FL
Florida House Bill H1247

Florida 2023 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H1247 Compare Versions

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1010 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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1414 A bill to be entitled 1
15-An act relating to William L. Boyd, IV, Effective 2
15+An act relating to the William L. Boyd, IV, Effective 2
1616 Access to Student Education grants; amending s. 3
17-1005.06, F.S.; repealing an exemption to licensure by 4
18-the Commission for Independent Education for 5
19-institutions eligible to participate in the William L. 6
20-Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student Education Grant 7
21-Program; amending s. 1009.89, F.S.; revising 8
22-legislative findings; providing that tuition 9
23-assistance through the program shall be based on 10
24-specified performance metrics and tiers beginning in a 11
25-specified fiscal year; revising eligibility criteria 12
26-for institutions to participate in the program; 13
27-revising the requirements for a specified report 14
28-institutions must annually submit; providing 15
29-requirements for a certain written disclosure; 16
30-providing for annual minim um performance benchmarks 17
31-and standards beginning with a specified General 18
32-Appropriations Act; providing requirements for such 19
33-benchmarks and standards; requiring the legislature to 20
34-annually adopt benchmarks and standards for specified 21
35-purposes and evaluat e institutions based on such 22
36-benchmarks for tier placement beginning with a 23
37-specified General Appropriations Act; providing 24
38-funding requirements for such institutions based on 25
17+1009.89, F.S.; revising legislative findings; 4
18+providing that tuition assistance through the program 5
19+shall be based on specified performance metrics and 6
20+tiers; revising eligibility criteria for institutions 7
21+and persons to participate in the program; revising 8
22+the requirements for a specified report institutions 9
23+must annually submit; providing for annual minimum 10
24+performance benchmarks and standards; providing 11
25+requirements for such benchmarks and standards; 12
26+requiring the legislature to annually adopt benchmarks 13
27+and standards for specified purposes and evaluate 14
28+institutions based on such benchmarks for tier 15
29+placement; providing funding requirements for such 16
30+institutions based on such tiers; providing an 17
31+effective date. 18
32+ 19
33+Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 20
34+ 21
35+ Section 1. Section 1009.89, Flor ida Statutes, is amended 22
36+to read: 23
37+ 1009.89 The William L. Boyd, IV, Effective Access to 24
38+Student Education grants. — 25
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4747 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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51-such tiers beginning with a specified General 26
52-Appropriations Act; authorizing th e Department of 27
53-Education to award grants to students enrolled at 28
54-certain colleges and universities; providing 29
55-requirements for such colleges and universities; 30
56-amending ss. 464.019, 1005.03, 1005.04, 1005.21, and 31
57-1005.31, F.S.; conforming cross -references to changes 32
58-made by the act; providing effective dates. 33
59- 34
60-Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 35
61- 36
62- Section 1. Effective January 1, 2024, paragraph (c) of 37
63-subsection (1) of section 1005.06, Florida Statutes, is amended 38
64-to read: 39
65- 1005.06 Institutions not under the jurisdiction or purview 40
66-of the commission.— 41
67- (1) Except as otherwise provided in law, the following 42
68-institutions are not under the jurisdiction or purview of the 43
69-commission and are not required to obtain licensure: 44
70- (c) Any institution that is under the jurisdiction of the 45
71-Department of Education, eligible to participate in the William 46
72-L. Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student Education Grant Program 47
73-and that is a nonprofit independent college or university 48
74-located and chartered in this state and accredited by the 49
75-Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges 50
51+ (1) The Legislature finds and declares that independent 26
52+nonprofit colleges and universities eligible to participate in 27
53+the William L. Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student Education 28
54+Grant Program are an integral part of the higher education 29
55+system in this state and that a significant number of state 30
56+residents choose this form of higher education. The Legislature 31
57+further finds that a strong a nd viable system of high-performing 32
58+independent nonprofit colleges and universities reduces the tax 33
59+burden on the citizens of the state. Because the William L. 34
60+Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student Education Grant Program is 35
61+not related to a student's fina ncial need or other criteria upon 36
62+which financial aid programs are based, but is instead based on 37
63+specified performance metrics for each eligible institution, it 38
64+is the intent of the Legislature that the William L. Boyd, IV, 39
65+Effective Access to Student Edu cation Grant Program not be 40
66+considered a financial aid program but rather a tuition 41
67+assistance program for its citizens. Such tuition assistance 42
68+shall be tiered based on each eligible institution's performance 43
69+metrics. 44
70+ (2) The William L. Boyd, IV, Effect ive Access to Student 45
71+Education Grant Program shall be administered by the Department 46
72+of Education. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for 47
73+the administration of the program. 48
74+ (3) An institution is eligible to participate in the 49
75+department shall issue through the program a William L. Boyd, 50
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8484 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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88-and Schools to grant baccalaureate degrees. 51
89- Section 2. Section 1009.89, Florida Statutes, is amended 52
90-to read: 53
91- 1009.89 The William L. Boyd, IV, Eff ective Access to 54
92-Student Education grants. — 55
93- (1) The Legislature finds and declares that independent 56
94-nonprofit colleges and universities eligible to participate in 57
95-the William L. Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student Education 58
96-Grant Program are an integra l part of the higher education 59
97-system in this state and that a significant number of state 60
98-residents choose this form of higher education. The Legislature 61
99-further finds that a strong and viable system of high-performing 62
100-independent nonprofit colleges and universities reduces the tax 63
101-burden on the citizens of the state. Because the William L. 64
102-Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student Education Grant Program is 65
103-not related to a student's financial need or other criteria upon 66
104-which financial aid programs are based , it is the intent of the 67
105-Legislature that the William L. Boyd, IV, Effective Access to 68
106-Student Education Grant Program not be considered a financial 69
107-aid program but rather a tuition assistance program for its 70
108-citizens. Beginning in fiscal year 2024 -2025 and thereafter, 71
109-such tuition assistance shall be tiered based on each eligible 72
110-institution's performance metrics. 73
111- (2) The William L. Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student 74
112-Education Grant Program shall be administered by the Department 75
88+IV, Effective Access to Student Education grant program if the 51
89+institution is to any full-time degree-seeking undergraduate 52
90+student registered at an independent nonprofit college or 53
91+university which is located in and chartered by the state; which 54
92+is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern 55
93+Association of Colleges and Schools; which grants baccalaureate 56
94+degrees; which is not a state university or Florida College 57
95+System institution; is in compliance with the reporting, 58
96+disclosure, and transparency requirements of this section and 59
97+other general law; and which has a secular purpose, so long as 60
98+the receipt of state aid by students at the institution would 61
99+not have the primary effect of advancing or im peding religion or 62
100+result in an excessive entanglement between the state and any 63
101+religious sect. 64
102+ (4) A person is eligible to receive such William L. Boyd, 65
103+IV, Effective Access to Student Education grant if: 66
104+ (a) He or she meets the general requirements, including 67
105+residency, for student eligibility as provided in s. 1009.40, 68
106+except as otherwise provided in this section. 69
107+ (b)1. He or she is enrolled as a full -time undergraduate 70
108+student at an eligible college or university that is ranked Tier 71
109+1 or Tier 2 under paragraph (6)(a) in a program of study leading 72
110+to a baccalaureate degree. 73
111+ 2. He or she is not enrolled in a program of study leading 74
112+to a degree in theology or divinity. 75
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121121 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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125-of Education. The St ate Board of Education shall adopt rules for 76
126-the administration of the program. 77
127- (3) An institution is eligible to participate in the 78
128-department shall issue through the program a William L. Boyd, 79
129-IV, Effective Access to Student Education grant program if the 80
130-institution meets all of the following criteria: 81
131- (a)1. Is licensed by the Commission for Independent 82
132-Education; or 83
133- 2. Has applied to the Commission for Independent Education 84
134-for licensure by September 1, 2023. This subparagraph is 85
135-repealed January 1, 2024. 86
136- (b) Has a secular purpose, so long as the receipt of state 87
137-aid by students at the college or university may not have the 88
138-primary effect of advancing or impeding religion, or result in 89
139-an excessive entanglement between the state and any religious 90
140-sect. 91
141- (c) Is in compliance with the reporting, disclosure, and 92
142-transparency requirements of this section and other general law. 93
143- (d) Meets one of the following requirements: 94
144- 1. Is to any full-time degree-seeking undergraduate 95
145-student registered at an independent nonprofit college or 96
146-university which is located in and chartered by the state; which 97
147-is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern 98
148-Association of Colleges and Schools; which grants baccalaureate 99
149-degrees; and which is not a state university or Florida College 100
125+ 3. He or she is making satisfactory academic progress as 76
126+defined by the State Board of Education. 77
127+ 4. He or she has not completed more than 110 percent of 78
128+the degree program in which he or she is enrolled. 79
129+ (5)(a) Funding for the William L. Boyd, IV, Effective 80
130+Access to Student Education Grant Program for eligible 81
131+institutions shall be as provided in the General Appropriations 82
132+Act. The William L. Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student 83
133+Education grant may be paid on a prorated basis in advance of 84
134+the registration period. The department shall make such payments 85
135+to the college or univ ersity in which the student is enrolled 86
136+for credit to the student's account for payment of tuition and 87
137+fees. Institutions shall certify to the department the amount of 88
138+funds disbursed to each student and shall remit to the 89
139+department any undisbursed advanc es or refunds within 60 days of 90
140+the end of regular registration. A student is not eligible to 91
141+receive the award for more than 9 semesters or 14 quarters, 92
142+except as otherwise provided in s. 1009.40(3). 93
143+ (b) If the combined amount of the William L. Boyd, IV , 94
144+Effective Access to Student Education grant issued pursuant to 95
145+this act and all other scholarships and grants for tuition or 96
146+fees exceeds the amount charged to the student for tuition and 97
147+fees, the department shall reduce the William L. Boyd, IV, 98
148+Effective Access to Student Education grant issued pursuant to 99
149+this act by an amount equal to such excess. 100
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158158 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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162-System institution; 101
163- 2. Is an independent nonprofit college or university that 102
164-was eligible for the Access to Better Learning and Education 103
165-Grant Program as of January 1, 2021, and meets all of the 104
166-following criteria: 105
167- a. Has been located in the state for more than 20 years. 106
168- b. Offers at least one nursing program at its campus, 107
169-including practical nursing programs, registered nursing 108
170-programs, or advanced practice registered nursing programs. 109
171- c. Is accredited by the H igher Learning Commission. 110
172- d. Has notified the department in writing of its decision 111
173-to apply for the grant no later than September 1, 2023; or 112
174- 3. Is an independent for -profit college or university that 113
175-meets all of the following criteria: 114
176- a. Has a level 6 accreditation from the Southern 115
177-Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. 116
178- b. Is located in and charted by the state. 117
179- c. Was licensed by the department on or before October 1, 118
180-2021. 119
181- d. Has notified the department in writing of its decision 120
182-to apply for the grant no later than September 1, 2023 and which 121
183-has a secular purpose, so long as the receipt of state aid by 122
184-students at the institution would not have the primary effect of 123
185-advancing or impeding religion or result in an exc essive 124
186-entanglement between the state and any religious sect . 125
162+ (c) By September 1 of each year, institutions receiving 101
163+funding as provided in the General Appropriations Act must 102
164+submit an Effective Access to Student Education Grant Program 103
165+Accountability Report to the Department of Education, in a 104
166+format prescribed by the department. The institution's president 105
167+or chief administrative officer shall certify in the report, 106
168+that the institution is in compliance with the reporting, 107
169+disclosure, and transparency requirements of this section and 108
170+other general law and that the institution has provided each 109
171+resident student with data on its performance on the metrics 110
172+listed in this paragraph, the student's net cost to complete his 111
173+or her degree, and, for students that have declared a major, the 112
174+declared major's expected earnings outcomes 1, 5, and 10 years 113
175+after graduation. The report must also use the most recently 114
176+available information on Florida resident students and include, 115
177+at a minimum, the following performance metrics, by institution: 116
178+ 1. Access rate based upon percentage of Pell Grant -117
179+eligible students. 118
180+ 2. Affordability rate based upon average student loan 119
181+debt; federal, state, and institutional financial assistance; 120
182+and average tuition and fees. 121
183+ 3. Graduation rate. 122
184+ 4. Retention rate. 123
185+ 5. Postgraduate employment or continuing education rate. 124
186+ 6. Workforce graduation rate based upon the percentage of 125
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195195 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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199- (4) A person is eligible to receive such William L. Boyd, 126
200-IV, Effective Access to Student Education grant if: 127
201- (a) He or she meets the general requirements, including 128
202-residency, for student e ligibility as provided in s. 1009.40, 129
203-except as otherwise provided in this section. 130
204- (b)1. He or she is enrolled as a full -time undergraduate 131
205-student at an eligible college or university in a program of 132
206-study leading to a baccalaureate degree. 133
207- 2. He or she is not enrolled in a program of study leading 134
208-to a degree in theology or divinity. 135
209- 3. He or she is making satisfactory academic progress as 136
210-defined by the State Board of Education. 137
211- 4. He or she has not completed more than 110 percent of 138
212-the degree program in which he or she is enrolled. 139
213- (5)(a) Funding for the William L. Boyd, IV, Effective 140
214-Access to Student Education Grant Program for eligible 141
215-institutions shall be as provided in the General Appropriations 142
216-Act. The William L. Boyd, IV, Effective A ccess to Student 143
217-Education grant may be paid on a prorated basis in advance of 144
218-the registration period. The department shall make such payments 145
219-to the college or university in which the student is enrolled 146
220-for credit to the student's account for payment of tuition and 147
221-fees. Institutions shall certify to the department the amount of 148
222-funds disbursed to each student and shall remit to the 149
223-department any undisbursed advances or refunds within 60 days of 150
199+grant recipient grad uates in high-demand programs that are 126
200+included on the Department of Economic Opportunity or Labor 127
201+Market Estimating Conference lists for statewide or regional 128
202+demand as a percentage of total grant recipient graduates. 129
203+ 7. Workforce employment rate based on the percentage of 130
204+grant recipient graduates who obtain employment in their field 131
205+of study within 120 days after graduation as a percentage of 132
206+total graduates employed within 120 days after graduation. 133
207+ 134
208+The department shall recommend minimum performance standards 135
209+that institutions must meet to remain eligible to receive grants 136
210+pursuant to this section. Each eligible institution shall post 137
211+prominently on its website, by October 1 of each year, its 138
212+performance on these metrics, as reported to the department . 139
213+ (d) By October 1 of each year, the department shall submit 140
214+a report to the chair of the House Appropriations Committee, the 141
215+chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and the Governor's 142
216+Office of Policy and Budget on the performance of each eligible 143
217+institution. The report must also recommend annual minimum 144
218+performance benchmarks for the performance metrics in paragraph 145
219+(c) and strategies to ensure continuous improvement of eligible 146
220+institutions and the program. The minimum performance benchmarks 147
221+included in the report must increase annually. 148
222+ (e) For fiscal year 2023 -2024, the benchmarks and minimum 149
223+standards for each benchmark are as follows: 150
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232232 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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236-the end of regular registration. A student is not eligible to 151
237-receive the award for more than 9 semesters or 14 quarters, 152
238-except as otherwise provided in s. 1009.40(3). 153
239- (b) If the combined amount of the William L. Boyd, IV, 154
240-Effective Access to Student Education grant issued pursuant to 155
241-this act and all other sc holarships and grants for tuition or 156
242-fees exceeds the amount charged to the student for tuition and 157
243-fees, the department shall reduce the William L. Boyd, IV, 158
244-Effective Access to Student Education grant issued pursuant to 159
245-this act by an amount equal to suc h excess. 160
246- (c) By September 1 of each year, institutions receiving 161
247-funding as provided in the General Appropriations Act must 162
248-submit an Effective Access to Student Education Grant Program 163
249-Accountability Report to the Department of Education, in a 164
250-format prescribed by the department. The institution's president 165
251-or chief administrative officer shall certify in the report, 166
252-that the institution is in compliance with the reporting, 167
253-disclosure, and transparency requirements of this section and 168
254-other general law and that the institution has provided each 169
255-resident student with a written disclosure that includes data on 170
256-the institution's performance on the metrics listed in this 171
257-paragraph, the student's net cost to complete his or her degree, 172
258-and, for students that have declared a major, the declared 173
259-major's expected earnings outcomes 1, 5, and 10 years after 174
260-graduation. The written disclosure must be provided to each 175
236+ 1. An access rate of 32 percent. 151
237+ 2. An affordability rate of $7,263. 152
238+ 3. A graduation rate of 45 perc ent. 153
239+ 4. A retention rate of 65 percent. 154
240+ 5. A postgraduate employment or continuing education rate 155
241+of 64 percent. 156
242+ (f) Beginning with the 2024 -2025 General Appropriations 157
243+Act and thereafter, the Legislature must also consider each 158
244+institution's workfor ce employment rate when determining 159
245+institutional eligibility institutions and the institutions that 160
246+have not met the minimum performance standards recommended by 161
247+the department. 162
248+ (6)(a) Each year, the Legislature shall adopt benchmarks 163
249+and minimum standards specified in the General Appropriations 164
250+Act and shall evaluate each institution's performance based on 165
251+such benchmarks and place each institution in one of three tiers 166
252+for the purpose of determining award amounts. The tiers are 167
253+established as follows: 168
254+ 1. Tier 1: an institution that meets the requirements of a 169
255+Tier 2 institution and also meets or exceeds a workforce 170
256+graduation rate of 56 percent. 171
257+ 2. Tier 2: an institution that meets or exceeds at least 3 172
258+out of 5 benchmarks. 173
259+ 3. Tier 3: an instituti on that meets no more than 2 out of 174
260+5 benchmarks. 175
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269269 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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273-resident student annually. The report must also use the most 176
274-recently available information on Flori da resident students and 177
275-include, at a minimum, the following performance metrics, by 178
276-institution: 179
277- 1. Access rate based upon percentage of Pell Grant -180
278-eligible students. 181
279- 2. Affordability rate based upon average student loan 182
280-debt; federal, state, and ins titutional financial assistance; 183
281-and average tuition and fees. 184
282- 3. Graduation rate. 185
283- 4. Retention rate. 186
284- 5. Postgraduate employment or continuing education rate. 187
285- 6. Workforce graduation rate based upon the percentage of 188
286-grant recipient graduates in hi gh-demand programs that are 189
287-included on the Department of Economic Opportunity or Labor 190
288-Market Estimating Conference lists for statewide or regional 191
289-demand as a percentage of total grant recipient graduates. 192
290- 7. Workforce employment rate based on the perc entage of 193
291-grant recipient graduates who obtain employment in their field 194
292-of study within 120 days after graduation as a percentage of 195
293-total graduates employed within 120 days after graduation. 196
294- 197
295-The department shall recommend minimum performance standards 198
296-that institutions must meet to remain eligible to receive grants 199
297-pursuant to this section. Each eligible institution shall post 200
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306-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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310-prominently on its website, by October 1 of each year, its 201
311-performance on these metrics, as reported to the department. 202
312- (d) By October 1 of each year, the department shall submit 203
313-a report to the chair of the House Appropriations Committee, the 204
314-chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and the Governor's 205
315-Office of Policy and Budget on the performance of each eligible 206
316-institution. The report must also recommend annual minimum 207
317-performance benchmarks for the performance metrics in paragraph 208
318-(c) and strategies to ensure continuous improvement of eligible 209
319-institutions and the program. The minimum performance benchmarks 210
320-included in the report must increase annually. 211
321- (e) Beginning in fiscal year 2024 -2025 and thereafter, the 212
322-benchmarks and minimum standards for each benchmark are as 213
323-follows: 214
324- 1. An access rate of 32 percent. 215
325- 2. An affordability rate of $7,263. 216
326- 3. A graduation rate of 45 percent. 217
327- 4. A retention rate of 65 percent. 218
328- 5. A postgraduate employment or continuing education rate 219
329-of 64 percent. 220
330- (f) Beginning with the 2024 -2025 General Appropriations 221
331-Act and thereafter, the Legislature must also consider each 222
332-institution's workforce employment rate when determining 223
333-institutional eligibility institutions and the institutions that 224
334-have not met the minimum performance standards recommended by 225
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347-the department. 226
348- (6) Beginning with the 2024 -2025 General Appropriation s 227
349-Act and thereafter, the Legislature shall adopt benchmarks and 228
350-minimum standards specified in the General Appropriations Act 229
351-and shall evaluate each institution's performance based on such 230
352-benchmarks and place each institution in one of three tiers for 231
353-the purpose of determining award amounts. 232
354- (a) The tiers are established as follows: 233
355- 1. Tier 1: an institution that meets the requirements of a 234
356-Tier 2 institution and also meets or exceeds a workforce 235
357-graduation rate of 56 percent. 236
358- 2. Tier 2: an insti tution that meets or exceeds at least 3 237
359-out of 5 benchmarks. 238
360- 3. Tier 3: an institution that meets no more than 2 out of 239
361-5 benchmarks. 240
362- (b) The per student award amounts for each tier shall be 241
363-as follows: 242
364- 1. Tier 1: $500 more than the Tier 2 per studen t award 243
365-amount. 244
366- 2. Tier 2: As specified in the General Appropriations Act. 245
367- 3. Tier 3: $0. 246
368- (7)(6) If the number of eligible students exceeds the 247
369-total authorized in the General Appropriations Act, an 248
370-institution may use its own resources to assure tha t each 249
371-eligible student receives the full benefit of the grant amount 250
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380-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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384-authorized. 251
385- (8)(7) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to 252
386-implement this section. 253
387- Section 3. Effective January 1, 2024, paragraph (d) of 254
388-subsection (11) of section 464.0 19, Florida Statutes, is amended 255
389-to read: 256
390- 464.019 Approval of nursing education programs. — 257
391- (11) ACCREDITATION REQUIRED. — 258
392- (d) This subsection does not apply to a nursing education 259
393-program provided by an institution that is exempt from licensure 260
394-by the Commission for Independent Education under s. 261
395-1005.06(1)(d) s. 1005.06(1)(e). 262
396- Section 4. Effective January 1, 2024, paragraph (e) of 263
397-subsection (1) of section 1005.03, Florida Statutes, is amended 264
398-to read: 265
399- 1005.03 Designation "college" or "universit y."— 266
400- (1) The use of the designation "college" or "university" 267
401-in combination with any series of letters, numbers, or words is 268
402-restricted in this state to colleges or universities as defined 269
403-in s. 1005.02 that offer degrees as defined in s. 1005.02 and 270
404-fall into at least one of the following categories: 271
405- (e) A college that meets the description of either s. 272
406-1005.06(1)(d) or (e) s. 1005.06(1)(e) or (f) . 273
407- Section 5. Effective January 1, 2024, subsection (1) of 274
408-section 1005.04, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 275
409-
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417-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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419-
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421- 1005.04 Fair consumer practices. — 276
422- (1) Every institution that is under the jurisdiction of 277
423-the commission or is exempt from the jurisdiction or purview of 278
424-the commission pursuant to s. 1005.06(1)(e) s. 1005.06(1)(c) or 279
425-(f) and that either directly or indirectly solicits for 280
426-enrollment any student shall: 281
427- (a) Disclose to each prospective student a statement of 282
428-the purpose of such institution, its educational programs and 283
429-curricula, a description of its physical facilities, its status 284
430-regarding licensure, its fee schedule and policies regarding 285
431-retaining student fees if a student withdraws, and a statement 286
432-regarding the transferability of credits to and from other 287
433-institutions. The institution shall make the required 288
434-disclosures in writing at least 1 week prior to enrollment or 289
435-collection of any tuition from the prospective student. The 290
436-required disclosures may be made in the institution's current 291
437-catalog; 292
438- (b) Use a reliable method to assess, before accepting a 293
439-student into a program, the student's ability to complete 294
440-successfully the course of study for which he or she has 295
441-applied; 296
442- (c) Inform each student accurately about financial 297
443-assistance and obligations for repayment of loans; describe any 298
444-employment placement services provided and the limitations 299
445-thereof; and refrain from promising or implying guaranteed 300
446-
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458-placement, market availability, or salary amounts; 301
459- (d) Provide to prospective and enrolled students accurate 302
460-information regarding the relationship of its programs to state 303
461-licensure requirements for practicing related occupations and 304
462-professions in Florida; 305
463- (e) Ensure that all advertisements are accurate and not 306
464-misleading; 307
465- (f) Publish and follow an equitable prorated refund policy 308
466-for all students, and follow both the federa l refund guidelines 309
467-for students receiving federal financial assistance and the 310
468-minimum refund guidelines set by commission rule; 311
469- (g) Follow the requirements of state and federal laws that 312
470-require annual reporting with respect to crime statistics and 313
471-physical plant safety and make those reports available to the 314
472-public; and 315
473- (h) Publish and follow procedures for handling student 316
474-complaints, disciplinary actions, and appeals. 317
475- Section 6. Effective January 1, 2024, paragraph (d) of 318
476-subsection (2) of sect ion 1005.21, Florida Statutes, is amended 319
477-to read: 320
478- 1005.21 Commission for Independent Education. — 321
479- (2) The Commission for Independent Education shall consist 322
480-of seven members who are residents of this state. The commission 323
481-shall function in matters conc erning independent postsecondary 324
482-educational institutions in consumer protection, program 325
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491-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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494-
495-improvement, and licensure for institutions under its purview. 326
496-The Governor shall appoint the members of the commission who are 327
497-subject to confirmation by the Senate. The membership of the 328
498-commission shall consist of: 329
499- (d) One representative of a college that meets the 330
500-criteria of s. 1005.06(1)(e) s. 1005.06(1)(f). 331
501- Section 7. Effective January 1, 2024, subsection (11) of 332
502-section 1005.31, Florida Statutes, is amend ed to read: 333
503- 1005.31 Licensure of institutions. — 334
504- (11) The commission shall establish minimum standards for 335
505-the approval of agents. The commission may adopt rules to ensure 336
506-that licensed agents meet these standards and uphold the intent 337
507-of this chapter. An agent may not solicit prospective students 338
508-in this state for enrollment in any independent postsecondary 339
509-educational institution under the commission's purview or in any 340
510-out-of-state independent postsecondary educational institution 341
511-unless the agent has received a license as prescribed by the 342
512-commission or solicits for a postsecondary educational 343
513-institution that is not under the jurisdiction of the commission 344
514-pursuant to s. 1005.06(1)(g) s. 1005.06(1)(h). 345
515- Section 8. Except as otherwise expressly pro vided in this 346
516-act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2023. 347
273+ (b) The per student award amounts for each tier shall be 176
274+as follows: 177
275+ 1. Tier 1: $500 more than the Tier 2 per student award 178
276+amount. 179
277+ 2. Tier 2: As specified in the General Appropriations Act. 180
278+ 3. Tier 3: $0. 181
279+ (7)(6) If the number of eligible students exceeds the 182
280+total authorized in the General Appropriations Act, an 183
281+institution may use its own resources to assure that each 184
282+eligible student receives the full benefit of the grant amount 185
283+authorized. 186
284+ (8)(7) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to 187
285+implement this section. 188
286+ Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023. 189