Bill Text: FL S0996 | 2024 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Education
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 3-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2024-03-05 - Laid on Table, refer to CS/CS/HB 1285 [S0996 Detail]
Download: Florida-2024-S0996-Comm_Sub.html
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for CS for SB 996
By the Committee on Fiscal Policy; the Appropriations Committee
on Education; the Committee on Education Pre-K -12; and Senator
Burgess
594-03391-24 2024996c3
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to education; amending ss. 192.0105,
3 192.048, and 196.082, F.S.; conforming cross
4 references; amending s. 196.011, F.S.; providing that
5 an annual application for exemption on property used
6 to house a charter school is not required; requiring
7 the owner or lessee of such property to notify the
8 property appraiser in specified circumstances;
9 providing penalties; amending ss. 1001.61 and 1001.71,
10 F.S.; prohibiting members of the board of trustees of
11 a Florida College System institution or a state
12 university, respectively, from doing business with or
13 having any business affiliation with any institution
14 under their purview during their membership; amending
15 s. 1002.33, F.S.; providing that students who transfer
16 from certain classical schools to certain charter
17 classical schools may be included as a student
18 population to whom charter schools may give enrollment
19 preference; defining the term “classical school”;
20 revising the list of student populations that may be
21 targeted for enrollment by a charter school by
22 limiting the enrollment process; revising the
23 definition of the term “charter school personnel”;
24 amending s. 1002.42, F.S.; authorizing private schools
25 to use or purchase specified facilities; exempting
26 such facilities from specified zoning or land use
27 requirements; requiring that such facilities meet
28 specified laws, codes, and rules; amending s. 1002.45,
29 F.S.; providing responsibilities for approved virtual
30 instruction program providers, virtual charter
31 schools, and school districts relating to statewide
32 assessments and progress monitoring for certain
33 students; creating s. 1003.052, F.S.; establishing the
34 Purple Star School District Program; providing
35 requirements for such program; authorizing the
36 Department of Education to establish additional
37 program criteria; authorizing the State Board of
38 Education to adopt rules; amending s. 1003.451, F.S.;
39 requiring school districts and charter schools to
40 provide certain students with an opportunity to take
41 the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery and
42 consult with a military recruiter; providing
43 requirements for the scheduling of such test; amending
44 s. 1003.53, F.S.; revising requirements for the
45 assignment of students to disciplinary programs and
46 alternative school settings or other programs;
47 revising requirements for dropout prevention and
48 academic intervention programs; requiring such
49 programs to include academic intervention plans for
50 students; providing requirements for such plans;
51 providing that specified provisions apply to all
52 dropout prevention and academic intervention programs;
53 requiring school principals or their designees to make
54 a reasonable effort to notify parents by specified
55 means and to document such effort; creating s.
56 1004.051, F.S.; prohibiting a public postsecondary
57 institution from implicitly or explicitly prohibiting
58 specified students from being employed; providing
59 applicability; amending s. 1006.38, F.S.; requiring
60 instructional materials publishers and manufacturers
61 or their representatives to make sample student
62 editions of specified instructional materials
63 available electronically for use by certain programs
64 and institutes for a specified purpose; requiring
65 teacher preparation programs and educator preparation
66 institutes that use sample student editions to meet
67 certain requirements; authorizing publishers to make
68 available at a discounted price sample student
69 editions of specified instructional materials to
70 certain programs; amending s. 1007.25, F.S.; creating
71 associate in arts specialized transfer degrees;
72 providing requirements for such degrees; providing a
73 process for the approval of such degree programs;
74 requiring the state board to adopt specified rules;
75 amending s. 1007.271, F.S.; requiring district school
76 boards to make reasonable efforts to enter into
77 specified agreements with a Florida College System
78 institution for certain online courses; amending s.
79 1008.33, F.S.; revising the date by which a memorandum
80 of understanding relating to schools in turnaround
81 status must be provided to the department; revising
82 requirements for district-managed turnaround plans;
83 providing requirements for turnaround schools that
84 close and reopen as charter schools and school
85 districts in which such schools reside; providing that
86 specified provisions do not apply to certain
87 turnaround schools; requiring the State Board of
88 Education to adopt rules for a charter school
89 turnaround contract and specified leases and
90 agreements; amending s. 1008.34, F.S.; requiring that
91 any changes made by the state board to components in
92 the school grades model or the school grading scale
93 shall go into effect, at the earliest, the following
94 school year; amending s. 1009.21, F.S.; providing that
95 a specified method for a student to prove residency
96 for tuition purposes is deemed a single, conclusive
97 piece of evidence; amending s. 1009.23, F.S.;
98 authorizing certain Florida College System
99 institutions to charge a specified amount for
100 nonresident tuition and fees for distance learning;
101 amending s. 1009.98, F.S.; revising the definition of
102 the term “tuition differential”; revising provisions
103 relating to payments the Florida Prepaid College Board
104 must pay to state universities on behalf of
105 beneficiaries of specified contracts; amending s.
106 1012.55, F.S.; requiring the state board to adopt
107 rules for the issuance of a classical education
108 teaching certificate; providing requirements for such
109 certificate; defining the term “classical school”;
110 amending s. 1012.79, F.S.; authorizing the
111 Commissioner of Education to appoint an executive
112 director of the Education Practices Commission;
113 revising the purpose of the commission; authorizing
114 the commission to expend funds for legal services;
115 repealing s. 1012.86, F.S., relating to the Florida
116 College System institution employment equity
117 accountability program; amending ss. 1001.64 and
118 1001.65, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made
119 by the act; providing an effective date.
120
121 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
122
123 Section 1. Paragraph (f) of subsection (1) and paragraphs
124 (b) and (c) of subsection (2) of section 192.0105, Florida
125 Statutes, are amended to read:
126 192.0105 Taxpayer rights.—There is created a Florida
127 Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights for property taxes and assessments to
128 guarantee that the rights, privacy, and property of the
129 taxpayers of this state are adequately safeguarded and protected
130 during tax levy, assessment, collection, and enforcement
131 processes administered under the revenue laws of this state. The
132 Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights compiles, in one document, brief but
133 comprehensive statements that summarize the rights and
134 obligations of the property appraisers, tax collectors, clerks
135 of the court, local governing boards, the Department of Revenue,
136 and taxpayers. Additional rights afforded to payors of taxes and
137 assessments imposed under the revenue laws of this state are
138 provided in s. 213.015. The rights afforded taxpayers to assure
139 that their privacy and property are safeguarded and protected
140 during tax levy, assessment, and collection are available only
141 insofar as they are implemented in other parts of the Florida
142 Statutes or rules of the Department of Revenue. The rights so
143 guaranteed to state taxpayers in the Florida Statutes and the
144 departmental rules include:
145 (1) THE RIGHT TO KNOW.—
146 (f) The right of an exemption recipient to be sent a
147 renewal application for that exemption, the right to a receipt
148 for homestead exemption claim when filed, and the right to
149 notice of denial of the exemption (see ss. 196.011(7),
150 196.131(1), 196.151, and 196.193(1)(c) and (5) 196.011(6),
151 196.131(1), 196.151, and 196.193(1)(c) and (5)).
152
153 Notwithstanding the right to information contained in this
154 subsection, under s. 197.122 property owners are held to know
155 that property taxes are due and payable annually and are charged
156 with a duty to ascertain the amount of current and delinquent
157 taxes and obtain the necessary information from the applicable
158 governmental officials.
159 (2) THE RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS.—
160 (b) The right to petition the value adjustment board over
161 objections to assessments, denial of exemption, denial of
162 agricultural classification, denial of historic classification,
163 denial of high-water recharge classification, disapproval of tax
164 deferral, and any penalties on deferred taxes imposed for
165 incorrect information willfully filed. Payment of estimated
166 taxes does not preclude the right of the taxpayer to challenge
167 his or her assessment (see ss. 194.011(3), 196.011(7) and
168 (10)(a), 196.151, 196.193(1)(c) and (5), 193.461(2), 193.503(7),
169 193.625(2), 197.2425, 197.301(2), and 197.2301(11) ss.
170 194.011(3), 196.011(6) and (9)(a), 196.151, 196.193(1)(c) and
171 (5), 193.461(2), 193.503(7), 193.625(2), 197.2425, 197.301(2),
172 and 197.2301(11)).
173 (c) The right to file a petition for exemption or
174 agricultural classification with the value adjustment board when
175 an application deadline is missed, upon demonstration of
176 particular extenuating circumstances for filing late (see ss.
177 193.461(3)(a) and 196.011(1), (8), (9), and (10)(e) ss.
178 193.461(3)(a) and 196.011(1), (7), (8), and (9)(e)).
179 Section 2. Paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of subsection (1)
180 of section 192.048, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
181 192.048 Electronic transmission.—
182 (1) Subject to subsection (2), the following documents may
183 be transmitted electronically rather than by regular mail:
184 (b) The tax exemption renewal application required under s.
185 196.011(7)(a) s. 196.011(6)(a).
186 (c) The tax exemption renewal application required under s.
187 196.011(7)(b) s. 196.011(6)(b).
188 (d) A notification of an intent to deny a tax exemption
189 required under s. 196.011(10)(e) s. 196.011(9)(e).
190 Section 3. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 196.082,
191 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
192 196.082 Discounts for disabled veterans; surviving spouse
193 carryover.—
194 (3) If the partially or totally and permanently disabled
195 veteran predeceases his or her spouse and if, upon the death of
196 the veteran, the spouse holds the legal or beneficial title to
197 the homestead and permanently resides thereon as specified in s.
198 196.031, the discount from ad valorem tax that the veteran
199 received carries over to the benefit of the veteran’s spouse
200 until such time as he or she remarries or sells or otherwise
201 disposes of the property. If the spouse sells or otherwise
202 disposes of the property, a discount not to exceed the dollar
203 amount granted from the most recent ad valorem tax roll may be
204 transferred to his or her new residence, as long as it is used
205 as his or her primary residence and he or she does not remarry.
206 An applicant who is qualified to receive a discount under this
207 section and who fails to file an application by March 1 may file
208 an application for the discount and may file a petition pursuant
209 to s. 194.011(3) with the value adjustment board requesting that
210 the discount be granted. Such application and petition shall be
211 subject to the same procedures as for exemptions set forth in s.
212 196.011(9) s. 196.011(8).
213 (4) To qualify for the discount granted under this section,
214 an applicant must submit to the county property appraiser by
215 March 1:
216 (a) An official letter from the United States Department of
217 Veterans Affairs which states the percentage of the veteran’s
218 service-connected disability and evidence that reasonably
219 identifies the disability as combat-related;
220 (b) A copy of the veteran’s honorable discharge; and
221 (c) Proof of age as of January 1 of the year to which the
222 discount will apply.
223
224 Any applicant who is qualified to receive a discount under this
225 section and who fails to file an application by March 1 may file
226 an application for the discount and may file, pursuant to s.
227 194.011(3), a petition with the value adjustment board
228 requesting that the discount be granted. Such application and
229 petition shall be subject to the same procedures as for
230 exemptions set forth in s. 196.011(9) s. 196.011(8).
231 Section 4. Present subsections (5) through (12) of section
232 196.011, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (6)
233 through (13), respectively, a new subsection (5) is added to
234 that section, and subsection (1) and present subsections (10)
235 and (11) of that section are amended, to read:
236 196.011 Annual application required for exemption.—
237 (1)(a) Except as provided in s. 196.081(1)(b), every person
238 or organization who, on January 1, has the legal title to real
239 or personal property, except inventory, which is entitled by law
240 to exemption from taxation as a result of its ownership and use
241 shall, on or before March 1 of each year, file an application
242 for exemption with the county property appraiser, listing and
243 describing the property for which exemption is claimed and
244 certifying its ownership and use. The Department of Revenue
245 shall prescribe the forms upon which the application is made.
246 Failure to make application, when required, on or before March 1
247 of any year shall constitute a waiver of the exemption privilege
248 for that year, except as provided in subsection (7) or
249 subsection (9) (8).
250 (b) The form to apply for an exemption under s. 196.031, s.
251 196.081, s. 196.091, s. 196.101, s. 196.102, s. 196.173, or s.
252 196.202 must include a space for the applicant to list the
253 social security number of the applicant and of the applicant’s
254 spouse, if any. If an applicant files a timely and otherwise
255 complete application, and omits the required social security
256 numbers, the application is incomplete. In that event, the
257 property appraiser shall contact the applicant, who may refile a
258 complete application by April 1. Failure to file a complete
259 application by that date constitutes a waiver of the exemption
260 privilege for that year, except as provided in subsection (7) or
261 subsection (9) (8).
262 (5) It is not necessary to make annual application for
263 exemption on property used to house a charter school pursuant to
264 s. 196.1983. The owner or lessee of any property used to house a
265 charter school pursuant to s. 196.1983 who is not required to
266 file an annual application shall notify the property appraiser
267 promptly whenever the use of the property or the status or
268 condition of the owner or lessee changes so as to change the
269 exempt status of the property. If any owner or lessee fails to
270 so notify the property appraiser and the property appraiser
271 determines that for any year within the prior 10 years the owner
272 or lessee was not entitled to receive such exemption, the owner
273 or lessee of the property is subject to the taxes exempted as a
274 result of such failure plus 15 percent interest per annum and a
275 penalty of 50 percent of the taxes exempted. The property
276 appraiser making such determination shall record in the public
277 records of the county a notice of tax lien against any property
278 owned by that person or entity in the county, and such property
279 must be identified in the notice of tax lien. Such property is
280 subject to the payment of all taxes and penalties. Such lien
281 when filed shall attach to any property, identified in the
282 notice of tax lien, owned by the person or entity who illegally
283 or improperly received the exemption. If such person or entity
284 no longer owns property in that county but owns property in some
285 other county or counties in the state, the property appraiser
286 shall record a notice of tax lien in such other county or
287 counties, identifying the property owned by such person or
288 entity in such county or counties, and it shall become a lien
289 against such property in such county or counties.
290 (11)(10) At the option of the property appraiser and
291 notwithstanding any other provision of this section, initial or
292 original applications for homestead exemption for the succeeding
293 year may be accepted and granted after March 1. Reapplication on
294 a short form as authorized by subsection (6) (5) shall be
295 required if the county has not waived the requirement of an
296 annual application. Once the initial or original application and
297 reapplication have been granted, the property may qualify for
298 the exemption in each succeeding year pursuant to the provisions
299 of subsection (7) (6) or subsection (10) (9).
300 (12)(11) For exemptions enumerated in paragraph (1)(b),
301 social security numbers of the applicant and the applicant’s
302 spouse, if any, are required and must be submitted to the
303 department. Applications filed pursuant to subsection (6) (5) or
304 subsection (7) (6) shall include social security numbers of the
305 applicant and the applicant’s spouse, if any. For counties where
306 the annual application requirement has been waived, property
307 appraisers may require refiling of an application to obtain such
308 information.
309 Section 5. Subsection (3) of section 1001.61, Florida
310 Statutes, is amended to read:
311 1001.61 Florida College System institution boards of
312 trustees; membership.—
313 (3) Members of the board of trustees shall receive no
314 compensation but may receive reimbursement for expenses as
315 provided in s. 112.061. A member may not do business or have any
316 business affiliation with any institution under his or her
317 purview in the Florida College System while he or she is a
318 member of a Florida College System institution’s board of
319 trustees.
320 Section 6. Subsection (2) of section 1001.71, Florida
321 Statutes, is amended to read:
322 1001.71 University boards of trustees; membership.—
323 (2) Members of the boards of trustees shall receive no
324 compensation but may be reimbursed for travel and per diem
325 expenses as provided in s. 112.061. A member may not do business
326 or have any business affiliation with any institution under his
327 or her purview in the State University System while he or she is
328 a member of a state university’s board of trustees.
329 Section 7. Paragraphs (d) and (e) of subsection (10) and
330 paragraph (a) of subsection (24) of section 1002.33, Florida
331 Statutes, are amended to read:
332 1002.33 Charter schools.—
333 (10) ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.—
334 (d) A charter school may give enrollment preference to the
335 following student populations:
336 1. Students who are siblings of a student enrolled in the
337 charter school.
338 2. Students who are the children of a member of the
339 governing board of the charter school.
340 3. Students who are the children of an employee of the
341 charter school.
342 4. Students who are the children of:
343 a. An employee of the business partner of a charter school
344 in-the-workplace established under paragraph (15)(b) or a
345 resident of the municipality in which such charter school is
346 located; or
347 b. A resident or employee of a municipality that operates a
348 charter school-in-a-municipality pursuant to paragraph (15)(c)
349 or allows a charter school to use a school facility or portion
350 of land provided by the municipality for the operation of the
351 charter school.
352 5. Students who have successfully completed, during the
353 previous year, a voluntary prekindergarten education program
354 under ss. 1002.51-1002.79 provided by the charter school, the
355 charter school’s governing board, or a voluntary prekindergarten
356 provider that has a written agreement with the governing board.
357 6. Students who are the children of an active duty member
358 of any branch of the United States Armed Forces.
359 7. Students who attended or are assigned to failing schools
360 pursuant to s. 1002.38(2).
361 8. Students who are the children of a safe-school officer,
362 as defined in s. 1006.12, at the school.
363 9. Students who transfer from a classical school in this
364 state to a charter classical school in this state. For purposes
365 of this subparagraph, the term “classical school” means a
366 traditional public school or charter school that implements a
367 classical education model that emphasizes the development of
368 students in the principles of moral character and civic virtue
369 through a well-rounded education in the liberal arts and
370 sciences which is based on the classical trivium stages of
371 grammar, logic, and rhetoric.
372 (e) A charter school may limit the enrollment process only
373 to target the following student populations:
374 1. Students within specific age groups or grade levels.
375 2. Students considered at risk of dropping out of school or
376 academic failure. Such students shall include exceptional
377 education students.
378 3. Students enrolling in a charter school-in-the-workplace
379 or charter school-in-a-municipality established pursuant to
380 subsection (15).
381 4. Students residing within a reasonable distance of the
382 charter school, as described in paragraph (20)(c). Such students
383 shall be subject to a random lottery and to the racial/ethnic
384 balance provisions described in subparagraph (7)(a)8. or any
385 federal provisions that require a school to achieve a
386 racial/ethnic balance reflective of the community it serves or
387 within the racial/ethnic range of other nearby public schools.
388 5. Students who meet reasonable academic, artistic, or
389 other eligibility standards established by the charter school
390 and included in the charter school application and charter or,
391 in the case of existing charter schools, standards that are
392 consistent with the school’s mission and purpose. Such standards
393 shall be in accordance with current state law and practice in
394 public schools and may not discriminate against otherwise
395 qualified individuals. A school that limits enrollment for such
396 purposes must place a student on a progress monitoring plan for
397 at least one semester before dismissing such student from the
398 school.
399 6. Students articulating from one charter school to another
400 pursuant to an articulation agreement between the charter
401 schools that has been approved by the sponsor.
402 7. Students living in a development, or students whose
403 parent or legal guardian maintains a physical or permanent
404 employment presence within the development, in which a
405 developer, including any affiliated business entity or
406 charitable foundation, contributes to the formation,
407 acquisition, construction, or operation of one or more charter
408 schools or charter school facilities and related property in an
409 amount equal to or having a total appraised value of at least $5
410 million to be used as charter schools to mitigate the
411 educational impact created by the development of new residential
412 dwelling units. Students living in the development are entitled
413 to 50 percent of the student stations in the charter schools.
414 The students who are eligible for enrollment are subject to a
415 random lottery, the racial/ethnic balance provisions, or any
416 federal provisions, as described in subparagraph 4. The
417 remainder of the student stations must be filled in accordance
418 with subparagraph 4.
419 8. Students whose parent or legal guardian is employed
420 within a reasonable distance of the charter school, as described
421 in paragraph (20)(c). The students who are eligible for
422 enrollment are subject to a random lottery.
423 (24) RESTRICTION ON EMPLOYMENT OF RELATIVES.—
424 (a) This subsection applies to charter school personnel in
425 a charter school operated by a private entity. As used in this
426 subsection, the term:
427 1. “Charter school personnel” means a charter school owner,
428 president, chairperson of the governing board of directors,
429 superintendent, governing board member, principal, assistant
430 principal, or any other person employed by the charter school
431 who has equivalent decisionmaking authority and in whom is
432 vested the authority, or to whom the authority has been
433 delegated, to appoint, employ, promote, or advance individuals
434 or to recommend individuals for appointment, employment,
435 promotion, or advancement in connection with employment in a
436 charter school, including the authority as a member of a
437 governing body of a charter school to vote on the appointment,
438 employment, promotion, or advancement of individuals.
439 2. “Relative” means father, mother, son, daughter, brother,
440 sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife,
441 father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law,
442 brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson,
443 stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, or half
444 sister.
445
446 Charter school personnel in schools operated by a municipality
447 or other public entity are subject to s. 112.3135.
448 Section 8. Subsection (19) is added to s. 1002.42, Florida
449 Statutes, to read:
450 1002.42 Private schools.—
451 (19) FACILITIES.—
452 (a) A private school may use facilities on property owned
453 or leased by a library, community service organization, museum,
454 performing arts venue, theatre, cinema, or church facility under
455 s. 170.201, which is or was actively used as such within 5 years
456 of any executed agreement with a private school to use the
457 facilities; any facility or land owned by a Florida College
458 System institution or university; any similar public
459 institutional facilities; and any facility recently used to
460 house a school or child care facility licensed under s. 402.305,
461 under any such facility’s preexisting zoning and land use
462 designations without rezoning or obtaining a special exception
463 or a land use change, and without complying with any mitigation
464 requirements or conditions. The facility must be located on
465 property used solely for purposes described in this paragraph,
466 and must meet applicable state and local health, safety, and
467 welfare laws, codes, and rules, including firesafety and
468 building safety.
469 (b) A private school may use facilities on property
470 purchased from a library, community service organization,
471 museum, performing arts venue, theatre, cinema, or church
472 facility under s. 170.201, which is actively or was actively
473 used as such within 5 years of any executed agreement with a
474 private school to purchase the facilities; any facility or land
475 owned by a Florida College System institution or university; any
476 similar public institutional facilities; and any facility
477 recently used to house a school or child care facility licensed
478 under s. 402.305, under any such facility’s preexisting zoning
479 and land use designations without obtaining a special exception,
480 rezoning, or a land use change, and without complying with any
481 mitigation requirements or conditions. The facility must be
482 located on property used solely for purposes described in this
483 paragraph, and must meet applicable state and local health,
484 safety, and welfare laws, codes, and rules, including firesafety
485 and building safety.
486 Section 9. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section
487 1002.45, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
488 1002.45 Virtual instruction programs.—
489 (5) STUDENT PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS.—Each student
490 enrolled in the school district’s virtual instruction program
491 authorized pursuant to paragraph (1)(c) must:
492 (b) Take statewide assessments pursuant to s. 1008.22 and
493 participate in the coordinated screening and progress monitoring
494 system under s. 1008.25(9). Statewide assessments and progress
495 monitoring may be administered within the school district in
496 which such student resides, or as specified in the contract
497 under in accordance with s. 1008.24(3). If requested by the
498 approved virtual instruction program provider or virtual charter
499 school, the district of residence must provide the student with
500 access to the district’s testing facilities. It is the
501 responsibility of the approved virtual instruction program
502 provider or virtual charter school to provide a list of students
503 to be administered statewide assessments and progress monitoring
504 to the school district, including the students’ names, Florida
505 Education Identifiers, grade levels, assessments and progress
506 monitoring to be administered, and contact information. Unless
507 an alternative testing site is mutually agreed to by the
508 approved virtual instruction program provider or virtual charter
509 school and the school district, or as specified in the contract
510 under s. 1008.24, all assessments and progress monitoring must
511 be taken at the school to which the student would be assigned
512 according to district school board attendance policies. A school
513 district must provide the student with access to the school’s or
514 district’s testing facilities and provide the student with the
515 date and time of the administration of each assessment and
516 progress monitoring.
517 Section 10. Section 1003.052, Florida Statutes, is created
518 to read:
519 1003.052 The Purple Star School District Program.—
520 (1)(a) The Department of Education shall establish the
521 Purple Star School District Program. At a minimum, the program
522 must require a participating school district to:
523 1. Have at least 75 percent of the schools within the
524 district be designated as Purple Star Campuses under s.
525 1003.051.
526 2. Maintain a web page on the district’s website which
527 includes resources for military students and their families and
528 a link to each Purple Star Campus’s web page that meets the
529 requirements of s. 1003.051(2)(a)2.
530 (b) The department may establish additional program
531 criteria to identify school districts that demonstrate a
532 commitment to or provide critical coordination of services for
533 military students and their families, including, but not limited
534 to, establishing a council consisting of a representative from
535 each Purple Star Campus in the district and one district-level
536 representative to ensure the alignment of military student
537 focused policies and procedures within the district.
538 (2) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to
539 administer this section.
540 Section 11. Present subsection (4) of section 1003.451,
541 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (5), and a new
542 subsection (4) is added to that section, to read:
543 1003.451 Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps; military
544 recruiters; access to public school campuses; Armed Services
545 Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).—
546 (4) Each school district and charter school shall provide
547 students in grades 11 and 12 an opportunity to take the Armed
548 Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) and consult with a
549 military recruiter if the student selects. To optimize student
550 participation, the ASVAB must be scheduled during normal school
551 hours.
552 Section 12. Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (1),
553 paragraph (a) of subsection (2), and subsections (3) through (7)
554 of section 1003.53, Florida Statutes, are amended, and paragraph
555 (c) is added to subsection (2) of that section, to read:
556 1003.53 Dropout prevention and academic intervention.—
557 (1)(a) Dropout prevention and academic intervention
558 programs may differ from traditional educational programs and
559 schools in scheduling, administrative structure, philosophy,
560 curriculum, or setting and shall employ alternative teaching
561 methodologies, curricula, learning activities, and diagnostic
562 and assessment procedures in order to meet the needs, interests,
563 abilities, and talents of eligible students. The educational
564 program shall provide curricula, character development and law
565 education, and related services that support the program goals
566 and lead to improved performance in the areas of academic
567 achievement, attendance, and discipline. Student participation
568 in such programs shall be voluntary. District school boards may,
569 however, assign students to a disciplinary program for
570 disruptive students or an alternative school setting or other
571 program pursuant to s. 1006.13. Notwithstanding any other
572 provision of law to the contrary, no student shall be identified
573 as being eligible to receive services funded through the dropout
574 prevention and academic intervention program based solely on the
575 student being from a single-parent family or having a
576 disability.
577 (c) A student shall be identified as being eligible to
578 receive services funded through the dropout prevention and
579 academic intervention program based upon one of the following
580 criteria:
581 1. The student is academically unsuccessful as evidenced by
582 low test scores, retention, failing grades, low grade point
583 average, falling behind in earning credits, or not meeting the
584 state or district achievement levels in reading, mathematics, or
585 writing.
586 2. The student has a pattern of excessive absenteeism or
587 has been identified as a habitual truant.
588 3. The student has a history of disruptive behavior in
589 school or has committed an offense that warrants out-of-school
590 suspension or expulsion from school according to the district
591 school board’s code of student conduct. For the purposes of this
592 program, “disruptive behavior” is behavior that:
593 a. Interferes with the student’s own learning or the
594 educational process of others and requires attention and
595 assistance beyond that which the traditional program can provide
596 or results in frequent conflicts of a disruptive nature while
597 the student is under the jurisdiction of the school either in or
598 out of the classroom; or
599 b. Severely threatens the general welfare of students or
600 others with whom the student comes into contact.
601 4. The student is identified by a school’s early warning
602 system pursuant to s. 1001.42(18)(b).
603 (2)(a) Each district school board may establish dropout
604 prevention and academic intervention programs at the elementary,
605 middle, junior high school, or high school level. Programs
606 designed to eliminate patterns of excessive absenteeism or
607 habitual truancy shall emphasize academic performance and may
608 provide specific instruction in the areas of career education,
609 preemployment training, and behavioral management. Such programs
610 shall utilize instructional teaching methods and student
611 services that lead to improved student behavior as appropriate
612 to the specific needs of the student.
613 (c) For each student enrolled in a dropout prevention and
614 academic intervention program, an academic intervention plan
615 shall be developed to address eligibility for placement in the
616 program and to provide individualized student goals and progress
617 monitoring procedures. A student’s academic intervention plan
618 must be consistent with the student’s individual education plan
619 (IEP).
620 (3) Each district school board providing receiving state
621 funding for dropout prevention and academic intervention
622 programs through the General Appropriations Act shall submit
623 information through an annual report to the Department of
624 Education’s database documenting the extent to which each of the
625 district’s dropout prevention and academic intervention programs
626 has been successful in the areas of graduation rate, dropout
627 rate, attendance rate, and retention/promotion rate. The
628 department shall compile this information into an annual report
629 which shall be submitted to the presiding officers of the
630 Legislature by February 15.
631 (4) Each district school board shall establish course
632 standards, as defined by rule of the State Board of Education,
633 for dropout prevention and academic intervention programs and
634 procedures for ensuring that teachers assigned to the programs
635 are certified pursuant to s. 1012.55 and possess the affective,
636 pedagogical, and content-related skills necessary to meet the
637 needs of these students.
638 (5) Each district school board providing a dropout
639 prevention and academic intervention program pursuant to this
640 section shall maintain for each participating student records
641 documenting the student’s eligibility, the length of
642 participation, the type of program to which the student was
643 assigned or the type of academic intervention services provided,
644 and an evaluation of the student’s academic and behavioral
645 performance while in the program. The school principal or his or
646 her designee shall, prior to placement in a dropout prevention
647 and academic intervention program or the provision of an
648 academic service, provide written notice of placement or
649 services by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the
650 student’s parent. The parent of the student shall sign an
651 acknowledgment of the notice of placement or service and return
652 the signed acknowledgment to the principal within 3 days after
653 receipt of the notice. District school boards may adopt a policy
654 that allows a parent to agree to an alternative method of
655 notification. Such agreement may be made before the need for
656 notification arises or at the time the notification becomes
657 required. The parents of a student assigned to such a dropout
658 prevention and academic intervention program shall be notified
659 in writing and entitled to an administrative review of any
660 action by school personnel relating to such placement pursuant
661 to the provisions of chapter 120.
662 (6) District school board dropout prevention and academic
663 intervention programs shall be coordinated with social service,
664 law enforcement, prosecutorial, and juvenile justice agencies
665 and juvenile assessment centers in the school district.
666 Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 1002.22, these agencies are
667 authorized to exchange information contained in student records
668 and juvenile justice records. Such information is confidential
669 and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1). District school
670 boards and other agencies receiving such information shall use
671 the information only for official purposes connected with the
672 certification of students for admission to and for the
673 administration of the dropout prevention and academic
674 intervention program, and shall maintain the confidentiality of
675 such information unless otherwise provided by law or rule.
676 (7) The State Board of Education shall have the authority
677 pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to adopt rules necessary
678 to implement the provisions of this section; such rules shall
679 require the minimum amount of necessary paperwork and reporting.
680 Section 13. Section 1004.051, Florida Statutes, is created
681 to read:
682 1004.051 Regulation of working students.—
683 (1) A public postsecondary institution may not, as a
684 condition of admission to or enrollment in any of the
685 institution’s schools, colleges, or programs, implicitly or
686 explicitly prohibit an applicant or currently enrolled student
687 from being employed, either full time or part time.
688 (2) This section does not apply if the applicant or
689 currently enrolled student is employed by an organization or
690 agency that is affiliated or associated with a foreign country
691 of concern as defined in s. 288.860(1).
692 Section 14. Present subsections (3) through (16) of section
693 1006.38, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (4)
694 through (17), respectively, a new subsection (3) is added to
695 that section, and present subsections (14) and (16) of that
696 section are amended, to read:
697 1006.38 Duties, responsibilities, and requirements of
698 instructional materials publishers and manufacturers.—This
699 section applies to both the state and district approval
700 processes. Publishers and manufacturers of instructional
701 materials, or their representatives, shall:
702 (3) Make sample student editions of instructional materials
703 on the commissioner’s list of state-adopted instructional
704 materials electronically available, at a discount below
705 publisher cost, for use by teacher preparation programs and by
706 educator preparation institutes as defined in ss. 1004.04 and
707 1004.85(1), respectively, for each adoption cycle, to enable
708 educators to practice teaching with currently adopted
709 instructional materials aligned to state academic standards.
710 (a) Teacher preparation programs and educator preparation
711 institutes that use samples to practice teaching shall provide
712 reasonable safeguards against the unauthorized use,
713 reproduction, and distribution of the sample copies of
714 instructional materials.
715 (b) Notwithstanding s. 1006.38(5), publishers may make
716 sample student editions of adopted instructional materials
717 available at a discounted price to teacher preparation programs
718 and educator preparation institutes for the instructional
719 purpose of educators practicing with current materials.
720 (15)(14) Accurately and fully disclose only the names of
721 those persons who actually authored the instructional materials.
722 In addition to the penalties provided in subsection (17) (16),
723 the commissioner may remove from the list of state-adopted
724 instructional materials those instructional materials whose
725 publisher or manufacturer misleads the purchaser by falsely
726 representing genuine authorship.
727 (17)(16) Upon the willful failure of the publisher or
728 manufacturer to comply with the requirements of this section, be
729 liable to the department in the amount of three times the total
730 sum which the publisher or manufacturer was paid in excess of
731 the price required under subsections (5) and (6) and (7) and in
732 the amount of three times the total value of the instructional
733 materials and services which the district school board is
734 entitled to receive free of charge under subsection (8) (7).
735 Section 15. Subsections (9) and (12) of section 1007.25,
736 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
737 1007.25 General education courses; common prerequisites;
738 other degree requirements.—
739 (9)(a) An associate in arts degree must shall require no
740 more than 60 semester hours of college credit and include 36
741 semester hours of general education coursework. Beginning with
742 students initially entering a Florida College System institution
743 or state university in the 2014-2015 academic year and
744 thereafter, coursework for an associate in arts degree must
745 shall include demonstration of competency in a foreign language
746 pursuant to s. 1007.262. Except for developmental education
747 required pursuant to s. 1008.30, all required coursework must
748 shall count toward the associate in arts degree or the
749 baccalaureate degree.
750 (b) An associate in arts specialized transfer degree must
751 include 36 semester hours of general education coursework and
752 require 60 semester hours or more of college credit. Specialized
753 transfer degrees are designed for Florida College System
754 institution students who need supplemental lower-level
755 coursework in preparation for transfer to another institution.
756 The State Board of Education shall establish criteria for the
757 review and approval of new specialized transfer degrees. The
758 approval process must require:
759 1. A Florida College System institution to submit a notice
760 of its intent to propose a new associate in arts specialized
761 degree program to the Division of Florida Colleges. The notice
762 must include the recommended credit hours, the rationale for the
763 specialization, the demand for students entering the field, and
764 the coursework being proposed to be included beyond the 60
765 semester hours required for the general transfer degree, if
766 applicable. Notices of intent may be submitted by a Florida
767 College System institution at any time.
768 2. The Division of Florida Colleges to forward the notice
769 of intent within 10 business days after receipt to all Florida
770 College System institutions and to the Chancellor of the State
771 University System, who shall forward the notice to all state
772 universities. State universities and Florida College System
773 institutions shall have 60 days after receipt of the notice to
774 submit comments to the proposed associate in arts specialized
775 transfer degree.
776 3. After the submission of comments pursuant to
777 subparagraph 2., the requesting Florida College System
778 institution to submit a proposal that, at a minimum, includes:
779 a. Evidence that the coursework for the associate in arts
780 specialized transfer degree includes demonstration of competency
781 in a foreign language pursuant to s. 1007.262 and demonstration
782 of civic literacy competency as provided in subsection (5).
783 b. Demonstration that all required coursework will count
784 toward the associate in arts degree or the baccalaureate degree.
785 c. An analysis of demand and unmet need for students
786 entering the specialized field of study at the baccalaureate
787 level.
788 d. Justification for the program length if it exceeds 60
789 credit hours, including references to the common prerequisite
790 manual or other requirements for the baccalaureate degree. This
791 includes documentation of alignment between the exit
792 requirements of a Florida College System institution and the
793 admissions requirements of a baccalaureate program at a state
794 university to which students would typically transfer.
795 e. Articulation agreements for graduates of the associate
796 in arts specialized transfer degree.
797 f. Responses to the comments received under subparagraph 2.
798 (c) The Division of Florida Colleges shall review the
799 proposal and, within 30 days after receipt, shall provide
800 written notification to the Florida College System institution
801 of any deficiencies and provide the institution with an
802 opportunity to correct the deficiencies. Within 45 days after
803 receipt of a completed proposal by the Division of Florida
804 Colleges, the Commissioner of Education shall recommend approval
805 or disapproval of the new specialized transfer degree to the
806 State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall
807 consider the recommendation at its next meeting.
808 (d) Upon approval of an associate in arts specialized
809 transfer degree by the State Board of Education, a Florida
810 College System institution may offer the degree and shall report
811 data on student and program performance in a manner prescribed
812 by the Department of Education.
813 (e) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules pursuant
814 to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to prescribe format and content
815 requirements and submission procedures for notices of intent,
816 proposals, and compliance reviews under this subsection.
817 (12) A student who received an associate in arts degree for
818 successfully completing 60 semester credit hours may continue to
819 earn additional credits at a Florida College System institution.
820 The university must provide credit toward the student’s
821 baccalaureate degree for an additional Florida College System
822 institution course if, according to the statewide course
823 numbering, the Florida College System institution course is a
824 course listed in the university catalog as required for the
825 degree or as prerequisite to a course required for the degree.
826 Of the courses required for the degree, at least half of the
827 credit hours required for the degree must shall be achievable
828 through courses designated as lower division, except in degree
829 programs approved by the State Board of Education for programs
830 offered by Florida College System institutions and by the Board
831 of Governors for programs offered by state universities.
832 Section 16. Subsection (4) of section 1007.271, Florida
833 Statutes, is amended to read:
834 1007.271 Dual enrollment programs.—
835 (4)(a) District school boards may not refuse to enter into
836 a dual enrollment articulation agreement with a local Florida
837 College System institution if that Florida College System
838 institution has the capacity to offer dual enrollment courses.
839 (b) District school boards must make reasonable efforts to
840 enter into dual enrollment articulation agreements with a
841 Florida College System institution that offers online dual
842 enrollment courses.
843 Section 17. Subsections (4) and (5) of section 1008.33,
844 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
845 1008.33 Authority to enforce public school improvement.—
846 (4)(a) The state board shall apply intensive intervention
847 and support strategies tailored to the needs of schools earning
848 two consecutive grades of “D” or a grade of “F.” In the first
849 full school year after a school initially earns a grade of “D,”
850 the school district must immediately implement intervention and
851 support strategies prescribed in rule under paragraph (3)(c).
852 For a school that initially earns a grade of “F” or a second
853 consecutive grade of “D,” the school district must either
854 continue implementing or immediately begin implementing
855 intervention and support strategies prescribed in rule under
856 paragraph (3)(c) and for the 2024-2025 school year provide the
857 department, by September 1, with the memorandum of understanding
858 negotiated pursuant to s. 1001.42(21) and, by October 1, a
859 district-managed turnaround plan for approval by the state
860 board. For the 2025-2026 school year and thereafter, the school
861 district must provide the department, by August 1, with the
862 memorandum of understanding negotiated pursuant to s.
863 1001.42(21) and a district-managed turnaround plan for approval
864 by the state board. The plan must include measurable academic
865 benchmarks that put the school on a path to earning and
866 maintaining a grade of “C” or higher The district-managed
867 turnaround plan may include a proposal for the district to
868 implement an extended school day, a summer program, a
869 combination of an extended school day and a summer program, or
870 any other option authorized under paragraph (b) for state board
871 approval. A school district is not required to wait until a
872 school earns a second consecutive grade of “D” to submit a
873 turnaround plan for approval by the state board under this
874 paragraph. Upon approval by the state board, the school district
875 must implement the plan for the remainder of the school year and
876 continue the plan for 1 full school year. The state board may
877 allow a school an additional year of implementation before the
878 school must implement a turnaround option required under
879 paragraph (b) if it determines that the school is likely to
880 improve to a grade of “C” or higher after the first full school
881 year of implementation.
882 (b) Unless an additional year of implementation is provided
883 pursuant to paragraph (a), a school that completes a plan cycle
884 under paragraph (a) and does not improve to a grade of “C” or
885 higher must implement one of the following:
886 1. Reassign students to another school and monitor the
887 progress of each reassigned student;
888 2. Close the school and reopen the school as one or more
889 charter schools, each with a governing board that has a
890 demonstrated record of effectiveness. Upon reopening as a
891 charter school:
892 a. The school district shall continue to operate the school
893 for the following school year and, no later than October 1,
894 execute a charter school turnaround contract that will allow the
895 charter school an opportunity to conduct an evaluation of the
896 educational program and personnel currently assigned to the
897 school during the year in preparation for assuming full
898 operational control of the school and facility by July 1. The
899 school district may not reduce or remove resources from the
900 school during this time.
901 b. The charter school operator must provide enrollment
902 preference to students currently attending or who would have
903 otherwise attended or been zoned for the school. The school
904 district shall consult and negotiate with the charter school
905 every 3 years to determine whether realignment of the attendance
906 zone is appropriate to ensure that students residing closest to
907 the school are provided with an enrollment preference.
908 c. The charter school operator must serve the existing
909 grade levels served by the school at its current enrollment or
910 higher, but may, at its discretion, serve additional grade
911 levels.
912 d. The school district may not charge rental or leasing
913 fees for the existing facility or for the property normally
914 inventoried to the school. The school and the school district
915 shall agree to reasonable maintenance provisions in order to
916 maintain the facility in a manner similar to all other school
917 facilities in the school district.
918 e. The school district may not withhold an administrative
919 fee for the provision of services identified in s.
920 1002.33(20)(a); or
921 3. Contract with an outside entity that has a demonstrated
922 record of effectiveness to provide turnaround services
923 identified in state board rule, which may include school
924 leadership, educational modalities, teacher and leadership
925 professional development, curriculum, operation and management
926 services, school-based administrative staffing, budgeting,
927 scheduling, other educational service provider functions, or any
928 combination thereof. Selection of an outside entity may include
929 one or a combination of the following:
930 a. An external operator, which may be a district-managed
931 charter school or a high-performing charter school network in
932 which all instructional personnel are not employees of the
933 school district, but are employees of an independent governing
934 board composed of members who did not participate in the review
935 or approval of the charter.
936 b. A contractual agreement that allows for a charter school
937 network or any of its affiliated subsidiaries to provide
938 individualized consultancy services tailored to address the
939 identified needs of one or more schools under this section.
940
941 A school district and outside entity under this subparagraph
942 must enter, at minimum, a 2-year, performance-based contract.
943 The contract must include school performance and growth metrics
944 the outside entity must meet on an annual basis. The state board
945 may require the school district to modify or cancel the
946 contract.
947 (c) Implementation of the turnaround option is no longer
948 required if the school improves to a grade of “C” or higher,
949 unless the school district has already executed a charter school
950 turnaround contract pursuant to this section.
951 (d) If a school earning two consecutive grades of “D” or a
952 grade of “F” does not improve to a grade of “C” or higher after
953 2 school years of implementing the turnaround option selected by
954 the school district under paragraph (b), the school district
955 must implement another turnaround option. Implementation of the
956 turnaround option must begin the school year following the
957 implementation period of the existing turnaround option, unless
958 the state board determines that the school is likely to improve
959 to a grade of “C” or higher if additional time is provided to
960 implement the existing turnaround option.
961 (5) The state board shall adopt rules pursuant to ss.
962 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer this section. The rules
963 shall include timelines for submission of implementation plans,
964 approval criteria for implementation plans, and timelines for
965 implementing intervention and support strategies, a standard
966 charter school turnaround contract, a standard facility lease,
967 and a mutual management agreement. The state board shall consult
968 with education stakeholders in developing the rules.
969 Section 18. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
970 1008.34, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
971 1008.34 School grading system; school report cards;
972 district grade.—
973 (3) DESIGNATION OF SCHOOL GRADES.—
974 (c)1. The calculation of a school grade shall be based on
975 the percentage of points earned from the components listed in
976 subparagraph (b)1. and, if applicable, subparagraph (b)2. The
977 State Board of Education shall adopt in rule a school grading
978 scale that sets the percentage of points needed to earn each of
979 the school grades listed in subsection (2). There shall be at
980 least five percentage points separating the percentage
981 thresholds needed to earn each of the school grades. The state
982 board shall annually review the percentage of school grades of
983 “A” and “B” for the school year to determine whether to adjust
984 the school grading scale upward for the following school year’s
985 school grades. The first adjustment would occur no earlier than
986 the 2023-2024 school year. An adjustment must be made if the
987 percentage of schools earning a grade of “A” or “B” in the
988 current year represents 75 percent or more of all graded schools
989 within a particular school type, which consists of elementary,
990 middle, high, and combination. The adjustment must reset the
991 minimum required percentage of points for each grade of “A,”
992 “B,” “C,” or “D” at the next highest percentage ending in the
993 numeral 5 or 0, whichever is closest to the current percentage.
994 Annual reviews of the percentage of schools earning a grade of
995 “A” or “B” and adjustments to the required points must be
996 suspended when the following grading scale for a specific school
997 type is achieved:
998 a. Ninety percent or more of the points for a grade of “A.”
999 b. Eighty to eighty-nine percent of the points for a grade
1000 of “B.”
1001 c. Seventy to seventy-nine percent of the points for a
1002 grade of “C.”
1003 d. Sixty to sixty-nine percent of the points for a grade of
1004 “D.”
1005
1006 When the state board adjusts the grading scale upward, the state
1007 board must inform the public of the degree of the adjustment and
1008 its anticipated impact on school grades. Beginning in the 2024
1009 2025 school year, any changes made by the state board to
1010 components in the school grades model or to the school grading
1011 scale shall go into effect, at the earliest, in the following
1012 school year.
1013 2. The calculation of school grades may not include any
1014 provision that would raise or lower the school’s grade beyond
1015 the percentage of points earned. Extra weight may not be added
1016 in the calculation of any components.
1017 Section 19. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
1018 1009.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1019 1009.21 Determination of resident status for tuition
1020 purposes.—Students shall be classified as residents or
1021 nonresidents for the purpose of assessing tuition in
1022 postsecondary educational programs offered by charter technical
1023 career centers or career centers operated by school districts,
1024 in Florida College System institutions, and in state
1025 universities.
1026 (3)
1027 (c) Each institution of higher education shall
1028 affirmatively determine that an applicant who has been granted
1029 admission to that institution as a Florida resident meets the
1030 residency requirements of this section at the time of initial
1031 enrollment. The residency determination must be documented by
1032 the submission of written or electronic verification that
1033 includes two or more of the documents identified in this
1034 paragraph, unless the document provided is the document
1035 described in sub-subparagraph 1.f., which is deemed a single,
1036 conclusive piece of evidence proving residency. No single piece
1037 of evidence shall be conclusive.
1038 1. The documents must include at least one of the
1039 following:
1040 a. A Florida voter’s registration card.
1041 b. A Florida driver license.
1042 c. A State of Florida identification card.
1043 d. A Florida vehicle registration.
1044 e. Proof of a permanent home in Florida which is occupied
1045 as a primary residence by the individual or by the individual’s
1046 parent if the individual is a dependent child.
1047 f. Proof of a homestead exemption in Florida.
1048 g. Transcripts from a Florida high school for multiple
1049 years if the Florida high school diploma or high school
1050 equivalency diploma was earned within the last 12 months.
1051 h. Proof of permanent full-time employment in Florida for
1052 at least 30 hours per week for a 12-month period.
1053 2. The documents may include one or more of the following:
1054 a. A declaration of domicile in Florida.
1055 b. A Florida professional or occupational license.
1056 c. Florida incorporation.
1057 d. A document evidencing family ties in Florida.
1058 e. Proof of membership in a Florida-based charitable or
1059 professional organization.
1060 f. Any other documentation that supports the student’s
1061 request for resident status, including, but not limited to,
1062 utility bills and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments; a
1063 lease agreement and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments;
1064 or an official state, federal, or court document evidencing
1065 legal ties to Florida.
1066 Section 20. Subsection (22) is added to section 1009.23,
1067 Florida Statutes, to read:
1068 1009.23 Florida College System institution student fees.—
1069 (22) Beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, Miami Dade
1070 College, Polk State College, and Tallahassee Community College
1071 are authorized to charge an amount not to exceed $290 per credit
1072 hour for nonresident tuition and fees for distance learning.
1073 Such institutions may phase in this nonresident tuition rate by
1074 degree program.
1075 Section 21. Paragraphs (a) through (f) of subsection (10)
1076 of section 1009.98, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1077 1009.98 Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Program.—
1078 (10) PAYMENTS ON BEHALF OF QUALIFIED BENEFICIARIES.—
1079 (a) As used in this subsection, the term:
1080 1. “Actuarial reserve” means the amount by which the
1081 expected value of the assets exceeds the expected value of the
1082 liabilities of the trust fund.
1083 2. “Dormitory fees” means the fees included under advance
1084 payment contracts pursuant to paragraph (2)(d).
1085 3. “Fiscal year” means the fiscal year of the state
1086 pursuant to s. 215.01.
1087 4. “Local fees” means the fees covered by an advance
1088 payment contract provided pursuant to subparagraph (2)(b)2.
1089 5. “Tuition differential” means the fee covered by advance
1090 payment contracts sold pursuant to subparagraph (2)(b)3. The
1091 base rate for the tuition differential fee for the 2012-2013
1092 fiscal year is established at $37.03 per credit hour. The base
1093 rate for the tuition differential in subsequent years is the
1094 amount assessed for the tuition differential for the preceding
1095 year adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (b)2.
1096 (b) Effective with the 2022-2023 2009-2010 academic year
1097 and thereafter, and notwithstanding s. 1009.24, the amount paid
1098 by the board to any state university on behalf of a qualified
1099 beneficiary of an advance payment contract whose contract was
1100 purchased before July 1, 2034 2024, shall be:
1101 1. As to registration fees, if the actuarial reserve is
1102 less than 5 percent of the expected liabilities of the trust
1103 fund, the board shall pay the state universities 5.5 percent
1104 above the amount assessed for registration fees in the preceding
1105 fiscal year. If the actuarial reserve is between 5 percent and 6
1106 percent of the expected liabilities of the trust fund, the board
1107 shall pay the state universities 6 percent above the amount
1108 assessed for registration fees in the preceding fiscal year. If
1109 the actuarial reserve is between 6 percent and 7.5 percent of
1110 the expected liabilities of the trust fund, the board shall pay
1111 the state universities 6.5 percent above the amount assessed for
1112 registration fees in the preceding fiscal year. If the actuarial
1113 reserve is equal to or greater than 7.5 percent of the expected
1114 liabilities of the trust fund, the board shall pay the state
1115 universities 7 percent above the amount assessed for
1116 registration fees in the preceding fiscal year, whichever is
1117 greater.
1118 2. As to the tuition differential, if the actuarial reserve
1119 is less than 5 percent of the expected liabilities of the trust
1120 fund, the board shall pay the state universities 5.5 percent
1121 above the amount assessed base rate for the tuition differential
1122 fee in the preceding fiscal year. If the actuarial reserve is
1123 between 5 percent and 6 percent of the expected liabilities of
1124 the trust fund, the board shall pay the state universities 6
1125 percent above the amount assessed base rate for the tuition
1126 differential fee in the preceding fiscal year. If the actuarial
1127 reserve is between 6 percent and 7.5 percent of the expected
1128 liabilities of the trust fund, the board shall pay the state
1129 universities 6.5 percent above the amount assessed base rate for
1130 the tuition differential fee in the preceding fiscal year. If
1131 the actuarial reserve is equal to or greater than 7.5 percent of
1132 the expected liabilities of the trust fund, the board shall pay
1133 the state universities 7 percent above the amount assessed base
1134 rate for the tuition differential fee in the preceding fiscal
1135 year.
1136 3. As to local fees, the board shall pay the state
1137 universities 5 percent above the amount assessed for local fees
1138 in the preceding fiscal year.
1139 4. As to dormitory fees, the board shall pay the state
1140 universities 6 percent above the amount assessed for dormitory
1141 fees in the preceding fiscal year.
1142 5. Qualified beneficiaries of advance payment contracts
1143 purchased before July 1, 2007, are exempt from paying any
1144 tuition differential fee.
1145 (c) Notwithstanding the amount assessed for registration
1146 fees, the tuition differential, or local fees, the amount paid
1147 by the board to any state university on behalf of a qualified
1148 beneficiary of an advance payment contract purchased before July
1149 1, 2034 July 1, 2024, may not exceed 100 percent of the amount
1150 charged by the state university for the aggregate sum of those
1151 fees.
1152 (d) Notwithstanding the amount assessed for dormitory fees,
1153 the amount paid by the board to any state university on behalf
1154 of a qualified beneficiary of an advance payment contract
1155 purchased before July 1, 2034 July 1, 2024, may not exceed 100
1156 percent of the amount charged by the state university for
1157 dormitory fees.
1158 (e) Notwithstanding the number of credit hours used by a
1159 state university to assess the amount for registration fees,
1160 tuition, tuition differential, or local fees, the amount paid by
1161 the board to any state university on behalf of a qualified
1162 beneficiary of an advance payment contract purchased before July
1163 1, 2034 July 1, 2024, may not exceed the number of credit hours
1164 taken by that qualified beneficiary at the state university.
1165 (f) The board shall pay state universities the actual
1166 amount assessed in accordance with law for registration fees,
1167 the tuition differential, local fees, and dormitory fees for
1168 advance payment contracts purchased on or after July 1, 2034
1169 July 1, 2024.
1170 Section 22. Subsection (5) is added to section 1012.55,
1171 Florida Statutes, to read:
1172 1012.55 Positions for which certificates required.—
1173 (5) Notwithstanding ss. 1012.32, 1012.55, and 1012.56, or
1174 any other provision of law or rule to the contrary, the State
1175 Board of Education shall adopt rules to allow for the issuance
1176 of a classical education teaching certificate, upon the request
1177 of a classical school, to any applicant who fulfills the
1178 requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f) and (11) and any other
1179 criteria established by the department. Such certificate is only
1180 valid at a classical school. For the purposes of this
1181 subsection, the term “classical school” means a school that
1182 implements and provides professional learning in a classical
1183 education school model that emphasizes the development of
1184 students in the principles of moral character and civic virtue
1185 through a well-rounded education in the liberal arts and
1186 sciences that is based on the classical trivium stages of
1187 grammar, logic, and rhetoric.
1188 Section 23. Subsection (5), paragraph (a) of subsection
1189 (6), and subsection (9) of section 1012.79, Florida Statutes,
1190 are amended to read:
1191 1012.79 Education Practices Commission; organization.—
1192 (5) The Commissioner of Education may, at his or her
1193 discretion, appoint and remove commission, by a vote of three
1194 fourths of the membership, shall employ an executive director,
1195 who shall be exempt from career service. The executive director
1196 may be dismissed by a majority vote of the membership.
1197 (6)(a) The commission shall be assigned to the Department
1198 of Education for administrative and fiscal accountability
1199 purposes. The commission, in the performance of its powers and
1200 duties, may shall not be subject to control, supervision, or
1201 direction by the Department of Education.
1202 (9) The commission shall make such expenditures as may be
1203 necessary in exercising its authority and powers and carrying
1204 out its duties and responsibilities, including expenditures for
1205 personal services, legal services general counsel or access to
1206 counsel, and rent at the seat of government and elsewhere; for
1207 books of reference, periodicals, furniture, equipment, and
1208 supplies; and for printing and binding. The expenditures of the
1209 commission shall be subject to the powers and duties of the
1210 Department of Financial Services as provided in s. 17.03.
1211 Section 24. Section 1012.86, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
1212 Section 25. Subsection (19) of section 1001.64, Florida
1213 Statutes, is amended to read:
1214 1001.64 Florida College System institution boards of
1215 trustees; powers and duties.—
1216 (19) Each board of trustees shall appoint, suspend, or
1217 remove the president of the Florida College System institution.
1218 The board of trustees may appoint a search committee. The board
1219 of trustees shall conduct annual evaluations of the president in
1220 accordance with rules of the State Board of Education and submit
1221 such evaluations to the State Board of Education for review. The
1222 evaluation must address the achievement of the performance goals
1223 established by the accountability process implemented pursuant
1224 to s. 1008.45 and the performance of the president in achieving
1225 the annual and long-term goals and objectives established in the
1226 Florida College System institution’s employment accountability
1227 program implemented pursuant to s. 1012.86.
1228 Section 26. Subsection (22) of section 1001.65, Florida
1229 Statutes, is amended to read:
1230 1001.65 Florida College System institution presidents;
1231 powers and duties.—The president is the chief executive officer
1232 of the Florida College System institution, shall be corporate
1233 secretary of the Florida College System institution board of
1234 trustees, and is responsible for the operation and
1235 administration of the Florida College System institution. Each
1236 Florida College System institution president shall:
1237 (22) Submit an annual employment accountability plan to the
1238 Department of Education pursuant to the provisions of s.
1239 1012.86.
1240 Section 27. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.
