Bill Text: FL S1276 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Postsecondary Educational Institution Affordability
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2017-05-05 - Died in Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education [S1276 Detail]
Download: Florida-2017-S1276-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2017 SB 1276 By Senator Stargel 22-00752A-17 20171276__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to postsecondary educational 3 institution affordability; amending s. 1009.22, F.S.; 4 prohibiting the Board of Trustees of Santa Fe College 5 from increasing its transportation access fee; 6 amending s. 1009.23, F.S.; providing that Florida 7 College System institution boards of trustees may not 8 increase certain student fees after a specified date; 9 requiring the Chancellor of the Florida College System 10 to submit a report detailing the revenue generated by 11 the distance learning course user fee to the Governor 12 and the Legislature by a specified date; amending s. 13 1009.24, F.S.; providing that state universities may 14 not increase certain student fees after a specified 15 date; deleting obsolete language; removing a provision 16 authorizing the Board of Governors to establish new 17 student fees; requiring a university board of trustees 18 to report the amount of revenue generated by the 19 distance learning course fee to the Chancellor of the 20 State University System by a specified date; requiring 21 the chancellor to report to the Governor and the 22 Legislature by a specified date; amending s. 1009.26, 23 F.S.; requiring a state university to waive certain 24 fees for specified graduate students; providing an 25 effective date. 26 27 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 28 29 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (12) of section 30 1009.22, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 31 1009.22 Workforce education postsecondary student fees.— 32 (12)(a) The Board of Trustees of Santa Fe College may 33 establish a transportation access fee. Revenue from the fee may 34 be used only to provide or improve access to transportation 35 services for students enrolled at Santa Fe College. The fee may 36 not exceed $6 per credit hour. Effective July 1, 2017, the Board 37 of Trustees of Santa Fe College may notAnincreaseinthe 38 transportation access feemay occur only once each fiscal year39and must be implemented beginning with the fall term. A 40 referendum must be held by the student government to approve the 41 application of the fee. 42 Section 2. Upon the expiration and reversion of the 43 amendment to section 1009.23, Florida Statutes, pursuant to 44 section 36 of chapter 2016-62, Laws of Florida, subsection (4), 45 paragraph (b) of subsection (6), subsection (7), paragraph (a) 46 of subsection (8), subsection (10), paragraph (a) of subsection 47 (11), paragraph (a) of subsection (12), subsection (15), 48 paragraph (b) of subsection (16), subsection (17), and paragraph 49 (a) of subsection (18) of section 1009.23, Florida Statutes, are 50 amended to read: 51 1009.23 Florida College System institution student fees.— 52 (4) Each Florida College System institution board of 53 trustees shall establish tuition and out-of-state fees; however, 54 such tuition and fees,whichmay not exceed the amounts 55 established and effective as of June 30, 2017vary no more than5610 percent below and 15 percent above the combined total of the57standard tuition and fees established in subsection (3). 58 (6) 59 (b) A Florida College System institution board of trustees 60 may establish a differential out-of-state fee for a student who 61 has been determined to be a nonresident for tuition purposes 62 pursuant to s. 1009.21 and is enrolled in a distance learning 63 course offered by the institution. Effective July 1, 2017, a 64 Florida College System institution board of trustees may not 65 increase the differential out-of-state fee. A differential out 66 of-state fee established pursuant to this paragraph applies 67shall be applicableonly to distance learning courses and must 68 be established such that the sum of tuition and the differential 69 out-of-state fee is sufficient to defray the full cost of 70 instruction. 71 (7) Each Florida College System institution board of 72 trustees may establish a separate activity and service fee not 73 to exceed 10 percent of the tuition fee, according to rules of 74 the State Board of Education. Effective July 1, 2017, a Florida 75 College System institution board of trustees may not increase 76 the activity and service fee. The student activity and service 77 fee shall be collected as a component part of the tuition and 78 fees. The student activity and service fees shall be paid into a 79 student activity and service fund at the Florida College System 80 institution and shall be expended for lawful purposes to benefit 81 the student body in general. These purposes include, but are not 82 limited to, student publications and grants to duly recognized 83 student organizations, the membership of which is open to all 84 students at the Florida College System institution without 85 regard to race, sex, or religion. ANoFlorida College System 86 institution may notshallbe required to lower any activity and 87 service fee approved by the board of trustees of the Florida 88 College System institution and in effect prior to October 26, 89 2007, in order to comply withthe provisions ofthis subsection. 90 (8)(a) Each Florida College System institution board of 91 trustees is authorized to establish a separate fee for financial 92 aid purposes in an additional amount up to, but not to exceed, 5 93 percent of the total student tuition or out-of-state fees 94 collected. Each Florida College System institution board of 95 trustees may collect up to an additional 2 percent if the amount 96 generated by the total financial aid fee is less than $500,000. 97 If the amount generated is less than $500,000, a Florida College 98 System institution that charges tuition and out-of-state fees at 99 least equal to the average fees established by rule may transfer 100 from the general current fund to the scholarship fund an amount 101 equal to the difference between $500,000 and the amount 102 generated by the total financial aid fee assessment. No other 103 transfer from the general current fund to the loan, endowment, 104 or scholarship fund, by whatever name known, is authorized. 105 Effective July 1, 2017, a Florida College System institution 106 board of trustees may not increase the financial aid fee. 107 (10) Each Florida College System institution board of 108 trustees is authorized to establish a separate fee for 109 technology,which may not exceed 5 percent of tuition per credit 110 hour or credit-hour equivalent for resident students and may not 111 exceed 5 percent of tuition and the out-of-state fee per credit 112 hour or credit-hour equivalent for nonresident students. 113 Effective July 1, 2017, a Florida College System institution 114 board of trustees may not increase the technology fee. Revenues 115 generated from the technology fee shall be used to enhance 116 instructional technology resources for students and faculty. The 117 technology fee may apply to both college credit and 118 developmental education and shall not be included in any award 119 under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. Fifty 120 percent of technology fee revenues may be pledged by a Florida 121 College System institution board of trustees as a dedicated 122 revenue source for the repayment of debt, including lease 123 purchase agreements, not to exceed the useful life of the asset 124 being financed. Revenues generated from the technology fee may 125 not be bonded. 126 (11)(a) Each Florida College System institution board of 127 trustees may establish a separate fee for capital improvements, 128 technology enhancements, equipping student buildings, or the 129 acquisition of improved real property which may not exceed 20 130 percent of tuition for resident students or 20 percent of the 131 sum of tuition and out-of-state fees for nonresident students. 132 Effective July 1, 2017, a Florida College System institution 133 board of trustees may not increase the capital improvementThe134 feefor resident students shall be limited to an increase of $2135per credit hour over the prior year. Funds collected by Florida 136 College System institutions through the fee may be bonded only 137 as provided in this subsection for the purpose of financing or 138 refinancing new construction and equipment, renovation, 139 remodeling of educational facilities, or the acquisition and 140 renovation or remodeling of improved real property for use as 141 educational facilities. The fee shall be collected as a 142 component part of the tuition and fees, paid into a separate 143 account, and expended only to acquire improved real property or 144 construct and equip, maintain, improve, or enhance the 145 educational facilities of the Florida College System 146 institution. Projects and acquisitions of improved real property 147 funded through the use of the capital improvement fee shall meet 148 the survey and construction requirements of chapter 1013. 149 Pursuant to s. 216.0158, each Florida College System institution 150 shall identify each project, including maintenance projects, 151 proposed to be funded in whole or in part by such fee. 152 (12)(a) In addition to tuition, out-of-state, financial 153 aid, capital improvement, student activity and service, and 154 technology fees authorized in this section, each Florida College 155 System institution board of trustees is authorized to establish 156 fee schedules for the following user fees and fines: laboratory 157 fees, which do not apply to a distance learning course; parking 158 fees and fines; library fees and fines; fees and fines relating 159 to facilities and equipment use or damage; access or 160 identification card fees; duplicating, photocopying, binding, or 161 microfilming fees; standardized testing fees; diploma 162 replacement fees; transcript fees; application fees; graduation 163 fees; and late fees related to registration and payment. Such 164 user fees and fines shall not exceed the cost of the services 165 provided and shall only be charged to persons receiving the 166 service. A Florida College System institution may not charge any 167 fee except as authorized by law. Parking fee revenues may be 168 pledged by a Florida College System institution board of 169 trustees as a dedicated revenue source for the repayment of 170 debt, including lease-purchase agreements, with an overall term 171 of not more than 7 years, including renewals, extensions, and 172 refundings, and revenue bonds with a term not exceeding 20 years 173 and not exceeding the useful life of the asset being financed. 174 Florida College System institutions shall use the services of 175 the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of 176 Administration to issue any revenue bonds authorized by this 177 subsection. Any such bonds issued by the Division of Bond 178 Finance shall be in compliance with the provisions of the State 179 Bond Act. Bonds issued pursuant to the State Bond Act may be 180 validated in the manner established in chapter 75. The complaint 181 for such validation shall be filed in the circuit court of the 182 county where the seat of state government is situated, the 183 notice required to be published by s. 75.06 shall be published 184 only in the county where the complaint is filed, and the 185 complaint and order of the circuit court shall be served only on 186 the state attorney of the circuit in which the action is 187 pending. Effective July 1, 2017, a Florida College System 188 institution board of trustees may not increase any fee 189 authorized in this paragraph. 190 (15) Each Florida College System institution may assess a 191 service charge for the payment of tuition and fees in 192 installments and a convenience fee for the processing of 193 automated or online credit card payments. However, the amount of 194 the convenience fee may not exceed the total cost charged by the 195 credit card company to the Florida College System institution. 196 Such service charge or convenience fee must be approved by the 197 Florida College System institution board of trustees. Effective 198 July 1, 2017, a Florida College System institution board of 199 trustees may not increase the service charge. 200 (16) 201 (b) The amount of the distance learning course user fee may 202 not exceed the additional costs of the services provided which 203 are attributable to the development and delivery of the distance 204 learning course. If a Florida College System institution 205 assesses the distance learning course user fee, the institution 206 may not assess any other fees to cover the additional costs. 207 Effective July 1, 2017, a Florida College System institution may 208 not increase the distance learning course user fee in excess of 209 the amount established and effective as of June 30, 2017. By 210 September 1 of each year, each board of trustees shall report to 211 the Division of Florida Colleges the total amount of revenue 212 generated by the distance learning course user fee for the prior 213 fiscal year and how the revenue was expended. By November 1 of 214 each year, the Chancellor of the Florida College System shall 215 submit a report totaling the amount of revenue generated by the 216 distance learning course user fee for the prior fiscal year and 217 how the revenue was expended, systemwide and for each 218 institution, to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and 219 the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 220 (17) Each Florida College System institution that accepts 221 transient students, pursuant to s. 1006.735, may establish a 222 transient student fee not to exceed $5 per course for processing 223 the transient student admissions application. Effective July 1, 224 2017, a Florida College System institution board of trustees may 225 not increase the transient student fee. 226 (18)(a) The Board of Trustees of Santa Fe College may 227 establish a transportation access fee. Revenue from the fee may 228 be used only to provide or improve access to transportation 229 services for students enrolled at Santa Fe College. The fee may 230 not exceed $6 per credit hour. Effective July 1, 2017, the Board 231 of Trustees of Santa Fe College may notAnincreaseinthe 232 transportation access feemay occur only once each fiscal year233and must be implemented beginning with the fall term. A 234 referendum must be held by the student government to approve the 235 application of the fee. 236 Section 3. Upon the expiration and reversion of the 237 amendment to section 1009.24, Florida Statutes, pursuant to 238 section 36 of chapter 2016-62, Laws of Florida, paragraph (d) of 239 subsection (4), subsections (7) through (15), and paragraph (b) 240 of subsection (17) of section 1009.24, Florida Statutes, are 241 amended to read: 242 1009.24 State university student fees.— 243 (4) 244 (d) The sum of the activity and service, health, and 245 athletic fees a student is required to pay to register for a 246 course may not exceed 40 percent of the tuition established in 247 law or in the General Appropriations Act. ANouniversity may 248 notshallbe required to lower any fee in effect on the 249 effective date of this act in order to comply with this 250 subsection. Within the 40 percent cap, universities may not 251 increase the aggregate sum of activity and service, health, and 252 athletic fees more than 5 percent per year unless specifically 253 authorized in law or in the General Appropriations Act. 254 Effective July 1, 2017, a university may not increase its 255 athletic feeto defray the costs associated with changing256National Collegiate Athletic Association divisions.Any such257increase in the athletic fee may exceed both the 40 percent cap258and the 5 percent cap imposed by this subsection. Any such259increase must be approved by the athletic fee committee in the260process outlined in subsection (12) and may not exceed $2 per261credit hour. Notwithstanding ss. 1009.534, 1009.535, and2621009.536, that portion of any increase in an athletic fee263pursuant to this subsection which causes the sum of the activity264and service, health, and athletic fees to exceed the 40 percent265cap or the annual increase in such fees to exceed the 5 percent266cap may not be included in calculating the amount a student267receives for a Florida Academic Scholars award, a Florida268Medallion Scholars award, or a Florida Gold Seal Vocational269Scholars award.Notwithstanding this paragraph and subject to270approval by the board of trustees, each state university may271exceed the 5-percent cap on the annual increase to the aggregate272sum of activity and service, health, and athletic fees for the2732010-2011 fiscal year. Any such increase may not exceed 15274percent or the amount required to reach the 2009-2010 fiscal275year statewide average for the aggregate sum of activity and276service, health, and athletic fees at the main campuses,277whichever is greater.The aggregate sum of the activity and278service, health, and athletic fees may not exceed 40 percent of279tuition. Any increase in the activity and service fee, health280fee, or athletic fee must be approved by the appropriate fee281committee pursuant to subsection (10), subsection (11), or282subsection (12).283 (7) A university board of trustees is authorized to collect 284 for financial aid purposes an amount not to exceed 5 percent of 285 the tuition and out-of-state fee. Effective July 1, 2017, a 286 university board of trustees may not increase the financial aid 287 fee. The revenues from fees are to remain at each campus and 288 replace existing financial aid fees. Such funds shall be 289 disbursed to students as quickly as possible. A minimum of 75 290 percent of funds from the student financial aid fee shall be 291 used to provide financial aid based on absolute need. The Board 292 of Governors shall develop criteria for making financial aid 293 awards. Each university shall report annually to the Board of 294 Governors and the Department of Education on the revenue 295 collected pursuant to this subsection, the amount carried 296 forward, the criteria used to make awards, the amount and number 297 of awards for each criterion, and a delineation of the 298 distribution of such awards. The report shall include an 299 assessment by category of the financial need of every student 300 who receives an award, regardless of the purpose for which the 301 award is received. Awards thatwhichare based on financial need 302 shall be distributed in accordance with a nationally recognized 303 system of need analysis approved by the Board of Governors. An 304 award for academic merit requiresshall requirea minimum 305 overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or the 306 equivalent for both initial receipt of the award and renewal of 307 the award. 308 (8)(a)The Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee is 309 established as $4.76 per credit hour per semester. 310(b)Beginning with the 2012 fall term, each university311board of trustees may increase the Capital Improvement Trust312Fund fee. Any increase in the fee must be recommended by a313Capital Improvement Trust Fund committee, at least half of whom314are students appointed by the student body president. The315remainder of the committee shall be appointed by the university316president. A chair, appointed jointly by the university317president and the student body president, shall vote only in the318case of a tie. The recommendations of the committee shall take319effect only after approval by the university president, after320consultation with the student body president, with final321approval by the university board of trustees. An increase in the322fee may occur only once each fiscal year and must be implemented323beginning with the fall term. The Board of Governors shall adopt324regulations and timetables to implement the fee.325(c)The fee may not exceed 10 percent of the tuition for 326 resident students or 10 percent of the sum of tuition and out 327 of-state fees for nonresident students.The fee for resident328students shall be limited to an increase of $2 per credit hour329over the prior year.The Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee may 330 be used to fund any project or real property acquisition that 331 meets the requirements of chapter 1013. The Division of Bond 332 Finance of the State Board of Administration shall analyze any 333 proposed reductions to the Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee to 334 ensure consistency with prudent financial management of the bond 335 program associated with the revenues from the fee. Effective 336 July 1, 2017, a university board of trustees may not increase 337 the Capital Improvement Trust Fund feeThe Board of Governors338shall approve any proposedfeereductions provided that no such339reduction reduces the fee below the level established in340paragraph (a). 341 (9) Each university board of trustees is authorized to 342 establish separate activity and service, health, and athletic 343 fees. Effective July 1, 2017, a university board of trustees may 344 not increase these fees. When duly established, the fees shall 345 be collected as component parts of tuition and fees and shall be 346 retained by the university and paid into the separate activity 347 and service, health, and athletic funds. Notwithstanding any 348 other provision of law to the contrary, a university may 349 transfer revenues derived from the fees authorized pursuant to 350 this subsection to a university direct-support organization of 351 the university to be used only for the purpose of paying and 352 securing debt on projects approved pursuant to s. 1010.62 and 353 pursuant to a written agreement approved by the Board of 354 Governors. The amount transferred may not exceed the amount 355 authorized for annual debt service pursuant to s. 1010.62. 356 (10)(a) Each university board of trustees shall establish a 357 student activity and service fee on the main campus of the 358 university. The university board may also establish a student 359 activity and service fee on any branch campus or center. 360 Effective July 1, 2017, a university board of trustees may not 361 increase these student activity and service feesAny subsequent362increase in the activity and service fee must be recommended by363an activity and service fee committee, at least one-half of whom364are students appointed by the student body president.The365remainder of the committee shall be appointed by the university366president. A chairperson, appointed jointly by the university367president and the student body president, shall vote only in the368case of a tie. The recommendations of the committee shall take369effect only after approval by the university president, after370consultation with the student body president, with final371approval by the university board of trustees. An increase in the372activity and service fee may occur only once each fiscal year373and must be implemented beginning with the fall term.The Board 374 of Governors is responsible for adopting the regulations and 375 timetables necessary to implement these feesthis fee. 376 (b) The student activity and service fees shall be expended 377 for lawful purposes to benefit the student body in general. This 378 shall include, but shall not be limited to, student publications 379 and grants to duly recognized student organizations, the 380 membership of which is open to all students at the university 381 without regard to race, sex, or religion. The fund may not 382 benefit activities for which an admission fee is charged to 383 students, except for student-government-association-sponsored 384 concerts. The allocation and expenditure of the fund shall be 385 determined by the student government association of the 386 university, except that the president of the university may veto 387 any line item or portion thereof within the budget when 388 submitted by the student government association legislative 389 body. The university president shall have 15 school days from 390 the date of presentation of the budget to act on the allocation 391 and expenditure recommendations, which shall be deemed approved 392 if no action is taken within the 15 school days. If any line 393 item or portion thereof within the budget is vetoed, the student 394 government association legislative body shall within 15 school 395 days make new budget recommendations for expenditure of the 396 vetoed portion of the fund. If the university president vetoes 397 any line item or portion thereof within the new budget 398 revisions, the university president may reallocate by line item 399 that vetoed portion to bond obligations guaranteed by activity 400 and service fees. Unexpended funds and undisbursed funds 401 remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall be carried over and 402 remain in the student activity and service fund and be available 403 for allocation and expenditure during the next fiscal year. 404 (11) Each university board of trustees shall establish a 405 student health fee on the main campus of the university. The 406 university board of trustees may also establish a student health 407 fee on any branch campus or center. Effective July 1, 2017, a 408 university board of trustees may notAny subsequentincrease 409 thesein thehealth feesfee must be recommended by a health410committee, at least one-half of whom are students appointed by411the student body president.The remainder of the committee shall412be appointed by the university president. A chairperson,413appointed jointly by the university president and the student414body president, shall vote only in the case of a tie. The415recommendations of the committee shall take effect only after416approval by the university president, after consultation with417the student body president, with final approval by the418university board of trustees. An increase in the health fee may419occur only once each fiscal year and must be implemented420beginning with the fall term.The Board of Governors shall adopt 421isresponsible for adoptingthe regulations and timetables 422 necessary to implement these feesthis fee. 423 (12) Each university board of trustees shall establish a 424 separate athletic fee on the main campus of the university. The 425 university board may also establish a separate athletic fee on 426 any branch campus or center. Effective July 1, 2017, a 427 university board of trustees may notAny subsequentincrease 428 thesein theathletic feesfee must be recommended by an429athletic fee committee, at least one-half of whom are students430appointed by the student body president.The remainder of the431committee shall be appointed by the university president.A432chairperson, appointed jointly by the university president and433the student body president, shall vote only in the case of a434tie. The recommendations of the committee shall take effect only435after approval by the university president, after consultation436with the student body president, with final approval by the437university board of trustees. An increase in the athletic fee438may occur only once each fiscal year and must be implemented439beginning with the fall term.The Board of Governors is 440 responsible for adopting the regulations and timetables 441 necessary to implement these feesthis fee. 442 (13) Each university board of trustees may establish a 443 technology fee of up to 5 percent of the tuition per credit 444 hour. Effective July 1, 2017, a university board of trustees may 445 not increase the technology fee. The revenue from this fee must 446shallbe used to enhance instructional technology resources for 447 students and faculty. The technology fee may not be included in 448 any award under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program 449 established pursuant to ss. 1009.53-1009.538. 450 (14) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (15), each 451 university board of trustees is authorized to establish the 452 following fees: 453 (a) A nonrefundable application fee in an amount not to 454 exceed $30. 455 (b) An orientation fee in an amount not to exceed $35. 456 (c) A fee for security, access, or identification cards. 457 The annual fee for such a card may not exceed $10 per card. The 458 maximum amount charged for a replacement card may not exceed 459 $15. 460 (d) Registration fees for audit and zero-hours 461 registration; a service charge, which may not exceed $15, for 462 the payment of tuition and fees in installments; and a late 463 registration fee in an amount not less than $50 nor more than 464 $100 to be imposed on students who fail to initiate registration 465 during the regular registration period. 466 (e) A late-payment fee in an amount not less than $50 nor 467 more than $100 to be imposed on students who fail to pay or fail 468 to make appropriate arrangements to pay (by means of installment 469 payment, deferment, or third-party billing) tuition by the 470 deadline set by each university. Each university may adopt 471 specific procedures or policies for waiving the late-payment fee 472 for minor underpayments. 473 (f) Fees for transcripts and diploma replacement, not to 474 exceed $10 per item. 475 (g) A nonrefundable admissions deposit for undergraduate, 476 graduate, and professional degree programs in an amount not to 477 exceed $200. The admissions deposit shall be imposed at the time 478 of an applicant’s acceptance to the university and shall be 479 applied toward tuition upon enrollment. If the applicant does 480 not enroll in the university, the admissions deposit shall be 481 deposited in an auxiliary account of the university and used to 482 expand financial assistance, scholarships, and student academic 483 and career counseling services at the university. The Board of 484 Governors shall adopt a policy that provides for the waiver of 485 such admissions deposit on the basis of financial hardship. 486 (h) A fee for miscellaneous health-related charges for 487 services provided at cost by the university health center which 488 are not covered by the health fee set under subsection (11). 489 (i) Materials and supplies fees to offset the cost of 490 materials or supplies that are consumed in the course of the 491 student’s instructional activities, excluding the cost of 492 equipment replacement, repairs, and maintenance. 493 (j) Housing rental rates and miscellaneous housing charges 494 for services provided by the university at the request of the 495 student. 496 (k) A charge representing the reasonable cost of efforts to 497 collect payment of overdue accounts. 498 (l) A service charge on university loans in lieu of 499 interest and administrative handling charges. 500 (m) A fee for off-campus course offerings when the location 501 results in specific, identifiable increased costs to the 502 university. 503 (n) Library fees and fines, including charges for damaged 504 and lost library materials, overdue reserve library books, 505 interlibrary loans, and literature searches. 506 (o) Fees relating to duplicating, photocopying, binding, 507 and microfilming; copyright services; and standardized testing. 508 These fees may be charged only to those who receive the 509 services. 510 (p) Fees and fines relating to the use, late return, and 511 loss and damage of facilities and equipment. 512 (q) A returned-check fee as authorized by s. 832.07(1) for 513 unpaid checks returned to the university. 514 (r) Traffic and parking fines, charges for parking decals, 515 and transportation access fees. 516 (s) An Educational Research Center for Child Development 517 fee for child care and services offered by the center. 518 (t) A transient student fee that may not exceed $5 per 519 course for accepting a transient student and processing the 520 transient student admissions application pursuant to s. 521 1006.735. 522 523 Effective July 1, 2017, a university board of trustees may not 524 increase the fees established under this subsectionWith the525exception of housing rental rates and except as otherwise526provided, fees assessed pursuant to paragraphs (h)-(s) shall be527based on reasonable costs of services. The Board of Governors 528 shall adopt regulations and timetables necessary to implement 529 the fees and fines authorized under this subsection. The fees 530 assessed under this subsection may be used for debt only as 531 authorized under s. 1010.62. 532 (15)(a) The Board of Governors may approve:5331. A proposal from a university board of trustees to534establish a new student fee that is not specifically authorized535by this section.5362. A proposal from a university board of trustees to537increase the current cap for an existing fee authorized pursuant538to paragraphs (14)(a)-(g).5393.a proposal from a university board of trustees to 540 implement flexible tuition policies, such as undergraduate or 541 graduate block tuition, block tuition differential, or market 542 tuition rates for graduate-level online courses or graduate 543 level courses offered through a university’s continuing 544 education program. A block tuition policy for resident 545 undergraduate students or undergraduate-level courses shall be 546 based on the per-credit-hour undergraduate tuition established 547 under subsection (4). A block tuition policy for nonresident 548 undergraduate students shall be based on the per-credit-hour 549 undergraduate tuition and out-of-state fee established under 550 subsection (4). Flexible tuition policies, including block 551 tuition, may not increase the state’s fiscal liability or 552 obligation. 553 (b) A proposal developed pursuant to paragraph (a) shall be 554 submitted in accordance with guidelines established by the Board 555 of Governors. Approval by the Board of Governors of such 556 proposal must be made in accordance with the provisions of this 557 subsection. 558(c) In reviewing a proposal to establish a new fee under559subparagraph (a)1., the Board of Governors shall consider:5601. The purpose to be served or accomplished by the new fee.5612. Whether there is a demonstrable student-based need for562the new fee that is not currently being met through existing563university services, operations, or another fee.5643. Whether the financial impact on students is warranted in565light of other charges assessed to students for tuition and566associated fees.5674. Whether any restrictions, limitations, or conditions568should be placed on the use of the fee.5695. Whether there are outcome measures to indicate if the570purpose for which the fee was established is accomplished.571(d) In reviewing a proposal to increase or exceed the572current cap for an existing fee under subparagraph (a)2., the573Board of Governors shall consider:5741. The services or operations currently being funded by the575fee.5762. Whether those services or operations can be performed577more efficiently to alleviate the need for any increase.5783. The additional or enhanced services or operations to be579funded by the increase.5804. Whether any alternative resources are available to meet581the need.5825. Whether the financial impact on students is warranted in583light of other charges assessed to students for tuition and584associated fees.585 (c)(e)In reviewing a proposal to implement a flexible 586 tuition policy under paragraph (a)subparagraph (a)3., the Board 587 of Governors shall consider: 588 1. Whether the proposed tuition flexibility policy is 589 aligned with the mission of the university. 590 2. Whether the proposed tuition flexibility policy 591 increases the state’s fiscal liabilities or obligations and, if 592 so, the proposal shall be denied. 593 3. Whether any restrictions, limitations, or conditions 594 should be placed on the policy. 595 4. How the proposed tuition flexibility policy will be 596 implemented to honor the advance payment contracts of students 597 who are beneficiaries of prepaid tuition contracts under s. 598 1009.98. 599 (d)(f)The Board of Governors shall submit an annual report 600 to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of 601 Representatives, and the Governor summarizing the proposals 602 received by the board during the preceding year and actions 603 taken by the board in response to such proposals.The Board of604Governors shall also include in the annual report the following605information for each fee established pursuant to subparagraph606(a)1.:6071. The amount of the fee.6082. The total revenues generated by the fee.6093. Detailed expenditures of the revenues generated by the610fee.611(g) The aggregate sum of any fees established pursuant to612subparagraph (a)1. that a student is required to pay to register613for a course shall not exceed 10 percent of tuition.614(h) Any fee established pursuant to subparagraph (a)1.615shall not be included in any award under the Florida Bright616Futures Scholarship Program established pursuant to ss. 1009.536171009.538.618(i) The revenues generated by a fee established pursuant to619subparagraph (a)1. may not be transferred to an auxiliary620enterprise or a direct-support organization and may not be used621for the purpose of paying or securing debt.622(j) If the Board of Governors approves a university623proposal to establish a fee pursuant to subparagraph (a)1., a624fee committee shall be established at the university to make625recommendations to the university president and the university626board of trustees regarding how the revenue from the fee is to627be spent and any subsequent changes to the fee. At least one628half of the committee must be students appointed by the student629body president. The remainder of the committee shall be630appointed by the university president. A chair, appointed631jointly by the university president and the student body632president, shall vote only in the case of a tie.633(k) An increase to an existing fee or a fee established634pursuant to subparagraph (a)1. may occur no more than once each635fiscal year and must be implemented beginning with the fall636term.637 (17) 638 (b) The amount of the distance learning course fee may not 639 exceed the additional costs of the services provided which are 640 attributable to the development and delivery of the distance 641 learning course. If the distance learning course fee is assessed 642 by a state university, the institution may not assess 643 duplicative fees to cover the additional costs. Effective July 644 1, 2017, a state university may not increase the distance 645 learning course fee in excess of the amount established and 646 effective as of June 30, 2017. By September 1 of each year, each 647 board of trustees shall report to the Chancellor of the State 648 University System the total amount of revenue generated by the 649 distance learning course fee for the prior fiscal year and how 650 the revenue was expended. By November 1 of each year, the 651 Chancellor of the State University System shall report the total 652 amount of revenue generated by the distance learning course fee 653 for the prior fiscal year and how the revenue was expended, 654 systemwide and for each institution, to the Governor, the 655 President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of 656 Representatives. 657 Section 4. Subsection (15) is added to section 1009.26, 658 Florida Statutes, to read: 659 1009.26 Fee waivers.— 660 (15) Each state university shall waive 25 percent of the 661 cost of fees described in ss. 1009.24(7)-(14) and (17) for a 662 graduate student who has a 0.25, or greater, full-time 663 equivalent appointment as a graduate assistant, graduate 664 research assistant, graduate teaching assistant, graduate 665 research associate, or graduate teaching associate. 666 Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.