STORAGE NAME: h1321b.EEC
DATE: 4/8/2025
1
FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
BILL ANALYSIS
This bill analysis was prepared by nonpartisan committee staff and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
BILL #: CS/HB 1321
TITLE: Higher Education
SPONSOR(S): Salzman
COMPANION BILL: SB 1726 (Calatayud)
LINKED BILLS: None
RELATED BILLS: None
Committee References
Education & Employment
14 Y, 0 N, As CS
SUMMARY
Effect of the Bill:
The bill establishes term limits for members of the Board of Governors (BOG), the State Board of Education (SBE),
and state university and state college boards of trustees. Board of trustees members may continue to serve after the
expiration of their term until a successor is appointed. The bill also limits the length of time a SBE or state college
board of trustees member may serve as board chair. The bill establishes residency requirements for the BOG and
state university boards of trustees. The bill requires that appointed BOG members file a full and public disclosure of
financial interests. The bill repeals the public records exemption for state university and state college presidential
applicants and makes additional changes to the presidential search and selection process. The bill also authorizes a
presidential contract to be renewed for a term exceeding 1 year, but not exceeding the term of the original contract.
The bill requires state universities to post admission criteria for academic programs on their websites which the
BOG must periodically review. The bill prohibits state colleges and universities from imposing certain courses as a
graduation requirement. The bill requires enhanced textbook, instructional material, and course syllabus
transparency from state colleges and universities. The bill amends a requirement for the BOG’s prioritized list for
capital outlay projects and authorizes a UBOT to determine whether its auxiliary services, including athletics, will
be self-supporting on an individual or collective basis. Finally, the bill removes requirements relating to the
Institute for Freedom in the Americas at Miami Dade College.
Fiscal or Economic Impact:
None
JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
ANALYSIS
EFFECT OF THE BILL:
The bill establishes term limits for appointed board members as follows:
Board of Governors (BOG): may serve a single 7-year term total.
State Board of Education (SBE): may serve up to two 4-year terms total.
State University System Boards of Trustees (UBOT): may serve up to two consecutive 5-year terms.
Florida College System Boards of Trustees (FCS BOT): may serve up to two consecutive 4-year terms.
A SBE or FCS BOT member may only serve as board chair for one 2-year term. An appointed UBOT or FCS BOT
member may continue to serve until a successor is appointed. (Sections 3, 4, 6, and 8).
Effective January 6, 2027, an appointed member of the BOG or a UBOT must be a United States citizen and either a
Florida resident or, for the BOG, a graduate of a state university or, for a UBOT, a graduate of the state university
which the UBOT serves. On or after January 6, 2027, a position on the BOG or a UBOT which is held by a person JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
2
who does not meet the residency requirements will be deemed vacant. The bill removes a requirement that the
Governor and BOG consider diversity when appointing members to a UBOT. (Sections 1 and 8).
Beginning January 1, 2026, an appointed member of the BOG must comply with s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution
as well as Florida law
1 by annually filing a full and public disclosure of his or her financial interests. (Section 2).
The bill repeals the public records and public meeting exemption for state university and state college presidential
applicants. The bill also requires each UBOT and FCS BOT to adopt a presidential succession plan specifying lines of
authority should the president not fulfill his or her full term, with each successor identified in the plan being a
current employee of the institution. An interim president may only be appointed or selected in conformance with
the succession plan or after a search is conducted pursuant to state law.
2
The bill requires that upon the vacancy or anticipated vacancy of a state university or state college presidency, no
public officer, including the Governor, or employee of an executive branch agency may discuss the vacancy, process
for filling the vacancy, or promote or advocate for an individual for president with a member or employee of the
BOG, SBE, UBOT, or FCS BOT. (Section 10).
The bill removes the requirement that the BOG confirm a UBOT’s presidential selection or reappointment. Instead,
the bill empowers the UBOT to select and appoint a president of its choosing. Likewise, the bill makes
corresponding changes to the presidential search and selection process for state colleges.
The bill requires a UBOT or FCS BOT chair to appoint a presidential search committee when seeking a permanent
president. Composition of the search committee is prescribed and no one on the committee can hold a position that
reports directly to the president. Neither the Chancellor of the State University System (SUS) nor a BOG member
may serve on the presidential search committee for a SUS institution and neither the Commissioner of Education
nor a SBE member may serve for a FCS institution. The permanent president appointed by a UBOT or FCS BOT
must have been recommended by the search committee. The bill also authorizes a UBOT or FCS BOT to renew a
presidential contract for a term exceeding 1 year, but not exceeding the term of the original contract. (Sections 5
and 7).
The bill requires that when the BOG conducts its required periodic review of a state university’s mission and the
alignment of existing academic programs with the mission,
3 the admission criteria for the programs must also be
included in the review. The BOG must issue a directive to the university regarding any admission criteria that
violates the Florida Educational Equity Act.
4 To assist the BOG in its review of admission criteria, each university
must post program admission criteria on its website. (Section 7).
The bill prohibits state colleges and universities from imposing an institution-wide graduation requirement that
includes a course in conflict with state statute
5 prohibiting general education core courses from distorting
significant historical events or including a curriculum that teaches identity politics, violates the Florida Educational
Equity Act, or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the
institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities. (Section
12).
The bill strengthens previous efforts to provide state college and state university students with transparent
information regarding course content and affordability. To that end, in addition to the identifying information
already described in statute,
6 FCS and SUS institutions are required to prominently post information on textbooks
and instructional materials, including those that are open access or otherwise free of cost, for at least 95 percent of
all courses and course sections each term, which is defined to include fall, spring, and summer terms. Institutions
1
Section 112.3144, F.S.
2
Sections 1001.64(19) and 1001.706(6)(a), F.S.
3
Section 1001.706(5)(a), F.S.
4
Section 1000.05, F.S.
5
Section 1007.25(3)(c), F.S.
6
Section 1004.085(5)(a), F.S. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
3
may also provide another unique identifier as an alternative to an International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
when appropriate.
The lists of required and recommended textbooks and instructional materials must be based on lists submitted by
instructors and, in addition to existing requirements:
7
be searchable by general education status and course section;
include the duration of any license allowing access to the textbook or instructional material; and
display corresponding retail costs, when applicable, to help students determine the value of any bulk
pricing program.
To maximize informed student choice, the current syllabi posting requirement
8 is expanded to include all courses
subject to the textbook and instructional materials posting requirement. The syllabi must be current and posted by
hyperlink prominently in the course registration system. Syllabi must include:
the course curriculum, including the required, recommended, and supplemental textbooks and
instructional materials regardless of cost or whether the materials are open access or open educational
resource;
specific goals, objectives, and student expectations of the course; and
how student performance will be evaluated, including the grading scale and methodology.
The changes made by the bill relating to textbook, instructional material, and course syllabus transparency take
effect on January 1, 2026. (Section 9).
Under current statute, a new construction, remodeling, or renovation project that has not received an
appropriation in a previous year will not be considered for inclusion on the prioritized list submitted by the BOG
for capital outlay projects unless a plan is provided to reserve funds in an escrow account specific to the project.
Each year, 1 percent of the total value of the building must be deposited in the account for future maintenance. The
bill provides that such an escrow account does not have to be specific to the project. (Section 7).
The bill authorizes a UBOT to determine whether its auxiliary services, including athletics, will be self-supporting
on an individual or collective basis. A UBOT may approve the transfer of unreserved cash from one auxiliary
enterprise to support another auxiliary enterprise as long as the transfer does not reduce revenues necessary to
cover all expenditures of the auxiliary enterprise or violate any bond covenants or impact debt service payments
and required reserves. Such transfers must be reported to the BOG annually and these provisions expire on June
30, 2030. (Section 13).
The bill removes a requirement that the Institute for Freedom in the Americas (Institute) at Miami Dade College
partner with the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom at Florida International University to hold workshops,
symposiums, and conferences. The bill also removes a requirement for Miami Dade College to approve a direct-
support organization to support the Institute in its mission to develop partnerships throughout the Americas.
(Section 11).
Except as otherwise expressly provided in the bill and except for this section, which would take effect upon the bill
becoming a law, the effective date for the bill is July 1, 2025. (Section 14).
RULEMAKING:
Current law authorizes a FCS BOT to adopt rules, procedures, and policies consistent with law and rules of the SBE,
including governance, personnel, and administration. The bill modifies provisions of law already under SBE and
FCS BOT authority, thus allowing them to make rules to implement the bill.
9
Likewise, current law authorizes the BOG to adopt regulations for the BOG and UBOT to use in implementing their
duties and responsibilities. The BOG may also delegate a power or duty to a UBOT and the authority to adopt rules
7
Section 1004.085(5)(b), F.S.
8
Section 1004.085(5)(c), F.S.
9
Section 1001.64(4)(b) and (18)-(19), F.S.; r. 6A-14.026, F.A.C. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
4
or regulations is included in that delegation. The bill modifies provisions of law already under BOG and UBOT
authority, therefore allowing them to make rules and regulations to implement the bill.
10
Lawmaking is a legislative power; however, the Legislature may delegate a portion of such power to executive
branch agencies to create rules that have the force of law. To exercise this delegated power, an agency must
have a grant of rulemaking authority and a law to implement.
RELEVANT INFORMATION
SUBJECT OVERVIEW:
Term Limits
Under current law, the 14 gubernatorially appointed, citizen members of the BOG serve staggered 7-year terms,
with no limit to how many years they can serve. The three additional BOG members are the Commissioner of
Education, the chair of the advisory council of faculty senates or the equivalent, and the president of the Florida
Student Association or the equivalent.
11
The seven gubernatorially appointed, citizen members of the SBE serve staggered 4-year terms and may serve up
to two terms consecutively, so a person can serve for longer than 8 years as long as no more than two terms are
consecutive.
12 SBE members are required to be Florida residents, but BOG members are not. A SBE member may
serve as the board chair for up to two 2-year terms, but there are no limitations on BOG chair service.
13
Currently, the 11 appointed citizen members of a UBOT serve staggered 5-year terms and there is not a limit on
how many consecutive terms a member may serve. Six members are appointed by the Governor and five are
appointed by the BOG. The other two members are the chair of the faculty senate or the equivalent and the
president of the student body of the university. UBOT members are not required to be Florida residents, but the
Governor and BOG are directed to consider diversity and regional representation when appointing members.
14
According to BOG regulation 1.001(1), a member may serve as chair for no more than two consecutive 2-year
terms, unless approved by a vote of two-thirds of the UBOT.
The Governor appoints the members of a FCS BOT to staggered 4-year terms and there are no term limits for
serving as a member or board chair.
15 FCS BOT members must be a resident of the service delivery area of the
college.
16
Full and Public Disclosure of Financial Interests
Full and Public Disclosure (Form 6)
The Florida Constitution requires all elected constitutional officers and candidates for such offices to file a full and
public disclosure of their financial interests.
17 Other public officers, candidates, and public employees may be
required to file a full and public disclosure of their financial interests as determined by law.
18 Under the Florida
Constitution, the term “full and public disclosure of financial interests” means the reporting individual must
disclose his or her net worth and the value for each asset and liability in excess of $1,000.
19 The disclosure must be
accompanied by either a sworn statement that identifies each separate source and amount of income that exceeds
$1,000 or a copy of the reporting individual’s most recent federal income tax return.
20
10
Section 1001.706(1)-(2) and (6)(a), F.S.; BOG regulations 1.001, 1.002, and 8.003
11
Section 1001.70(1), F.S.
12
Section 1001.01(1), F.S.
13
Sections 1001.01(1)-(2) and 1001.70(1), F.S.
14
Section 1001.71(1), F.S.
15
Section 1001.61(2) and (4), F.S.
16
Art. IX, s. 8, Fla. Const.
17
Art. II, s. 8(a), Fla. Const.; see ss. 112.3144(1)(b) and 112.3145, F.S.
18
Id.
19
Art. II, s. (8)(j)(1), Fla. Const.
20
See 112.3144(6)(c) and (7)(a), F.S. (Beginning January 1, 2023, the Commission may not accept federal income tax returns
for proof of income.) JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
5
Pursuant to general law, the Commission on Ethics (Commission) has created by rule CE Form 6 (Form 6), which is
used to make the required full and public financial disclosure.
21 Reporting individuals are required to file a Form 6
annually with the Commission by July 1 through the Commission’s electronic filing system.
22
The Form 6 requires filers to report their net worth, assets, and liabilities.
23 The filer must report the specific
identification and value of each asset which exceeds $1,000 in value and provide the name and addresses for the
creditor for each liability which exceeds $1,000 in amount and its amount, and must submit a statement of the
value of the reporting person’s net worth as of December 31 of the preceding year or a more current date.
24
Statement of Financial Interests—Limited Financial Disclosure (Form 1)
In addition to provisions governing the Form 6, current law provides for a less detailed disclosure of financial
interests using the Commission’s CE Form 1 (Form 1).
25 A Form 1 must be filed by a large group of local officers,
including all officers holding elected positions in any political subdivision of the state, other than counties, and
specified appointed officers.
26 Other persons required to file a Form 1 include specified state officers and
employees and persons seeking to qualify as candidates for these specified state or local office.
27
The Form 1 requires filers to disclose specified information related to sources of income, real property, intangible
personal property, liabilities, and interests in specified businesses.
28 Although no specific dollar values of incomes,
property, or liabilities are required to be reported, the filer must report which assets or liabilities exceed certain
dollar thresholds.
29 Form 1 filers must: disclose all sources of income in excess of $2,500, excluding public salary;
all sources of income from a business entity the filer had a material interest in where their gross income was in
excess of $5,000 and in excess of 10 percent of the businesses gross income; any property in Florida, except for
their residence or vacation home, in which the person owns more than 5 percent of the value of the property; any
intangible personal property in excess of $10,000; and any liability in excess of $10,000.
30
The Benefits of Full and Public Disclosure
Research shows that financial disclosures are positively related to increased governmental quality and lower
corruption.
31 Moreover, full and public financial disclosures—such as the Form 6—are associated with lower rates
of corruption, whereas private disclosures (those that are only submitted to a regulatory body, not the public at
large) are not systematically related to better government and lower corruption.
32 Full and public financial
disclosures help identify and address any conflicts with the filer’s governmental responsibilities.
33 As a result,
research suggests that full and public financial disclosures support anti-corruption efforts, with prosecution rates
rising when officials must disclose publicly.
34 On the other hand, research suggests that corruption prosecution
rates are lower when government officials craft disclosure content requirements so as to avoid fully disclosing
21
See r. 34-8.002, F.A.C.
22
Art. II, s. (8)(j)(1), Fla. Const.; see s. 112.3144(2), F.S.
23
See art. II, s. (8)(j), Fla. Const.; s. 112.3144(5)-(6), F.S.; r. 34-8.004, F.A.C.
24
Id.
25
See s. 112.3145, F.S.; r. 34-8.202, F.A.C.
26
See s. 112.3145, F.S.; r. 34.8.202, F.A.C. For a guide explaining who must file the Form 1 and what the Form 1 entails, see
Florida Commission on Ethics, Guide to the Sunshine Amendment and Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees, p. 15-19.,
available at https://ethics.state.fl.us/Documents/Publications/GuideBookletInternet.pdf?cp=2023310 (last visited Apr. 8,
2025).
27
Id.
28
Section 112.3145, F.S.
29
See s. 112.3145(3), F.S.
30
Section 112.3145(3)(a), F.S.
31
See e.g. Djankov et al, Disclosure by Politicians, 2 Am. Econ. J. 179, (Apr. 2010) available at
https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/shleifer/files/disclosure_by_politicians_aejapp_final.pdf.
32
See Id. at 198.
33
U.S. Government Accountability Office, Financial Disclosure: Updates Are Needed to the Public Reporting Requirements, Report
No. GAO-25-107039, available at https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-25-
107039#:~:text=Regular%20disclosure%20of%20personal%20financial,filers%20in%20the%20executive%20branch.
34
Scherf, How do Online Conflict Disclosures Support Enforcement? Evidence from Personal Financial Disclosures and Public
Corruption, London School of Econ. (2024), at 31, available at
https://eprints.lse.ac.uk/121395/4/How_do_online_conflict_disclosures_support_enforcement.pdf JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
6
potential financial conflicts.
35 Requiring that governmental officials file comprehensive financial disclosures like
the Form 6 ensures transparency as they cannot avoid disclosing information that could show a conflict of interest
exists. Greater transparency is associated with greater accountability; greater accountability is associated with
lower corruption.
36
The Board of Governors’ Financial Responsibilities
The BOG is established pursuant to the Florida Constitution with the general duties of operating, regulating,
controlling, and being fully responsible for the SUS.
37 More specifically, the BOG must account for all expenditures
of state, local, federal, and other funds.
38 The BOG also establishes tuition and fees, unless otherwise provided by
law; may secure comprehensive general liability insurance; and may transfer unused appropriations from the
Education/General Student and Other Fees Trust Fund between institutions.
39 The BOG must prepare the
legislative budget requests for the SUS and provide each university with fiscal policy guidelines, formats, and
instruction for the development of individual university budgets.
40 Ultimately, each individual university’s
operating budget must be approved by the BOG.
41
Presidential Search and Selection
For the SUS:
42
The UBOT Chair, in consultation with the BOG Chair, appoints a 15-member search committee.
Any personal identifying information of applicants is kept confidential until the final group of applicants is
established.
43
The search committee recommends an unranked list of more than two final applicants to the UBOT, subject
to prior review and approval by the BOG Chair. If exceptional circumstances make fulfilling this
requirement infeasible, the committee must discuss why fewer than three applicants are being
recommended and whether additional applications should be considered. If more than two candidates are
not coming forward, the UBOT must be notified of the reason and may decline to act.
The UBOT selects a final qualified candidate as president-elect for recommendation to the BOG for
confirmation.
Renewals of presidential employment contracts also must be confirmed by the BOG and are currently
limited by BOG regulation 1.001(5)(d) to 1-year terms.
44
BOG regulation 1.002 details the criteria each UBOT must adhere to for presidential search and selection including
the composition of the search committee, executive compensation analysis, timeline, procedures, vetting process,
candidate ranking process, recommending a final qualified candidate to the BOG for confirmation, and drafting an
employment contract, among other requirements.
Amendments to BOG regulation 1.002 since 2022 include:
establishing the BOG Chair as an ex officio member of a presidential search committee;
increasing BOG designees on a search committee from 1 to 2 members;
requiring a search committee to submit for review and approval the proposed unranked list of final
applicants to the BOG Chair prior to submission to the UBOT;
requiring an explanation from a search committee to a UBOT if it recommends fewer than three applicants;
and
35
Id.
36
See Schnell, To Know is to Act? Revisiting the Impact of Government Transparency on Corruption, 43 Pub. Admin. & Dev
(2023), available at
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pad.2029?msockid=2576678410e762633877729c119c6369/
37
Art. IX., s. 7(d), Fla. Const.
38
Id.; Section 1001.706(4)(a), F.S.
39
Section 1001.706(4)(c)-(d), F.S.
40
Section 1001.706(4)(b), F.S.
41
BOG regulation 9.007
42
BOG regulations 1.001(5) and 1.002
43
Section 1004.098, F.S.
44
The current regulation codifying the existing practice for renewals of presidential employment contracts to come before the
BOG for confirmation and to be limited to 1-year terms was adopted by the BOG on August 31, 2017. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
7
requiring that all persons with access to confidential applicant information sign a non-disclosure
agreement (NDA) to ensure confidentiality of the information as required by law.
45
In the event a UBOT selects an interim president, a search is not required, but the candidate is subject to
confirmation by the BOG. A UBOT may delegate the selected interim president full authority to serve during the
period prior to BOG confirmation if it is determined to be in the best interests of the university.
46
For the Florida College System (FCS):
47
The FCS BOT is required to appoint, suspend, or remove the president and must notify the SBE
immediately.
The FCS BOT may appoint a search committee, but is not required to do so.
Any personal identifying information of applicants is kept confidential until the final group of applicants is
established.
48
Public Records Exemption
In 2022, in an effort to expand the pool of qualified applicants, the Legislature passed a public records and public
meeting exemption that kept the personal identifying information of non-finalist applicants for president of a state
college or state university confidential. However, the personal identifying information of a finalist would no longer
be confidential beginning the earlier of the date they are made a finalist or 21 days before a meeting to interview or
hire any of the finalists.
49
In 2024, the BOG amended regulation 1.002 to address issues related to presidential searches that arose following
the exemption taking effect.
50 The exemption is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act
51 and will be
repealed on October 2, 2027, unless reenacted by the Legislature.
52
Textbook, Instructional Material, & Course Syllabus Affordability and Transparency
Florida law requires state universities and colleges to post lists online of required and recommended textbooks
and instructional materials for at least 95 percent of courses and course sections offered at the institution during
the upcoming term. The lists must include the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) or other identifying
information, including, at a minimum, all of the following: the title, all authors listed, publishers, edition number,
copyright date, published date, and other relevant information necessary to identify the specific textbooks or
instructional materials required and recommended for each course.
53
The lists must:
54
Be posted as early as is feasible but at least 45 days before the first day of class for each term.
Remain posted for at least 5 academic years.
Be searchable by the course subject, the course number, the course title, the name of the instructor of the
course, the title of each assigned textbook or instructional material, and each author of an assigned
textbook or instructional material.
Be easily downloadable by current and prospective students.
45
Section 1004.098, F.S.
46
BOG regulation 1.001(5)(e)
47
Section 1001.64(18)-(19), F.S.; r. 6A-14.026, F.A.C.
48
Section 1004.098, F.S.
49
Section 1004.098(1)-(2), F.S.
50
Florida Board of Governors, Notice of Proposed Amended Regulation: 1.002, Presidential Search and Selection (2024),
available at 1.002_Proposed_AmendedRegulationForm-1.pdf.
51
Section 119.15, F.S.
52
Section 1004.098(3), F.S.
53
Section 1004.085(5)(a), F.S.
54
Section 1004.085(5)(b), F.S. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
8
For general education core courses,
55 course syllabi information must be included and contain sufficient detail to
inform students of the following:
56
The course curriculum.
The goals, objectives, and student expectations of the course.
How student performance will be measured.
Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) Project Prioritization
The BOG is required to submit a prioritized list of projects to receive PECO funding.
57 Projects considered for
prioritization must be chosen from a preliminary selection group that includes projects that have previously had
state funds appropriated that have not yet been completed
58 and the top two priorities of each state university.
The BOG uses a points-based prioritization method to rank projects for consideration from the preliminary
selection group that awards points for the degree to which a project meets specific criteria compared to other
projects in the preliminary selection group. The project scoring the highest for each criterion shall be awarded the
maximum points in the range of points within the points scale developed by the board.
59
A new construction, remodeling, or renovation project that has not received an appropriation in a previous year
must not be considered for inclusion on the prioritized list, unless:
60
A plan is provided to reserve funds in an escrow account, specific to the project, into which shall be
deposited each year an amount of funds equal to 1 percent of the total value of the building for future
maintenance;
There exists sufficient capacity within the cash and bonding estimate of funds by the Revenue Estimating
Conference to accommodate the project within the 3-year PECO funding cycle; and
The project has been recommended in a state university’s educational plant survey.
61
Auxiliary Services
Under current law,
62 “auxiliary enterprises” includes activities that directly or indirectly provide a product or a
service, or both, to a university or its students, faculty, or staff and for which a charge is made. These auxiliary
enterprises are business activities of a university which require no support from the General Revenue Fund, and
include activities such as housing, bookstores, student health services, continuing education programs, food
services, college stores, operation of vending machines, specialty shops, day care centers, golf courses, student
activities programs, data center operations, and intercollegiate athletics programs.
63
Under current BOG regulation
64, each auxiliary service is an individual entity and is accounted for as such. A service
may be operated by the institution or by a private contractor under the institution’s supervision. Under either
arrangement, all pertinent institutional revenues and costs are assigned to the auxiliary service.
A uniform system of financial reporting is required for auxiliary services within the SUS. Each institution may
determine whether its auxiliary services will be self-supporting on an individual or collective basis, except for
athletics, which must be a self-supporting entity. The use of unreserved cash from a non-athletic auxiliary may be
considered for athletics by the UBOT and approved by the BOG, which will consider this on a case by case basis,
taking into consideration the unique facts and circumstances surrounding each situation. The university
administration must provide, at a minimum, the following information to the UBOT for its consideration, and
subsequently to the BOG, so that a transparent and informed decision can be made:
55
Section 1007.25(3), F.S.
56
Section 1004.085(5)(c), F.S.
57
Section 1013.64(4), F.S.
58
Section 1001.706(12)(d), F.S.
59
Section 1001.706(12)(a)-(b), F.S.
60
Section 1001.706(12)(c), F.S.
61
Section 1013.31, F.S.
62
Art. III, s. 19(f)(3), Fla. Const.
63
Section 1011.47(1), F.S.
64
BOG regulation 9.013 JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
9
the specific non-athletic auxiliary the funds are coming from, the amount of the proposed transfer, and the
amount of reserves available;
justification that the use of unreserved cash from the non-athletic auxiliary will benefit the broader
student body or campus community;
if the supporting non-athletic auxiliary has outstanding debt, verification that the funds to be used are
unreserved cash balances and that sufficient current revenues exist to cover all expenditures, including,
but not limited to, debt service payments and required reserves;
assurance by the university, with concurrence of the Division of Bond Finance, that such transfer does not
violate any bond covenants; and
in the event the non-athletic auxiliary revenues to be transferred include student fees or payments,
documentation that a disclosure has been made to students that non-athletic auxiliary revenues which
include student fees or payments will be transferred to athletics.
Revenues for auxiliary services must not be provided from general revenue supported budget entities except in
payment of goods and/or services. Provided, however, auxiliary services may be housed in buildings that are
financed from other sources. Proposed expenditures from the various auxiliary funds must be reflected in annual
budgets filed with the Board of Governors.
Institute for Freedom in the Americas
The Institute was established at Miami Dade College by the Legislature in 2024 with a mission to preserve the
ideals of a free society and promote democracy in the Americas.
65 The Institute is dedicated to fostering a culture of
freedom, democracy, and global governance. It prepares future leaders to make a lasting positive impact in their
communities by championing democratic values and processes. Committed to promoting civic engagement and
encouraging global dialogue, the Institute serves as a beacon for advancing democratic principles worldwide.
66
RECENT LEGISLATION:
YEAR BILL # HOUSE SPONSOR(S) SENATE SPONSOR OTHER INFORMATION
2022 CS/SB 520 Garrison Brandes Took effect on March 15, 2022
2022 SB 7044 Mariano Diaz Took effect on July 1, 2022
OTHER RESOURCES:
State University System Textbook and Instructional Materials Affordability Report 2023-2024
65
Section 1004.89, F.S.
66
Miami Dade College, Institute for Freedom in the Americas, Home, Institute for Freedom in the Americas | Miami Dade
College (last visited Apr. 8, 2025). JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
10
BILL HISTORY
COMMITTEE REFERENCE ACTION DATE
STAFF
DIRECTOR/
POLICY CHIEF
ANALYSIS
PREPARED BY
Education & Employment
Committee
14 Y, 0 N, As CS 4/8/2025 Hassell Blalock
THE CHANGES ADOPTED BY THE
COMMITTEE:
Maintains the repeal of the presidential search public records
exemption and requires a cone of silence upon an anticipated vacancy
or vacancy of the office of president at a state university system (SUS)
or Florida College System (FCS) institution.
Allows renewal of SUS and FCS presidential contracts for longer than
one year, up to the term of the original contract.
Requires SUS and FCS institutions to adopt a presidential succession
plan and prohibits appointing an interim president unless the
appointment is consistent with the succession plan or the search
process.
Requires a Board of Governors (BOG) or University Board of Trustees
(UBOT) member to be a U.S. citizen and a resident or alumni of a
Florida university.
Allows a SUS and FCS board of trustees member to continue to serve
after the expiration of his or her term until a successor is appointed.
Requires SUS institutions to publish program admission criteria and
requires the BOG to audit compliance.
Prohibits SUS and FCS institutions from requiring a divisive course as a
graduation requirement.
Addresses course material and syllabi requirements by delaying
compliance, striking supplemental materials from some requirements,
and adjusting requirements related to how costs are posted.
Allows state universities to decide whether auxiliary enterprises will be
self-sustaining on an individual or collective basis.
Provides that certain escrow accounts for capital outlay projects do not
have to be project-specific.
Repeals the requirement for Miami-Dade College to partner with the
Adam Smith Center at FIU for workshops, symposiums and conferences
and the requirement for MDC to establish a direct-support
organization.
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THIS BILL ANALYSIS HAS BEEN UPDATED TO INCORPORATE ALL OF THE CHANGES DESCRIBED ABOVE.
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