Florida 2024 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H1019 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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10	10	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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14	14	A bill to be entitled 1
15	15	An act relating to nonpublic religious postsecondary 2
16	16	educational institutions; amending s. 1005.06, F.S.; 3
17	17	removing religious colleges from the list of 4
18	18	institutions specified as not being under the 5
19	19	jurisdiction or purview of the Commission for 6
20	20	Independent Education; creating s. 1005.12, F.S.; 7
21	21	providing requirements that must be met by nonpublic 8
22	22	religious postsecondary educational institutions that 9
23	23	operate without being licensed by the commission; 10
24	24	requiring such institutions to provide a sworn 11
25	25	affidavit with specified information to the 12
26	26	commission; requiring the commission to provide such 13
27	27	institutions annually with a written notice of 14
28	28	exemption from licensu re and of compliance; providing 15
29	29	methods for verifying such compliance; authorizing a 16
30	30	religious nongovernmental education association to 17
31	31	cooperate with the commission to determine whether a 18
32	32	nonpublic religious postsecondary educational 19
33	33	institution is in com pliance; providing requirements 20
34	34	for such associations; requiring the commission to 21
35	35	send a specified notice to nonpublic religious 22
36	36	postsecondary educational institutions under certain 23
37	37	circumstances; providing that noncompliant 24
38	38	institutions must apply for a license or cease 25
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47	47	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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49	49
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51	51	operations within a specified timeframe; requiring 26
52	52	that the employee or agent of the noncompliant 27
53	53	institution who produced the sworn affidavit be 28
54	54	subject to criminal penalties under certain 29
55	55	circumstances; authorizing the commission to take 30
56	56	action for noncompliance if certain conditions are 31
57	57	met; amending ss. 553.865, 1005.03, 1005.04, 1005.21, 32
58	58	and 1005.31, F.S.; conforming cross -references; 33
59	59	providing an effective date. 34
60	60	35
61	61	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 36
62	62	37
63	63	Section 1. Paragraphs (f) of subsection (1) of section 38
64	64	1005.06, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 39
65	65	1005.06 Institutions not under the jurisdiction or purview 40
66	66	of the commission.— 41
67	67	(1) Except as otherwise provided in law, the following 42
68	68	institutions are not under the jurisdiction or purview of the 43
69	69	commission and are not required to obtain licensure: 44
70	70	(f) A religious college may operate without governmental 45
71	71	oversight if the college annually verifies by sworn affidavit to 46
72	72	the commission that: 47
73	73	1. The name of the institution includes a religious 48
74	74	modifier or the name of a religious patriarch, saint, person, or 49
75	75	symbol of the church. 50
76	76
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84	84	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	88	2. The institution offers only educational programs that 51
89	89	prepare students for religious vocations as ministers, 52
90	90	professionals, or laypersons in the categories of ministry, 53
91	91	counseling, theology, education, administration, music, fine 54
92	92	arts, media communications, or social work. 55
93	93	3. The titles of degrees issued by the institution cannot 56
94	94	be confused with secular degree titles. For thi s purpose, each 57
95	95	degree title must include a religious modifier that immediately 58
96	96	precedes, or is included within, any of the following degrees: 59
97	97	Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Bachelor of Arts, 60
98	98	Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, Master of Science , Doctor 61
99	99	of Philosophy, and Doctor of Education. The religious modifier 62
100	100	must be placed on the title line of the degree, on the 63
101	101	transcript, and whenever the title of the degree appears in 64
102	102	official school documents or publications. 65
103	103	4. The duration of all d egree programs offered by the 66
104	104	institution is consistent with the standards of the commission. 67
105	105	5. The institution's consumer practices are consistent 68
106	106	with those required by s. 1005.04. 69
107	107	70
108	108	The commission may provide such a religious institution a letter 71
109	109	stating that the institution has met the requirements of state 72
110	110	law and is not subject to governmental oversight. 73
111	111	Section 2. Section 1005.12, Florida Statutes, is created 74
112	112	to read: 75
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121	121	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	125	1005.12 Nonpublic religious postsecondary educational 76
126	126	institutions.— 77
127	127	(1) Nonpublic religious postsecondary educational 78
128	128	institutions, such as religious colleges, operating under this 79
129	129	section without licensure are required to meet two or more of 80
130	130	the following criteria: 81
131	131	(a) Be incorporated in this state. 82
132	132	(b) Be a limited liability company in this state. 83
133	133	(c) Be under a domestic or foreign corporation registered 84
134	134	in this state. 85
135	135	(d) Be a ministry under an entity with an Internal Revenue 86
136	136	Service taxpayer identification number. 87
137	137	(e) Be tax exempt under s. 501(c)(3) of the I nternal 88
138	138	Revenue Code. 89
139	139	(f) Be registered under a fictitious name in this state 90
140	140	under one of the entities specified in paragraphs (a) -(e). 91
141	141	(2) A nonpublic religious postsecondary educational 92
142	142	institution may operate exempt from licensure in this state if 93
143	143	the institution annually provides to the commission by sworn 94
144	144	affidavit, either electronically or in print, all of the 95
145	145	following information or affirmations: 96
146	146	(a) The name of the institution, which must include a 97
147	147	religious modifier or the name of a religio us patriarch, saint, 98
148	148	person, or symbol of the church. 99
149	149	(b) That the institution offers only educational programs 100
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158	158	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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160	160
161	161
162	162	that prepare students for religious vocations as ministers, 101
163	163	professionals, or laypersons in the categories of ministry, 102
164	164	counseling, theology, education, administration, business, 103
165	165	accounting, finance, music, fine arts, media, social work, or 104
166	166	communications. 105
167	167	(c) The titles of any of the following degrees conferred 106
168	168	by the institution, which must include a religious modifier on 107
169	169	the title line of the degree, on the transcript, and whenever 108
170	170	the title of the degree appears in the institution's official 109
171	171	documents or publications: 110
172	172	1. Associate of Arts. 111
173	173	2. Associate of Science. 112
174	174	3. Bachelor of Arts. 113
175	175	4. Bachelor of Science. 114
176	176	5. Master of Arts. 115
177	177	6. Master of Science. 116
178	178	7. Doctor of Philosophy. 117
179	179	8. Doctor of Education. 118
180	180	(d) That the duration of all degree programs offered by 119
181	181	the institution is consistent with the standards of the 120
182	182	commission. 121
183	183	(e) That the institution's consumer practices are 122
184	184	consistent with those required by s. 1005.04. 123
185	185	(3) The commission shall annually provide the nonpublic 124
186	186	religious postsecondary educational institution with a written 125
187	187
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195	195	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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197	197
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199	199	notice stating that the institution is exempt from licensure and 126
200	200	has complied with the requir ements of this section. The written 127
201	201	notice from the previous year remains effective until the 128
202	202	commission's workload permits its appropriate adjudication of a 129
203	203	subsequent year's affidavit submitted by the institution. 130
204	204	(4) Verification of the nonpublic reli gious postsecondary 131
205	205	educational institution's compliance with this section may be 132
206	206	accomplished by one of the following methods: 133
207	207	(a) A finding of compliance by the commission after the 134
208	208	institution submits the required documentation in print or 135
209	209	electronically. 136
210	210	(b) A finding of compliance by a religious nongovernmental 137
211	211	education association based in this state which the commission 138
212	212	may cooperate with pursuant to s. 1005.22(1)(g) to administer 139
213	213	its duties under this section. In order to issue a finding of 140
214	214	compliance, a religious nongovernmental education association 141
215	215	approved by the commission must: 142
216	216	1. Operate in this state and require its members to reside 143
217	217	in this state. 144
218	218	2. Ensure that its members are trained by the association 145
219	219	to verify compliance under t his section. 146
220	220	3. Have a review team composed of at least three members, 147
221	221	of which no more than two members may derive income from the 148
222	222	same institution as one another. 149
223	223	4. Prohibit a member of the review team from deriving 150
224	224
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232	232	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	236	income from the institution being reviewed. 151
237	237	5. Annually submit to the commission, on behalf of the 152
238	238	institution being reviewed, an affidavit designating the 153
239	239	association as the institution's agent to represent it before 154
240	240	the commission and a written notice from the association's 155
241	241	review team affirming the institution's compliance with this 156
242	242	section. 157
243	243	(5) If a nonpublic religious postsecondary educational 158
244	244	institution has received from the commission a written notice of 159
245	245	compliance with this section and exemption from licensure, and 160
246	246	the institution subsequently fails to comply, the commission 161
247	247	must send the institution a notice of noncompliance, and the 162
248	248	institution must do one of the following: 163
249	249	(a) Apply for a license pursuant to s. 1005.31(1)(a) 164
250	250	within 45 days after issuance of the notice. 165
251	251	(b) Cease operating in this state within 45 days after 166
252	252	issuance of the notice. 167
253	253	(6) If the institution does not take the specified actions 168
254	254	pursuant to subsection (5), the employee or agent of the 169
255	255	institution who produced the sworn affidavit is s ubject to the 170
256	256	penalties provided in s. 837.012 for making a false statement on 171
257	257	a sworn affidavit. 172
258	258	(7) The commission may take action pursuant to subsection 173
259	259	(5) upon a finding of noncompliance by the institution, or upon 174
260	260	receiving written notices from two or more different 175
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269	269	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	273	institutions under this section that the institution in question 176
274	274	has failed to meet the requirements of this section. 177
275	275	Section 3. Paragraph (i) of subsection (3) of section 178
276	276	553.865, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 179
277	277	553.865 Private spaces.— 180
278	278	(3) As used in this section, the term: 181
279	279	(i) "Postsecondary educational institution or facility" 182
280	280	means: 183
281	281	1. A state university as defined in s. 1000.21(8); 184
282	282	2. A Florida College System institution as defined in s. 185
283	283	1000.21(5); 186
284	284	3. A school district career center as described in s. 187
285	285	1001.44(3); 188
286	286	4. A college or university licensed by the Commission for 189
287	287	Independent Education pursuant to s. 1005.31(1)(a); or 190
288	288	5. An institution not under the jurisdiction or purview of 191
289	289	the commission as identif ied in s. 1005.06(1) or s. 1005.12 s. 192
290	290	1005.06(1)(b)-(f). 193
291	291	Section 4. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section 194
292	292	1005.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 195
293	293	1005.03 Designation "college" or "university." — 196
294	294	(1) The use of the designation "college" o r "university" 197
295	295	in combination with any series of letters, numbers, or words is 198
296	296	restricted in this state to colleges or universities as defined 199
297	297	in s. 1005.02 that offer degrees as defined in s. 1005.02 and 200
298	298
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306	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	310	fall into at least one of the following categories: 201
311	311	(e) A college that meets the description of either s. 202
312	312	1005.06(1)(e) or s. 1005.12 (f). 203
313	313	Section 5. Subsection (1) of section 1005.04, Florida 204
314	314	Statutes, is amended to read: 205
315	315	1005.04 Fair consumer practices. — 206
316	316	(1) Every institution that is under the jurisdiction of 207
317	317	the commission or is exempt from the jurisdiction or purview of 208
318	318	the commission pursuant to s. 1005.06(1)(c) or s. 1005.12 (f) 209
319	319	and that either directly or indirectly solicits for enrollment 210
320	320	any student shall: 211
321	321	(a) Disclose to each prospecti ve student a statement of 212
322	322	the purpose of such institution, its educational programs and 213
323	323	curricula, a description of its physical facilities, its status 214
324	324	regarding licensure, its fee schedule and policies regarding 215
325	325	retaining student fees if a student withdra ws, and a statement 216
326	326	regarding the transferability of credits to and from other 217
327	327	institutions. The institution shall make the required 218
328	328	disclosures in writing at least 1 week prior to enrollment or 219
329	329	collection of any tuition from the prospective student. The 220
330	330	required disclosures may be made in the institution's current 221
331	331	catalog; 222
332	332	(b) Use a reliable method to assess, before accepting a 223
333	333	student into a program, the student's ability to complete 224
334	334	successfully the course of study for which he or she has 225
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343	343	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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347	347	applied; 226
348	348	(c) Inform each student accurately about financial 227
349	349	assistance and obligations for repayment of loans; describe any 228
350	350	employment placement services provided and the limitations 229
351	351	thereof; and refrain from promising or implying guaranteed 230
352	352	placement, market availab ility, or salary amounts; 231
353	353	(d) Provide to prospective and enrolled students accurate 232
354	354	information regarding the relationship of its programs to state 233
355	355	licensure requirements for practicing related occupations and 234
356	356	professions in Florida; 235
357	357	(e) Ensure that all advertisements are accurate and not 236
358	358	misleading; 237
359	359	(f) Publish and follow an equitable prorated refund policy 238
360	360	for all students, and follow both the federal refund guidelines 239
361	361	for students receiving federal financial assistance and the 240
362	362	minimum refund guidel ines set by commission rule; 241
363	363	(g) Follow the requirements of state and federal laws that 242
364	364	require annual reporting with respect to crime statistics and 243
365	365	physical plant safety and make those reports available to the 244
366	366	public; 245
367	367	(h) Publish and follow procedures for handling student 246
368	368	complaints, disciplinary actions, and appeals; and 247
369	369	(i) Prior to enrollment, provide a written disclosure to a 248
370	370	student or prospective student of all fees and costs that will 249
371	371	be incurred by a student, the institution's refund policy, any 250
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380	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	384	exit examination requirements, and the grade point average 251
385	385	required for completion of the student's program or degree. The 252
386	386	disclosure shall include a statement regarding the scope of 253
387	387	accreditation, if applicable. Insti tutions licensed by the 254
388	388	Commission for Independent Education shall disclose the 255
389	389	information required pursuant to this paragraph in a format 256
390	390	prescribed by the commission. 257
391	391	Section 6. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section 258
392	392	1005.21, Florida Statutes, i s amended to read: 259
393	393	1005.21 Commission for Independent Education. — 260
394	394	(2) The Commission for Independent Education shall consist 261
395	395	of seven members who are residents of this state. The commission 262
396	396	shall function in matters concerning independent postsecondary 263
397	397	educational institutions in consumer protection, program 264
398	398	improvement, and licensure for institutions under its purview. 265
399	399	The Governor shall appoint the members of the commission who are 266
400	400	subject to confirmation by the Senate. The membership of the 267
401	401	commission shall consist of: 268
402	402	(d) One representative of a college that meets the 269
403	403	criteria of s. 1005.12 s. 1005.06(1)(f). 270
404	404	Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and subsection 271
405	405	(11) of section 1005.31, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 272
406	406	1005.31 Licensure of institutions. — 273
407	407	(1)(a) Each college or school operating within this state 274
408	408	must obtain licensure from the commission unless the institution 275
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417	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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421	421	is not under the commission's purview or jurisdiction as 276
422	422	provided in s. 1005.06 , or the institution meets the 277
423	423	requirements of s. 1005.12 . 278
424	424	(11) The commission shall establish minimum standards for 279
425	425	the approval of agents. The commission may adopt rules to ensure 280
426	426	that licensed agents meet these standards and uphold the intent 281
427	427	of this chapter. An agent may not soli cit prospective students 282
428	428	in this state for enrollment in any independent postsecondary 283
429	429	educational institution under the commission's purview or in any 284
430	430	out-of-state independent postsecondary educational institution 285
431	431	unless the agent has received a license a s prescribed by the 286
432	432	commission or solicits for a postsecondary educational 287
433	433	institution that is not under the jurisdiction of the commission 288
434	434	pursuant to s. 1005.06(1)(g) s. 1005.06(1)(h). 289
435	435	Section 8. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 290