Florida Senate - 2014                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. SB 1292
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì767836PÎ767836                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                  Comm: RCS            .                                
                  03/25/2014           .                                
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    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Section 1004.448, Florida Statutes, is created
    6  to read:
    7         1004.448 Florida Center for Library Automation.—
    8         (1) The Florida Center for Library Automation is
    9  established to provide a single library automation system and
   10  associated resources and services that all public postsecondary
   11  institutions shall use to support their learning, teaching, and
   12  research needs.
   13         (2) The Florida Center for Library Automation shall:
   14         (a) Develop and manage a library information portal and
   15  automated library management tools for use by the Florida
   16  College System institutions and state universities. The library
   17  information portal and automated library management tools must
   18  include, but are not limited to, the following services and
   19  functions:
   20         1. A shared Internet-based catalog and a discovery tool
   21  that allow a user to search and, if authorized, access the
   22  aggregate library holdings of the state’s public postsecondary
   23  education institutions. The catalog and discovery tool must
   24  allow the user to search the library holdings of one
   25  institution, selected institutions, or all institutions and, to
   26  the extent feasible, include an interlibrary loan function that
   27  ensures that the authorized user can access the required library
   28  holding.
   29         2. An Internet-based searchable collection of electronic
   30  resources which includes, but is not limited to, full-text
   31  journals, articles, databases, and electronic books that the
   32  center licenses pursuant to paragraph (b).
   33         3. An integrated library management system and its
   34  associated services that all public postsecondary education
   35  institution academic libraries must use for purposes of
   36  acquiring, cataloging, circulating, and tracking library
   37  material.
   38         4. A statewide searchable database that includes an
   39  inventory of digital archives and collections held by public
   40  postsecondary education institutions.
   41         (b) Coordinate the negotiation of statewide licensing of
   42  electronic library resources and preferred pricing agreements,
   43  issue purchase orders, and enter into contracts for the
   44  acquisition of library support services, electronic resources,
   45  and other goods and services necessary to carry out its duties
   46  under this section.
   47         (c) Promote and provide recommendations concerning the use
   48  and distribution of open-access textbooks and education
   49  resources as a method for reducing costs and work with public
   50  postsecondary education institutions in developing a
   51  standardized process for the review and approval of open-access
   52  textbooks.
   53         (3) The Florida Center for Library Automation shall be
   54  administered by an executive director who is accountable to the
   55  executive director of the University of West Florida’s
   56  Innovation Institute. The executive director of the Florida
   57  Center for Library Automation shall:
   58         (a) Independently exercise all powers, duties, and
   59  functions of the center as prescribed by law.
   60         (b) Administer the operational requirements of the center.
   61         (c) Hire professional and administrative staff necessary to
   62  carry out the duties of the center.
   63         (d) Keep administrative staff to the minimum necessary to
   64  administer the duties of the center.
   65         Section 2. Section 1006.72, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
   66         Section 3. Section 1006.73, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
   67         Section 4. Section 1006.735, Florida Statutes, is amended
   68  to read:
   69         1006.735 Complete Florida Plus Degree Program.—The Complete
   70  Florida Plus Program is created within the Innovation Institute
   71  at the University of West Florida.
   72         (1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Complete Florida Plus
   73  Program is to:
   74         (a) Facilitate degree completion for the state’s adult
   75  learners through the Complete Florida Degree Initiative.
   76         (b) Provide information and access to distance learning
   77  courses and degree programs offered by the state’s public
   78  postsecondary education institutions.
   79         (c) Coordinate with the Florida College System and the
   80  State University System to identify and provide online academic
   81  support services and resources when the multi-institutional
   82  provision of such services and resources is more cost-effective
   83  or operationally effective.
   84         (2)(1)COMPLETE FLORIDA DEGREE INITIATIVE.—The Complete
   85  Florida Degree Initiative Program is established for the purpose
   86  of recruiting, recovering, and retaining the state’s adult
   87  learners and assisting them in completing an associate degree or
   88  a baccalaureate degree that is aligned to high-wage, high-skill
   89  workforce needs. As used in this section, the term “adult
   90  learner” means a student who has successfully completed college
   91  level coursework in multiple semesters but has left an
   92  institution in good standing before completing his or her
   93  degree. The program shall give priority to adult learners who
   94  are veterans or active duty members of the United States Armed
   95  Forces.
   96         (a)(2) The Complete Florida Degree Initiative Program shall
   97  be implemented by the University of West Florida, acting as the
   98  lead institution, in coordination with Florida College System
   99  institutions, state universities, and private postsecondary
  100  institutions, as appropriate. The initiative includes program
  101  shall include the associate, applied baccalaureate, and
  102  baccalaureate degree programs that these institutions have
  103  selected. Other partnering public postsecondary education
  104  institutions shall provide areas of specialization or
  105  concentration.
  106         (b)(3)In determining For purposes of selecting the degree
  107  programs that will be given priority, in the Complete Florida
  108  Degree Initiative Program, the institutions identified in
  109  subsection (2) shall partner with public and private job
  110  recruitment and placement agencies and use labor market data and
  111  projections, including those identified in the Board of
  112  Governors’ gap analysis, to identify the specific workforce
  113  needs and targeted occupations of the state.
  114         (c)(4) The Complete Florida Degree Initiative Program shall
  115  provide adult learners with a single point of access to
  116  information and links to innovative online and accelerated
  117  distance learning courses, student and library support services,
  118  and electronic resources that will guide the adult learner
  119  toward the successful completion of a postsecondary degree.
  120         (5) By the end of the 2013-2014 academic year, the Complete
  121  Florida Degree Program shall be implemented and must:
  122         (a) Use the distance learning course catalog established
  123  pursuant to s. 1006.73 to communicate course availability to the
  124  adult learner.
  125         (b) Develop and implement an advising and student support
  126  system that includes the use of degree completion specialists,
  127  is based upon best practices and processes, and includes
  128  academic and career support services designed specifically for
  129  the adult learner. The program must identify proposed changes to
  130  the statewide computer-assisted student advising system
  131  established pursuant to s. 1006.73 to assist the adult learner
  132  in using the system.
  133         (c) Use the streamlined, automated, online admissions
  134  application process for transient students established pursuant
  135  to s. 1006.73. The program shall identify any additional
  136  admissions and registration policies and practices that could be
  137  further streamlined and automated for purposes of assisting the
  138  adult learner.
  139         (d) The Complete Florida Degree Initiative shall:
  140         1. Use existing and, if necessary, develop new competency
  141  based instructional and evaluation tools to assess prior
  142  performance, experience, and education for the award of college
  143  credit in order to reduce the time required for adult learners
  144  to complete their degrees. The tools may include the use of the
  145  American Council on Education’s collaborative link between the
  146  United States Department of Defense and higher education through
  147  the review of military training and experiences for the award of
  148  equivalent college credit for members of the United States Armed
  149  Forces.
  150         2.(e) Develop and implement an evaluation process that
  151  collects, analyzes, and provides to the chancellors of the
  152  Florida College System and the State University System, the
  153  participating postsecondary education institutions, the chairs
  154  of the legislative appropriations committees, and the Executive
  155  Office of the Governor information on the effectiveness of the
  156  program and the attainment of its goals. Such a process shall
  157  include a management information system that collects the
  158  appropriate student, programmatic, and fiscal data necessary to
  159  complete the evaluation of the program. Institutions involved in
  160  the program shall also collect job placement and employment data
  161  on the adult learners who have completed their degrees as a
  162  result of the program.
  163         3.(f) Develop and implement a statewide student recruitment
  164  campaign targeted toward adult learners, particularly veterans
  165  and active duty members of the United States Armed Forces, for
  166  enrollment in the degree programs offered through the program.
  167         (e)(6) For purposes of the Complete Florida Degree
  168  Initiative Program, each institution’s current tuition and fee
  169  structure shall be used. However, all participating institutions
  170  shall collaboratively identify the applicable cost components
  171  involved in the development and delivery of distance learning
  172  courses, collect information on these cost components, and
  173  submit the information to the chancellors of the Florida College
  174  System and the State University System. The chancellors shall
  175  submit a report to the chairs of the legislative appropriations
  176  committees no later than December 31, 2014, on the need for a
  177  differentiated tuition and fee structure for the development and
  178  delivery of distance learning courses.
  179         (3) STATEWIDE INTERNET-BASED CATALOG OF DISTANCE LEARNING
  180  COURSES.—The Complete Florida Plus Program shall develop and
  181  manage a statewide Internet-based catalog of distance learning
  182  courses, degree programs, and resources offered by public
  183  postsecondary education institutions to assist with the
  184  coordination and collaboration of articulation and access to
  185  postsecondary education pursuant to parts II and III of chapter
  186  1007. The program shall establish operational procedures for the
  187  catalog which must:
  188         (a) Require participating institutions to provide specific
  189  information concerning the distance learning courses and degree
  190  programs including, but not limited to, prerequisite courses or
  191  technology competencies or skills; the availability of academic
  192  support services and financial aid resources; and course costs,
  193  fees, and payment policies.
  194         (b) Require that distance learning courses and degree
  195  programs meet applicable accreditation standards and criteria
  196  established in law.
  197         (c) Require that the catalog be reviewed at least annually
  198  and updated as needed to ensure that distance learning courses
  199  and degree programs comply with operational procedures.
  200         (d) Define and describe the catalog’s search and retrieval
  201  options that, at a minimum, allow users to search courses and
  202  programs by academic term or start date; institution or
  203  institutions; delivery method, level, availability, subject or
  204  discipline, and course number or program classification number.
  205         (e) Use an Internet-based analytic tool that allows for the
  206  collection and analysis of information, including, but not
  207  limited to:
  208         1. The number of students who use the catalog to search for
  209  distance learning courses and degree programs;
  210         2. The number and type of requests for information on
  211  distance learning courses and degree programs that are not
  212  listed in the catalog; and
  213         3. A summary of specific requests by course type or course
  214  number, delivery method, offering institution, and semester.
  215         (4) STATEWIDE ONLINE STUDENT ADVISING SERVICES AND
  216  SUPPORT.—The Complete Florida Plus Program shall make available
  217  to all postsecondary students on a statewide basis online
  218  supports and services that:
  219         (a) Provide a streamlined, automated, online admissions
  220  application process for undergraduate transient students who are
  221  currently enrolled and pursuing a degree at a public
  222  postsecondary education institution and who enroll in a course
  223  offered by a public postsecondary education institution that is
  224  not the student’s degree-granting institution. The University of
  225  West Florida shall work with the Florida College System
  226  institutions and state universities to:
  227         1. Use the transient student admissions application
  228  available through the statewide computer-assisted student
  229  advising system established pursuant to paragraph (d). This
  230  admissions application is the only application required for the
  231  enrollment of a transient student as described in this
  232  paragraph.
  233         2. Implement the financial aid procedures required by the
  234  transient student admissions application process.
  235         3. Transfer credit awarded by the institution offering the
  236  course to the transient student’s degree-granting institution.
  237         4. Provide for an interface between the institutional
  238  advising system and the statewide computer-assisted student
  239  advising system established pursuant to paragraph (b) in order
  240  to electronically send, receive, and process the transient
  241  student admissions application.
  242         (b) Develop and manage a statewide computer-assisted
  243  student advising system that supports the process of advising,
  244  registering, and certifying students for graduation and includes
  245  a degree audit and an articulation component. The Florida
  246  College System institutions and state universities shall
  247  interface institutional advising systems with the statewide
  248  computer-assisted student advising system. At a minimum, the
  249  statewide computer-assisted student advising system must:
  250         1. Allow a student to access the system at any time, search
  251  public postsecondary education institutions, and identify course
  252  options that will meet the requirements of a selected path
  253  toward a degree.
  254         2. Audit transcripts of students enrolled in a public
  255  postsecondary education institution to assess current academic
  256  standing, the requirements for a student to transfer to another
  257  institution, and all requirements necessary for graduation.
  258         3. Serve as the official statewide repository for the
  259  common prerequisite manual, admissions information for
  260  transferring programs, foreign language requirements, residency
  261  requirements, and statewide articulation agreements.
  262         4. Provide information relating to career descriptions and
  263  corresponding educational requirements, admissions requirements,
  264  and available sources of student financial assistance.
  265         5. Provide the admissions application for transient
  266  students pursuant to paragraph (a) which must include the
  267  electronic transfer and receipt of information and records for:
  268         a. Admissions and readmissions;
  269         b. Financial aid; and
  270         c. Transfer of credit awarded by the institution offering
  271  the course to the transient student’s degree-granting
  272  institution.
  273         (c) Identify and evaluate new technologies and
  274  instructional methods that can be used to improve distance
  275  learning instruction and professional development for faculty,
  276  student learning outcomes, student access, the delivery of
  277  student support services, the alignment of degrees to career
  278  needs, and the overall quality of postsecondary distance
  279  learning courses and degree programs.
  280         (d) Provide appropriate help desk support and training and
  281  consultation services to institutions and students using the
  282  services and resources of the Complete Florida Plus Program.
  283         (e) Coordinate the negotiation of statewide licensing
  284  resources and preferred pricing agreements, issue purchase
  285  orders, and execute contracts for the acquisition of distance
  286  learning resources, student support services, electronic
  287  resources, and other goods and services necessary to perform
  288  duties under this section.
  289         (f)  Develop and implement a plan, in consultation with the
  290  public postsecondary education institutions, that describes the
  291  services and resources available through the Complete Florida
  292  Plus Program to encourage current and prospective students’ use
  293  of such services and resources.
  294         (5) All records, personnel, property, existing contracts,
  295  and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, grants,
  296  and other funds of the Florida Virtual Campus shall be
  297  transferred to the University of West Florida. The University of
  298  West Florida shall be the successor in interest to the Florida
  299  Virtual Campus and shall be responsible for the provision of all
  300  services as authorized by this section.
  301         (7) The University of West Florida, in collaboration with
  302  its partners, shall submit to the chairs of the Board of
  303  Governors, the State Board of Education, and the legislative
  304  appropriations committees no later than September 1, 2013, a
  305  detailed program plan that defines the major work activities,
  306  student eligibility criteria, timeline, and cost for
  307  implementing the Complete Florida Degree Program.
  308         Section 5. Paragraph (h) of subsection (3) of section
  309  1007.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  310         1007.01 Articulation; legislative intent; purpose; role of
  311  the State Board of Education and the Board of Governors;
  312  Articulation Coordinating Committee.—
  313         (3) The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the
  314  Chancellor of the State University System, shall establish the
  315  Articulation Coordinating Committee, which shall make
  316  recommendations related to statewide articulation policies and
  317  issues regarding access, quality, and reporting of data
  318  maintained by the K-20 data warehouse, established pursuant to
  319  ss. 1001.10 and 1008.31, to the Higher Education Coordination
  320  Council, the State Board of Education, and the Board of
  321  Governors. The committee shall consist of two members each
  322  representing the State University System, the Florida College
  323  System, public career and technical education, K-12 education,
  324  and nonpublic postsecondary education and one member
  325  representing students. The chair shall be elected from the
  326  membership. The Office of K-20 Articulation shall provide
  327  administrative support for the committee. The committee shall:
  328         (h) Recommend roles and responsibilities of public
  329  education entities in interfacing with the single, statewide
  330  computer-assisted student advising system established pursuant
  331  to s. 1006.735 s. 1006.73.
  332         Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (16) and subsection
  333  (17) of section 1009.23, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  334         1009.23 Florida College System institution student fees.—
  335         (16)(a) Each Florida College System institution may assess
  336  a student who enrolls in a course listed in the distance
  337  learning catalog, established pursuant to s. 1006.735 s.
  338  1006.73, a per-credit-hour distance learning course user fee.
  339  For purposes of assessing this fee, a distance learning course
  340  is a course in which at least 80 percent of the direct
  341  instruction of the course is delivered using some form of
  342  technology when the student and instructor are separated by time
  343  or space, or both.
  344         (17) Each Florida College System institution that accepts
  345  transient students, pursuant to s. 1006.735 s. 1006.73, may
  346  establish a transient student fee not to exceed $5 per course
  347  for processing the transient student admissions application.
  348         Section 7. Paragraph (t) of subsection (14) and paragraph
  349  (a) of subsection (17) of section 1009.24, Florida Statutes, are
  350  amended to read:
  351         1009.24 State university student fees.—
  352         (14) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (15), each
  353  university board of trustees is authorized to establish the
  354  following fees:
  355         (t) A transient student fee that may not exceed $5 per
  356  course for accepting a transient student and processing the
  357  transient student admissions application pursuant to s. 1006.735
  358  s. 1006.73.
  359  
  360         With the exception of housing rental rates and except as
  361  otherwise provided, fees assessed pursuant to paragraphs (h)-(s)
  362  shall be based on reasonable costs of services. The Board of
  363  Governors shall adopt regulations and timetables necessary to
  364  implement the fees and fines authorized under this subsection.
  365  The fees assessed under this subsection may be used for debt
  366  only as authorized under s. 1010.62.
  367         (17)(a) A state university may assess a student who enrolls
  368  in a course listed in the distance learning catalog, established
  369  pursuant to s. 1006.735 s. 1006.73, a per-credit-hour distance
  370  learning course fee. For purposes of assessing this fee, a
  371  distance learning course is a course in which at least 80
  372  percent of the direct instruction of the course is delivered
  373  using some form of technology when the student and instructor
  374  are separated by time or space, or both.
  375         Section 8. This act shall take effect July 1, 2014.
  376  
  377  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  378  And the title is amended as follows:
  379         Delete everything before the enacting clause
  380  and insert:
  381                        A bill to be entitled                      
  382         An act relating to postsecondary education; creating
  383         s. 1004.448, F.S.; establishing the Florida Center for
  384         Library Automation; providing the duties of the
  385         center; providing that an executive director
  386         administers the center; providing the duties of the
  387         executive director; repealing s. 1006.72, F.S.,
  388         relating to licensing electronic library resources;
  389         repealing s. 1006.73, F.S., relating to the Florida
  390         Virtual Campus; amending s. 1006.735, F.S.; creating
  391         the Complete Florida Plus Program, rather than the
  392         Complete Florida Degree Program, within the Innovation
  393         Institute of the University of West Florida; providing
  394         a purpose for the program; establishing the Complete
  395         Florida Degree Initiative; requiring the initiative to
  396         use labor market data and projections to identify
  397         specific workforce needs and targeted occupations;
  398         deleting implementing provisions relating to the
  399         Complete Florida Degree Program; providing duties of
  400         the Complete Florida Degree Initiative; requiring the
  401         Complete Florida Plus Program to develop and manage a
  402         statewide Internet-based catalog of distance learning
  403         courses, degree programs, and resources offered by
  404         public postsecondary education institutions; providing
  405         requirements for the operational procedures for the
  406         catalog; requiring the Complete Florida Plus Program
  407         to make available to postsecondary students specified
  408         online supports and services; providing that records,
  409         personnel, property, existing contracts, unexpended
  410         balances of appropriations, allocations, grants, and
  411         other funds of the Florida Virtual Campus are
  412         transferred to the University of West Florida;
  413         providing that the University of West Florida is the
  414         successor in interest to the Florida Virtual Campus;
  415         deleting an obsolete provision; amending 1007.27,
  416         F.S.; revising the articulated acceleration mechanisms
  417         that are available for secondary and postsecondary
  418         students attending public educational institutions to
  419         include industry certifications; amending ss. 1007.01,
  420         1009.23, and 1009.24, F.S.; conforming cross
  421         references; providing an effective date.