| 9658 | the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, or the Florida |
| 9659 | College System institution community college board of trustees |
| 9660 | prior to or simultaneously with the receipt of bids. |
| 9661 | (2) TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY.- |
| 9662 | (a) Tangible personal property that has been properly |
| 9663 | classified as surplus by a district school board or Florida |
| 9664 | College System institution community college board of trustees |
| 9665 | shall be disposed of in accordance with the procedure |
| 9666 | established by chapter 274. However, the provisions of chapter |
| 9667 | 274 shall not be applicable to a motor vehicle used in driver |
| 9668 | education to which title is obtained for a token amount from an |
| 9669 | automobile dealer or manufacturer. In such cases, the disposal |
| 9670 | of the vehicle shall be as prescribed in the contractual |
| 9671 | agreement between the automotive agency or manufacturer and the |
| 9672 | board. |
| 9673 | Section 210. Section 1013.31, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 9674 | to read: |
| 9675 | 1013.31 Educational plant survey; localized need |
| 9676 | assessment; PECO project funding.- |
| 9677 | (1) At least every 5 years, each board shall arrange for |
| 9678 | an educational plant survey, to aid in formulating plans for |
| 9679 | housing the educational program and student population, faculty, |
| 9680 | administrators, staff, and auxiliary and ancillary services of |
| 9681 | the district or campus, including consideration of the local |
| 9682 | comprehensive plan. The Department of Education shall document |
| 9683 | the need for additional career and adult education programs and |
| 9684 | the continuation of existing programs before facility |
| 9685 | construction or renovation related to career or adult education |
| 9686 | may be included in the educational plant survey of a school |
| 9687 | district or Florida College System institution community college |
| 9688 | that delivers career or adult education programs. Information |
| 9689 | used by the Department of Education to establish facility needs |
| 9690 | must include, but need not be limited to, labor market data, |
| 9691 | needs analysis, and information submitted by the school district |
| 9692 | or Florida College System institution community college. |
| 9693 | (a) Survey preparation and required data.-Each survey |
| 9694 | shall be conducted by the board or an agency employed by the |
| 9695 | board. Surveys shall be reviewed and approved by the board, and |
| 9696 | a file copy shall be submitted to the Department of Education or |
| 9697 | the Chancellor of the State University System, as appropriate. |
| 9698 | The survey report shall include at least an inventory of |
| 9699 | existing educational and ancillary plants, including safe access |
| 9700 | facilities; recommendations for existing educational and |
| 9701 | ancillary plants; recommendations for new educational or |
| 9702 | ancillary plants, including the general location of each in |
| 9703 | coordination with the land use plan and safe access facilities; |
| 9704 | campus master plan update and detail for Florida College System |
| 9705 | institutions community colleges; the utilization of school |
| 9706 | plants based on an extended school day or year-round operation; |
| 9707 | and such other information as may be required by the Department |
| 9708 | of Education. This report may be amended, if conditions warrant, |
| 9709 | at the request of the department or commissioner. |
| 9710 | (b) Required need assessment criteria for district, |
| 9711 | Florida College System institution community college, state |
| 9712 | university, and Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind plant |
| 9713 | surveys.-Educational plant surveys must use uniform data sources |
| 9714 | and criteria specified in this paragraph. Each revised |
| 9715 | educational plant survey and each new educational plant survey |
| 9716 | supersedes previous surveys. |
| 9717 | 1. The school district's survey must be submitted as a |
| 9718 | part of the district educational facilities plan defined in s. |
| 9719 | 1013.35. To ensure that the data reported to the Department of |
| 9720 | Education as required by this section is correct, the department |
| 9721 | shall annually conduct an onsite review of 5 percent of the |
| 9722 | facilities reported for each school district completing a new |
| 9723 | survey that year. If the department's review finds the data |
| 9724 | reported by a district is less than 95 percent accurate, within |
| 9725 | 1 year from the time of notification by the department the |
| 9726 | district must submit revised reports correcting its data. If a |
| 9727 | district fails to correct its reports, the commissioner may |
| 9728 | direct that future fixed capital outlay funds be withheld until |
| 9729 | such time as the district has corrected its reports so that they |
| 9730 | are not less than 95 percent accurate. |
| 9731 | 2. Each survey of a special facility, joint-use facility, |
| 9732 | or cooperative career education facility must be based on |
| 9733 | capital outlay full-time equivalent student enrollment data |
| 9734 | prepared by the department for school districts and Florida |
| 9735 | College System institutions community colleges and by the |
| 9736 | Chancellor of the State University System for universities. A |
| 9737 | survey of space needs of a joint-use facility shall be based |
| 9738 | upon the respective space needs of the school districts, Florida |
| 9739 | College System institutions community colleges, and |
| 9740 | universities, as appropriate. Projections of a school district's |
| 9741 | facility space needs may not exceed the norm space and occupant |
| 9742 | design criteria established by the State Requirements for |
| 9743 | Educational Facilities. |
| 9744 | 3. Each Florida College System institution's community |
| 9745 | college's survey must reflect the capacity of existing |
| 9746 | facilities as specified in the inventory maintained by the |
| 9747 | Department of Education. Projections of facility space needs |
| 9748 | must comply with standards for determining space needs as |
| 9749 | specified by rule of the State Board of Education. The 5-year |
| 9750 | projection of capital outlay student enrollment must be |
| 9751 | consistent with the annual report of capital outlay full-time |
| 9752 | student enrollment prepared by the Department of Education. |
| 9753 | 4. Each state university's survey must reflect the |
| 9754 | capacity of existing facilities as specified in the inventory |
| 9755 | maintained and validated by the Chancellor of the State |
| 9756 | University System. Projections of facility space needs must be |
| 9757 | consistent with standards for determining space needs as |
| 9758 | specified by regulation of the Board of Governors. The projected |
| 9759 | capital outlay full-time equivalent student enrollment must be |
| 9760 | consistent with the 5-year planned enrollment cycle for the |
| 9761 | State University System approved by the Board of Governors. |
| 9762 | 5. The district educational facilities plan of a school |
| 9763 | district and the educational plant survey of a Florida College |
| 9764 | System institution community college, state university, or the |
| 9765 | Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind may include space |
| 9766 | needs that deviate from approved standards for determining space |
| 9767 | needs if the deviation is justified by the district or |
| 9768 | institution and approved by the department or the Board of |
| 9769 | Governors, as appropriate, as necessary for the delivery of an |
| 9770 | approved educational program. |
| 9771 | (c) Review and validation.-The Department of Education |
| 9772 | shall review and validate the surveys of school districts and |
| 9773 | Florida College System institutions community colleges, and the |
| 9774 | Chancellor of the State University System shall review and |
| 9775 | validate the surveys of universities, and any amendments thereto |
| 9776 | for compliance with the requirements of this chapter and shall |
| 9777 | recommend those in compliance for approval by the State Board of |
| 9778 | Education or the Board of Governors, as appropriate. Annually, |
| 9779 | the department shall perform an in-depth analysis of a |
| 9780 | representative sample of each survey of recommended needs for |
| 9781 | five districts selected by the commissioner from among districts |
| 9782 | with the largest need-to-revenue ratio. For the purpose of this |
| 9783 | subsection, the need-to-revenue ratio is determined by dividing |
| 9784 | the total 5-year cost of projects listed on the district survey |
| 9785 | by the total 5-year fixed capital outlay revenue projections |
| 9786 | from state and local sources as determined by the department. |
| 9787 | The commissioner may direct fixed capital outlay funds to be |
| 9788 | withheld from districts until such time as the survey accurately |
| 9789 | projects facilities needs. |
| 9790 | (d) Periodic update of Florida Inventory of School |
| 9791 | Houses.-School districts shall periodically update their |
| 9792 | inventory of educational facilities as new capacity becomes |
| 9793 | available and as unsatisfactory space is eliminated. The State |
| 9794 | Board of Education shall adopt rules to determine the time frame |
| 9795 | in which districts must provide a periodic update. |
| 9796 | (2) Only the district school superintendent, Florida |
| 9797 | College System institution community college president, or the |
| 9798 | university president shall certify to the Department of |
| 9799 | Education a project's compliance with the requirements for |
| 9800 | expenditure of PECO funds prior to release of funds. |
| 9801 | (a) Upon request for release of PECO funds for planning |
| 9802 | purposes, certification must be made to the Department of |
| 9803 | Education that the need for and location of the facility are in |
| 9804 | compliance with the board-approved survey recommendations, that |
| 9805 | the project meets the definition of a PECO project and the |
| 9806 | limiting criteria for expenditures of PECO funding, and that the |
| 9807 | plan is consistent with the local government comprehensive plan. |
| 9808 | (b) Upon request for release of construction funds, |
| 9809 | certification must be made to the Department of Education that |
| 9810 | the need and location of the facility are in compliance with the |
| 9811 | board-approved survey recommendations, that the project meets |
| 9812 | the definition of a PECO project and the limiting criteria for |
| 9813 | expenditures of PECO funding, and that the construction |
| 9814 | documents meet the requirements of the Florida Building Code for |
| 9815 | educational facilities construction or other applicable codes as |
| 9816 | authorized in this chapter. |
| 9817 | Section 211. Subsection (1) of section 1013.36, Florida |
| 9818 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 9819 | 1013.36 Site planning and selection.- |
| 9820 | (1) Before acquiring property for sites, each district |
| 9821 | school board and Florida College System institution community |
| 9822 | college board of trustees shall determine the location of |
| 9823 | proposed educational centers or campuses. In making this |
| 9824 | determination, the board shall consider existing and anticipated |
| 9825 | site needs and the most economical and practicable locations of |
| 9826 | sites. The board shall coordinate with the long-range or |
| 9827 | comprehensive plans of local, regional, and state governmental |
| 9828 | agencies to assure the consistency of such plans. Boards are |
| 9829 | encouraged to locate district educational facilities proximate |
| 9830 | to urban residential areas to the extent possible, and shall |
| 9831 | seek to collocate district educational facilities with other |
| 9832 | public facilities, such as parks, libraries, and community |
| 9833 | centers, to the extent possible and to encourage using |
| 9834 | elementary schools as focal points for neighborhoods. |
| 9835 | Section 212. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1013.37, |
| 9836 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 9837 | 1013.37 State uniform building code for public educational |
| 9838 | facilities construction.- |
| 9839 | (1) UNIFORM BUILDING CODE.-A uniform statewide building |
| 9840 | code for the planning and construction of public educational and |
| 9841 | ancillary plants by district school boards and Florida College |
| 9842 | System institution community college district boards of trustees |
| 9843 | shall be adopted by the Florida Building Commission within the |
| 9844 | Florida Building Code, pursuant to s. 553.73. Included in this |
| 9845 | code must be flood plain management criteria in compliance with |
| 9846 | the rules and regulations in 44 C.F.R. parts 59 and 60, and |
| 9847 | subsequent revisions thereto which are adopted by the Federal |
| 9848 | Emergency Management Agency. It is also the responsibility of |
| 9849 | the department to develop, as a part of the uniform building |
| 9850 | code, standards relating to: |
| 9851 | (a) Prefabricated facilities or factory-built facilities |
| 9852 | that are designed to be portable, relocatable, demountable, or |
| 9853 | reconstructible; are used primarily as classrooms; and do not |
| 9854 | fall under the provisions of ss. 320.822-320.862. Such standards |
| 9855 | must permit boards to contract with the Department of Community |
| 9856 | Affairs for factory inspections by certified building code |
| 9857 | inspectors to certify conformance with applicable law and rules. |
| 9858 | The standards must comply with the requirements of s. 1013.20 |
| 9859 | for relocatable facilities intended for long-term use as |
| 9860 | classroom space, and the relocatable facilities shall be |
| 9861 | designed subject to missile impact criteria of s. 423(24)(d)(1) |
| 9862 | of the Florida Building Code when located in the windborne |
| 9863 | debris region. |
| 9864 | (b) The sanitation of educational and ancillary plants and |
| 9865 | the health of occupants of educational and ancillary plants. |
| 9866 | (c) The safety of occupants of educational and ancillary |
| 9867 | plants as provided in s. 1013.12, except that the firesafety |
| 9868 | criteria shall be established by the State Fire Marshal in |
| 9869 | cooperation with the Florida Building Commission and the |
| 9870 | department and such firesafety requirements must be incorporated |
| 9871 | into the Florida Fire Prevention Code. |
| 9872 | (d) Accessibility for children, notwithstanding the |
| 9873 | provisions of s. 553.512. |
| 9874 | (e) The performance of life-cycle cost analyses on |
| 9875 | alternative architectural and engineering designs to evaluate |
| 9876 | their energy efficiencies. |
| 9877 | 1. The life-cycle cost analysis must consist of the sum |
| 9878 | of: |
| 9879 | a. The reasonably expected fuel costs over the life of the |
| 9880 | building which are required to maintain illumination, water |
| 9881 | heating, temperature, humidity, ventilation, and all other |
| 9882 | energy-consuming equipment in a facility; and |
| 9883 | b. The reasonable costs of probable maintenance, including |
| 9884 | labor and materials, and operation of the building. |
| 9885 | 2. For computation of the life-cycle costs, the department |
| 9886 | shall develop standards that must include, but need not be |
| 9887 | limited to: |
| 9888 | a. The orientation and integration of the facility with |
| 9889 | respect to its physical site. |
| 9890 | b. The amount and type of glass employed in the facility |
| 9891 | and the directions of exposure. |
| 9892 | c. The effect of insulation incorporated into the facility |
| 9893 | design and the effect on solar utilization of the properties of |
| 9894 | external surfaces. |
| 9895 | d. The variable occupancy and operating conditions of the |
| 9896 | facility and subportions of the facility. |
| 9897 | e. An energy-consumption analysis of the major equipment |
| 9898 | of the facility's heating, ventilating, and cooling system; |
| 9899 | lighting system; and hot water system and all other major |
| 9900 | energy-consuming equipment and systems as appropriate. |
| 9901 | 3. Life-cycle cost criteria published by the Department of |
| 9902 | Education for use in evaluating projects. |
| 9903 | 4. Standards for construction materials and systems based |
| 9904 | on life-cycle costs that consider initial costs, maintenance |
| 9905 | costs, custodial costs, operating costs, and life expectancy. |
| 9906 | The standards may include multiple acceptable materials. It is |
| 9907 | the intent of the Legislature to require district school boards |
| 9908 | to comply with these standards when expending funds from the |
| 9909 | Public Education Capital Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund or |
| 9910 | the School District and Community College District Capital |
| 9911 | Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund and to prohibit district |
| 9912 | school boards from expending local capital outlay revenues for |
| 9913 | any project that includes materials or systems that do not |
| 9914 | comply with these standards, unless the district school board |
| 9915 | submits evidence that alternative materials or systems meet or |
| 9916 | exceed standards developed by the department. |
| 9917 |
|
| 9918 | It is not a purpose of the Florida Building Code to inhibit the |
| 9919 | use of new materials or innovative techniques; nor may it |
| 9920 | specify or prohibit materials by brand names. The code must be |
| 9921 | flexible enough to cover all phases of construction so as to |
| 9922 | afford reasonable protection for the public safety, health, and |
| 9923 | general welfare. The department may secure the service of other |
| 9924 | state agencies or such other assistance as it finds desirable in |
| 9925 | recommending to the Florida Building Commission revisions to the |
| 9926 | code. |
| 9927 | (2) APPROVAL.- |
| 9928 | (a) Before a contract has been let for the construction, |
| 9929 | the department, the district school board, the Florida College |
| 9930 | System institution community college board, or its authorized |
| 9931 | review agent must approve the phase III construction documents. |
| 9932 | A district school board or a Florida College System institution |
| 9933 | community college board may reuse prototype plans on another |
| 9934 | site, provided the facilities list and phase III construction |
| 9935 | documents have been updated for the new site and for compliance |
| 9936 | with the Florida Building Code and the Florida Fire Prevention |
| 9937 | Code and any laws relating to firesafety, health and sanitation, |
| 9938 | casualty safety, and requirements for the physically handicapped |
| 9939 | which are in effect at the time a construction contract is to be |
| 9940 | awarded. |
| 9941 | (b) In reviewing plans for approval, the department, the |
| 9942 | district school board, the Florida College System institution |
| 9943 | community college board, or its review agent as authorized in s. |
| 9944 | 1013.38, shall take into consideration: |
| 9945 | 1. The need for the new facility. |
| 9946 | 2. The educational and ancillary plant planning. |
| 9947 | 3. The architectural and engineering planning. |
| 9948 | 4. The location on the site. |
| 9949 | 5. Plans for future expansion. |
| 9950 | 6. The type of construction. |
| 9951 | 7. Sanitary provisions. |
| 9952 | 8. Conformity to Florida Building Code standards. |
| 9953 | 9. The structural design and strength of materials |
| 9954 | proposed to be used. |
| 9955 | 10. The mechanical design of any heating, air- |
| 9956 | conditioning, plumbing, or ventilating system. Typical heating, |
| 9957 | ventilating, and air-conditioning systems preapproved by the |
| 9958 | department for specific applications may be used in the design |
| 9959 | of educational facilities. |
| 9960 | 11. The electrical design of educational plants. |
| 9961 | 12. The energy efficiency and conservation of the design. |
| 9962 | 13. Life-cycle cost considerations. |
| 9963 | 14. The design to accommodate physically handicapped |
| 9964 | persons. |
| 9965 | 15. The ratio of net to gross square footage. |
| 9966 | 16. The proposed construction cost per gross square foot. |
| 9967 | 17. Conformity with the Florida Fire Prevention Code. |
| 9968 | (c) The district school board or the Florida College |
| 9969 | System institution community college board may not occupy a |
| 9970 | facility until the project has been inspected to verify |
| 9971 | compliance with statutes, rules, and codes affecting the health |
| 9972 | and safety of the occupants. Verification of compliance with |
| 9973 | rules, statutes, and codes for nonoccupancy projects such as |
| 9974 | roofing, paving, site improvements, or replacement of equipment |
| 9975 | may be certified by the architect or engineer of record, and |
| 9976 | verification of compliance for other projects may be made by an |
| 9977 | inspector certified by the department or certified pursuant to |
| 9978 | chapter 468 who is not the architect or engineer of record. The |
| 9979 | board shall maintain a record of the project's completion and |
| 9980 | permanent archive of phase III construction documents, including |
| 9981 | any addenda and change orders to the project. The boards shall |
| 9982 | provide project data to the department, as requested, for |
| 9983 | purposes and reports needed by the Legislature. |
| 9984 | Section 213. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section |
| 9985 | 1013.371, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 9986 | 1013.371 Conformity to codes.- |
| 9987 | (1) CONFORMITY TO FLORIDA BUILDING CODE AND FLORIDA FIRE |
| 9988 | PREVENTION CODE REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL.- |
| 9989 | (c) A board may not approve any plans for the |
| 9990 | construction, renovation, remodeling, or demolition of any |
| 9991 | educational or ancillary plants unless these plans conform to |
| 9992 | the requirements of the Florida Building Code and the Florida |
| 9993 | Fire Prevention Code. Each board may adopt policies for |
| 9994 | delegating to the district school superintendent, Florida |
| 9995 | College System institution community college president, or |
| 9996 | university president authority for submitting documents to the |
| 9997 | department and for awarding contracts subsequent to and |
| 9998 | consistent with board approval of the scope, timeframes, funding |
| 9999 | source, and budget of a survey-recommended project. |
| 10000 | Section 214. Section 1013.40, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 10001 | to read: |
| 10002 | 1013.40 Planning and construction of Florida College |
| 10003 | System institution community college facilities; property |
| 10004 | acquisition.- |
| 10005 | (1) The need for Florida College System institution |
| 10006 | community college facilities shall be established by a survey |
| 10007 | conducted pursuant to this chapter. The facilities recommended |
| 10008 | by such survey must be approved by the State Board of Education, |
| 10009 | and the projects must be constructed according to the provisions |
| 10010 | of this chapter and State Board of Education rules. |
| 10011 | (2) No Florida College System institution community |
| 10012 | college may expend public funds for the acquisition of |
| 10013 | additional property without the specific approval of the |
| 10014 | Legislature. |
| 10015 | (3) No facility may be acquired or constructed by a |
| 10016 | Florida College System institution community college or its |
| 10017 | direct-support organization if such facility requires general |
| 10018 | revenue funds for operation or maintenance upon project |
| 10019 | completion or in subsequent years of operation, unless prior |
| 10020 | approval is received from the Legislature. |
| 10021 | (4) The campus of a Florida College System institution |
| 10022 | community college within a municipality designated as an area of |
| 10023 | critical state concern, as defined in s. 380.05, and having a |
| 10024 | comprehensive plan and land development regulations containing a |
| 10025 | building permit allocation system that limits annual growth, may |
| 10026 | construct dormitories for up to 100 beds for Florida College |
| 10027 | System institution community college students. Such dormitories |
| 10028 | shall be exempt from the building permit allocation system and |
| 10029 | may be constructed up to 45 feet in height provided that they |
| 10030 | are otherwise consistent with the comprehensive plan, the |
| 10031 | Florida College System institution community college has a |
| 10032 | hurricane evacuation plan that requires all dormitory occupants |
| 10033 | to be evacuated 48 hours in advance of tropical force winds, and |
| 10034 | that transportation is provided for dormitory occupants during |
| 10035 | an evacuation. |
| 10036 | Section 215. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section |
| 10037 | 1013.44, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 10038 | 1013.44 Low-energy use design; solar energy systems; |
| 10039 | swimming pool heaters.- |
| 10040 | (1)(a) Passive design elements and low-energy usage |
| 10041 | features shall be included in the design and construction of new |
| 10042 | educational facilities. Operable glazing consisting of at least |
| 10043 | 5 percent of the floor area shall be placed in each classroom |
| 10044 | located on the perimeter of the building. For a relocatable |
| 10045 | classroom, the area of operable glazing and the area of exterior |
| 10046 | doors, together, shall consist of at least 5 percent of the |
| 10047 | floor area. Operable glazing is not required in Florida College |
| 10048 | System institutions community colleges, auxiliary facilities, |
| 10049 | music rooms, gyms, locker and shower rooms, special laboratories |
| 10050 | requiring special climate control, and large group instruction |
| 10051 | areas having a capacity of more than 100 persons. |
| 10052 | Section 216. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and |
| 10053 | subsection (2) of section 1013.51, Florida Statutes, are amended |
| 10054 | to read: |
| 10055 | 1013.51 Expenditures authorized for certain |
| 10056 | infrastructure.- |
| 10057 | (1) |
| 10058 | (b) A board may pay its proportionate share of the cost of |
| 10059 | onsite and offsite system improvements necessitated by the |
| 10060 | educational facility development, but a board is not required to |
| 10061 | pay for or install any improvements that exceed those required |
| 10062 | to meet the onsite and offsite needs of a new public educational |
| 10063 | facility or an expanded site. Development exactions assessed |
| 10064 | against school boards or Florida College System institution |
| 10065 | community college districts may not exceed the proportionate |
| 10066 | share of the cost of system improvements necessitated by the |
| 10067 | educational facility development and may not address existing |
| 10068 | facility or service backlogs or deficits. |
| 10069 | (2) The provisions of any law, municipal ordinance, or |
| 10070 | county ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding, the provisions |
| 10071 | of this section regulate the levying of assessments for special |
| 10072 | benefits on school or Florida College System institution |
| 10073 | community college districts and the directing of the payment |
| 10074 | thereof. Any municipal ordinance or county ordinance making |
| 10075 | provision to the contrary is void. |
| 10076 | Section 217. Subsections (1) and (4) of section 1013.52, |
| 10077 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 10078 | 1013.52 Cooperative development and joint use of |
| 10079 | facilities by two or more boards.- |
| 10080 | (1) Two or more boards, including district school boards, |
| 10081 | Florida College System institution community college boards of |
| 10082 | trustees, the Board of Trustees for the Florida School for the |
| 10083 | Deaf and the Blind, and university boards of trustees, desiring |
| 10084 | to cooperatively establish a common educational facility to |
| 10085 | accommodate students shall: |
| 10086 | (a) Jointly request a formal assessment by the |
| 10087 | Commissioner of Education or the Chancellor of the State |
| 10088 | University System, as appropriate, of the academic program need |
| 10089 | and the need to build new joint-use facilities to house approved |
| 10090 | programs. Completion of the assessment and approval of the |
| 10091 | project by the State Board of Education, the Board of Governors, |
| 10092 | the Chancellor of the State University System, or the |
| 10093 | Commissioner of Education, as appropriate, should be done prior |
| 10094 | to conducting an educational facilities survey. |
| 10095 | (b) Demonstrate the need for construction of new joint-use |
| 10096 | facilities involving postsecondary institutions by those |
| 10097 | institutions presenting evidence of the presence of sufficient |
| 10098 | actual full-time equivalent enrollments in the locale in leased, |
| 10099 | rented, or borrowed spaces to justify the requested facility for |
| 10100 | the programs identified in the formal assessment rather than |
| 10101 | using projected or anticipated future full-time equivalent |
| 10102 | enrollments as justification. If the decision is made to |
| 10103 | construct new facilities to meet this demonstrated need, then |
| 10104 | building plans should consider full-time equivalent enrollment |
| 10105 | growth facilitated by this new construction and subsequent new |
| 10106 | program offerings made possible by the existence of the new |
| 10107 | facilities. |
| 10108 | (c) Adopt and submit to the Commissioner of Education, and |
| 10109 | the Chancellor of the State University System if the joint |
| 10110 | request involves a state university, a joint resolution of the |
| 10111 | participating boards indicating their commitment to the |
| 10112 | utilization of the requested facility and designating the locale |
| 10113 | of the proposed facility. The joint resolution shall contain a |
| 10114 | statement of determination by the participating boards that |
| 10115 | alternate options, including the use of leased, rented, or |
| 10116 | borrowed space, were considered and found less appropriate than |
| 10117 | construction of the proposed facility. The joint resolution |
| 10118 | shall contain assurance that the development of the proposed |
| 10119 | facility has been examined in conjunction with the programs |
| 10120 | offered by neighboring public educational facilities offering |
| 10121 | instruction at the same level. The joint resolution also shall |
| 10122 | contain assurance that each participating board shall provide |
| 10123 | for continuity of educational progression. All joint resolutions |
| 10124 | shall be submitted by August 1 for consideration of funding by |
| 10125 | the subsequent Legislature. |
| 10126 | (d) Submit requests for funding of joint-use facilities |
| 10127 | projects involving state universities and Florida College System |
| 10128 | institutions community colleges for approval by the Commissioner |
| 10129 | of Education and the Chancellor of the State University System. |
| 10130 | The Commissioner of Education and the Chancellor of the State |
| 10131 | University System shall jointly determine the priority for |
| 10132 | funding these projects in relation to the priority of all other |
| 10133 | capital outlay projects under their consideration. To be |
| 10134 | eligible for funding from the Public Education Capital Outlay |
| 10135 | and Debt Service Trust Fund under the provisions of this |
| 10136 | section, projects involving both state universities and Florida |
| 10137 | College System institutions community colleges shall appear on |
| 10138 | the 3-year capital outlay priority lists of Florida College |
| 10139 | System institutions community colleges and of universities |
| 10140 | required by s. 1013.64. Projects involving a state university, |
| 10141 | Florida College System institution community college, and a |
| 10142 | public school, and in which the larger share of the proposed |
| 10143 | facility is for the use of the state university or the Florida |
| 10144 | College System institution community college, shall appear on |
| 10145 | the 3-year capital outlay priority lists of the Florida College |
| 10146 | System institutions community colleges or of the universities, |
| 10147 | as applicable. |
| 10148 | (e) Include in their joint resolution for the joint-use |
| 10149 | facilities, comprehensive plans for the operation and management |
| 10150 | of the facility upon completion. Institutional responsibilities |
| 10151 | for specific functions shall be identified, including |
| 10152 | designation of one participating board as sole owner of the |
| 10153 | facility. Operational funding arrangements shall be clearly |
| 10154 | defined. |
| 10155 | (4) No district school board, Florida College System |
| 10156 | institution community college, or state university shall receive |
| 10157 | funding for more than one approved joint-use facility per campus |
| 10158 | in any 3-year period. |
| 10159 | Section 218. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1013.60, |
| 10160 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 10161 | 1013.60 Legislative capital outlay budget request.- |
| 10162 | (1) The Commissioner of Education shall develop a |
| 10163 | procedure deemed appropriate in arriving at the amounts required |
| 10164 | to fund projects as reflected in the integrated, comprehensive |
| 10165 | budget request required by this section. The official estimates |
| 10166 | for funds accruing to the Public Education Capital Outlay and |
| 10167 | Debt Service Trust Fund made by the Revenue Estimating |
| 10168 | Conference shall be used in determining the budget request |
| 10169 | pursuant to this section. The commissioner, in consultation with |
| 10170 | the appropriations committees of the Legislature, shall provide |
| 10171 | annually an estimate of funds that shall be utilized by Florida |
| 10172 | College System institutions community colleges and universities |
| 10173 | in developing their required 3-year priority lists pursuant to |
| 10174 | s. 1013.64. |
| 10175 | (2) The commissioner shall submit to the Governor and to |
| 10176 | the Legislature an integrated, comprehensive budget request for |
| 10177 | educational facilities construction and fixed capital outlay |
| 10178 | needs for school districts, Florida College System institutions |
| 10179 | community colleges, and universities, pursuant to the provisions |
| 10180 | of s. 1013.64 and applicable provisions of chapter 216. Each |
| 10181 | Florida College System institution community college board of |
| 10182 | trustees and each university board of trustees shall submit to |
| 10183 | the commissioner a 3-year plan and data required in the |
| 10184 | development of the annual capital outlay budget. The information |
| 10185 | that is approved by the Board of Governors must be submitted to |
| 10186 | the Commissioner of Education for inclusion in the comprehensive |
| 10187 | budget request for educational facilities. No further |
| 10188 | disbursements shall be made from the Public Education Capital |
| 10189 | Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund to a board of trustees that |
| 10190 | fails to timely submit the required data until such board of |
| 10191 | trustees submits the data. |
| 10192 | Section 219. Subsection (4) of section 1013.64, Florida |
| 10193 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 10194 | 1013.64 Funds for comprehensive educational plant needs; |
| 10195 | construction cost maximums for school district capital |
| 10196 | projects.-Allocations from the Public Education Capital Outlay |
| 10197 | and Debt Service Trust Fund to the various boards for capital |
| 10198 | outlay projects shall be determined as follows: |
| 10199 | (4)(a) Florida College System institution Community |
| 10200 | college boards of trustees and university boards of trustees |
| 10201 | shall receive funds for projects based on a 3-year priority |
| 10202 | list, to be updated annually, which is submitted to the |
| 10203 | Legislature in the legislative budget request at least 90 days |
| 10204 | prior to the legislative session. The State Board of Education |
| 10205 | shall submit a 3-year priority list for Florida College System |
| 10206 | institutions community colleges, and the Board of Governors |
| 10207 | shall submit a 3-year priority list for universities. The lists |
| 10208 | shall reflect decisions by the State Board of Education for |
| 10209 | Florida College System institutions community colleges and the |
| 10210 | Board of Governors for state universities concerning program |
| 10211 | priorities that implement the statewide plan for program growth |
| 10212 | and quality improvement in education. No remodeling or |
| 10213 | renovation project shall be included on the 3-year priority list |
| 10214 | unless the project has been recommended pursuant to s. 1013.31 |
| 10215 | or is for the purpose of correcting health and safety |
| 10216 | deficiencies. No new construction project shall be included on |
| 10217 | the first year of the 3-year priority list unless the |
| 10218 | educational specifications have been approved by the |
| 10219 | commissioner for a Florida College System institution community |
| 10220 | college project or by the Board of Governors for a university |
| 10221 | project, as applicable. The funds requested for a new |
| 10222 | construction project in the first year of the 3-year priority |
| 10223 | list shall be in conformance with the scope of the project as |
| 10224 | defined in the educational specifications. Any new construction |
| 10225 | project requested in the first year of the 3-year priority list |
| 10226 | which is not funded by the Legislature shall be carried forward |
| 10227 | to be listed first in developing the updated 3-year priority |
| 10228 | list for the subsequent year's capital outlay budget. Should the |
| 10229 | order of the priority of the projects change from year to year, |
| 10230 | a justification for such change shall be included with the |
| 10231 | updated priority list. |
| 10232 | (b) Florida College System institution Community college |
| 10233 | boards of trustees and university boards of trustees may lease |
| 10234 | relocatable educational facilities for up to 3 years using |
| 10235 | nonbonded PECO funds. |
| 10236 | (c) Florida College System institution Community college |
| 10237 | boards of trustees and university boards of trustees shall |
| 10238 | receive funds for remodeling, renovation, maintenance and |
| 10239 | repairs, and site improvement for existing satisfactory |
| 10240 | facilities pursuant to subsection (1). |
| 10241 | Section 220. Subsection (7) of section 1013.65, Florida |
| 10242 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 10243 | 1013.65 Educational and ancillary plant construction |
| 10244 | funds; Public Education Capital Outlay and Debt Service Trust |
| 10245 | Fund; allocation of funds.- |
| 10246 | (7) Boards and entities authorized to participate in the |
| 10247 | trust fund are district school boards, the Florida College |
| 10248 | System institution community college boards of trustees, the |
| 10249 | Trustees of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, and |
| 10250 | university boards of trustees and other units of the state |
| 10251 | system of public education, and other educational entities for |
| 10252 | which funds are authorized by the Legislature. |
| 10253 | Section 221. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1013.81, |
| 10254 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 10255 | 1013.81 Florida College System institution Community |
| 10256 | college indebtedness; bonds and tax anticipation certificates; |
| 10257 | payment.- |
| 10258 | (1) The indebtedness incurred for the benefit of Florida |
| 10259 | College System institutions community colleges and represented |
| 10260 | by bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates issued |
| 10261 | from time to time by the State Board of Education, hereinafter |
| 10262 | called "state board," pursuant to s. 18, Art. XII of the State |
| 10263 | Constitution of 1885 on behalf of the several former county |
| 10264 | boards of public instruction shall not be considered by the |
| 10265 | state board in determining the amount of bonds or motor vehicle |
| 10266 | tax anticipation certificates which the state board may issue |
| 10267 | from time to time on behalf of the several school districts |
| 10268 | under the provisions of s. 9(d), Art. XII of the State |
| 10269 | Constitution, as amended at the general election held on |
| 10270 | November 7, 1972, hereinafter called "school capital outlay |
| 10271 | amendment." Such indebtedness incurred on behalf of Florida |
| 10272 | College System institutions community colleges, as described |
| 10273 | above, shall be considered by the state board in determining the |
| 10274 | amount of bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates |
| 10275 | which the state board may issue from time to time on behalf of |
| 10276 | the several Florida College System institution community college |
| 10277 | districts under the provisions of the school capital outlay |
| 10278 | amendment. |
| 10279 | (2) The debt service requirements on the indebtedness |
| 10280 | incurred for the benefit of Florida College System institutions |
| 10281 | community colleges and represented by bonds or motor vehicle tax |
| 10282 | anticipation certificates issued from time to time by the state |
| 10283 | board on behalf of the several former county boards of public |
| 10284 | instruction, as described in subsection (1), shall be paid from |
| 10285 | funds distributable pursuant to the school capital outlay |
| 10286 | amendment to the credit of the several Florida College System |
| 10287 | institution community college districts, and not from funds |
| 10288 | distributable pursuant to the school capital outlay amendment to |
| 10289 | the credit of the several school districts. |
| 10290 | Reviser's note.-Amended pursuant to the directive in |
| 10291 | s. 21, ch. 2010-70, Laws of Florida, to substitute the |
| 10292 | term "Florida College System institution" for the |
| 10293 | terms "Florida college," "community college," and |
| 10294 | "junior college" where those terms appear in the |
| 10295 | Florida K-20 Education Code. |
| 10296 | Section 222. This act shall take effect on the 60th day |
| 10297 | after adjournment sine die of the session of the Legislature in |
| 10298 | which enacted. |